A Brief Guide to the Holy Week Services at St. Aidan’s Orthodox Church 2025

For those who are new to Orthodoxy, I would like to share with you some of the traditions we have here at St Aidan’s.

Wednesday April 9. Holy Unction Service 6:00 pm – 8:15pm

This year as we usually do, we are holding this service on the Wednesday directly before we enter into Holy Week. This service is for the healing of body and soul and the forgiveness of sins. To do the full service would require 7 priests and include 7 separate anointings with the healing oil (one Gospel reading and 1 anointing each) However, for small parishes in remote places like ours, the service is done by one or two priests with everyone coming for healing coming up for anointing at the end of the service. Many healings of both body and soul have be experienced at these unction services. If you are planning on coming up for anointing, you should be fasting from at least noon and preferably from breakfast on Wednesday if possible.

Saturday April 12 – 9:00 am – 11:00 am Lazarus Saturday Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, Followed by Church cleaning bee!

Pussy willows and Palm branches will be tied together on Lazurus Saturday in preparation for Palm Sunday when we wave them during the service. If anyone can collect pussywillows before Saturday, it will be appreciated.

While not officially part of Holy Week, Our journey to Christ’s passion and resurrection starts in earnest on Lazarus Saturday. Christ is on His way to go to His voluntary death on the cross and preparing His apostles, telling them that this is why He came, to encounter death and defeat it for all of mankind. On His way to Jerusalem He stops at the grave of His friend Lazarus who has been dead for 4 days, and by now should have started decomposing, “Surely he stinketh” we hear from his sister Martha. Christ makes no comment on the tragedy of death. He just weeps. Christ then raises Lazarus from the dead! All of Jerusalem and those many thousands gathered for the feast of Passover hear of this and marvel. We join them in celebrating this great victory over our greatest enemy – death. Tomorrow as He enters into Jerusalem, we join with the crowds waving Psalms (and pussywillows) crying; Hosana (God save me!)

Sunday April 13 – 10:30am (followed by Lenten potluck) Entrance of the Lord into Jerusalem – Palm Sunday St. John Chrysostom Liturgy (approx. 2 hrs.)

On these two days (Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday) between Lent and Holy Week we celebrate with Christ! Even the rocks and trees are giving praise! As we come and enter into Kairos (eternal) time in this Palm Sunday Liturgy we are waving our Palms and willows and singing “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” Then tonight at the start of Holy Week we start to follow Christ to His voluntary death on the cross for the life of the world.

Sunday April 13; Monday April 14; Tuesday April 15, 6:00 pm Bridegroom Matins (approx.2 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.

Wed. April 16: 6:00pm – Pre-sanctified Liturgy (approx. 1.5 hrs.)

All during Great Lent on Wed. evenings we are blessed to serve the beautiful service of pre-sanctified Liturgy. This Wednesday evening is the last chance to come to one of these special services before next Great lent. On Sunday an extra lamb is prepared and sanctified at the Sunday Liturgy service. There is therefore no Anaphora section in the Liturgy so…“Pre-sanctified.” A most reverent and precious service.

Thurs. April 17: 10:30 am: St. Basil Vesperal Divine Liturgy (approx. 2 hrs.)

The Lord’s supper is given to us as a saving sacrament to strengthen and transform us from this day until His second coming as we celebrate with thankfulness the start of our Lord going to His voluntary passion to redeem all of mankind. On this day the Reserve Sacrament for the sick is consecrated.

Thur. April 17: 5:30 pm – Matins with the 12 Passion Gospel Readings (appx 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 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 power of this eternal and ever-present reality of Christ’s work for our sake, not as a distant historical event, but personally in the eternal here and now of our lives.

Fri. April 18: 9:00 am Royal Hours (approx. 2 hrs.)

Holy Friday is a strict fast day, the day of crucifixion, the day Christ is laid in the tomb. We create the tomb out of flowers. To that end we need an abundance of cut and potted flowers, primarily red and white intermixed with fragrant hyacinths. Christ is laid in the tomb we have created, after a procession around the church 1X. A vigil is held from the end of this Great and Holy Friday service (around 10:00pm) until the Great and Holy Saturday morning liturgy and baptismal service (around 10:00am). Then after that service, The Book of Acts is read until the Saturday night (10:00pm) Paschal service. A sign-up sheet will be put out during Holy Week so that during the vigil, individuals and families that have signed up for an hour or two can go to the church and read the psalms at the tomb.  Anyone can sign up to read over the tomb, it is a great blessing!

