Dear Brethren and Friends of St Elizabeth’s,
Here are some pictorial guides for putting together a traditional Pascha basket that might be helpful to you.
With much love in Christ,
Fr Mark
How to Put Together a Traditional Pascha Basket
Category Archives: Uncategorized
The Liturgical Meaning of Holy Week
Dear Brethren & Friends of St Elizabeth’s,
Now that we have completed the 40 days of the Lenten Fast, it is time for us to transition from our Lenten “preparation” to “participation” in the Our Lord’s Passion and Resurrection during Holy Week. Attendance at the divine services is essential in this endeavor. In addition to the link below of the Holy Week Schedule of Services is a short essay to help in the understanding of the divine services entitled, “The Liturgical Meaning of Holy Week.” May this help you in your “participation” this Holy Week.
A Liturgical Explanation of Holy Week
With much love in Christ,
Fr Mark
HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE 2018
HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE 2018
Friday, March 30
6:30pm: Matins for Lazarus Saturday
Lazarus Saturday, March 31
9:40am: Hours & Liturgy
5:30pm: Vigil & Blessing of Palms
Palm Sunday, April 1
9:40am: Hours & Liturgy
4:00pm: Bridegroom Matins
Holy Monday, April 2
6:30pm: Bridegroom Matins
Holy Tuesday, April 3
6:30pm: Bridegroom Matins
Holy Wednesday, April 4
6:30pm: Matins for Holy Thursday
Holy Thursday, April 5
10:00am: Vesperal Liturgy (Mystical Supper)
6:30pm: Matins w/ Passion Gospels
Holy Friday, April 6
9:00am: Royal Hours & Typika
1:30pm: Vespers w/ Taking Down from the Cross
6:30pm: Matins w/ Lamentations
Holy Saturday/Annunciation, April 7
10:00am: Vesperal Liturgy
1:00pm: Holy Saturday Lenten Meal
**HOLY PASCHA**
Saturday, April 7:
11:30pm – Midnight Office; Procession; Matins; Liturgy; Blessing of Baskets
(Pascha service extends into the early morning hours of Sunday, April 8)
Pascha Sunday, April 8
2:00pm: Agape Vespers
3:00pm: Pascha Cookout & Egg Hunt
Holy Unction: Wednesday, March 28, 2018
Dear Brethren & Friends of St Elizabeth’s,
This Wednesday – March 28 – at 6:30pm we will be serving Holy Unction for the faithful of the parish. This is a very special service of healing and forgiveness and is celebrated in the parish as a general service only once a year. Please take advantage of this blessing. Below you will find a brief description of Holy Unction and the rules for Holy Unction in both Russian and English. If you have any further questions, please contact Fr Mark.
With much love in Christ,
Fr Mark
Confession Resources: The Need for Frequent Confession & Tools for Preparing for Confession
Dear Brethren & Friends of St Elizabeth’s,
Great Lent – the season of repentance – is a time in the Church year for us to reset ourselves spiritually. One of the things to be reset for many of us is the frequency of our confessions. Confession should be a regular part of our spiritual lives, not just reserved for times of deep trouble or sorrow or for our deathbeds, Frequency of Confession helps us live lives that are mindful of God’s Commandments and creates in us a spirit that is desires to follow Christ with every action of our daily lives. Below are some resources to help with preparing for Confession as well as “A Brief Confession Before One’s Spiritual Father” by St Dmitri Rostov in both English and Russian.
Booklet “Confession: The Mystery of Repentance”: https://www.stmaryofegypt.org/files/library/conf/Conf_toc.htm
A Brief Confession before One’s Spiritual Father
Краткая Исповѣдь предъ духовникомъ.
A Brief Confession before One’s Spiritual Father & Краткая Исповѣдь предъ духовникомъ
With much love in Christ,
Fr Mark
Lenten Quotations for the Fourth Week of Great Lent (from The Lenten Triodion)
Dear Brethren and Friends of St Elizabeth’s,
Please follow the link below to read some of the stichera (verses) from the services of Matins and Vespers for the fourth week of Great Lent. They are taken from The Lenten Triodion, which is the special liturgical book used during this season of the year for our worship and edification. The verses chosen focus on how fasting, prayer, and practicing the Christian virtues are essential for our spiritual lives, which is being “refocused” during Great Lent.
With much love in Christ,
Fr Mark
Lenten Quotations for the Third Week of Great Lent (from The Lenten Triodion)
Dear Brethren and Friends of St Elizabeth’s,
Please follow the link below to read some of the stichera (verses) from the services of Matins and Vespers for the third week of Great Lent. They are taken from The Lenten Triodion, which is the special liturgical book used during this season of the year for our worship and edification. The verses chosen focus on how fasting, prayer, and practicing the Christian virtues are essential for our spiritual lives, which is being “refocused” during Great Lent.
With much love in Christ,
Fr Mark
Lenten Quotations for the Second Week of Great Lent (from The Lenten Triodion)
Dear Brethren and Friends of St Elizabeth’s,
Please follow the link below to read some of the stichera (verses) from the services of Matins and Vespers for the second week of Great Lent. They are taken from The Lenten Triodion, which is the special liturgical book used during this season of the year for our worship and edification. The verses chosen focus on how fasting, prayer, and practicing the Christian virtues are essential for our spiritual lives, which is being “refocused” during Great Lent.
With much love in Christ,
Fr Mark
Schematic for Reading the Four Gospels During Great Lent
Dear Brethren & Friends of St Elizabeth’s,
Please see the link below. It’s a scheme for reading all of the Gospels over the course of Great Lent. I highly recommend it for all.
With much love in Christ,
Fr Mark
Information About The Great Canon of St Andrew of Crete
Dear Brethren & Friends of St Elizabeth’s,
This is a reminder that Monday through Thursday evenings at 6:30pm this week we will be serving Great Compline and the Canon of St Andrew of Crete. Below is some edifying information about the Great Canon.
Podcast:
“The Cry of the Humbled Heart: The Ascetical Significance of the Great Canon”
You Tube Clip:
Full text of the Canon of St Andrew of Crete:
Essay: “The Who’s Who of the Great Canon of St Andrew of Crete:
With much love in Christ,
Fr Mark