Area Orthodox Christians elebrate Pascha
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4/26/2008 - 4/26/08
Inside Santa Fe's Faith Communities:Local Orthodox Christians are joining all Orthodox Christians across the world in the celebration of Holy Week and Pascha — Easter.
This preparation began last weekend with the end of Great Lent on April 19, the Saturday of the Raising of Lazarus from the grave. For Orthodox Christians, this year Pascha falls several weeks later then the Western Protestant and Roman Catholic observance.
The Catholic-Protestant West has a newer, different Easter calculation than the Orthodox Catholic Church.
The calculation of the date of Pascha has less to do with the Julian calendar and more with the rules laid down at the First Ecumenical Council in 325 CE.
Pascha must be held on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox. Pascha must always be held on a Sunday and the First Ecumenical Council added the proviso that it cannot fall on Passover, that Passover must occur first, and then Pascha, as the New Testament records the salvific events of our Lord's Passion, Death and Resurrection.
Beginning with Palm Sunday morning Divine Liturgy, the themes of Orthodox worship move to the expectation of Christ the Bridegroom. There are daily services each evening from Sunday through Wednesday called the Bridegroom Services or Matins of the Bridegroom, consisting of psalms, prayers and the reading of Scripture all focused on the events of the Passion of Christ.
On Holy Thursday evening 12 readings from the Gospels continue to guide worship on the path of the Passion of Our Lord. On Great and Holy Friday, the day called Good Friday in the West, the body of Christ is symbolically taken from the cross and carried in procession just as though the event, beyond time, was taking place now in our time. The Vespers service is sung at 3 p.m. on Friday. The procession with the "Winding Sheet" (called Epitaphion in Greek or Plashchanitsa in Slavonic) is a traditional part of the evening Matins service.
This morning, the Liturgy of St. Basil filled with Old Testament readings is celebrated in anticipation of the Resurrection.
At last, on Pascha the midnight celebration of Christ's Resurrection becomes a time of great joy. "Christ is Risen" is declared in many languages and affirmed by the congregation at the Service of Resurrection which begins at 11:30 p.m. followed by Matins and Divine Liturgy. Baskets of food and eggs are blessed and special ethnic breads and foods are shared. Following the Divine Liturgy the Lenten fast, which began this year in mid-February, is ended and a great feast with traditional festal foods including paskha and kulich will be held at the church.
The community of St. Dimitri welcomes all who are interested in attending the services of Holy Week and Pascha Liturgy celebrated in the 2,000-year-old tradition of the Orthodox Church. For additional information, call Father John Hennies at 505-412-5707.
St. Dimitri Orthodox Church (OCA) — Los Alamos is at 2270 39th St. Call 661-7466.
The Orthodox Christian faith communities follow the Julian calendar, so Easter will be celebrated on Sunday. Here are some of the services planned in the area Orthodox Christian communities:
St. Elias the Prophet Greek Orthodox Church at 46 Calle Electra. Visit the Web site at www.stelias.nm.goarch.org or call 466-0015. The Holy Week and Pascha schedule is:
- Today is Holy and Great Saturday. Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil is at 10 a.m. Vigil of the Resurrection begins at 11 p.m.
- Sunday is Holy and Great Pascha. Service of the Resurrection begins at midnight. Matins and Divine Liturgy begins at 12:15 a.m. Great Vespers of Agape begins at noon. Paschal Meal begins at 1 p.m.
St. Juliana of Lazarevo Russian Orthodox Church is at 3877 W. Alameda St. The church will hold the following services:
- Today is Great and Holy Saturday. Divine Liturgy is at 11 a.m. Readings form the Acts of the Apostles begins at 10 p.m., The Pascal Noctures begin at 11:30 p.m.
- Sunday is The Bright Pascha of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Matins and Divine Liturgy of Pascha begins at midnight. The Pasca Feast will begin at 3 p.m.
Other area Orthodox churches also are having services.
Church of Kazan Mother of God: Russian Orthodox Church, Moscow Patriarchate. Call 505-501-0166.
Holy Trinity Orthodox Church: 231 E. Cordova Road. Call 983-5826.
Inside Santa Fe's Faith Communities is compiled by the individual faith community and edited by the religion editor. All faith communities are welcome to submit an article — send an e-mail to service@sfnewmexican.com or send fax to 986-9147. For more information, call 986-3049.