Easter is around the corner!!! What do you do special for this time of the year?!!

[katherine2001]

I plan to go to as many of the services during Holy Week that I can, but especially the services from Holy Friday onwards. I love both services of Holy Friday (the Taking Down from the Cross and the Lamentations). I am going to try and get to the liturgy on Holy Saturday morning (if I don't have to work that morning), and the midnight Paschal liturgy. Then our priest will bless our baskets of food and we will all share what is in them, so I probably won't get home til after 4 in the morning. At 1pm, we have the Paschal Vespers, and then have a huge potluck afterwards, with lamb, ham, chicken, and whatever other meat and dairy dishes people bring, since we've been fasting from meat for 54 days and dairy products for 47. I also love greeting people with "Christ is Risen!" for the next 40 days.

 

[katherine2001]

I know what you mean about the 16 services.

I do too. I go to work at 6 or 7 in the morning, so I am usually in bed by 7:30pm. I have asked for Friday off (hopefully, I will get it), so I can go to the services from Holy Thursday night onwards (I wouldn't miss the Holy Thursday services with the 12 Gospel readings for anything). I am hoping that I manage to get the tomb guard slot from right after Lamentations on Friday night or the one right after it. Usually three of us sign up for the same time slot, since chanting the Psalms for an hour fries my voice, and I try to drink as little water as I possibly can before the Eucharist on Saturday morning.

Holy Week is almost here--Palm Sunday is a week from this Sunday. Lent has gone so quickly this year. I am so psyched up for Holy Week! Holy Week and Pascha are my favorite services of the year!

 

[Ortho_Cat]

I avoid it like the Bible teaches.

 

[Ortho_Cat]

I do too. I go to work at 6 or 7 in the morning, so I am usually in bed by 7:30pm. I have asked for Friday off (hopefully, I will get it), so I can go to the services from Holy Thursday night onwards (I wouldn't miss the Holy Thursday services with the 12 Gospel readings for anything). I am hoping that I manage to get the tomb guard slot from right after Lamentations on Friday night or the one right after it. Usually three of us sign up for the same time slot, since chanting the Psalms for an hour fries my voice, and I try to drink as little water as I possibly can before the Eucharist on Saturday morning.

Holy Week is almost here--Palm Sunday is a week from this Sunday. Lent has gone so quickly this year. I am so psyched up for Holy Week! Holy Week and Pascha are my favorite services of the year!

Can you give us some more details on what you do when you're 'guarding the tomb'? How long is your 'shift'? I'm not familiar with this practice, as this is my first lent.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

I'll be very excited to be done with Lent and we will eat some lovely roats lamb. I expect we'll have some family for dinner.....

 

[katherine2001]

Can you give us some more details on what you do when you're 'guarding the tomb'? How long is your 'shift'? I'm not familiar with this practice, as this is my first lent.

In our parish, the time slots are for an hour, and it starts immediately after the Lamentations service on Friday evenings and lasts until the beginning of the Paschal service (excluding the times when services are actually going on). Before the liturgy on Holy Saturday morning, the Psalms are chanted. After the liturgy on Holy Saturday, the book of Acts is chanted. That way, people are always with Christ's tomb. We do have people that take more than one slot to make sure that someone is always with it. To be in the nave chanting Psalms and being there with the tomb is very special. It is one of my favorite times of Holy Week. The same day that I was received into the Church, I took the slot from 4am to 5am, and then went back home to get ready for the Holy Saturday liturgy, and my reception into the Church (and finally being able to receive the Eucharist). That made the day really special. It is something I will never forget.

 

[MKJ]

They misspelled "unsuspecting"!

The lambs are not really that cute when they eat them - they are much larger and smelly. Also, they rarely speak.

 

[Dorothea]

I'm singing a different part this year and the music is giving us fits. I have 2 huge (3-4 inch thick) binders of music to learn.

We practiced all weekend, and the Byzantine arrangement of the 15th antiphon of Holy Friday (Today is Suspended) that Fr. chose is going to drive us insane before it is over. It is so complex. I finally learned the ison, but the poor sopranos....those poor, poor sopranos...

I feel for you. I'm kinda reluctant to learn Byzantine chant. I don't like peeps staring at me up there at the chanter's stand with one other person, singing the services.

 

[Dorothea]

I plan to go to as many of the services during Holy Week that I can, but especially the services from Holy Friday onwards. I love both services of Holy Friday (the Taking Down from the Cross and the Lamentations). I am going to try and get to the liturgy on Holy Saturday morning (if I don't have to work that morning), and the midnight Paschal liturgy. Then our priest will bless our baskets of food and we will all share what is in them, so I probably won't get home til after 4 in the morning. At 1pm, we have the Paschal Vespers, and then have a huge potluck afterwards, with lamb, ham, chicken, and whatever other meat and dairy dishes people bring, since we've been fasting from meat for 54 days and dairy products for 47. I also love greeting people with "Christ is Risen!" for the next 40 days.

