Holy Week and Pascha
Coming up now are many pictures from Holy Week and Pascha at Holy Apostles Orthodox Church in Lansing. Take your time, look at these pictures, and thank God, as we did, that we can all say Christ is risen! To begin, St Vladimir’s Orthodox Church in Lopez, PA donated to us a new shroud (Plashchinitsa, or Epitaphion), as well as a new troitsa (three-branched candlestick. Here, we present the shroud. The candlestick appears later.
Holy Week began with the services of Palm Sunday. The church was beautifully arrayed in palms and pussywillow branches for the day. The branches were donated to the parish from some new friends from St Nicholas Church in Auburn, who also brought a pussywillow bush to give to the parish. See the pictures here.
Later that evening, we returned to celebrate Bridegroom Matins. This is a beautiful and solemn service that helps us to be expectant for the coming resurrected Christ. See the pictures here.
On Wednesday, the Sunday School kids dyed eggs red for the Paschal celebrations. Building off of several years of experience, they used brown eggs to get a deep color. Then they were rubbed with imported olive oil to give them a bright shine. See the pictures here. Later that night, the sacrament of Holy Unction was served. Everyone was too busy praying to take pictures, but many were anointed.
Thursday night brings the beloved Matins of the 12 Passion Gospels. This commenced after a successful choir rehearsal. See the pictures here.
Friday afternoon had us perform the Vespers with the Burial of Christ. Later that night, we came together to sing the Matins of Holy Saturday with the Lamentations at the tomb of Christ. At the end of the service we processed around the church, symbolizing the funeral procession for Christ to the Holy Sepulchre. See the pictures here.
Early on Saturday afternoon, we held the Vesperal Liturgy of St Basil. This is also another beautiful service, when all of the dark vestments and table coverings of Lent and Holy Week are replaced with white ones. See the pictures here.
Then, we get to the Great and Holy PASCHA!!! The first few pictures are before the service, showing all of our friends who came to celebrate the resurrection. But notice how the first dark picture has one candle. And then, how that one candle becomes several, eventually lighting up the entire sanctuary. The candlelit procession was remarkably beautiful, with candles being lit all around the church. We especially thank the crew that stayed behind to make the change inside the church. The weather behaved appropriately, with a few drops falling as we reentered the church. The Matins was beautiful, as we proclaimed “Christ is risen!” in many languages. We moved right into Liturgy. This was the first time that the parish has gone all the way through with the Paschal services. Afterwards, we blessed baskets – the meat and cheese and other fine foods. Then, a festive meal was shared, by parishioners, children and honored guests. See the pictures here.
And here we have even more pictures from Fr James’ mother, Kim. They go from Holy Friday evening to Pascha dinner. See the pictures here.
Holy Week began with the services of Palm Sunday. The church was beautifully arrayed in palms and pussywillow branches for the day. The branches were donated to the parish from some new friends from St Nicholas Church in Auburn, who also brought a pussywillow bush to give to the parish. See the pictures here.
Later that evening, we returned to celebrate Bridegroom Matins. This is a beautiful and solemn service that helps us to be expectant for the coming resurrected Christ. See the pictures here.
On Wednesday, the Sunday School kids dyed eggs red for the Paschal celebrations. Building off of several years of experience, they used brown eggs to get a deep color. Then they were rubbed with imported olive oil to give them a bright shine. See the pictures here. Later that night, the sacrament of Holy Unction was served. Everyone was too busy praying to take pictures, but many were anointed.
Thursday night brings the beloved Matins of the 12 Passion Gospels. This commenced after a successful choir rehearsal. See the pictures here.
Friday afternoon had us perform the Vespers with the Burial of Christ. Later that night, we came together to sing the Matins of Holy Saturday with the Lamentations at the tomb of Christ. At the end of the service we processed around the church, symbolizing the funeral procession for Christ to the Holy Sepulchre. See the pictures here.
Early on Saturday afternoon, we held the Vesperal Liturgy of St Basil. This is also another beautiful service, when all of the dark vestments and table coverings of Lent and Holy Week are replaced with white ones. See the pictures here.
Then, we get to the Great and Holy PASCHA!!! The first few pictures are before the service, showing all of our friends who came to celebrate the resurrection. But notice how the first dark picture has one candle. And then, how that one candle becomes several, eventually lighting up the entire sanctuary. The candlelit procession was remarkably beautiful, with candles being lit all around the church. We especially thank the crew that stayed behind to make the change inside the church. The weather behaved appropriately, with a few drops falling as we reentered the church. The Matins was beautiful, as we proclaimed “Christ is risen!” in many languages. We moved right into Liturgy. This was the first time that the parish has gone all the way through with the Paschal services. Afterwards, we blessed baskets – the meat and cheese and other fine foods. Then, a festive meal was shared, by parishioners, children and honored guests. See the pictures here.
And here we have even more pictures from Fr James’ mother, Kim. They go from Holy Friday evening to Pascha dinner. See the pictures here.
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