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Calendar of Services for Lent, Holy Week, and Pascha — 2025

1 March 2025 at 07:30

“Come, O ye people, and today let us accept the grace of the Fast as a gift from God and as a time for repentance, in which we may find mercy with the Savior”
_{— Matins of Monday in the First Week of Lent}

^{Crucifixion of our Lord — Basilica of St. Mark, Venice, Italy}

1^st WEEK OF LENT

Monday, 03 March, at 6 PM ᛭ Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete

Tuesday, 04 March, at 6 PM ᛭ Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete

Wednesday, 05 March, at 6 PM ᛭ Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts

Saturday, 08 March, at 6 PM ᛭ Vespers for the First Sunday in Lent

Sunday, 09 March, at 9 AM ᛭ Sunday of Orthodoxy ᛭ Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great with procession with icons and the Rite of Orthodoxy

2^nd WEEK OF LENT

Wednesday, 12 March, at 6 PM ᛭ Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts

Saturday, 15 March, at 6 PM ᛭ Vespers for the Second Sunday in Lent

Sunday, 16 March, at 9 AM ᛭ Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas ᛭ Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great

3^rd WEEK OF LENT

Wednesday, 19 March, at 6 PM ᛭ Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts

Saturday, 22 March, at 6 PM ᛭ Vespers for the Third Sunday in Lent

Sunday, 23 March, at 9 AM ᛭ Sunday of the Holy Cross ᛭ Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great

4^th WEEK OF LENT

Monday, 24 March, at 6 PM ᛭ Feast of the Annunciation ᛭ Vespers for the Feast of the Annunciation

The Feast of the Annunciation is Tuesday, 25 March.

Wednesday, 26 March, at 6 PM ᛭ Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts

Saturday, 29 March, at 6 PM ᛭ Vespers for the Fourth Sunday in Lent

Sunday, 30 March, at 9 AM ᛭ Sunday of St. John of the Ladder ᛭ Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great

5^th WEEK OF LENT

Wednesday, 02 April, at 6 PM ᛭ Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts

Thursday, 03 April, at 6 PM ᛭ Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete

Saturday, 05 April, at 6 PM ᛭ Vespers for the Fifth Sunday in Lent

Sunday, 06 April, at 9 AM ᛭ Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt ᛭ Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great

6^th WEEK OF LENT

Wednesday, 09 April, at 6 PM ᛭ Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts

Lent ends on the evening of Friday of the 6^th week. Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday are somewhat days of transition between Lent and Holy Week, Palm Sunday also being one of the Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church. Holy Week begins on the evening of Palm Sunday.

Saturday, 12 April, at 6 PM ᛭ Vespers for the Feast of the Entry of Our Lord into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday)

Sunday, 13 April, at 9 AM ᛭ Feast of the Entry of Our Lord into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday) ᛭ Festal Divine Liturgy with the Blessing of Palms

HOLY WEEK

Wednesday, 16 April, at 6 PM ᛭ Great and Holy Wednesday ᛭ Office of Holy Unction

Thursday, 17 April, at 6 PM ᛭ Great and Holy Thursday ᛭ Matins of Great and Holy Friday (Twelve Passion Gospels)

Friday, 18 April, at 2 PM ᛭ Great and Holy Friday ᛭ Vespers of the Cross

Friday, 18 April, at 7 PM ᛭ Great and Holy Friday ᛭ Matins of Great and Holy Saturday (Jerusalem Matins) with Procession

Saturday, 19 April, at 10 AM ᛭ Great and Holy Saturday ᛭ Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil the Great

Saturday, 19 April, at 11:30 PM ᛭ Great and Holy Saturday ᛭ Midnight Office

The Midnight Office is the last service in the Lenten Triodion. While the Midnight Office is part of the Paschal vigil, at its conclusion we fully enter in the joy of Pascha.

GREAT AND HOLY PASCHA (EASTER)

Sunday, 20 April, at 12 AM ᛭ Great and Holy Pascha ᛭ Paschal Matins, Paschal Hours, Paschal Divine Liturgy, Blessing of Baskets, and Agape Feast^*

^*All are invited to bring a basket to be blessed at the conclusion of the Paschal liturgy before we break the Great Fast together. Traditional basket examples can be found here and here, but are by no means necessary. More importantly, come!

Harrowing of Hades - Chora — ^{The Harrowing of Hades — Chora Church, Istanbul (Constantinople), Turkey}

Forgiveness Sunday (Cheesefare Sunday) and the Beginning of Lent

27 February 2025 at 09:10

Glory to Jesus Christ!

This coming Sunday, 02 March 2025, is Forgiveness Sunday, the last day before we enter the season of Lent. This day is also known as Cheesefare Sunday, as it is the last day we consume dairy items before we break the Fast together after the Paschal liturgy. (Please see Fr. Gregory with any questions regarding the Great Fast).

After the Liturgy on Sunday, we will serve a portion of Forgiveness Vespers, culminating with the Rite of Forgiveness.

The Rite of Forgiveness is a beautiful opportunity for each of us, recognizing our own sinfulness and need for repentance, to ask and receive forgiveness from each other. It is truly our gateway to Lent. As we ask and receive forgiveness from each other, the choir will begin to sing Paschal hymns in anticipation of the Resurrection of our Lord, which we will celebrate on the Feast of all Feasts, Pascha (Easter).