I may be able to make it to all this year (if I don't get too tired ) because my parents are supposed to be coming for Holy Week and Pascha. Then I wouldn't have to bring the boys to every single service. If I don't go to every, I will definitely be at the Tuesday night Bridegroom service (God willing) to listen to Met. Isaiah speak after the service. He usually comes down to visit our church on Holy Tuesday evening. The whole family will go to that as well as Holy Unction - Holy Wed. evening service -, Holy Thurs. evening, and both Holy Friday afternoon, and Lamentations in the evening. I would like to may Holy Saturday morning service this year like I did last. Love that service! Especially the banging on the chanter's stand like they did last year. I had never seen that until last year. I've only been to a couple Saturday morning services. One was ages ago, and didn't have the banging, and this one from last year that I loved. Then, God willing, hubs and I will go to the Midnight vigil vespers and DL and the small feast afterwards, and come home hopefully before 3:30 to get some sleep to be at church by noon for the Agape service on Pascha Sunday. Whew.

 

[Dorothea]

I do too. I go to work at 6 or 7 in the morning, so I am usually in bed by 7:30pm. I have asked for Friday off (hopefully, I will get it), so I can go to the services from Holy Thursday night onwards (I wouldn't miss the Holy Thursday services with the 12 Gospel readings for anything). I am hoping that I manage to get the tomb guard slot from right after Lamentations on Friday night or the one right after it. Usually three of us sign up for the same time slot, since chanting the Psalms for an hour fries my voice, and I try to drink as little water as I possibly can before the Eucharist on Saturday morning.

Holy Week is almost here--Palm Sunday is a week from this Sunday. Lent has gone so quickly this year. I am so psyched up for Holy Week! Holy Week and Pascha are my favorite services of the year!

You're right about Holy Thursday! It moves me every year (so does lamentations and the Saturday night vigil), but the Thursday night Gospel readings has you being right there witnessing what was going on, and you can't help but be brought to tears. Gorgeous and lovely and moving service. We re-actualize all these events. They are always said as "today" when we read because it is us re-actualizing the event.

I know. I can't believe it's almost already here! I'm getting in the last paschal craft for the Church school class this Sunday because the next two, there won't be class because of Palm Sunday service with the palms and luncheon and then the next Sunday is the Agape service on Pascha, so no time then. Yes, Holy Week is the apex of the year, if I used that term right. I love the liturgical calendar because we renew ourselves each year at this time. Glory to God!

 

[Dorothea]

Can you give us some more details on what you do when you're 'guarding the tomb'? How long is your 'shift'? I'm not familiar with this practice, as this is my first lent.

How exciting for you, Ortho!

 

[Dorothea]

In our parish, the time slots are for an hour, and it starts immediately after the Lamentations service on Friday evenings and lasts until the beginning of the Paschal service (excluding the times when services are actually going on). Before the liturgy on Holy Saturday morning, the Psalms are chanted. After the liturgy on Holy Saturday, the book of Acts is chanted. That way, people are always with Christ's tomb. We do have people that take more than one slot to make sure that someone is always with it. To be in the nave chanting Psalms and being there with the tomb is very special. It is one of my favorite times of Holy Week. The same day that I was received into the Church, I took the slot from 4am to 5am, and then went back home to get ready for the Holy Saturday liturgy, and my reception into the Church (and finally being able to receive the Eucharist). That made the day really special. It is something I will never forget.

That's really neat, Katherine. Yeah, that isn't a tradition in our church - GOC. But we do have the cracking of the red eggs and the carrying of the kouvouklion around the church. That's always such a wonderful time.

 

[Philothei]

Wow it makes me tired reading about it..But God willing I will not miss Holy Friday for sure as well all night services. The only Service I might take an early dismisal on...is Holy Thursday night of the crucifixion that ends at 11-11:30 PM ...I am not sure my feet will be able to hole me standing and because the church is packed my oxygen goes low so I will have to be outside...standing. The candles make it sooo hard for me not to faint ....urgh...

I love all services esp. Saturday Morning when the hymns say "Arise oh God judging the Earth"

http://www.antiochian.org/sites/antiochian.org/files/Arise_O_God.HSat_.T7.pdf

 

[POSTIOS]

I think it it takes away from the real celebration of Passover, that our Lord became.

I wish we all could get back to that, instead of celebrating fertility rituals, ignorantly.

 

[sunlover1]

sunlover1: Care to share it? My wife is from Panama and she already makes a lot of different dishes with chicken, but chicken marsala isn't one of them. Out of curiosity, does this forum have a section for recipes? It might be a good idea (my stomach is growling as I type), if it already doesn't.

