Holy Week and Pascha 2026
We celebrated the conclusion of Great Lent and the onset of Holy Week with Lazarus Saturday on April 4th, during which we orient ourselves towards the forthcoming resurrection by recounting Christ’s miraculous raising of Lazarus who was four days dead. We held Vespers on the evening of the 3rd followed by Matins, Hours and Divine Liturgy on the morning of the 4th.
On the evening of the 4th we began our commemoration of Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem with Vespers, and Matins, Hours and Divine Liturgy on the morning of the 5th. The church was adorned in green and parishioners held branches and cried “Hosanna in the heights, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” as we marked the beginning of Holy Week.
This year the feast of the Annunciation fell during Holy Week, a rare occurrence which called for a different order of service. We began with Great Compline on the evening of the 6th, followed by Matins, Hours, Typica, and Vesperal Liturgy on the 7th. It was a blessed occurrence celebrating the beginning of our Salvation in the same week as the culminating events of Christ’s saving work.
On Holy Thursday 9th April we held Matins, Hours, Typica and Vesperal Liturgy of St Basil the Great, as we commemorated the Last Supper, and in the evening we read the 12 Passion Gospels at Matins as we contemplated Christ’s betrayal, suffering and death on the Cross.
On Holy Friday 10th April we held the Royal Hours, and Vespers with the removal of the Holy Shroud, there was a solemn atmosphere in the church that continued into the evening as we served Small Compline with Matins with the Lamentations followed by a procession with the Holy Shroud.
On Holy Saturday 11th we served Hours, Typical and Vesperal Liturgy, a service with many readings from the Prophecies of the Old Testament. There was a joyful atmosphere as we began to await the arrival of Holy Pascha.
On the evening of the 11th and into the early hours of the 12th we held our triumphal Pascha service. A large number of parishioners gathered with candles as we joyfully declared “Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!” and sang the Paschal troparion many times, rejoicing. Many parishioners remained to receive Holy Communion and participate in the celebratory meal afterwards, many of whom were celebrating Pascha for the first time in the Orthodox church.
As many of us face difficult times and troublesome news around the world this year, Pascha teaches us to always remember the resurrection and carry with us the joyful tidings of the empty tomb, the bright and life giving news that overcomes all darkness.
