Parish Guide HOLY WEEK & EASTER 2018

Transcript

1 Parish Guide HOLY WEEK & EASTER 2018 Christ is risen from the dead, Trampling down death by death, And upon those in the tombs Bestowing life! SAINT GEORGE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH 238 WEST ROCKS ROAD NORWALK, CT PHONE: (203) WEB:

2 EASTER 2018 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever (Ps 135 [136],1) On Easter day this prophesy, of the Psalm, is fulfilled. Death, introduced to us by our original disobedience and ungratefulness to God, takes in history many forms. Today we experience a world where death is pre-tasted, daily, in a bitter way; the spiritual and moral abysses of humankind find expression through hate and unforgiveness, racism and violence, indecency and brutality. Even to this deathly world the mercy of the Lord endures forever. The Lord, who suffered abandonment, even by his disciples, and all the above deathly experiences and who was crucified, is not here but Risen (Mt 28,5-6). He brings hope and life to us; let us bring to all the joy and hope of the Risen Christ.!

3 ΠΑΣΧΑ 2018 Τον Κύριο δοξολογήστε, γιατ είναι καλός, κι αιώνια διαρκεί η αγάπη του! (Ψλ 135 [136],1) Την ημέρα του Πάσχα η προφητεία του Ψαλμού έγινε πραγματικότητα. Ο θάνατος που μπήκε στην ανθρωπότητα μέσω της παρακοής και αχαριστίας των πρωτοπλάστων προς τον Θεό, παίρνει μέσα στην Ιστορία πολλές μορφές. Σήμερα, ιδιαίτερα, ζούμε σ ένα κόσμο, που η πρόγευση του θανάτου είναι καθημερινή. Το πνευματικό και ηθικό χάος της ανθρωπότητας εκφράζονται καθημερινά με μίσος και έλλειψη συγχωρητικότητας, με ρατσισμό, βία και αισχρότητα. Σ αυτόν τον θανατωμένο κόσμο η αγάπη του Κυρίου διαρκεί αιώνια. Ο Κύριος που εγκαταλείφθηκε, ακόμα κι από τους μαθητές Του, και έπαθε για μας δεν είναι εδώ αλλά Αναστήθηκε (Μτ 28,5-6). Φέρνει Ελπίδα και Ζωή σε όλους μας. Και μεις ας φέρουμε σε όλους την ελπίδα και χαρά του Αναστημένου Ιησού.

4 IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF OUR LORD HOLY WEEK-EASTER YOUTH RETREAT All youth 6th through 12th grade are invited to the Holy Thursday to Holy Friday Lock-in on April 5 starting around 9:30 p.m., after Church Service, in the Church.

5 Walk in the footsteps of Our Lord as we explore the journey to the resurrection. Youth will begin by attending the Service of The Twelve Gospels on Holy Thursday and then engage in an all-night lock in with prayer, fellowship, discussion, during the first part of the night (until 1 am) and lead (Read/participate) the Great Hours at 9 a.m. The lock-in will conclude around 10:30 a.m. A few youth worship volunteers are needed to help lead in worship at the Great Hours services. Please contact Presv. Penelope Dassouras or Jenny Dadoulis to help provide food, chaperone, or sign up!

6 Please join us After the Church Paschal Service, Around 2:15 am on Easter night for a Mageiritsa Community Easter Supper Πασχαλινό Γεύμα Μαγειρίτσας της κοινότητάς μας. Ελάτε να γιορτάσουμε το Πάσχα όλοι μαζί, αμέσως μετά την Πασχαλινή Λειτουργία, γύρω στις 2:15 π.μ.

7 ΙΕΡΑ ΠΑΝΗΓΥΡΙΣ ΑΓ. ΓΕΩΡΓΙΟΥ FEAST OF SAINT GEORGE Κυριακή 22 Απριλίου: 7:00 μ.μ. Μέγας Πανηγυρικός Εσπερινός μετ αρτοκλασίας. Δευτέρα 23 Απριλίου: 8:30 π.μ. Όρθρος και Αρχιερατική Θεία Λειτουργία μετ αρτοκλασίας Sunday, April 22 nd : 7:00 p.m. Great Vespers & Artoclassia Monday, April 23 rd : 8:30 a.m. Orthros & Hierarchical Divine Liturgy with Artoclassia