Please join us next week for the first of our Lenten services, beginning with the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete:

Monday, 03 March at 6 PM – Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete
Tuesday, 04 March at 6 PM – Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete
Wednesday, 05 March at 6 PM – Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts

A full calendar of services for Lent, Holy Week, and Pascha will be posted soon.

The readings for Forgiveness Sunday (also the Sunday remembering the Expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden) are:

Romans 13.11-14.4 (Epistle)
Matthew 6.14-21 (Gospel)

Weekly Happenings for Meatfare Week – Baptism; Parish Council Mtg; Inquirer’s Class; Brotherhood Night; Meatfare

17 February 2025 at 07:01

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Congratulations to the Hillman family, who were baptized and received into the Orthodox Church on Sunday, 16 February 2025, before the Divine Liturgy! It was a joyous morning! Please continue to keep the Hillman’s in your prayers, as well as all of our church family.

Please note that there will be a parish council meeting on Tuesday, 18 February 2025, at 7pm, at the church.

On Wednesday, 19 February 2025, at 7pm, Fr. Gregory will continue our Inquirer’s Class for those interested in learning more about the Orthodox faith and/or our parish. Have a question? Please join us! A cancellation due to a possible inclement weather forecast will be posted on our website.

On Saturday, 22 February 2025, following Vespers, the St. Basil’s Brotherhood will meet at Mission BBQ in Bel Air to enjoy some fellowship and food as we wind down Meatfare week. Vespers begins at 6pm and the Brotherhood meeting should begin at approximately 7:15pm.

Please join us. All are welcome!

Sunday, 23 February 2025, is the Sunday of the Last Judgement, the third of the pre-Lenten Sundays. This Sunday is also the conclusion of Meatfare week and the last day to consume meat for those following the Fast.

The readings for the Divine Liturgy are:

1 Corinthians 8.8–9.2 (Epistle)
Matthew 25.31–46 (Gospel)

When You, O God, shall come to earth with glory, / all things shall tremble / and the river of fire shall flow before Your judgment seat; / the books shall be opened and the hidden things disclosed! / Then deliver me from the unquenchable fire, / and make me worthy to stand at Your right hand, Most Righteous Judge!
_{— Kontakion for the Sunday of the Last Judgement}

Icon of the Last Judgment from the house for pilgrims of the St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery in Kyiv, 17th c. (Source: National Art Museum of Ukraine)

Weekly Happenings – House Blessings; Great Fast; Baptism; Panikhida; Prodigal Son

12 February 2025 at 09:00

Glory to Jesus Christ!

House blessings continue through the beginning of Great Lent. Please see Fr. Gregory to schedule a time if you would like to have your house blessed.

In preparation to enter into the Great Fast, please note that this week is fast free! The weekly Wednesday/Friday fast will resume next week, Meatfare week, and then no meat will be consumed in Cheesefare week, followed by the beginning of Lent. This gradual entrance into the Fast is very practical and beneficial, as opposed to a sudden deep-dive into the Fast!

While Orthodoxy has a defined tradition of fasting, it should be noted that there are exceptions to the rule (e.g., small children, the sick, the very old, pregnant and nursing mothers, travelers, etc.) and that practical pastoral wisdom might be called for (e.g., it might not be beneficial for someone who has never fasted to take on a strict fast) when fasting. Everyone’s situation in life is different.

If anyone has questions regarding the Orthodox practice of fasting, please see Fr. Gregory.

“True fasting is being a stranger to vice, controlling the tongue, abstaining from anger, distancing oneself from lust, evil speech, lying, perjury. The absence of these vices makes fasting true, and so shunning these vices makes fasting good.
_{— On Fasting and Feasts, St. Basil the Great}

Saturday Vespers, 15 February 2025, will begin at the normally scheduled time of 6pm. Please join us!

This coming Sunday, 16 February 2025, at 8:30am, the Hillman family will be baptized and received into the Orthodox Church. Please join us on this joyous occasion! And please continue to keep the Hillman’s in your daily prayers.

The Divine Liturgy will begin at approximately 9:30am.

Following the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, we will pray a Panikhida (memorial service) for +David Mukai, on the 2 year anniversary of his passing. Memory eternal!

Sunday, 16 February 2025, is also the Sunday of the Prodigal Son, one of the pre-Lenten Sundays. The readings for the Divine Liturgy are:

1 Corinthians 6.12-20 (Epistle)
Luke 15.11-32 (Gospel)

I have recklessly forgotten Your glory, O Father; / and among sinners I have scattered the riches which You had given me. / Therefore, I cry to You like the Prodigal: / “I have sinned before You, O compassionate Father; / receive me a penitent and make me as one of Your hired servants.
_{— Kontakion for the Sunday of the Progigal Son}

Vespers Cancelled for Saturday, 8 February 2025

8 February 2025 at 16:15

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Due to the freezing rain, Vespers for this evening, Saturday, 8 February 2025, has been cancelled.

The Sunday morning Divine Liturgy should not be affected. If conditions worsen, a decision will be made by 7:30 Sunday morning and posted on our website.

February Men’s Brotherhood Group

8 February 2025 at 06:00

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Please join us at Mission BBQ on Saturday, 22 February 2025 (the eve of Meatfare Sunday), at 7:15pm, as the St. Basil Brotherhood will hold our monthly, informal get-together.

Better yet, join us for Vespers at 6pm and then join us for the brotherhood fellowship group!

All are welcome!