Forgiveness Sunday

Photini said:

I'm a little disappointed about this weekend. Our Greek festival starts tomorrow and continues until Sunday evening. Therefore, we won't be having the Liturgy Sunday at all. I'm assuming it's because we don't have an actual church building yet, so everything will be set up for the festival....nowhere for the Liturgy. I'll have drive to Tampa or Orlando for the Liturgy Sunday morning.

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Oh, poor Photini. I know Holy Trinity up here benefits very strongly from their Greek Festival, and lots of people become interested in Orthodoxy who wouldn't have otherwise. They take tours of the church and ask all kinds of questions. If that's the way it is for your parish, I guess that's something to take heart in.

The Greek Festival here is Thursday-Sunday in the last week of September. I know Father Aris usually has liturgy on the Sunday, but I remember he said that so many parishioners are so tired from all the preparations and work of the days before, that attendance on that Sunday is usually pretty low. (Personally, I can't see the logic in that--the Holy Eucharist heals your body and soul! When you're exhausted or sick, you need it then more than ever!)

Matrona said:

It's hard to have that experience of heavenly worship, when the child next to you is going ::bounce:: ::fidget:: ::bounce:: ::fidget::

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That would be my wife. The children can stand more still than she does.

This is my wife on a typical Sunday (notice the bouncing):

Photini said:

LoL! I have one on each side of me. And it's always in church that they suddenly start this "I love mommie more" competition by outdoing each other with giving me hugs and such.

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LOL! That is too cute!

Oh, I don't have a problem with the festival, except that I don't do well in large groups of people...especially when there's alot of noise...laughing, music, yelling, etc. I know that there are lots of benefits gained from the festival here too. Just wish we were having Liturgy.

nicodemus said:

The Great Canon lasts a little over three hours. Wear comfortable shoes and be prepared for a lot of prostrations.

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Oh, praise the Lord, the parish I will be going to has pews, so there's no room for full prostrations! Well, I don't know how many people will show up, I remember going to Presanctified on a weekday morning last year and there was about three people in the whole church, so I did prostrations then at the points in the service where I was used to doing it. I was the only one who did, though. Seems like churches with a lot of cradle Orthodox won't prostrate much, and churches with mostly converts will prostrate like old pros.

Speaking of Presanctified, can someone refresh my memory? I remember that I loved it very much last year, I remember that it is attributed to St. Gregory Dialogos, and that among the things that distinguish it are the full prostrations during the Great Entrance, the priest putting the aer cloth over his head instead of around his shoulders, and a different communion hymn. Is there anything else I am forgetting, any more differences in practice I should be prepared to see or participate in?

Matrona said:

Speaking of Presanctified, can someone refresh my memory?

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One of the things we do that I didn't see you mention was the antiphonal singing (choir split into two groups.) We divide into male & female choirs for the first part of the service.

Matrona said:

Speaking of Presanctified, can someone refresh my memory? I remember that I loved it very much last year, I remember that it is attributed to St. Gregory Dialogos, and that among the things that distinguish it are the full prostrations during the Great Entrance, the priest putting the aer cloth over his head instead of around his shoulders, and a different communion hymn. Is there anything else I am forgetting, any more differences in practice I should be prepared to see or participate in?

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I honestly don't remember what the differences are, at least not all of them. I do know that pre-sanctifieds are some of my favorite services of the year, I especially enjoy singing, "let my prayer arise", so beautiful.
His unworthy servant.
Eusebios

The first part is a standard Vesper service, except the readings come from Genesis and Proverbs, there is no Gospel reading.
THE DIVINE LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED
Jeff the Finn

Thanks everyone! All of that really helped.

I have SOOOO been looking forward to Lent, and finally, it's almost here!