8 ΠΡΟΓΡΑΜΜΑ ΜΕΓΑΛΗΣ ΕΒΔΟΜΑΔΟΣ & ΠΑΣΧΑ 2018 Σάββατο 31 Μαρτίου: 8:00 π.μ. Όρθρος & Θ. Λειτουργία (Αγ. Λαζάρου) Κυριακή 1 Απριλίου: 8:30 π.μ. Όρθρος & Θ. Λειτουργία (των Βαΐων) 7:00 μ.μ. Όρθρος Μ. Δευτέρας (Ακολουθία Νυμφίου) Μ. Δευτέρα 2 Απριλίου: 7:00 μ.μ. - Όρθρος Μ. Τρίτης (Ακολουθία Νυμφίου) Μ. Τρίτη 3 Απριλίου: 9:00 π.μ. - Προηγιασμένη Θ. Λειτουργία 7:00 μ.μ. - Όρθρος Μ. Τετάρτης (Ακολουθία Νυμφίου) Μ. Τετάρτη 4 Απριλίου: 6:00 μ.μ. Ιερόν Ευχέλαιον & Όρθρος Μ. Πέμπτης (Ακολουθία Νιπτήρος) Μ. Πέμπτη 5 Απριλίου: 8:30 π.μ. Εσπερινός & Θ. Λειτουργία Μ. Βασιλείου 7:00 μ.μ. Όρθρος Μ. Παρασκευής (Ακολουθία των Παθών) Μ. Παρασκευή 6 Απριλίου: 9:00 π.μ. Μεγάλες Ώρες της Μεγάλης Παρασκευής 5:00 μ.μ. Μέγας Εσπερινός Αποκαθηλώσεως 7:00 μ.μ. Όρθρος Μ. Σαββάτου (Επιτάφιος Θρήνος) Μ. Σάββατο 7 Απριλίου: 8:30-11 π.μ. Μ. Εσπερινός & Θ. Λειτουργία Μ. Βασιλείου (1 η Ανάσταση) 11:00 μ.μ. Ακολουθία προ της Αναστάσεως 12:00 π. μ. Ανάστασις, Όρθρος & Θ. Λειτουργία του Πάσχα Κυριακή, Πάσχα 8 Απριλίου: 2:15 π.μ. Πασχαλινό Γεύμα Μαγειρίτσας της κοινότητάς μας 11:00 π.μ. Μέγας Εσπερινός Αγάπης & Άγιον Φως

9 CHURCH SERVICES FOR HOLY WEEK AND EASTER OF 2018 Saturday, March 31 st : 8:00 a.m. Orthros & Divine Liturgy (St. Lazarus) Palm Sunday, April 1 st : 8:30 a.m. Orthros & Divine Liturgy 7:00 p.m. - Orthros for Holy Monday (Bridegroom Service) Holy Monday, April 2 nd : 7:00 p.m. - Orthros for Holy Tuesday (Bridegroom Service) Holy Tuesday, April 3 rd : 9:00 a.m. - Pre-Sanctified Liturgy 7:00 p.m. - Orthros for Holy Wednesday (Bridegroom Service) Holy Wednesday, April 4 th : 6:00 p.m. - Holy Unction and Orthros for H. Thursday (Nipter Service) Holy Thursday, April 5 th : 8:30 a.m. - Vespers & Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great 7:00 p.m. - Orthros for Good Friday (Passion Service 12 Gospels) Good Friday, April 6 th : 9:00 a.m. Great & Royal Hours of Good Friday 5:00 p.m. Great Vespers of the Descending of Christ from the Cross 7:00 p.m. - Orthros for Holy Saturday (The Praises on the Tomb) Holy Saturday, April 7 th : 8:30-11 a.m. - Great Vespers & D. Liturgy of St. Basil (1 st Resurrection) 11:00 p.m. - Pre-Resurrection Service 12:00 p.m. - Resurrection Service, Paschal Orthros & D. Liturgy Holy Pascha, April 8 th : 2:15 a.m. Mageiritsa Community Easter Supper 11:00 a.m. Great Vespers of Love & lighting of candles

