We are a parish of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, and all are welcome to worship with us! Our services are in English. Please join us at our coffee hour downstairs after the service.



                                               Saturday Vigil                 5:00pm
                                               Sunday Divine Liturgy    9:30am


Troparion, Tone 1: In confirming the common Resurrection, O Christ God, * Thou didst raise up Lazarus from the dead before Thy passion. * Wherefore, we also, like the children bearing the symbols of victory, * cry to Thee, the Vanquisher of death: * Hosanna in the highest; * blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.
 
Troparion, Tone 4:  As by baptism we were buried with Thee, O Christ our God, * so by Thy Resurrection we were deemed worthy of immortal life; * and praising Thee, we cry: * Hosanna in the highest; * blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.
 
Kontakion, Tone 6:  Being borne upon a throne in heaven, * and upon a colt on the earth, O Christ God, * Thou didst accept the praise of the angels * and the laudation of the children as they cry to Thee: * Blessed is He that cometh to recall Adam.

Today’s Readings
Epistle: Philippians 4:4-9
Gospel: John 12:1-18

Parish News

We welcome our friends from Houghton College today!

 Today we are taking up our annual collection for the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission which supports our monasteries and holy sites in the Holy Land.

 Please remember in your prayers Ludmilla Ibarra as she travels.

 Remember to include the Prayer of St. Ephraim with prostrations in your daily prayers tonight through Wednesday morning. It is also good to incorporate the troparion and kontakion for each day of Holy Week into your daily prayers.

Instead of “It is truly meet…” we chant the Irmos of the 9th Ode of the First Canon of the feast, Fourth Tone:
            Irmos:   God is the Lord, and hath appeared unto us; make ye a feast, and with gladness, come, let us magnify Christ with palms and branches, with hymns crying aloud: blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord our Savior.

Holy Week Services

Confessions may be made at the indicated times and by appointment.

Sun.:          Matins (“Bridegroom” Service), 6:30pm

Mon.:         Matins (“Bridegroom” Service), 6:30pm

Tues.:        Matins (“Bridegroom” Service), 6:30pm

The “Bridegroom” Matins (so called because we sing “Behold, the Bridegroom comes at midnight”) lasts about 1¾ hours. Confessions will be heard during these services. Prostrations are made upon entering and leaving the temple.

Wed.:         Matins, 6:30pm (1 ½ hrs.)
From the beginning of this service on, no more prostrations are to be made until Pentecost, other than usual prostrations during weekday Divine Liturgies and before the Plaschanitza. Confessions will be heard after this service. Anyone wishing to receive Holy Communion on Thursday must attend.

No Confessions for Pascha will be heard hereafter unless in extreme need.

Thurs.:     Vespers and Liturgy of St. Basil, 9:00am (2 ½ hrs.)

                   Matins (12 Passion Gospels), 6:00pm (3 hrs.)

Fri.:           Royal Hours, 8:00 AM (2 hrs.)
                  Vespers, 3:00pm (1 ½ hrs.)

We begin total abstention from food and water at midnight going into Friday and fast until the Plaschanitza is brought out at Vespers on Holy Friday. We will then break the fast with a light snack downstairs, after which we will return upstairs for Matins.

Fri.:    Matins (Lamentations), 5:00pm (2 ½ hrs.)

Sat.:     Vespers and Liturgy of St. Basil, 9:00am (3 hrs.)

Those who plan to receive Holy Communion on Holy Thursday and Holy Saturday must read the Rule for Communion and the usual 3 Canons and an Akathist. For Pascha, however, this is lightened, and one need only read the Paschal Canon (found in the Jordanville Prayer Book) along with the Rule for Communion. Those planning to receive Holy Communion at Pascha must fast from 6:00pm on Saturday.

PASCHA
Sat.:          Midnight Office, 11:30 PM
Sun.:         Matins and Divine Liturgy, Midnight
                  Paschal Vespers, 1:00 PM

A word about preparation for Holy Communion on these days: To receive Holy Communion on Holy Thursday and Holy Saturday, you must attend services the night before and read the usual 3 Canons and 1 Akathist, along with the Rule of Preparation for Holy Communion. However, to receive Holy Communion on Pascha, the Paschal Canon is read instead of the regular 3 Canons and an Akathist. (The Rule of Preparation for Holy Communion is still read.)

During Bright Week, the Paschal Hours (found in the Jordanville Prayerbook) are sung at home instead of your regular morning and evening prayers.

If you are visiting today:

 There are service books underneath the candle stand that you may borrow and follow along in. If you get lost, ask your neighbor to help you find the page.
 As you can see, we stand for most of the service. If you are not accustomed to this, please feel free to sit if you feel the need. No one will mind! You should still stand during the Scripture readings and when the priest comes through.
 In the Orthodox tradition, women cover their heads in church, and extra scarves can be borrowed from the candle stand at the entrance.
 You will see people making the sign of the cross and bowing. Feel free to follow suit or not, however you are comfortable. Again, no one will mind either way.
 Feel free to venerate (kiss) the icons and purchase a candle to light. Commemoration slips for Orthodox, living and reposed may be placed on the tray by the candle stand. Please write down how many prosphora you would like (suggested donation: $1/ea.)
 At the end of the service, you may come forward to venerate the hand-cross if you wish.
 At our parish we do not pass a collection plate. Gifts are voluntary and can be left at the candle stand.
 Anyone who wishes to receive Holy Communion must be an Orthodox Christian and make their Confession beforehand. Please speak with Fr. Peter for more information.