Liturgical
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF GREAT LENT
O Lord and Master of my life! Take from me the spirit of sloth, faint-heartedness, lust of power, and idle talk. But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love to Thy servant.
Yea, Lord and King! Grant me to see my own errors and not to judge my brother, for Thou art blessed unto ages of ages. Amen.
Lenten Prayer Of St. Ephrem The Syrian
Great Lent before Easter is when the Orthodox Christian participates fully in preparing himself to praise and glorify his God as Lord and Savior.
Great Lent is like a “workshop” where the character of the faithful is spiritually uplifted and strengthened; where his life is rededicated to the principles and ideals of the Gospel; where the faith culminates in deep conviction of life; where apathy and disinterest turn into vigorous activities of faith and good works. Lent is not for the sake of Lent itself, as fasting is not for the sake of fasting. But they are means by which and for which the individual believer prepares himself to reach for, accept and attain the calling of his Savior. Therefore, the significance of Great Lent is highly appraised, not only by the monks who gradually increased the length of time of the Lent, but also by the lay people themselves, although they do not observe the full length of time.
As such, Great Lent is the sacred Institute of the Church to serve the individual believer in participating as a member of the Mystical Body of Christ, and, from time to time, to improve the standards of faith and morals in his Christian life. The deep intent of the believer during the Great Lent is “forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal of the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus”, Philippians 3:13-14.
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Holy Week Schedule of Services
-
Palm Sunday, March 28
- 9:00 am - Orthros/Divine Liturgy
- 7:00 pm - The Service of the Bridegroom
- Holy Monday, March 29
- 7:00 pm - The Service of the Bridegroom (Nymphios)
- Holy Tuesday, March 30
- 7:00 pm - The Service of the Bridegroom (Hymn of Kassiani)
- Holy Wednesday, March 31
- 9:00 am - Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts
- 3:00 pm - Sacrament of Holy Unction (Youth)
- 7:00 pm - Sacrament of Holy Unction
- Holy Thursday, April 1
- 6:30 am - Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil
- 9:00 am - Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil
- 7:00 pm - Service of the Holy Passion of Jesus Christ
- Holy (Good) Friday, April 2
- 10:00 am - The Royal Hours
- 3:30 pm - Great Vespers (Apokathelosis)
- 8:00 pm - Lamentations (Epitaphios) *
- Holy Saturday, April 3
- 6:30 am - Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil
- 9:00 am - Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil
- 11:00 pm - Holy Resurrection *
- 12:00 am - Outdoor Service of the Triumphant Resurrection *
- 12:20 am - Hierarchical Liturgy of the Resurrection *
- GREAT & HOLY PASCHA, April 4
- 12:00 pm - Agape Vespers of Easter
NOTE: A short spiritual reflection follows the Sunday, Monday, & Tuesday Services of Holy Week.
Communion will only be offered during scheduled liturgies.
* His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios Officiating
Please call the Church office if you would like to schedule an appointment for confession.
