GREAT SATURDAY AND GREAT AND HOLY PASCHA Sat-early Sun April 11-12

Sat 11am-11:25am.   Proskomedia in the nave for the seeing and hearing of all the people. 

Sat. 11:30am~1:30pm The Harrowing of Hell, Christ’s victorious ascent/rising in Hades; First Resurrection Vesperal Liturgy

with Baptisms and Chrismations, liturgically bringing an end to Great Saturday and beginning the Vigil of Pascha.  THIS IS THE ONE LITURGY THAT IS ACCOMPLISHED IN THE NAVE, IN THE MIDST OF THE CHURCH.  It is the service where, in the middle of the service, we change all things to Paschal décor (from dark to light), and where you bang on the pews or floor (some bring pots and pans to bang) to represent Christ’s conquering of hell.  It is also the Liturgy that we serve completely in the nave of the Church before the Holy Shroud. 

NOTE, if you for reasons of age or health cannot make it to midnight services, Fr. Harry will bless baskets for this occasion after this Liturgy, and this only in legitimate circumstances.  That being said, one still should not partake of these things until after midnight.  Gifts of thanks to the priest are appreciated but not expected. 

Sat-Sun 10pm~1:15am  Midnight Resurrectional Services

10pm People begin to arrive for Paschal services (bring Paschal baskets to hall beforehand).  It is ok to bring sleeping equipment for children in the church, but we do have limited space so please be understanding and yielding on this point to others.     

10:30pm Nocturnes

*10:45pm~Midnight  Paschal light and procession to “Tomb”, begin Matins, procession back to church continuing Matins, Hours

~12 Midnight Divine Liturgy of Pascha

Following this, the blessing of baskets in the hall and festal Agape meal from the baskets.  (Gifts of thanks to the priest are appreciated but not expected, as the priest does not do this as part of his job but as a gift to the parish).

Sunday Divine Liturgy on Regular Sundays (but not Pascha/Orthodox Easter which is at midnight Sat/Sun on that week but preceded by other services) is at 10am   Divine Liturgy is often preceded by the office of confession or by memorials for departed faithful. If you arrive and there is already something going on, that is what is happening. Sometimes these memorials will be in various different languages.  But Liturgy is in English primarily (but in Paschaltide in various languages with still English as the base).  

Sermons and classes can be found on our Youtube channel ProtectionDover. 

More catechetical information, in both video and written form, can be found on our educational website www.orthodoxchristianed.org.