Orthodoxy: What I'm Learning

Lent and Pascha: Pascha! (Palm Sunday-Pascha)

Pascha is almost here! And so, I am going to zoom quickly through Lazarus Saturday, Palm Sunday, and Holy Week because after tonight it wouldn't feel right to go back to Holy Week a third time... more on that later!

First, a VERY IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!  April 28, 2019, in the Orthodox Church, is Great and Holy PASCHA! In the West, this feast is known as Easter. But, the service for Pascha happens in the middle of the night, quite literally. 

So, if you aren't able to go to an Orthodox Pascha service tonight, don't worry! I share your predicament! And I have a[n imperfect] solution.  Here are a variety of resources you can use:

-Ancient Faith Radio (broadcasting the Holy Pascha of Our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ live at 11:30 pm the evening before Orthodox Easter on the website through the Talk stream: www.ancientfaithradio.com)

-Live Streams on Youtube (you can google them, or search for these specific streams: St. Anne Orthodox Church, EllwoodCityChapel, etc.)

-Hymns! Sing them, google them, listen to them... whatever you can do! The Paschal Troparion, The Angel Cried, Noble Joseph, Thy Resurrection, Let God Arise, Canon of Holy Saturday, and the Evlogitaria of the Resurrection are some that have been recommended to me/that I remember from Pascha last year.

-Text (or greet) all your Orthodox friends: Christ is Risen! and they will respond, Indeed He is Risen!

Now... a very brief overview of the week preceding Pascha: 

Lazarus Saturday, commemorating Christ raising Lazarus from the dead (Troparion: By raising Lazarus from the dead before Thy passion, Thou didst confirm the universal resurrection, O Christ God! Like the children with the branches of victory, we cry out to Thee, O Vanquisher of Death: Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord!)

Palm Sunday, commemorating Christ's arrival in Jerusalem for the Passover (shares Lazarus Saturday's Troparion; in the evening Bridegroom Matins is celebrated since liturgically the Church is already in the morning of Holy Monday)

Holy Monday, on which Tuesday's Bridegroom Matins is celebrated (Christ being the Bridegroom of the Church)

Holy Tuesday, on which Wednesday's Bridegroom Matins is celebrated

Holy Wednesday, on which Thursday's Bridegroom Matins is celebrated (and in some parishes, the service of Holy Unction, or anointing of oil for physical and spiritual healing)

Holy Thursday, on which the Church remembers Judas' betrayal of Christ, and the Last Supper (Troparion: "When Thy glorious disciples were enlightened at the washing of their feet before the supper, then the impious Judas was darkened by the disease of avarice, and to the lawless judges he betrayed Thee, the Righteous Judge. Behold, O lover of money, this man because of avarice hanged himself. Flee from the insatiable desire which dared such things against the Master! O Lord who deals righteously with all, glory to Thee"- liturgically the Church is already celebrating Holy Friday)

Holy Friday, on which Christ dies on the cross and is buried (liturgically, the Church is already entering Holy Saturday)

Holy Saturday, which Christ spends in the tomb/ preaching to the dead in Hades (it is the day of rest, after all; liturgically the Church is preparing for Pascha, the services of which begin late Saturday night and continue into Sunday morning, and then you have the feasts which continue til around 4 in the morning)

Pascha, on which we celebrate Christ's resurrection!

Videos:

And... I'm off to change into Pascha clothes, and read Psalms to keep myself awake until AFR starts broadcasting!

Blessed Holy Week and Pascha to all of you!

Christ is Risen!