Holy Week - coming up. What does it mean to you?

[ticker]

So I'm gonna be at church lots for this year's Pascha. My (Orthodox) friend recently told me she's committed to going a lot this year, and so we've agreed to fast together...to go for communion next Thursday for the first St. Basil's (at 6:30 in the morning...ouch!)...and of course go to the resurrection and liturgy services that weekend (and maybe another communion...is two allowed??)

What should this mean to me?

What does it mean to you?

 

[E.C.]

For one thing, since you are not Orthodox, you can not receive Communion in the parish (we practice closed communion). But please enjoy the services nonetheless.

Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond my control, the only Holy Week services I've attended are Holy Friday, Holy Saturday and of course, Pascha.

Holy Friday is very humbling. Words alone can not describe it enough.

As for Pascha, services usually begin at 11:30pm Saturday night. Pascha is the feast of feasts. One of two times of year that I look forward to most (the second being Nativity).

The Pascha service lasts about three hours (don't worry, it goes by
fast) with a procession around the church building, lots of hymn-ing and of course, the Paschal Sermon of St. John Chrysostom (can be read here: http://www.oca.org/FSsermons-details.asp?SID=4&ID=10)

Again, words alone can not describe Pascha. It is truly the greatest feast of the year. Of all the churches and services I have been to, Pascha is the one that most affirmed to me that God is truly present in the Orthodox Church.

It has also been a year since last Pascha and my recollection right now is a bit slow. So I'll try to describe afterwards.

At the end of the service, usually around 2 or 3am Sunday morning, we have one of the largest foodfests you could ever lay eyes on. The Fast (we fast from meat, dairy, fish, wine and oil - wine allowed Sundays) is over and we all "break it" together.
After this, people will either go to their houses for sleep or some will stay at the church. Around noon time Sunday, we all go back to church, hear the Gospels and so forth. The Gospels are read in different languages by the faithful. To use my parish as an example, we heard the same Gospel first read in English by the deacon, and then in Russian, Ukrainian, Old Church Slavonic, Japanese, Norwegian, Greek, Swahili, German, Arabic, Spanish, French and Latin (though not necessarily in that order).
Afterwards, when the service is over, we have a huge foodfest.


Other than that and without going into too much detail, all I can really say is come and see.

 

[ticker]

For one thing, since you are not Orthodox, you can not receive Communion in the parish (we practice closed communion). But please enjoy the services nonetheless.

Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond my control, the only Holy Week services I've attended are Holy Friday, Holy Saturday and of course, Pascha.

Holy Friday is very humbling. Words alone can not describe it enough.

As for Pascha, services usually begin at 11:30pm Saturday night. Pascha is the feast of feasts. One of two times of year that I look forward to most (the second being Nativity).

The Pascha service lasts about three hours (don't worry, it goes by
fast) with a procession around the church building, lots of hymn-ing and of course, the Paschal Sermon of St. John Chrysostom (can be read here: http://www.oca.org/FSsermons-details.asp?SID=4&ID=10)

Again, words alone can not describe Pascha. It is truly the greatest feast of the year. Of all the churches and services I have been to, Pascha is the one that most affirmed to me that God is truly present in the Orthodox Church.

It has also been a year since last Pascha and my recollection right now is a bit slow. So I'll try to describe afterwards.

At the end of the service, usually around 2 or 3am Sunday morning, we have one of the largest foodfests you could ever lay eyes on. The Fast (we fast from meat, dairy, fish, wine and oil - wine allowed Sundays) is over and we all "break it" together.
After this, people will either go to their houses for sleep or some will stay at the church. Around noon time Sunday, we all go back to church, hear the Gospels and so forth. The Gospels are read in different languages by the faithful. To use my parish as an example, we heard the same Gospel first read in English by the deacon, and then in Russian, Ukrainian, Old Church Slavonic, Japanese, Norwegian, Greek, Swahili, German, Arabic, Spanish, French and Latin (though not necessarily in that order).
Afterwards, when the service is over, we have a huge foodfest.


Other than that and without going into too much detail, all I can really say is come and see.

Thanks EC.

One thing...I've been taking communion my whole life. You sure I'm not allowed?

