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For the second time since our foundation, we have successfully celebrated Holy Week here at Nativity of the Holy Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church in Greenville, NC!

Father Anastasios, who lives in Raleigh and serves a mission there as well as here in Greenville, came on Thursday night for the Passion Gospels Service, Friday night for the Epitaphios Service, and Saturday night for the Paschal (Easter) Service. The Passion Gospels commemorate the Gospel narratives of Our Lord's betrayal and Crucifixion, broken down in to twelve readings. Between each reading are several hymns. The high point of the service is the procession with the Cross of Christ, which is brought out from the altar by the priest and carried around the interior of the Church, while singing the famous hymn: "Today He who hung the earth upon the waters..."

On Friday evening, we served the Matins of Holy Saturday (Holy Week services are served "by anticipation," a few hours before they normally would be during normal time), which commemorate the burial of Christ. It is, in essence, a burial service, with hymns commemorating the mystery of how the God of the Universe, who took flesh, is now lying dead in the tomb; yet His Divinity is at the right hand of the Father, as well as everywhere, and His Life-giving soul is in Hades, the realm of the Old Testament dead, preaching the Gospel to all and preparing for the Resurrection. His body is thus engaging in a Sabbath rest, while His divinely-covered soul is in Hades working the great miracle, the release of Adam and Eve from the ancient curse of death. What a mystery! We then take the Epitaphios, or burial shroud, which is housed in a structure called a kouvouklion, or bier, and process around the Church outside.

Pascha, Easter, the Resurrection came on Saturday night. We began by reading the Canon (hymn) of Holy Saturday, followed by the Resurrection Matins, which begin with the Resurrection Gospel being chanted outside and the singing of "Christ is Risen," a traditional song for Pascha. Processing in, we sang the Canon of Resurrection Matins, and completed the service with the Divine Liturgy, at which those prepared received Holy Communion, the True Body and Blood of Our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ.

A festive meal followed, and at 2:30 am, the assembled worshippers, tired but content with the joy of the day, returned to their homes to rest.

Conducting the series of Holy Week services is tough, and requires a lot of preparation, but the spiritual payoff is a great blessing. We missed seeing some of you there, but the good news is that every Sunday is a "little Resurrection." Our next liturgy will be Sunday, April 18, and we look forward to seeing you then!

Christ is Risen! Χριστός ανέστη!

Fr. Anastasios

Holy Friday and Pascha 2010

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