LOL. We often get talking about food here. Sure, I got it from the internet
and my family couldn't get enough of it. It doesnt call for port But I bet it's fattening. And i have to tell you, I added more mushrooms, more garlic and
more soup and more wine, so she may want to play around with it a bit too.
Sorry I forgot to write down my tweaks . Im naughty about not following recipes.

Anyhow, here is the recipe

* 4-6 chicken breasts
* 1/3 cup butter
* 2/3 cup white wine (Sauvignon Blanc works especially well due to the herbaceous character)
* 2 10 oz. or one 14 oz. can(s) cream of mushroom soup
* 4 oz. cream cheese
* 2 cloves garlic
* 2 finely chopped green onions
* 1 package of dry Italian salad dressing mix
* 16 oz. pasta - linguine works very well
* Sun-dried tomatoes
* Parmesan cheese


Preparation:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Melt butter in large pot and stir in package of Italian salad dressing mix. Next stir in wine, mushroom soup and cream cheese until well-blended. Continue to heat (without boiling) mixture for about 5 minutes, sauce should be creamy and all cream cheese should be melted in. Place chicken in single layer in baking dish and pour the above mixture over. Cook for 50-55 minutes. Cook pasta about 15 minutes before chicken is done. Drain pasta and serve chicken and sauce over the linguine. Top with sun-dried tomatoes and Parmesan cheese. Don't forget to save some of the white wine to complement dinner!

Now how easy was that!
Bon apetit.

My browser is terrible and missed your post urgh..

Ah Chicken marsala ...WOW my hubby though does not eat mushrooms I can make it for my daughter and myself though nice idea and send the recipe I could use a good one since that would be the first time I will make it hehe...

Hey cool. I posted the recipe above and when I made it the first time,
I added the mushrooms after taking some out for my one mushroom hater son.
He LOVED this recipe.

hey I do not do easter hunt eggie thingy also...Silly wabbits laying choco eggs

I know right?! lol. But I am not against the eating of chocolate (It's very good for you )

I am not big on the celebration for "spingy easter stuff" but the Resurrection of our Lord too

I never buy any silly Easter decorations either...who has time for the frilly thingies when you have services morning and evening every day during Holy Week...

Sounds nice. I saw you say you arent cooking hardly !
(Considered converting to EO for a minute!, but then I came to my senses )

About desert I can help you out and send you some recipies for easy make greek cookies At your request Or you can try a Baklava if you like honey and nuts I hear Thekla has an excellent recipe....lol

Baklava! Are you trying to kill me? MMMMmmm havent had Baklava in years. And I have never made it.
I have a great Spanakopita recipe if you don't have one or ever need one.

God bless you too SL And enjoy your lovely family

[/QUOTE]
Thanks Philothei.
Looks like a very lovely thread you've made.

 

[yedida]

I do not cook starting Monday... I have a pot full of lentil soup that can go on for days and the handy peanutbutter and jelly sandwiches...

No cleaning no cooking we might as well camp in the church that whole week right??

I have not made any plans yet for Pasha dinner but will get around to it

I wonder if some of our churches would do a soup kitchen outreach activity for our teens

I am litterally trying to stay away from overeating that rich lamb dinner .... all day !

I clicked on your post cos I had a suggestion for your lentil soup, then it occurred to me that I know nothing of your traditions. Do you guys not eat meat during this period? From previous posts it seems that maybe you don't....
Anyway, in case I misunderstood, those little smokies are great in a bowl full of lentil soup, makes it so much more filling. I use beef smokies (that's a great soup meal for Shabbat).
Also, another question: do you guys not do mundane work during the week or did you just mention that cos you're so busy with your services?

For us MJs, we pretty much are busy getting ready for the Passover Seder and we spend the week prior cleaning out all of the leavened goods in our kitchen and fridges. Eight days of no leaven! When I first started observing this week I had no idea how leaven is infused in just about everything we eat and drink - by the time it starts my kitchen is super clean with plenty of useable space in the cupboards!!

As far as seasonal songs, I've always been partial to Were You There?

Edit: I just noticed a post that I missed before. You do fast off meats and dairy. (Sorry, ignore my smokies suggestion). Is there a reason behind this, what does it represent? I hope you don't mind my asking, I'm curious as to what it is and how it came about - that's a mighty long time. (And I thought a week without leaven was a long time!!)

 

[Philothei]

Thanks SL for the recipe is sounds really good will try it ifor sure

Glad you like this thread I love it

I clicked on your post cos I had a suggestion for your lentil soup, then it occurred to me that I know nothing of your traditions. Do you guys not eat meat during this period? From previous posts it seems that maybe you don't....
Anyway, in case I misunderstood, those little smokies are great in a bowl full of lentil soup, makes it so much more filling. I use beef smokies (that's a great soup meal for Shabbat).
Also, another question: do you guys not do mundane work during the week or did you just mention that cos you're so busy with your services?

