St. Euphrosynos Taverna and Ouzeri 18

[Michael G]

Good morning Ameria! I'm off to Thursday Vespers. The Tomb gets set up after the reading of the 12 Gospels tonight I think. You all have a great day.
Kolya

Kolya,
I pray you have a blessed Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Pascha! I am looking forward to tomorrow. I have to work, but will be off in time to go to Lamentations. After that we are going tomb hopping, and then I am praying the psalms before the tomb of Christ from 1-2 am.
Michael

 

[Matrona]

Under the category "Good Holy Week Memories", I'd just like to mention the wonderful priest at the church I went to this morning, who came rushing out of the altar during the Liturgy to hand me a Holy Week book so I could follow the non-English parts of the service.

I keep trying to tell him he doesn't have to do that, but he's done that at every service I've been to at his church this week. What a great priest.

 

[joyfulthanks]

What do you mean about setting up the tomb? What is the tomb and how is it used?

 

[HandmaidenOfGod]

Usually there is a "tomb" that is set up before services on Holy Friday. This is usually a very elaborate "table" of sorts that is decorated with vestments and flowers. After the procession during Good Friday service, where the Holy Shroud (a cloth with an icon of Christ's body) is laid, and the faithful come up to venerate it.

It is this "tomb" that is guarded from the close of Good Friday services to the beginning of Pascha services on Saturday night*.





*Although not common, some Orthodox Churches start their Paschal services early Sunday morning. Case in point: the UOC parish where my family will be attending Paschal services starts at 6:45 AM Sun morning.

 

[HandmaidenOfGod]

Here is an example of a "tomb." The "cloth" under the glass is the Holy Shroud that I was referring to:

 

[HandmaidenOfGod]

Here is a b&w version of what the Holy Shroud looks like:

 

[Greg the byzantine]

 

[Greg the byzantine]

 

[Greg the byzantine]

 

[Khaleas]

More pictures of Plaschanitsas/Holy Shrouds and I have no idea what they are called in Greek!!!



I'm saving them all because later this year I will start working on an embroidered one. I'm scared to death but I'm assuming Father would not have asked if he didn't have faith in me. I'll be asking for many prayers.

 

[joyfulthanks]

Interesting. So what happens to the tomb during Pascha?

 

[Greg the byzantine]

More pictures of Plaschanitsas/Holy Shrouds and I have no idea what they are called in Greek!!!



I'm saving them all because later this year I will start working on an embroidered one. I'm scared to death but I'm assuming Father would not have asked if he didn't have faith in me. I'll be asking for many prayers.

How awesome to embroider one. We have three very expensive ones that were hand embroidered, two by parishioners, and one by a nun.

In Greek it is called the Eptaphios, which is placed in the Kouvouklion (see pic below) and is carried in a procession through the streets. We had the police estimate about 1,500 people come to our Good Friday procession last year. I'lll see if I can take some pictures



from here: http://www.greektravel.com/greekislands/kea/easter/DSC09111_JPG_view.htm

 

[Greg the byzantine]

Interesting. So what happens to the tomb during Pascha?

In Greek Churches the Kouvouklion is placed on top of the altar. Our church has the most beautiful Kouvouklion that looks like a crown and it's covered in white carnations and purple Orchids.

 

[Kolya]

Well, just back from Vespers and the 12 Gospel readings. My advice; anyone going this evening - wear comfy shoes! Our Tomb will be placed in front of the Ambo at Vespers tomorrow evening. Good night all.

 

[Greg the byzantine]

Well, just back from Vespers and the 12 Gospel readings. My advice; anyone going this evening - wear comfy shoes! Our Tomb will be placed in front of the Ambo at Vespers tomorrow evening. Good night all.

Good Advice, I got about three housr to go

 

[Melethiel]

Have a good service all...I have choir dress rehearsals tonight and tomorrow. We're performing Dvorak's Requiem. Makes me glad that for us Holy Week was last week so that I wouldn't have to miss anything.

 

[Khaleas]

Well, I'm off to church. I want to take a sweet hour to get there (normally it takes about 20 mins) but traffic looks rather horrid and I've got a ton of stuff to do there before service starts. I've got the white altar covers all clean in my car, flowers to decorate a bit tonight, and I'm jittery like all that because of having to start taking allergy meds again. (times three). I'm going to drive Father nuts again... he thinks it's funny when I get hyper, I just hope he has something for me to do (he has learned the advantage with having a person with ADD in his parish LOL. When they are on the energy high they'll be rather productive). I just took an hour long nap so at least I'll be awake...

And woooohooo! Me and hubby and the dogs might be going to Finland for a week this summer!!! He's only been there in winter, and you haven't seen Finland until you've been there in summer. So keep praying that it will work out... it's within the suggested leave period for his squadron so hopefully it will.

 

[Matrona]

Have a good time at service everybody

 

[gzt]

doot doot: it was just pointed out to me that my itinerary indicates i'm flying back home on SATURDAY EVENING rather than SUNDAY EVENING. hence, i'll be home for pascha. doot doot! no sojourning at some random Greek parish for me!

 

[Michael G]

Here is an example of a "tomb." The "cloth" under the glass is the Holy Shroud that I was referring to:

That is beautiful! I will make sure to get a photo of the tomb at St. Innocent's this weekend.