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

The special 1st, 3rd, 6th, and 9th 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 for this day only of all the days of the year there is no celebration of the Divine Liturgy allowed.

Fri. April 18: 4:00pm Vespers with the Shroud Veneration (approx. 2 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 ended, 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. Our young Myrrh bearing ladies spread flower petals on the tomb and we sing “Nobel Joseph.” We wait together taking a little refreshment from our fasting before Matins.

Fri. April 18, 6:30 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 take a 1 hr. shift before the Tomb of Christ and read the Psalms throughout the night until Saturday’s St. Basil Liturgy.

Sat. April 19: 10:30am Vesp. Divine Liturgy of St. Basil & 15 O.T. readings (approx. 2.5 hrs.)

This is the traditional day for baptisms. Today we have 11 catechumens who have been preparing for baptism and illumination, scheduled to be joyously brought fully into the Church during this service! “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 hades and blows it wide open, freeing those captured there! The new life and restoration of man to God is accomplished! Death is transformed into life! The colours in the Church are changed back to white from Lenten purple and the rose petals joyously scattered as we celebrate Christ’s victory over death! The vigil before the Tomb then continues and all who can take a turn reading the Acts until Pascha arrives!

Sat. April 19: 10:30 pm – Sun. April 20: 2:00 am Pascha!!! (approx. 3 ½ hr. service – Nocturns, Matins, Divine Liturgy)

The Paschal service begins at 10:30 pm Saturday night and continues until the early hours Sunday morning. (2:00am ish) Children frequently end up sleeping on the floor, under benches or in the loft. Make sure everyone is dressed warmly since around midnight, since the light of Christ comes from the Altar to all, and bearing our candles we do the triple victorious procession around the church as our shouts ring out, CHRIST IS RISEN!!! At the end of the service, red eggs are handed to everyone for the breaking of our fast. If anyone wants to dye the traditional red eggs, dye is available in the bookstore.

After the services, we share our Paschal baskets. These contain the food that we’ve all been craving during Lent, primarily finger food; cheese, crackers, sausage, jerky, fried chicken, yogurt, chocolate, alcohol etc. This is not the feast, that happens on Sunday afternoon. The baskets are a taste of what is to come. Each family creates and fills their own decorative basket or box. Those without family can make their own or get together with others. The baskets are placed on the tables in the hall with a candle and blessed after the service. Then we sleep.

The light of Christ comes from the Altar to all, and bearing our candles we do the triple victorious procession around the church as our shouts ring out, CHRIST IS RISEN!!! and then downstairs to bless baskets and joyously break the fast together! We should make it home by around 2-3 am!

Sunday April 20, 2:00 pm Agape Vespers (approx.. ¾ hr. service) then potluck/ feast 2:00- 5:00

Colours are something you may have noticed in the church as the liturgical seasons change. Right now we see purple for Lent and at the Great and Holy Saturday Baptismal Liturgy,  these will be changed to white for Pascha. Some people may be clothed in these colours as we move from mourning and darkness into the light of eternal love.

Sunday Service (Agape Vespers) starts later than usual on Sunday (2:00pm) and is not a liturgy since we had Sunday liturgy shortly after midnight. This is a short (1 hr.) service with shouts of Christ is Risen!!! The centre piece is a reading from the Gospel of John in many languages. Anyone who would like to read John 20:19-25 in a language other than English should speak to Father to arrange your spot. This may be the best service of the year to invite friends and family to as it is very short (by Orthodox standards) and full of the Paschal joy with “Christ is Risen” ringing out throughout the service and the day!

After the service is the Paschal Feast. This is a joyous celebration of food and fellowship. Everyone contributes pot luck style. Meats, dairy, desserts are there in abundance, but don’t forget the salads. When my family experienced our first Paschal Feast, there was nothing green available and we overindulged in the meat, much to our regret the next day. The kitchen will be open at 9 am for those who want to cook on site. BBQs will be available for those who want to grill. So far, the menu consists of lamb, brisket, turkey. Bring whatever you desire. We could have as many as 100 people in attendance since this is a great service to invite family and friends. Help on Lazarus Saturday after the Liturgy (9 am) cleaning up the Church interior and exterior and erecting the 15’ x 30’ tent in the yard would be most appreciated.

We will also have an Easter egg hunt for the children, so we need contributions of wrapped candy and plastic eggs to hold them.