And yeah...I know how grueling the services can be. But I think that's the point! With the chanting, incense, etc...it's almost trance-like in the atmosphere it creates. And unlike other protestant churches that might blast you with PowerPoints and rock music, I've found the liturgical experience puts you in the moment, brings you closer to yourself, gives you a chance to really think about why you're there and what the words are saying, etc......

It's grueling, but afterwards it's just like, "Ahhhhh"... like you've ran a spiritual marathon or something!

My church also does that "every language" thing too. It's pretty cool. And we eat lots of food after...of course!!

Apart from the humbling and spiritual aspect though we've mentioned...what should this mean to me?

 

[ticker]

On a side note.....never noticed this before.....the similarity between the word "Easter" and "Eastern".

Anyone know if it's an "origin of the word" thing?

 

[Kvikklunsj]

On a side note.....never noticed this before.....the similarity between the word "Easter" and "Eastern".

Anyone know if it's an "origin of the word" thing?

Here ya go.

Easter:

O.E. Eastre (Northumbrian Eostre), from P.Gmc. *Austron, a goddess of fertility and sunrise whose feast was celebrated at the spring equinox, from *austra-, from PIE *aus- "to shine" (especially of the dawn). Bede says Anglo-Saxon Christians adopted her name and many of the celebratory practices for their Mass of Christ's resurrection. Ultimately related to east. Almost all neighboring languages use a variant of L. Pasche to name this holiday.

East:

O.E. east, from P.Gmc. *aus-to-, *austra- "east, toward the sunrise" (cf. Du. oost, Ger. Ost, O.N. austr "from the east"), from PIE *aus- "dawn" (cf. Skt. ushas "dawn," Gk. aurion "morning," O.Ir. usah, Lith. auszra "dawn," L. aurora "dawn," auster "south"), lit. "to shine." The east is the direction in which dawn breaks. For shift in sense in L., see Australia. Meaning "the eastern part of the world" (from Europe) is from c.1300.

 

[OrthodoxyUSA]

Checking in...

Ticker... unless you are a practicing (confessing) Orthodox Christian you should not attempt to partake of The Holy Eucharist. Please wait and do it properly by entering The Church first through confession, exorcism, baptism and chrismation. This will ensure that your soul is prepared and not condemning yourself of Christ's blood.

It is beautiful isn't it!?

Forgive me...

 

[disasm]

I think if I remember right, Ticker was baptized Orthodox as a child, which came up in a previous thread last fall.

With that being said, pay close attention to what you say before you take communion:

"and make me worthy to partake without condemnation of thine immaculate Mysteries"

Taking communion unworthily without confession and obedience to a Spiritual Father, without pre-communion prayers the night before, and without fasting before partaking can be to your condemnation.

That being said, you should always talk to the Father of the Parish you're attending before you get in line for communion at Liturgy.

EDIT: I wanted to clarify further, unless you accept Orthodox Theology and consider the Orthodox Church to be the Church preserved throughout all ages, don't commune. Going through the motions is more damaging than not doing anything at all.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me the sinner.

 

[Peter]

The Greek word "Pascha" is very closely related to the Hebrew "Pesach" which means Passover. In fact, Pascha means Passover.

While not tied to it, the Eastern observance of Christ's Resurrection is always closer to Passover than the Western observance. This year the difference from Western observance to Passover was nearly five weeks.

 

[OrthodoxyUSA]

That true Ticker? You were baptised into The Church as a child?

All you need do is give confession and partake of The Holy Eucharist.

Forgive me...

 

[ticker]

Here ya go.

Easter:

East:

That's great! Thanks.

Interesting, huh?

 

[ticker]

I think if I remember right, Ticker was baptized Orthodox as a child, which came up in a previous thread last fall.

Hey disasm.

Yeah...I was baptized in an Orthodox church in Greece, and have been going to various Greek Orthodox churches in various cities for the majority of my life.

With that being said, pay close attention to what you say before you take communion:

"and make me worthy to partake without condemnation of thine immaculate Mysteries"

I've never condemned the mysteries themselves....if anything, I've stuck up for them when others here may have reduced them to mere hocus pocus. I just don't agree on there being one way of doing them. It's pretty pompous to not think otherwise.

Taking communion unworthily without confession and obedience to a Spiritual Father, without pre-communion prayers the night before, and without fasting before partaking can be to your condemnation.

