Holy Week & Pascha (Easter Sunday)
31 March - 4 April 2010
 

Sacrament of Holy Unction
Wednesday, 31 March 2010

The faithful bring clothes, icons and crosses to be blessed.		During the service, seven Epistles and seven Gospels are read.		Reading one of the Holy Gospel readings over some of the faithful.
		At the end of the service, everyone comes forward to be anointed with the holy oil.

Divine Liturgy w/ Blessing of the Bread & Wine for Paşti
Thursday, 1 April 2010

The Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great is celebrated.		During the recitation of the Creed.		During the Consecration of the Gifts.
During the recitation of the Prayer before Holy Communion.		The faithful receive Holy Communion.		The bread and wine used for making the "paşti" are blessed at the end of the Liturgy.

Reading of the Twelve Gospels
Thursday, 1 April 2010

Twelve Gospels are read concerning the passion of Christ.		The faithful kneel for the readings.		Fr. Romey reading one of the Gospels.
		The faithful come forward to kiss the cross bearing the icon of the Crucifixion of Christ.

Vespers w/ Laying of Christ in the Tomb
Friday, 2 April 2010

Fr. Romey reads the Holy Gospel concerning the death and burial of Christ.		The body of Christ, symbolized by the icon of the Crucifixion, is removed from the cross.		The Epitaph, depicting the burial of Christ, is placed in the tomb.
Fr. Romey gives the dismissal blessing.		At the end of the service, the clergy and faithful come forward to venerate the tomb.

Lamentations Service (Prohodul)
Friday, 2 April 2010

The Lamentations funeral service is celebrated.
The procession prepares to go around the church.		The procession, led by the Epitaph, goes around the church.
		Upon returning to the entrance, everyone passes under the Epitaph, symbolizing entering into the grave with Christ.
				The reading of the Holy Gospel.
The faithful come forward in a quiet church to venerate the tomb.

Resurrection Matins
Sunday, 4 April 2010

"Come receive the light from the never-ending Light..."		Faithful light their candles.		The procession makes its way through the crowd...
...and begins to make its way around the church.				Everyone gathers at the entrance before entering the church.
				The Holy Gospel announcing the empty tomb is proclaimed.
				"Open the gates you princes and let the King of Glory enter in!"
The clergy and faithful make their way into the brightly lit church to continue the service.
The choir and cantors leading the responses.		Fr. Horaţiu censes during the singing of the Paschal Canon.
Fr. Romey censes during the singing of the Paschal Canon.				The Paschal baskets waiting to be blessed.
		The dismissal blessing.		At the end of the Resurrection Matins service, the traditional blessing of baskets takes place.
		The faithful come forward to be anointed with Holy Oil at the end of the service.
		Fr. Horaţiu and Fr. Romey pause for a photo.

Resurrection Divine Liturgy
Sunday, 4 April 2010

"Wisdom! Arise!"		The cantors read the Epistle.
The Holy Gospel is proclaimed in both the English & Romanian languages.		"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."		Fr. Romey censing during the singing of the Cherubic Hymn.
"Take, eat, this is My Body which is broken for you for the forgiveness of sins."		"And make this bread the precious Body of Your Christ. And that which is in this cup the precious Blood of Your Christ."		The choir leads the responses under the direction of Theo Vingarzan.
The faithful come forward for Holy Communion.				Following the service, the ladies of the parish prepared pastries for the reception in the hall.
Fr. Romey blesses the food.		Members of the Youth Group selling paper egg ornaments to raise funds for charity.		A couple young men decorating their eggs.
		A group of parishioners wearing their traditional Romanian costumes gather for a photo in front of the church.