‘I am not in favor of changing our tradition regarding musical instruments (and if I could, I would create a virus that destroyed every organ in every Orthodox church), but I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE AN EXCEPTION HERE: Christ is risen troparion, sung with drums, in Africa. Note the priest conducting! It starts out conventionally, then really gets your feet tapping!
Year: 2011
Tra-deeeeee-shun!
Pictures of some of our Holy Week traditions *peculiar* to St Nicholas
Pictures and Video from Holy Week, Pascha
Pictures and video from Holy Week, Pascha, at St Nicholas, 2011
The Sunamite woman, Abraham and Ezekiel proclaim the resurrection Holy Saturday Liturgy 2 Kings 4:8-37 Genesis 22:1-18 Ezekiel 37:1-14
We proclaim the resurrection every week in the scriptures read in matins on Sunday. The resurrection is also declared in a hidden way in the OT. On this Holy Saturday, after we have read the Gospel of Matthew in front of the tomb which proclaims the resurrection, let us see how three of the readings we have recently read from the OT proclaim it in a mystical and beautiful way, with examples including Abraham, Ezekiel, and the Sunamite woman.
Homily before the shroud. Three reactions to Christ: hate, love, indifference.
he readings of the narrative of the passion of our Lord give us an understanding of the character of our Lord and our our character. I found, and I am sure many of you found this as well, that last night and this morning as Father was reading, as the Lord stood before Pilate, that my heart was often cold, and my mind wandered. The words from St Ephrem the Syrian really resonate: “All creation was in fear and trembling when the King of Heaven, the Savior, suffered, while we sinners, for whom the Only immortal was given up ever treat this with contempt” What follows is a short discussion of the responses to our Lord during His passion, and at all times: devotion, hatred, and indifference. By Deacon Nicholas Park.
Behold the man! What is truth! Holy Week – Holy Friday – At the tomb John 18:38; John 19:5
Brothers and sisters, behold the Man.
That?s what Pilate said. He also said, ?What is truth??
To ?behold the man? is to behold truth, but Pilate didn?t notice. Why didn?t he notice?
Because he did not live according to the truth.
Why was Jesus Christ crucified?
Because people did not live according to the truth.
Why was the crowd, the tumult, why was the crown of thorns, the sham trial, the false witnesses?
Because people did not live according to truth, and therefore they did not recognize Truth.
When the Scripture says something, we must listen. Pilate said, ?Behold the Man.? So we must then obey this instruction….
Behold the man! A command we must respond to. At the tomb, Good Friday Vespers.
We must answer the questions that are asked and the commands that are given in Scripture. Before giving up Jesus to judgment, Pilate asked a question: “Behold the man!”, and gave a command: “What is truth?” What should be our response to these? Our life hands in the balance, depending on what we answer.
Holy Thursday. Passion Gospels.
A short reflection on the value of the Holy Friday services, which begin on Thursday evening.
Electronic Newsletter — PASCHA 2011
Christ is Risen! Newsletter. Holy Week and Pascha Schedule.
He reckoned up the value of the oil of myrrh, and yet was not afraid to sell thee who art above all price. Judas and us. Holy Thursday Liturgy.
Synopsis: On Holy Thursday we remember the institution of the Eucharist, and how it is salvific for man – but not for all. Much of our hymnology for this day speaks of Judas and his betrayal of the Lord. If we listen carefully, Judas is not just a historical figure far removed from us, but we will feel deeply that we have dangerous similarities to him. Judas fell into the insanity of deicide because of long-standing passions, and bad choices, In a word, he had bad priorities. This point is “hammered home” in many hymns, such as the one we choose to discuss:
Judas the transgressor at the supper /
dipped his hand into the dish with Thee, O Lord, /
yet sinfully he reached out his hands to receive the money. /
He reckoned up the value of the oil of myrrh, and yet was not afraid to sell Thee who art above all price. /
He stretched out his feet to be washed, yet deceitfully he kissed the Master
and betrayed Him to the breakers of the Law. /
Cast out of the company of the apostles, /
he threw away the thirty pieces of silver, /
and did not see Thy Resurrection on the third day. //
Through this Thy Resurrection have mercy on us.
(Praises, Matins of Holy Thursday, Tone 2)