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

[Asinner]

Is the gospel read in English at your church?

And how much of it do you understand?

I attend a Russian parish. The services are 100% English.

Even though Orthodox services can be spiritually refreshing, I don't really get much out of them otherwise, because I hardly understand what they're saying. Nobody I know does really (...despite our Greek).

When I attended a Greek monastery (100% Greek), those who did not speak the language followed along using English text.

I find Protestant churches do a good job on elaboration of the Gospel, whereas Orthodox churches can...well...make you feel quite great.

 

[christianmomof3]

How do you pronounce Pascha?

I watched the video and it is interesting, but I really do not see any necessity for the fancy strange dress up clothes and ornate decorations. God is in us. It is an inward thing. We don't need to dress up in odd clothing to show that He is in us. And He is in all regenerated Christians not just the ones who work for the church.

Is the gospel read in English at your church?

And how much of it do you understand?

Even though Orthodox services can be spiritually refreshing, I don't really get much out of them otherwise, because I hardly understand what they're saying. Nobody I know does really (...despite our Greek).

I also wonder about that. All the chanting on that video did not sound like it was in English, although if it is from a church in another country perhaps it is the native language of wherever it is?
I was raised Jewish and portions of the services are in Hebrew and I never understood it and to me it is meaningless to have services in a language other than the one that the people speak and understand because they don't understand it.

What is holy week anyway and why is it holy?

 

[ticker]

How do you pronounce Pascha?

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pascha

It's the second audio clip that says "Pas·cha"....

...although the guy is just putting a bit too much of a "k" sound in the "ch" part, where it's actually more of a heavy "h" (...that doesn't exist in English phonetics)....kinda like when you're horkin' a big one.

That's as best as it can be described for your purposes I think.

 

[christianmomof3]

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pascha

It's the second audio clip that says "Pas·cha"....

...although the guy is just putting a bit too much of a "k" sound in the "ch" part, where it's actually more of a heavy "h" (...that doesn't exist in English phonetics)....kinda like when you're horkin' a big one.

That's as best as it can be described for your purposes I think.

Thank you. I think I understand the sound you are describing - it is used in the Hebrew language a lot - a clearing the throat type sound.

 

[ticker]

Yes. So it's what he said...plus that. And you got "Pascha"!

Now....you wanna learn how to say "Opa"?

 

[Asinner]

How do you pronounce Pascha?

I watched the video and it is interesting, but I really do not see any necessity for the fancy strange dress up clothes and ornate decorations. God is in us. It is an inward thing. We don't need to dress up in odd clothing to show that He is in us. And He is in all regenerated Christians not just the ones who work for the church.

The "fancy strange" dress all serve a purpose and function.

While some people mistakenly believe that the vestments of the Orthodox Church are designed to "adorn" the clergy in a "special" way, this is not the case. Vestments serve to hide, in a sense, the individual characteristics of the priest, as these could indeed become a distraction in focusing on Christ. As St. John Chrysostom writes, "Christ does not appear until the priest disappears."http://www.oca.org/QA.asp?ID=102&SID=3

Also of interest . . .
In the Early Church, clergymen wore the same kind of garments when celebrating the church services as those worn by other people of that time. Even then however, there was a feeling that the garments of the celebrant clergy should be distinguished in some way from those of the laos (people). The feeling of reverence demanded that the garments of the celebrants should be festive, preferably white in color (a symbol of holiness and purity) and that they be decorated with crosses to distinguish them from ordinary garments.http://www.annunciationgoc.com/worship09b1.htm

So in a sense, it is our dress that has changed moreso than that of the clergy.

As for significance, I know each distinct vestment has scriptural and historic meaning. One that I remember is the long shawl, priests wear around their necks, which symbolizes the flow of oil down Samuals body, when he was annointed.

I also wonder about that. All the chanting on that video did not sound like it was in English, although if it is from a church in another country perhaps it is the native language of wherever it is?
I was raised Jewish and portions of the services are in Hebrew and I never understood it and to me it is meaningless to have services in a language other than the one that the people speak and understand because they don't understand it.

What is holy week anyway and why is it holy?

Most parishes in the U.S. use English, accompanied with the native tongue. Mine is 100% English.

Love,
Christina

 

[disasm]

Here's a link I found that has a summary of the meaning of each of the days of Holy Week.

http://www.monachos.net/library/On_the_Services_of_Passion_Week

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

 

[ticker]

Thanks disasm.

Any one of these have special significance to you at all?

 

[Mary of Bethany]

Each of the days are special to me, and each have a different "feel". Great and Holy Friday is the most somber, of course, but even then, the services keep giving us a "peek" of the Resurrection.

It is a fantastic week!

Ticker, I wish you could attend services at a parish that uses all English. It would make a real difference, I think.