10 Christ, Behold the Bridegroom comes in the middle of the night We are reminded of our responsibility, in life, to keep our eyes open and on Christ. Palm Sunday, April 1 10:00 AM Divine Liturgy The Church is decorated with palm branches and bay leaves. Each person receives a palm cross and bay leaves, reminding us of the people who waved palm branches and bay leaves to welcome Jesus and laid them at His feet as He entered Jerusalem. We encourage you to bring your children to participate at the procession with palms at the Great Entrance. 7:00 PM 1 st Bridegroom Service If you can, please, attend as a family. Let your children know that the Priest will process out with the Icon of Christ (the Bridegroom). We get ready for the coming of Holy Monday, April 2 7:00 PM 2 nd Bridegroom Service There are 2 important themes we hear tonight: preparedness and hypocrisy. After Church, read again the Gospels with your children, and discuss how do we prepare to receive Christ and how do we strive to live sincere lives as Christians and not to be hypocrites to the world. Holy Tuesday, April 3 7:00 PM 3 rd Bridegroom Service Today the theme of repentance rings loudly! Read the Gospel story of the sinful woman and discuss, with your children, how can we offer

11 something to honor Christ just as she did? Holy Wednesday, April 4 6:00 PM Holy Unction + Nipter Service Tonight, we are anointed with the Holy Oil, the Sacrament of healing, and, after the Gospel, were we are called to trust God and be faithful servants to Him, we are given the meaning of the Last Supper in the beautiful canon of St. Cosmas: "Come, O faithful! Let us enjoy the Master's hospitality. Discuss with your children, how do we participate to our Master's hospitality? Holy Thursday, April 5 Today, dye your Easter eggs. We dye the eggs red, the color of life and Christ s blood, and please, allow your children to decorate some eggs, discussing the sacrifice that Jesus did for us. 8:30 AM Divine Liturgy of St. Basil 2 events shape this liturgy: The Last Supper of Christ with His disciples and the betrayal of Judas. 7:00 PM Service of the Passion Tonight, we read the 12 Gospels telling the story of Christ s Crucifixion. The Procession of the Crucified Christ takes place shortly after the 5 th Gospel. Allow your children to participate at the procession and discuss, afterwards, Christ s Crucifixion with your children. It s okay to feel a little antsy or tired. It s okay if your feet hurt. Let us participate that way in Christ s physical and

12 emotional pain, endured for us on this day. Lamentations, be altar-boys or Myrrh-bearers. Holy Friday, April 6 Today, try to keep your home as quiet as possible. Consider keeping schoolchildren home for the day so they can spend it preparing for the Resurrection. 11:00 AM Epitaphios (Christ s Tomb) decoration Families are invited to spend the day cleaning & decorating the Epitaphios 5:00 PM Vespers, the service of Christ's burial Tonight, we take off the Body of Jesus from the Cross & we place it in the Epitaphios (Christ s Tomb) 7:00 PM Christ's burial & Lamentations We place, in the center of the Church, the image of Christ in the tomb. Children are invited to participate in singing the Holy Saturday, April 7 8:30-11 AM D. Liturgy of St. Basil & 1st Resurrection This morning Service is the 1 st announcement of the Resurrection. Ask your children to listen closely to the Old Testament reading of the story of the 3 youths. Before the gospel the Priest will proceed to celebrate the victory over death by throwing bay leaves throughout the Church while chanting the beautiful hymn, Arise, o God "The great Moses mystically foreshadowed this day, when he said: God blessed the seventh day. This is the blessed Sabbath. This is the day of

13 rest, on which the onlybegotten Son of God rested from all His works. 12:00 PM (midnight) Holy Resurrection Christ is Risen! This is the Day of all Days, the Feast of all Feasts. The Church is darkened to remind us that at this time, Jesus is in the tomb transforming death to life for all. Midnight signals morning, and at this moment, a single light comes forth from the Sanctuary. As the Priest carries this candle to the people, he sings, Come receive the light from the Un-waning Light, and glorify Christ, who has risen from the dead. After Easter Liturgy, all together as one family, we will enjoy the traditional Mageiritsa supper. Easter Sunday, April 8 11:00 AM Agape Service of Easter This Service proclaims the Gospel in many different languages. As a family, learn to declare the Lord s Resurrection in different languages. Easter Light and Easter Eggs will be distributed to the children. Parents with children having foreign language ability are invited to read the Holy Gospel. If you or your children are able to read the Gospel in another language, we will be glad to have you read the Gospel in that language during the Service. Please call the church office at

