• Passion Gospel Matins - celebrated on Thursday evening - the crucifixion of our Lord as accounted for in all four Gospel accounts. After the 5th Gospel reading, the cross is processed out and placed in the middle of the Church and then the body of our Lord is placed upon it.
• Royal Hours - Recounting the Passion of our Lord through Old Testament prophetic readings, the Epistles, and the Gospel.
• Holy Friday Vespers - The burial of our Lord: the removal of the body of Christ from the cross and wrapped in a winding sheet by our children. Our Lord is then placed in the tomb.
• Holy Friday Matins - the Lamentations - A service of lament over our Lord’s death but also of wonder as “a tomb holds Him who holds creation in the hollow of His hand.” During this service the Myrrh Bearing Women (any of our women and girls) sprinkle rose water upon the tomb. Towards the end of the service we will process with the shroud around the exterior of the Church. After the conclusion of the service, the “Tomb Watch” begins - the Psalter being read before our Lord’s tomb throughout the night.
• Holy Saturday Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil - The vesper’s portion emphasizes the “Harrowing of Hades” - our Lord’s assault upon Hades - death itself. There are 15 Old-Testament readings prophesying our Lord’s resurrection. This service transitions us into the celebration of our Lord’s resurrection - after the Epistle Reading, while “Arise, O God, and judge the earth” is sung, the clergy and servers switch to white vestments and all the cloths in the Church are changed over to white.
• Great and Holy Pascha - The late evening begins with readings from the Acts of the Apostles and leads into Nocturnes - the midnight service where all the lights are put out. Guided by candle light, we then process around the Church three times, pausing at the front closed front doors which represent the gates of Hades. We “break” them down and joyfully proclaim, Christ is Risen! Matins & Divine Liturgy begin.