Mary

 

[katherine2001]

In most parishes I've been in, the services have been in English. I can't wait for next week. I love the Bridegroom services, but I especially love the Matins of Holy Friday (which actually take place on Thursday night) with the 12 Gospel readings of the Crucifixion, and the services on Holy Friday (which are the taking down of Christ from the Cross and the Lamentations service). A tomb is set up for Christ (which in the Russian tradition stays in the middle of the church until just before midnight on Sat Nite/Sun morn). From Friday night until midnight, people are with the tomb chanting the Psalms or from Acts, unless there is a service going on. The point is, the tomb is never left alone. When I was received into the Church, it was prior to the liturgy on Holy Saturday morning, and I took my turn reading the psalms (I hadn't learned to chant yet) from 4am to 5am that morning, which made it an extra special day. I love my hour alone watching over Christ's tomb. In the services, we enter God's time, and we are actually participating in the events, and the services are very moving. From the Saturday preceding Palm Sunday through Pascha, we have services every day, and sometime two services. I am taking the entire week off, so I can go to them all. I did that my first Holy Week, and the services blew me away. I will never forget my first Holy Week, and especially my first Paschal Liturgy. It is such a joyous service.

 

[fuerein]

I'm looking forward to experiencing it for the first time this year. Though I wish I could take an extra day off. the evening services + travel time + work means by Sunday morning I am going to be one pooped pup! I hope to attend all the services (except Tuesday night, its in just Slavonic, so I'm going to skip out on that one), so it'll be a busy week.

 

[ticker]

In most parishes I've been in, the services have been in English. I can't wait for next week. I love the Bridegroom services, but I especially love the Matins of Holy Friday (which actually take place on Thursday night) with the 12 Gospel readings of the Crucifixion, and the services on Holy Friday (which are the taking down of Christ from the Cross and the Lamentations service). A tomb is set up for Christ (which in the Russian tradition stays in the middle of the church until just before midnight on Sat Nite/Sun morn). From Friday night until midnight, people are with the tomb chanting the Psalms or from Acts, unless there is a service going on. The point is, the tomb is never left alone. When I was received into the Church, it was prior to the liturgy on Holy Saturday morning, and I took my turn reading the psalms (I hadn't learned to chant yet) from 4am to 5am that morning, which made it an extra special day. I love my hour alone watching over Christ's tomb. In the services, we enter God's time, and we are actually participating in the events, and the services are very moving. From the Saturday preceding Palm Sunday through Pascha, we have services every day, and sometime two services. I am taking the entire week off, so I can go to them all. I did that my first Holy Week, and the services blew me away. I will never forget my first Holy Week, and especially my first Paschal Liturgy. It is such a joyous service.

Cool, Kath.

Thanks for sharing.

The chanting part must be hard. One thing I find amazing with the chants is that they remember how it all goes!.....with the right intonation/notes/etc....and it's not like it's a simple verse/chorus like in contemporary music. It's quite complex (...but hummable at the same time ).

 

[OrthodoxyUSA]

Are you going to ask the Priest to pronounce absolution for you? Or just your private repentance prayer to The Lord? (Please tell the Priest you have done so before accepting communion from his hand.)

Forgive me...

 

[Mary of Bethany]

Cool, Kath.

Thanks for sharing.

The chanting part must be hard. One thing I find amazing with the chants is that they remember how it all goes!.....with the right intonation/notes/etc....and it's not like it's a simple verse/chorus like in contemporary music. It's quite complex (...but hummable at the same time ).

Byzantine chant - which I think is what you are used to - is definitely more elaborate and complex! The chanting in the Russian traditions is really just speaking the text in a sort of lilting monotone. So you aren't just "speaking" it, but it isn't structured, either. Regular Readers/Chanters do it much better than people like me who only do it occasionally.

Mary

 

[ticker]

Are you going to ask the Priest to pronounce absolution for you? Or just your private repentance prayer to The Lord? (Please tell the Priest you have done so before accepting communion from his hand.)

Gonna do what the Spirit is leading me to do.

Cheers

EDIT: (...and I hope that won't be the "Robot" dance).

 

[New_Wineskin]

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?

I wouldn't tell you what you should or should not do .

What does it mean to you?

It means nothing to me . But , enjoy .

 

[Dorothea]

I believe Pascha is the most important and joyous time of the year for us Orthodox. The services of Holy Week, Holy Saturday's midnight service, and finally Agape service on Sunday are all beautiful, reverent, glorious, and moving.

 

[E.C.]

Ten more days until Pascha!

 

[Theophorus]

Ten more days until Pascha!

Holy week is almost here. What a gift for us temporal beings. Time seems to stop a little next week and point to something beyond the imagination...the Christ in sorrows and affliction and in glory and victory.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

Holy week is almost here. What a gift for us temporal beings. Time seems to stop a little next week and point to something beyond the imagination...the Christ in sorrows and affliction and in glory and victory.

Keep your "booth" nice and tidy

http://www.scripture4all.org/

Leviticus 23:42 `In booths/05521 cukkah ye dwell seven of days; every of the native in Israel shall dwell in booths/05521 cukkah,

Matthew 17:4 Answering yet the Peter said to the Jesus "Lord, ideal it is us here to be; if thou are willing, I shall be making here three booths/skhnaV <4633>, to Thee one, and to Moses one, and Elijah one."

http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday5.htm

The Hebrew word "sukkah" (plural: "sukkot") refers to the temporary Booths that people lived in, not to the Tabernacle.