14 The Uncomfortable Truth of Easter The Easter stories are full of people getting the wrong end of the stick. Mary thinks Jesus body has been stolen. Peter sees the linen wrappings and can t work out what it s all about. The disciples didn t understand the scriptures. The angels question Mary and she still doesn t know what s going on. Then she thinks Jesus is the gardener. Then, it seems, she reaches out to cling on to him, and he tells her she mustn t. You could hardly get more misunderstandings into a couple of paragraphs if you tried. And the point is, of course: Easter has burst into our world, the world of space, time and matter, the world of real history and real people and real life, but our minds and imaginations are too small to contain it, so we do our best to put the sea into a bottle and fit the explosive fact of the resurrection into the possibilities we already know about. At one level, of course, the continued puzzlement of the disciples is a mark of the story s authenticity. If someone had been making it all up a generation later, as many have suggested, they would hardly have had such a muddle going on. More particularly, nobody would have made up the remarkable detail of the cloth around Jesus head, folded up in a place by itself, or the even more extraordinary fact that Jesus is not immediately recognized, either here, or in the evening on the road to Emmaus, or the later time, cooking breakfast by the shore. The first Christians weren t prepared for what actually happened. Nobody could have been. As one leading agnostic scholar has put it, it looks as though they were struggling to describe something for which they didn t have adequate language. But this problem isn t confined to the first century. Ever since then, people have tried to squash the Easter message into conventional boxes that it just won t fit. There was a classic example in the Times on Good Friday. In a first leader entitled Universal Truths, the writer suggested that the Easter message is one that everyone can sign up to. Good Friday, it says, commemorates sacrifice, the giving of oneself as a martyr for the love of others, so Easter is the achievement of victory

15 through suffering. These, the writer goes on, are universal spiritual truths. And the more interaction acquaints those of different faiths with the beliefs of others, the clearer is the common acceptance of these truths. So, in conclusion, The Easter message draws the devout together (presumably the devout of all religions). From suffering, goodness can triumph. Death is not final. And then, a grand and woefully misleading last sentence: That is what all faiths in Britain can proclaim and where they can come together this weekend. Well, sorry. Of course, we must work to find common ground and common purpose with those of all faiths and none. But you don t achieve anything by downgrading the unique message of Easter. Contrast today s story from Acts. This shows robustly what it means to have a glass that s half full and getting fuller. The Roman centurion Cornelius had come, in his personal devotion and prayer, to invoke the God of Israel in respect and humility. Now God calls Peter to go and speak to this Gentile, and tell him about Jesus, and particularly about his death and resurrection. Peter doesn t say I gather you ve got a wonderful faith already; isn t that marvelous, we re all on different paths up the same mountain. He says, The God you ve been worshipping from afar has come near to you in Jesus, and has done something in Jesus which gives a new shape to world history and a new meaning to human life. And Cornelius believes and is baptized. Real Christianity, the full-glass version, is both the truth that makes sense of all other truth and the truth that offers itself as the framework within which those other truths will find their meaning. The one thing it doesn t do, uncomfortably for today s pluralistic world, is offer itself as one truth among many, or one version of a single truth common to all. And this discomfort so disturbing that many people try to hush it up, to belittle it, to pat it on the head and say there, there, that s a nice thing to believe comes out today in several areas, not least in some matters of urgent public debate. Easter is about real life, not escapist fantasy. Easter is about God s judgment, calling the world to account and setting up his new, glorious creation of freedom and peace, and summoning all people everywhere to live in this new world. Easter is about God s rich welcome to all humankind. We Easter people are called to celebrate all of that in practical ways as well as in glad and uninhibited worship. And it s all because Easter is about Jesus: the Jesus who announced God s saving, sovereign kingdom; the Jesus who died to exhaust the power of this world s rulers; the Jesus who rose again to be crowned as king over all things in heaven and on earth. God give us grace, this day and from now on, to live as Easter people, celebrating Jesus love and joy at his table and making his kingdom and justice known in his world. Adopted from a Sermon by N. T. Wright

16 From Crucifixion To Resurrection Christ Is Risen!