Obviously you have to fast and pray, but hardly anyone at my church ever does the confession to a Spiritual Father thing. Might I confess though to THE Father? Well...yeah. That's the natural part of the Christian life.

That being said, you should always talk to the Father of the Parish you're attending before you get in line for communion at Liturgy.

He's close acquaintances with the family and we've talked lots throughout my life. He's said I can call him anytime so we can talk Orthodox theology, and he knows I don't agree with it.

EDIT: I wanted to clarify further, unless you accept Orthodox Theology and consider the Orthodox Church to be the Church preserved throughout all ages, don't commune. Going through the motions is more damaging than not doing anything at all.

I've never had a problem with Orthodox practice, and I do believe in its preservation throughout the ages. But I don't agree with the idea that we're meant to live for Christ, as opposed to Christ living for us (...by His Spirit). It's just non-biblical.

Thanks for the input...but it seems you're kinda ruining it for me. In spite of all that I've said here, should I just not go now because of a theological point? I want to go...and that's the most important thing (...if, like I've explained to you before, you stop and consider where our desires may come from ).

Peace

 

[ticker]

Checking in...

Ticker... unless you are a practicing (confessing) Orthodox Christian you should not attempt to partake of The Holy Eucharist.

I practice the practices. I don’t agree on the theology. It doesn’t make any sense.

Theology itself when it comes to the Christian experience doesn’t make any sense. I just live by Christ….Christ IS our life. That’s all there is folks.

It is beautiful isn't it!?

Yeah.

It’s strange. When I leave an Orthodox service, I feel VERY different. The only word that I can think of to describe the way I feel is…“proper”. It’s like what’s inside me has been “correctly aligned” or something…and I can see more clearly (inwardly and outwardly) than I could before.

I just feel “right”...….that’s the best way I can put it. It is great.

Forgive me...

You’ve already been forgiven, friend (….hence, why I don’t agree with Orthodox theology).

 

[ticker]

That true Ticker? You were baptised into The Church as a child?

All you need do is give confession and partake of The Holy Eucharist.

Forgive me...

Yes that's true.

I can confess....to God....and then I'll partake.

I'm sure He won't have a problem with that.

 

[OrthodoxyUSA]

I practice the practices. I don’t agree on the theology. It doesn’t make any sense.

Theology itself when it comes to the Christian experience doesn’t make any sense. I just live by Christ….Christ IS our life. That’s all there is folks.



Yeah.

It’s strange. When I leave an Orthodox service, I feel VERY different. The only word that I can think of to describe the way I feel is…“proper”. It’s like what’s inside me has been “correctly aligned” or something…and I can see more clearly (inwardly and outwardly) than I could before.

I just feel “right”...….that’s the best way I can put it. It is great.

You’ve already been forgiven, friend (….hence, why I don’t agree with Orthodox theology).

It's not intended to make sense, it's supposed to be taken on faith. If we try to make it make sense we will stumble.

Forgive me...

 

[OrthodoxyUSA]

Yes that's true.

I can confess....to God....and then I'll partake.

I'm sure He won't have a problem with that.

Who else would you confess to?

Forgive me...

 

[ticker]

disasm was warning me (...and I'm not blaming him, as he thinks it's for my own good) that I have to confess to a Holy Father or I can't take communion.

I've never known people to do this before communion at my church. It's more of a personal God/child thing.

 

[ticker]

It's not intended to make sense, it's supposed to be taken on faith. If we try to make it make sense we will stumble.

?

 

[disasm]

disasm was warning me (...and I'm not blaming, as he thinks it's for my own good) that I have to confess to a Holy Father or I can't take communion.

I've never known people to do this before communion at my church. It's more of a personal God/child thing.

I'm sorry, I worded that kind of wrong. Your confession is always to God. But the point of confessing with a Priest as a witness is that the Priest can help you overcome some of your problems. He can give you advice. Also, he can hold you accountable if you merely confess without repentance, or say you did something, without actually turning away from what it was you did.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me the sinner.

 

[ticker]

Thanks for clarifying, disasm.

Appreciated.

How many times are you doing communion? Can you do it more than once?

 

[Uphill Battle]

In regards to the OP:

nothing. I'm one of those "every day is like any other" guys.