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Holy Week Services

A Guide to Holy Week Services at St. Aidan’s Orthodox Church, April 2014

The highlight of the Church year and the earliest festal celebration of the Church is Pascha (Easter). The celebration was originally tied to the Jewish feast of Passover (Pesach) where Christ’s Passion and Resurrection occurred. As the Church grew to encompass the Gentile (non-Jewish) nations, Pascha began to be celebrated on the first Sunday (the day of Resurrection) following the first full moon in the spring. The Pascal celebration was well established by 165 AD, as is described in Eusebius’s Ecclesiastical History, and the dating of when to celebrate it was affirmed at the 1^st Ecumenical council in Nicaea in 325 AD. While there was always some debate regarding the date at which Pascha should be fixed from the beginning, the present difference in dates that often falls between Eastern “Pascha” and Western “Easter”, goes back to 1582AD when Pope Gregory XIII adopted the “Gregorian” Calendar which changed the calculation for Easter, and the Orthodox Church kept to the original calculations.

Holy Week Services for St. Aidan’s

Wed. Ap. 16: 7:00 pm– Bridegroom Matins (approx. 1.5 hrs)

“Behold, the Bridegroom comes at midnight, and blessed is the servant whom He shall find watching…Your Bridal Chamber I see adorned, O my Saviour, but I have no wedding garment that I may enter.

O Giver of Light, enlighten the vesture of my soul and save me.”

- The theme of this beautiful service is the betrayal of Judas contrasted with the repentance of the Harlot. It follows the theme of the first three days of Holy Week where our Lord enters Jerusalem and voluntarily goes to His betrayal and to His death on the cross to redeem all of mankind from death.

Thur. Ap.17: 7:00pm: Matins with the 12 Passion Gospel Readings (approx 2.5 hrs.)

“Today He who hung the earth upon the waters is hung on the tree. The King of the angels is decked with a crown of thorns. He who wraps the heavens in clouds is wrapped in the purple of mockery…We worship Your passion O Christ. We worship Your passion O Christ. Show us also Your glorious Resurrection.”

- Today we accompany Christ our Lord as He voluntarily goes from the Garden of Gethsemane to be crucified and laid in his tomb by Joseph of Arimathea and the righteous Nicodemus. We contemplate our Lord’s journey in the 12 Gospel readings and in the deep and moving verses in the Canon and interspersed between the Gospel readings, the Beatitudes and the Praises throughout this touching service. We are called to experience the eternal and ever present reality of Christ’s work for our sake, not a distant historical event, but personally in the eternal here and now of our lives.

Fri. Ap. 18: 10:00 am Royal Hours (approx. 2 hrs.)

“Today the curtain of the temple is torn in two, To convict the transgressors, And even the sun hides his rays, Seeing the Master crucified.”

- The special 1^st, 3^rd, 6^th, and 9^th hours interspersed with Old Testament, Epistle, and Gospel reading and verses all on the theme of the Passion of our Lord. This is considered a very strict fast day and there is no celebration of the Divine Liturgy.

Fri. Ap. 18, 5pm Vespers with the Shroud Veneration (approx. 1.5 hrs.)

“When You the Redeemer of all were placed in a tomb, All Hades’ powers quaked with fear. Its bars were broken its gates were smashed. Its mighty reign was brought to an end, for the dead came forth alive from their tombs, casting off the bonds of their captivity. Adam was filled with Joy!”

- Today we set up and venerate the shroud of Christ. It is appropriate to bring flowers, particularly red and white to decorate the tomb with. We sing “Nobel Joseph” then we wait together taking a little refreshment from our fasting before staring Matins.

Fri. Ap.18, 7:30 Matins with Praises & Procession with the Shroud (approx 2.5 hrs.)

“Do not lament me, O mother, seeing in the tomb, the Son conceived in the womb without seed, for I shall arise, and be glorified with eternal glory as God. I shall exalt all who magnify you in faith and in love.”

- We gather again before the shroud and sing Psalm 119 with verses in between describing the events of Holy week. Then we take the Shroud of Christ and in procession circle once around the Church, finishing up with veneration of the shroud and the hymn “We worship Your Passion O Christ! We worship Your Passion O Christ!And Your Holy Resurrection. As many as can manage, take a shift before the Tomb of Christ and read the Psalms throughout the night until the next morning’s Liturgy of St. Basil.

