The first three evenings of Holy Week, the main theme is preparation and being wakeful, for we do not know at what hour the Lord will come to us.
"Behold the bridegroom cometh at midnight, and blessed is the servant whom he shall find awake. But he whom he shall find neglectful is truly unworthy."
Each evening also has its own subtheme:
Sunday Evening 6:30 p.m.
On Sunday evening, we commemorate the Noble Joseph of the Old Testament and the Fig Tree cursed by our Lord. Joseph was the 11th son of Jacob. Joseph's brothers were jealous of their fathers love for him, so the cast him into a pit and sold him into slavery in Egypt. He was put into prison, but eventually rose to governor of all of Egypt. In his life, he symbolized the Passion of Jesus Christ and his consequent great glory. The fig tree was cursed and it withered up. The fig tree is a symbol of Council of old Israel, that was stripped of its spiritual grace because it rejected Jesus Christ.Sunday evening also features the procession in which the icon of the Bridegroom is placed in the front of the church for all to venerate.
Monday Evening 6:30 p.m.
On Monday evening, we commemorate the Parable of the Ten Virgins. It teaches us to be ready for our end, not knowing when our hour is coming. The wise virgins were ready to meet the bridegroom, preparing by trimming their lamps with oil they had brought with them. But the foolish virgins were not prepared for the coming of the bridegroom and were left our of the banquet.
Tuesday Evening 6:30 p.m.
On Tuesday evening, we commemorate the anointing of our Lord with myrrh by the woman in Bethany, contrasting it to the treachery of Judas in his betrayal of Christ. The harlot anointed the head and feet of Jesus with expensive spikenard, and wiped them with the hair of her head; whereas, Judas plotted to betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.
Wednesday Evening 6:30 p.m.
Holy Unction is a sacrament of the Orthodox Church and is available to those who have prepared themselves by having received a recent Confession during Lent. Holy unction should be approached as any other sacrament: with prayer and fasting.
Thursday Morning 6:30 a.m.
The Vesperal Divine Liturgy of Basil the Great is served to commemorate the Lord's Supper. It is customary for all Orthodox Christians to prepare themselves and partake of Holy Communion. Also, during this service, the priest prepares the reserve sacrament that will be used as needed through the entire upcoming year.
In our parish, the service is scheduled early in the morning to allow everyone to attend, even before going to work or school. A light breakfast will be provided after the service to make it easier for those who must hurry off.
Thursday Evening 6:30 p.m.
This service commemorates the Holy, Dread, and saving Passion of Our Lord and the confession of salvation which the grateful thief made on the cross with him. We hear of Christ's voluntary suffering on the Cross and His death; which He received willingly for our sakes.
"Today He is suspended on a Tree, who suspended the earth over the waters."
During this service, the wooden cross is carried around the sanctuary in solemn procession and the icon of our Lord is nailed upon it. The clergy and faithful venerated the make prostrations before the icon of Christ and venerate it. The icon of Christ remains in this position until Vespers on Friday.
Friday Morning 9:00 a.m.
The First Hour, Third Hour, Sixth Hour and Ninth Hour services are held for Great and Holy Friday. These services, which are a part of the usual daily service cycle still served in Orthodox monasteries, include Old Testament readings from the Psalms and prophesies and New Testament readings of the Epistle and Gospel as prescribed by the church.
In our parish, the youth plan to be at the church to decorate the bier (or tomb) of our Savior with flowers. The bier is beautified and prepared to receive the epitaphion during the Vespers service this afternoon.
Friday Afternoon 4:00 p.m.
Often referred to as Unnailing Vespers, this solemn Vespers services includes prophesy readings and an epistle reading. During the reading of the Gospel, an account of Christ's betrayal and crucifixion is read, with further description of the removal of Christ's lifeless body from the Cross by Joseph of Arimathea, while the priest removes the icon of Christ from the Cross and wraps it in a white cloth and returns it into the altar. Also, during this service, the epitaphion is carried around the church in procession and placed in the bier for Friday evening service.
Friday Evening 7:00 p.m.
This service commemorates the entombing of our Lord and His subsequent descent into Hades. Three hymns of Praise are sung by the clergy, choir and people, each with many verses. In our parish, these hymns are sung in both English and Arabic. Also, during this service, the funeral bier of our Lord is carried in procession around the sanctuary, as the faithful process along side and venerate it as they pass under it. At the end of the service, the people will receive the blessed flowers that had decorated the bier.
Saturday Morning 10:00 a.m.
On Holy Saturday morning, we celebrate Vesperal Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great to commemorate our Lord's victory of death. As a sign of our Lord's triumph and victory, prior to the Gospel reading, the clergy process around the sanctuary with the altar servers and scatter bay leaves on the ground. This is our final day of preparation for Christ's Resurrection.
Saturday Evening 11:00 p.m.
The Resurrection Service commemorates the Life-Giving Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The priest carries the light of Christ into the midst of the faithful by appearing on the steps of the altar with a lighted candle in a completely darkened sanctuary. The faithful "Rush" to receive the light.
"Come ye, take light from the Light that is never overtaken by night. Come, glorify the Christ, risen from the dead."
The faithful, having proceeded to the front steps of the church, witness Christ's trampling of the gates of Hades as the priest raps on the door with the cross.
Following the Resurrection Service, the Paschal Homily of St. John Chrysostom is delivered, as is the tradition across our Archdiocese. This is followed by the Paschal Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom.
It is the tradition in our Parish to break the fast of the season of Great Lent together with a meal prepared by the parishioners. All visitors are invited to join with us in this celebration.
Sunday Morning 11:00 a.m.
Vespers is held on Sunday morning to proclaim the Good News of the Resurrection from the dead of Jesus Christ. In this Vespers service, the love ("agape" in greek) of God, for his creation, is displayed as the Gospel of our Lord's Resurrection is read in many languages.
"Today is the Day of Resurrection! Let us shine with the Feast! Let us embrace one another. Let us say, Brethren! And because of the Resurrection, let us forgive all things to those who hate us, and in this wise, exclaim:
Christ is risen from the dead; trampling down death by Death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life."
-Doxastikon of Holy Pascha