We return to the church at midday on Pascha for this “Love Vespers.” As on every day of Bright Week, we only sing hymns of the Resurrection. The Gospel is read in as many languages as possible, as the Good News of the Resurrection goes out to every tribe and nation. We again exchange paschal greetings and share the traditional red eggs.
Tag: Saint Willibrord
The vigil begins in darkness with the Midnight Office. The Paschal Flame is then carried out, and the light spreads among the people as we process outside the church. The Resurrection Gospel is proclaimed, and we re-enter the church and everything is full of light, like the souls of all the dead entering into heaven with Christ as their champion. We sing the Paschal Canon and celebrate the Eucharist, full of joy on this day of Resurrection. Christ is risen!
Also known as the “First Liturgy of Pascha,” in truth, this is first service of Pascha. The vesperal hymns are those of Resurrection: Hades weeps with regret, wondering how he could have taken this Man, who turned out to be God. The beautiful doxasticon hymn tells us that Christ has spent this Great Sabbath in the tomb, resting from His work. The Old Testament readings prophecy of the Resurrection, and reach their pinnacle with the singing of Psalm 81: “Arise, O God, and judge the earth!” as the priest scatters flower petals throughout the church. St. Matthew’s account of the Resurrection is proclaimed, and the Cherubic Hymn is from the Liturgy of St. James: “Let all mortal flesh keep silence.”
On Lazarus Saturday, eight days before Pascha, we celebrate the resurrection of Lazarus the friend of Christ. In this, the Lord gave a sign of His own Resurrection as He demonstrated His power over death.
The Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is a service for the distribution of Holy Communion on the weekdays of Lent. Because Lent is a season of fasting and repentance, and the regular Divine Liturgy has a joyful character not in keeping with these seasonal themes, the more somber Presanctified Liturgy is offered on weekday evenings, or sometimes in the morning.
The Akathist Hymn is a poetic masterpiece written by Saint Romanos the Melodist in the 6th century. The fifth Saturday of Lent is dedicated to this beautiful hymn that describes the incarnation of the Son of God, Jesus Christ.
The Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is a service for the distribution of Holy Communion on the weekdays of Lent. Because Lent is a season of fasting and repentance, and the regular Divine Liturgy has a joyful character not in keeping with these seasonal themes, the more somber Presanctified Liturgy is offered on weekday evenings, or sometimes in the morning.
The Akathist Hymn is a poetic masterpiece written by Saint Romanos the Melodist in the 6th century. In the Byzantine Orthodox tradition (Greek, Antiochian, Romanian), on the first four Friday evenings of Lent a portion of the Akathist is read along with the service of Small Compline. The service is also known as the “Salutations”, as each verse of the Akathist begins with the “Hail!” of the Archangel Gabriel (Luke 1:28).