Sat.Ap.19, 10:00 am Vesp. Divine Liturgy of St. Basil & 15 O.T.Rd.(approx. 2.5 hrs.)

“Today, Hades cries out groaning; ‘I should not have accepted the Man born of Mary. He came and destroyed my power. He shattered the gates of brass. As God, He raised the souls that I had held captive.’ Glory to Your Cross and Resurrection, O Lord.”

- Today is the bridge day, the day between the death of Christ on the cross and His glorious resurrection. Christ is not resting, death has no claim over Him. He enters into hell with His soul and blows it wide open freeing those captured there! The new life and restoration of man to God is accomplished! The vigil before the Tomb then continues with as many as can take a shift reading the book of Acts.

Sat. Ap. 19, 11:30 pm, Nocturn 12:00, Paschal Matins 1:00, Liturgy (approx. 3 hrs.)

“Christ is Risen from the dead, Trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life!”

- The feast of feast, the glorious highlight of the entire year! Our preparation in prayer and fasting is now is fulfilled. After the brief Nocturn service we await with unlit candles until the light candle coming from the Altar comes and all light their candles in preparation for the great triple procession around the Church singing “Your resurrection O Christ our Saviour, the angels in heaven sing. Enable us in earth, to glorify You in purity of heart” Entering the Church again we joyously sing the Paschal Matins interspersed with many “Christ is Risen” choruses! The Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom follows with the Paschal sermon of St. John Chrysostom which has been read for many centuries encouraging us all. After the Liturgy, we assemble downstairs for the blessing of baskets and break the fast by enjoying the fruits of the blessed baskets before going home, tired but full of the joy of the resurrection!

Sun. Ap. 20, 12:00 Agape (Paschal) Vespers (service 45 minutes; fellowship - hours)

We gather to sing the short Vespers of Pascha service which is full of the resurrection joy from the Pascha service earlier in the morning. Once again “Christ is Risen” rings out. We then gather and share our joy with each other and the friends and visitors, feasting on the roast lamb and goat and celebrating the glorious resurrection of Christ!

Christ is Risen!!!

Welcome changes

A message from Father Andrew . . . . .

Hi all;

Please note that Matushka Sonia and myself are coming to Cranbrook next on March 29/30 not on March 22/23 as originally scheduled. We will be Chrismating the catechumen Carl into the Church at this time and this was when both his Godparents and parants could both make it. There will be Typica sevices this Sunday including a procession with icons for the Sunday of Orthodoxy immediately after the typica service……..love in Christ……

.Fr. Andrew 403-554-0193

Forgiveness Sunday

Father Andrew and Matushka Sonia will not be able to come as planned from Calgary for Vespers and Liturgy this weekend due to the weather. We will instead hold a Readers Forgiveness Vespers service following a Typika Service and potluck lunch. Please come and join us for this wonderful and important start to the Lenten season.

The Presentation of the Lord

Father Andrew will be coming from Calgary this weekend to serve Vespers at 6pm on Sat, Feb. 1. 

There will be a soup supper to follow.

Sunday services: Hours at 10:10am, Liturgy at 10:30am. Potluck lunch to follow. 

If you would like your house blessed, please set up a time with Father Andrew - Tel. (403)554-0913 (Fr. Andrew) or Tel. (403)217-9151 (Fr. at home).

Christmas Services

December 24, 2013

Candlelight Carol Service, 11:00pm

Cookies and Juice to follow

Midnight Liturgy, 12:00 am

Feast to follow

Please invite your friends to come with you to the Candlelight Service, and bring cookies to share with our guests. All are welcome to stay for Liturgy. Please bring something to share for our feast to follow the liturgy - our 40 day fast will be ending, so meat and dairy items are welcomed!! Breakfast at the Sandman before everyone heads home to Creston, Calgary, ect. 

A Special Collection

A SPECIAL  COLLECTION  FOR  THE  LOCAL SALVATION  ARMY 

WILL TAKE  PLACE AT ST. AIDANS

ON SUNDAY, DEC. 8TH 

Liturgy, September 22

Father Andrew will be stopping in, on his way home from the States, to serve us Vespers at 6pm on Saturday, September 21.

Sunday, September 22 - Hours at 10:10 am, Liturgy at 10:30 am. Potluck lunch to follow, with a meeting afterwards to discuss how many days a month Father can come, and other relevant details of the new church year.

