Christ Is Risen!
Christ Is Risen!
After 50 Days of fasting and long services we celebrate Pascha by by having the longest service of the year.
Great Saturday starts with a baptism then we celebrate the liturgy of St. Basil with the changing of the vestments. The rest of the day is spent with the final preparations for Pascha.
At 9:30 pm the reading of the Acts of the Apostles begins and lasts till 11:30 pm when the lights go out and Midnight Office begins. The candles are lit and there is a procession around the church three times. The Gospel is read in front of the church door. When we enter the church it is decorated with flowers and the lights are all lit and Paschal Matins begin. Matins becomes the Paschal Liturgy where the gospel is read in every language present. At the end of liturgy the red eggs and the Artos are blessed and the feast begins at about 3:30-4:00 am. Sunday afternoon we have vespers followed by a Paschal feast with roast lamb.