Holy Week & Bright Week Schedule

The Feast of Pascha--the Resurrection of Our Lord--is the climax of the liturgical year.  The journey to the highpoint of our faith is felt with particular intensity in a monastery, where our lives literally revolve around prayer, fasting and preparation for this day.  Great & Holy Week is a week that on the Byzantine liturgical calendar is not even considered part of the 40 days of the Great Fast (the 40 days are completed this Friday); it is a week of its own special intensity and beauty.  Great & Holy Week can also be called the Week of the Bridegroom, because during this week, Jesus is preparing to lay down his life for His Bride, the Church (and for each of us individually).  This is why the icon of Christ the Bridegroom portrays Jesus in the moment of being mocked and humiliated as his Passion begins.  He loves us to the extent of humiliation, to death on the cross, to descending into Hades, and to raising our human nature with Him.  The coming week is a time to be with Him during all of this, so that we can experience, to a small degree, the depth of His love for us.

We encourage you to participate as much as possible in the Holy Week services at your parish, and we also welcome to join us at the monastery for any of these services listed below.  Our schedule can also be found on our Upcoming Events page.

Saturday, March 28, 2015 (Lazarus Saturday)

9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy 

Sunday, March 29, 2015 (Palm Sunday)

8:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy 

Monday, March 30, 2015 (Great & Holy Monday)

3:30 p.m. Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts

Tuesday, March 31, 2015 (Great & Holy Tuesday)

3:30 p.m. Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts

Wednesday, April 1, 2015 (Great & Holy Wednesday)

8:00 a.m. Bridegroom Matins with Bishop John,
                 followed by a light breakfast at the monastery (Please RSVP by Holy Monday)

Time TBA Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts & Anointing of the Sick

Thursday, April 2, 2015 (Great & Holy Thursday)

We will be attending Vespers & Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, 1900 Carlton Rd., Parma, Ohio, at 7:00 p.m.

Friday, April 3, 2015—our 6th anniversary (Great & Holy Friday)

7:00-9:30 a.m.  Matins with the 12 Gospel Readings

5:00 p.m. Vespers and Burial Procession

Saturday, April 4, 2015 (Great & Holy Saturday)

6:30 a.m. Jerusalem Matins

4:00 p.m. Vespers and Divine Liturgy of St. Basil

Sunday, April 5, 2015 (Pascha--the Resurrection of Our Lord)

8:00 a.m. Resurrection Matins, Divine Liturgy & Basket blessing

Monday, April 6, 2015 (Bright Monday)

8:00 a.m. Resurrection Matins & Divine Liturgy 

Tuesday, April 7, 2015 (Bright Tuesday)

9:00 a.m. Resurrection Matins & Divine Liturgy 

Wednesday, April 8, 2015 (Bright Wednesday)

9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy 

Thursday, April 9, 2015 (Bright Thursday)

9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy 

Friday, April 10, 2015 (Bright Friday)

8:00 a.m. Resurrection Matins & Divine Liturgy 

Saturday, April 11, 2015 (Bright Monday)

10:00 a.m. Memorial Divine Liturgy for Sr. Flora, celebrated by Bishop John

Refreshments at monastery (Please RSVP by Wed. April 7)

Sunday, April 12, 2015 (Thomas Sunday)

8:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy

Potluck at the monastery (please RSVP and let us know what dish you plan to bring)