Soup Supper to follow Vespers

Saturday, August 31

6pm - Vespers. Soup Supper to follow.

St. Aidan's Feast Day

Aidan of Lindisfarne

Our father among the saints, Aidan of Lindisfarne, Enlightener of Northumbria (?-651), was the founder and first bishop of the monastery on the island of Lindisfarne off the northeast coast of England. A Christian missionary, he is credited with restoring Christianity to Northumbria (Northern England). His feast day is August 31.

An inspired missionary, St. Aidan would walk from one village to another, politely conversing with the people he saw, slowly interesting them in Christianity. According the legend, the king gave Aidan a horse so that he wouldn't have to walk, but Aidan gave the horse to a beggar. By patiently talking to the people on their own level, Aidan and his monks slowly restored Christianity to the Northumbrian communities. Aidan also took in twelve English boys to train at the monastery, to ensure that the area's future religious leadership would be English. Orthodoxwiki.org.

Father Andrew will be arriving on the afternoon of August 31st, and would like to meet with families and take confession with those who are able. Vespers will be at 6 pm.

Sunday, September 1: Canons at 10:10 am, Liturgy at 10:30 am. There will be a potluck picnic to celebrate St. Aidan's Feast Day at Anca and Darrin's home in Silver Springs following liturgy. Call Ellen at 250-489-3246 for directions. A congregational meeting will follow lunch, to discuss the vision and plans for our community.

The Dormition Fast Begins

The feast of the Dormition or Falling-asleep of the Theotokos is celebrated on the fifteenth of August, preceded by a two-week fast. This feast, which is also sometimes called the Assumption, commemorates the death, resurrection and glorification of Christ’s mother. It proclaims that Mary has been “assumed” by God into the heavenly kingdom of Christ in the fullness of her spiritual and bodily existence.

Update: Father Kaleeg has finished his term with our parish, he will be greatly missed. Father Andrew will begin his position with our parish on August 31, coming every second week for vespers and liturgy. We are excited to welcome him to St. Aidans.

May 12th - Mother's Day

We will be having a Readers Service at 10:30am, followed by a potluck fellowship lunch and weiner/marshmallow roast.

Afterwards, we will have a bocce ball tournament, Mothers against all those brave enough to face them.

Wednesday night service is on

Father Kaleeg will be here for our Wednesday night service. :)

All other services are as scheduled.

Pascha Week Calendar

Holy Saturday, April 27 - Vespers @ 6pm

Holy Sunday, April 28 - Hours @ 10:10 am & Liturgy with Blessing of the palms and Procession @ 10:30

Holy Monday, April 29 - Bridegroom Matins @ 7 pm

Holy Wednesday, May 1 - Presanctified Liturgy @ 6pm followed by soup supper

Holy Thursday, May 2 - Matins with Passion Gospels @ 6pm

Holy Friday, May 3 - Vespers @ 3:30 pm followed by soup supper

                                   - Matins with Procession @ 6:30 pm

Holy Saturday, May 4 - Vesperal Liturgy @ 10am

                                           - Midnight office with Procession and Paschal Liturgy @11:30 pm followed by

                                              Blessing of baskets    

                       

PASCHA Sunday, May 5 - Agape Vespers @ 12 noon followed by Feast! (approximately 1pm)

Please invite all friends and family to the feast! To ensure that there is enough food for everyone, please bring an entrée and either a side dish or a desert. There will be a lamb and a turkey provided.

* Due to a Family Emergency, Father Kaleeg will not be arriving from Vancouver on Saturday, April 27th as planned.

Holy Saturday Vespers and Holy Monday Bridegroom Matins will not change, but Divine Liturgy on April 28th will become a Typika Service.

Presanctified Liturgy on Wednesday may be cancelled, we will let you know as soon as we know.

All other services are expected to stay the same.

Please pray for Father Kaleeg and his 3 little girls - they need comfort and strength right now.

Meeting/Discussion/Ideas

Hello Parish,

We need to begin to discuss some possibilities for our parish for the future, so I would like to add as many people to this blog as possible from the parish. Please contact me and I can send you an invite via email.
We will be having a brief parish meeting this coming sunday to discuss some issues and ideas for the future. Fr. Kaleeg will be with us this weekend serving Vespers and Liturgy for the Elevation of the Cross. See you then!
And if you are reading this, maybe drop a comment in the comment section, I see that there are a number of daily visitors to this site, I am curious as to the readership.

-David