384. Holy Monday night: Bridegroom Matins (Orthros) of Holy Tuesday

  Exaposteilarion from Bridegroom Matins, chanted in Arabic and then in English, by the Choir at Our Lady of Balamand Monastery, El Koura, Lebanon, Holy Week 2011 Gospel Reading: Matthew 22:15-46; 23:1-39 In tonight’s Gospel, the confrontation between Jesus and the authorities continues. They must stop this Man. Killing Him was the last option. The […]

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383. Holy Monday Morning Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts

As on the weekdays of Lent, so on the ordinary weekdays of Holy Week: There is no celebration of the full Divine Liturgy. The Anaphora (the consecration of the Holy Gifts) is omitted, and Holy Communion is received from that which was blessed previously. “presanctified” – in this case on Palm Sunday. Gospel Reading: Matthew 24:3-35 […]

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382. Palm Sunday Night: Bridegroom Matins (Orthros)

Introduction In our churches, Matins/Orthros is normally sung in the morning. So why, you may ask, are we now suddenly having it in the evening? Also and even odder, why during Holy Week do we have Vesperal Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts (obviously an evening service) in the morning? I’m really sorry you asked those questions. […]

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380. 1) Saturday Vespers for Palm Sunday, 2) How to Keep Holy Week

For those who may not know: I’m repeating my annual series of twice-daily Posts during Holy Week. Before we begin: This Holy Week please be sure to pray especially for the people of Ukraine, many of whom again this year will not be able to get to church because of the actions of (God help […]

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