HOLY WEEK 2016

PROGRAM FOR HOLY WEEK/ PASCHA 2016

SATURDAY 23 APRIL † LAZARUS SATURDAY
7.00 – 10.00am Divine Liturgy
Lazarus was raised from the dead by our Lord. The Church names this day the “Saturday of Lazarus” in remembrance of the resurrection of Lazarus and its promise of universal resurrection for all men.
5.00pm Great Vespers (Palm Sunday Vespers)

SUNDAY 24 APRIL † PALM SUNDAY  (fish permitted)
• 7.30 – 11.00am  Orthros and Divine Liturgy (Philippians 4:4-9, John 12:1-18)
Jesus enters Jerusalem as King and the people lay palm branches along the road to greet Him. We receive palm branches on this day to acknowledge that we accept Jesus as our King.
• 10.30 – 11.00am Sunday School classes for ages ranging from 5 to 17 yrs. Please bring your children along to learn of their rich Orthodox faith and come close to God and His Love.
• 11.30 – 11.45am  Join us for Good Friday Choir practice for Lamentations (ΕΓΚΩΜΙΑ) after the Divine Liturgy (in Church Coffee Room).
• 7.00 Evening Service of the Bridegroom ( ΤΟΥ ΝΥΜΦΙΟΥ) presided by His Grace Bishop Ezekiel of Dervis.
Christ, the Bridegroom (Ο ΝΥΜΦΙΟΣ); the blessed Joseph; the Barren Fig Tree.

MONDAY 25 APRIL † HOLY WEEK BEGINS
• 8.00 – 9.30am Pre-Sanctified Divine Liturgy In this ancient and inspired service, we receive Holy Communion which was consecrated at the Divine Liturgy on the previous Sunday
• 7.00pm Evening Service of the Bridegroom ( ΤΟΥ ΝΥΜΦΙΟΥ) Parable of the Ten Virgins

TUESDAY 26 APRIL
• 8.00 – 9.30am Pre-Sanctified Divine Liturgy
• 7.00pm Evening Service of the Bridegroom ( ΤΟΥ ΝΥΜΦΙΟΥ) We remember the sinful woman who anointed Christ, in anticipation of His death. Her repentance and love for Christ are the theme of the Hymn of Cassiane, chanted this night.

WEDNESDAY 27 APRIL † Christ’s betrayal by Judas Iscariot
• 8.00 – 9.30am Pre-Sanctified Divine Liturgy
• 6.00pm The Sacrament of Holy Unction The priest anoints us with Holy Oil (Ευχελαιον) so that we may be spiritually and physically healed.
Followed by Matins of Holy Thursday

THURSDAY 28 APRIL  † The Mystic Supper
• 6.00am Divine Liturgy followed by Holy Communion
• 7.00pm The Service of the Passion of our Lord
The Twelve Readings from the Gospels during which the Crucifix is carried to the front of the altar by the priest. These selected narratives from the four Gospels, relate to the events of Christ’s Holy Passion ( ΠΑΘΟΣ) and His last instructions to the twelve disciples.

FRIDAY 29 APRIL † HOLY FRIDAY | Christ’s Crucifixion, Death and Burial
• 8.00 – 10.00am The Service of the Great Hours
Followed by the preparation of the Epitaphion (Bier) by women of the Church in the Church Hall.
• 3.00pm Great Vespers and the Taking down of the Body of Christ from the Cross (ΑΠΟΚΑΘΗΛΩΣΙΣ)
The priest takes down Christ’s Body from the Cross, wraps it in a white cloth (shroud) and then places it in the Altar, as a symbol of His Burial by Joseph of Arimathea.
• 7.00pm The Service of Lamentations (ΕΥΚΩΜΙΑ)
The mourning of Christ’s undeserved death to save us from our sins, followed by the procession of the Epitaphion (Bier) symbolizing our Lord’s Burial.

SATURDAY 30 APRIL  † Christ’s descent to Hades, and His Holy Resurrection
• 6.00am  Divine Liturgy and Service of the Pre-Announcement of the Resurrection followed by Holy Communion
• 11.00pm  Service and Divine Liturgy of the Resurrection officiated by His Grace Bishop Iakovos of Militoupolis
At midnight, in the darkened church, the faithful receive Holy Light (ΑΓΙΟ ΦΩΣ) from the priest. The congregation hears the good news of Christ’s triumph; His victory over death, from the Gospel. The joyous hymn of Christ’s Resurrection is triumphantly chanted – “Christ is Arisen!’ (ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΑΝΕΣΤΗ!) The Divine Liturgy of the Resurrection follows, where we are invited to take part in the feast of the Resurrection and to receive Holy Communion, ending with receiving the blessing together with the traditional red egg from the priest.

SUNDAY 1 MAY  † HOLY PASCHA
• 11.00am Great Paschal Vespers of Agape
Archdiocese Church of St. Eustathios, South Melbourne, headed by His Grace Bishop Ezekiel, and participated by the clergy of Melbourne
Bible passage is read in many languages representing the universality of our Lord’s Resurrection.