For us MJs, we pretty much are busy getting ready for the Passover Seder and we spend the week prior cleaning out all of the leavened goods in our kitchen and fridges. Eight days of no leaven! When I first started observing this week I had no idea how leaven is infused in just about everything we eat and drink - by the time it starts my kitchen is super clean with plenty of useable space in the cupboards!!

As far as seasonal songs, I've always been partial to Were You There?

Edit: I just noticed a post that I missed before. You do fast off meats and dairy. (Sorry, ignore my smokies suggestion). Is there a reason behind this, what does it represent? I hope you don't mind my asking, I'm curious as to what it is and how it came about - that's a mighty long time. (And I thought a week without leaven was a long time!!)

Hi Yedida

We do observe the 40 day immitating after our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who fasted for 40 days.

The Christians inherited the tradition of fasting from the Jews. Jesus, too, gave examples of fasting to his disciples, most notably preceding his forty days in the desert when he was tempted by the devil (Matt 4:1-11).

The True Nature of Fasting - Las Vegas Orthodox

Fasting - OrthodoxWiki
Yep it is meatless. I will take upon your suggestion with the smokie after Pascha

*Pascha after the jewish name for the passover??*

We Greeks do not call it Easter but... in the English we do use the Easter term

We refrain from mundane work during Holy Week and on Sundays yeah you cannot like put laundry or sew or etc. only the necessary. Now here in the US the EOs do not observe these as unfortunately the secular life and its demands take over

I try not to do too much housework on Holy Week only the essential things. And yeah I remember mom cleaning our all the house the week ahead
We do not eat food with oil in it during Holy Week. that is a time for strict fast for us. Salads and soups have to be totally plain with water no meats no fish no dairy just plain legumes are ok. Lots of dried fruit and nuts are what we use. Hope that helps

 

[yedida]

Thanks SL for the recipe is sounds really good will try it ifor sure

Glad you like this thread I love it



Hi Yedida

We do observe the 40 day immitating after our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who fasted for 40 days.

The True Nature of Fasting - Las Vegas Orthodox

Fasting - OrthodoxWiki
Yep it is meatless. I will take upon your suggestion with the smokie after Pascha

*Pascha after the jewish name for the passover??*

We Greeks do not call it Easter but... in the English we do use the Easter term

We refrain from mundane work during Holy Week and on Sundays yeah you cannot like put laundry or sew or etc. only the necessary. Now here in the US the EOs do not observe these as unfortunately the secular life and its demands take over

I try not to do too much housework on Holy Week only the essential things. And yeah I remember mom cleaning our all the house the week ahead
We do not eat food with oil in it during Holy Week. that is a time for strict fast for us. Salads and soups have to be totally plain with water no meats no fish no dairy just plain legumes are ok. Lots of dried fruit and nuts are what we use. Hope that helps

Yes, that helps explain the fasting. I just couldn't remember anything about fasting in the weeks prior to Passover in the gospels (though per the Talmud there is a Galilean tradition of the firstborn sons fasting on the preparation day [this is actually called what in Hebrew loosely translates to the last supper]) i so I couldn't figure where it came from, didn't connect it to the Lord's wilderness fast.
Thanks for the links, I'll give them a read. The EO sounds quite interesting.

 

[katherine2001]

Wow it makes me tired reading about it..But God willing I will not miss Holy Friday for sure as well all night services. The only Service I might take an early dismisal on...is Holy Thursday night of the crucifixion that ends at 11-11:30 PM ...I am not sure my feet will be able to hole me standing and because the church is packed my oxygen goes low so I will have to be outside...standing. The candles make it sooo hard for me not to faint ....urgh...

I love all services esp. Saturday Morning when the hymns say "Arise oh God judging the Earth"

http://www.antiochian.org/sites/antiochian.org/files/Arise_O_God.HSat_.T7.pdf

I just have to sit down a lot. My right leg gets very painful if I stand up on it very long. That is one of my favorite services. If I don't get Friday off, I may have to miss it, since I would have to be at work at 7am. At least I would get off at 3pm and just miss the first 20 mins or so of the first service (it would take me about that long to walk from work to the church.

This is going to be our last Pascha with our current priest, as he is retiring on July 1st, so we're all going to be bummed about that. One of the special things that you remember about the Paschal service is how Fr's face just glows that night. As tired as he (and all priests are) after having served so many services in the last few days (starting with the Friday before Lazarus Saturday and 7 services in just the last 4 days, it is amazing how much energy he has for the 3 hour Paschal service (and as I said, his face just glows and he has such a spring in his step).

 

[Ortho_Cat]

How exciting for you, Ortho!