My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.
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ORTHODOX GREAT AND HOLY WEEK
"Behold the Bridegroom Cometh in the Midst of the Night..."
(The divine service is Matins [Morning Prayers] of Great and Holy Monday and chanted
by anticipation on Palm Sunday evening.)
Monday of Great and Holy Week (is chanted by anticipation, now Palm Sunday Evening) commemorates the blessed and noble Joseph and the fig tree which was cursed and withered by the Lord. The withering of the fig tree was a miracle of special symbolism since the tree had leaves, but not fruit. It is symbolic of the many people who claim ethical and religious identity, but who in reality have empty lives that yield no fruit. This was also the case with some of the Pharisees of that period. Jesus cursed the tree: "May no fruit ever come from you again" (St. Matthew 21:19). The reference to the story of the virtuous Joseph of the Old Testament (Genesis 37-41) is made only for contrast since the life of Joseph was a model of propriety and sincere observance of ethical principles.
On this evening, we begin with the Hymn of the Bridegroom (Christ), "Behold the Bridegroom comes in the midst of the night...beware, therefore, O my soul, lest thou be borne down in sleep...and lest thou be shut out from the Kingdom...".
The Gospel reading during this divine service is according to Saint Matthew 21:18-43.
GREAT HOLY AND MONDAY MORNING
"Both watch and pray..."
(The service is Orthros (Matins) of Tuesday morning sung by anticipation on Monday evening)
Tuesday of Great and Holy Week (sung by anticipation, now on Monday evening) commemorates the Parable of the Ten Virgins, St. Matthew 25:1-13). Ethical preparation and wakefulness are the foundations of vivid faith. The Parable of the Ten Virgins is developed around the theme of the Bridegroom: "Why are Thou heedless, O my soul?...Work most diligently with the talent which has been confided to thee; both watch and pray." The hymnologist reminds us, "I do not possess a torch aflame with virtue, and the foolish virgin I imitate when it is the time for action"; and "Into the splendor of thy saints, how can I, who am unholy enter?" The exhortation is given: "Come, Ye faithful, let us work earnestly for the Master...increase our talent of grace...Wisdom through good works."
The Gospel is Saint Matthew 22:15-23 through 23:39; 24-26 through 26:2.
GREAT AND HOLY TUESDAY EVENING
"When he came to himself...he came to his father..."
(The service is Orthros (Matins) of Wednesday morning sung by anticipation on Tuesday evening.)
On Wednesday of Great and Holy Week (sung by anticipation, now on Tuesday evening), it has been ordained by the Holy Fathers of the Church that commemoration should be made of the anointing of Christ with myrrh by the woman in the house of Simon, the leper, in Bethany. repentance was the mission of the Prophets. It would be an apt one-word title for the Holy Bible, because "repentance” was the mission of our Lord. This woman who demonstrates her repentance and her warm faith toward our Lord still presents to us the aroma of her virtue for imitation.
In the evening is chanted the beautiful "Hymn of Cassiane." It begins: "The woman who had fallen into many sins recognized Thy Godhead, O Lord; Woe to me, saith she; receive the sources of my tears, O Thou Who doth gather into clouds the water of the seas. Who can trace out the multitude of my sins and the abysses of my misdeeds? O Thou Whose mercy is unbounded."
The Gospel reading is according to Saint John 12:17-50.
GREAT AND HOLY WEDNESDAY MORNING
"The Light of Christ shineth for all..."
(The Divine Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts)
The Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is celebrated on this day for the last time during Great and Holy Lent. This very ancient Liturgy is a Vesper (Esperinos) Service, with the Holy Gifts presanctified in the Liturgy on the previous Sunday.
GREAT AND HOLY WEDNESDAY EVENING
"Anointing him sick with oil in the name of the Lord..."
(Mysterion [Sacrament] of Holy Oil [Unction] )
The Sacred ceremony of the Mysterion of the Holy Oil takes place on this Wednesday evening, following an old tradition. It is the evening or repentance, confession, and the remission of sins by the Lord, preparing the faithful Orthodox Christians to receive Holy Communion, usually the next day, Holy Thursday morning. Holy Unction (Holy Oil) is the Mysterion (Sacrament) for cleansing sins and renewing the body and the spirit of the faithful. Holy Oil is one of the Seven Sacraments of the Church, and it has its origin in the practice of the early Church as recorded in the Epistle (Letter) of Saint James (Iakovos) 5:14-15. At the end of the divine service, the priest anoints the Orthodox Christians with Holy Oil, the visible carrier of the Grace of God.
GREAT AND HOLY WEDNESDAY EVENING
"Let no fear separate you from Me..."
(The divine service is Orthros (Matins) of Thursday morning chanted by anticipation, on Wednesday evening.)
The Orthros (Matins) of Thursday morning is chanted by anticipation, on Wednesday evening. In many Orthodox churches, however, this divine service is chanted at its designated Thursday morning time, before the Vespers and Divine Liturgy. "On Thursday in Holy Week (now Wednesday evening or Thursday morning) the Holy Fathers of the Church, who had well-ordained things, handed down to us successively from the Holy Apostles and the Sacred Gospels to celebrate four events: the washing of the Disciples’ feet, the institution of the Holy Eucharist, the marvelous prayer, the betrayal."
The Gospel reading is according to Saint Luke 22:1-39.
GREAT AND HOLY THURSDAY MORNING
"Do this in remembrance of Me..."
(The divine service is the Vespers (Esperinos) and Divine Liturgy of Thursday which is chanted in the morning by anticipation.)
Jesus drew His last breath of freedom on this Thursday night. Christ knew all the incidents which were about to take place and called to Him His Apostles in order to institute the Holy Eucharist for them and for the Church forever. At the end of March, with the full moon as a brilliant lantern in the sky and the weather mild, the people in Jerusalem enjoyed the beginning of spring. In this atmosphere, Christ presented Bread and Wine as the Elements of His very Body and His very Blood; they are the Precious Gifts which have been left as his perpetual Presence in the Holy Church. This institution of the Holy Eucharist (Holy Communion) and it re-enactment through the centuries, both as a sacrifice and sacred ceremony (Mysterion), is the life-giving remembrance which, along with the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ, constitutes the basis of salvation for the Orthodox Christian.
The Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great is officiated on this holy day. The readings are: 2 Corinthians 11:23-32; St. Matthew 26:2-28; Saint John 13:3-17; St. Matthew 26:21-39; St. Luke 22:43-44; St. Matthew 26:40-75; St. Matthew 27:1-2. During this Divine Liturgy, the priest prepares the "Amnos," ("the Lamb") the Holy Communion, which is kept throughout the whole year to be given the Orthodox Christian faithful in times of sickness. The Holy Body and Precious Blood of Christ are present in the Church during the entire year and throughout the ages. On this day, with greater feeling than ever, Christians singing: "Receive me today, O Son of God, as a partaker of Thy Mystic Feast; for I will not speak of the Mystery to Thine enemies, I will not kiss Thee as did Judas, but like the thief, I will confess Thee, Lord, remember me when Thou comest to Thy Kingdom." (Source: O Logos by Father George Mastrantonis).
(To be continued)
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"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!" -- Saint John Chrysostom
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With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George