The following list of services can be found in the Greek Orthodox Holy Week & Services Book, compiled by Fr. George L. Papadeas, or “The Black Holy Week Book”. Another name for Holy Week is “Passion Week” since we remember the intense emotion of Christ as He was arrested, tried, condemned to death, crucified, and died on the cross... If you attend all of the services from the Saturday of Lazarus, Palm Sunday, and the following, you will have been in church over 24 hours by the conclusion of the Agape Vespers, giving each of us an opportunity to experience our own “passion week”! The passion of Holy Week is overcome by the joy of the Resurrection we will experience early Sunday morning. For specific dates and times of these services, please check with the local Orthodox Church in your area.
Note: this order of services is the common list of services held by most of the Orthodox churches under the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Other Orthodox jurisdictions may have a different schedule of Holy Week services.
PALM SUNDAY EVENING - Holy Monday Orthros, done by anticipation. Gospel: Matthew 21:18-43 - Cursing of the Fig Tree, and parable of the vineyard. Theme: Call to bear fruit, and the prophesy of Jesus' forthcoming death.
HOLY MONDAY EVENING - Holy Tuesday Orthros, done by anticipation. Gospel: Matthew 22 & 23 - Woes to Scribes and Pharisees. Theme: Focus on the Bridegroom (parable of 10 Virgins), and a call to repentance.
HOLY TUESDAY EVENING - Holy Wednesday Orthros, done by anticipation. Gospel: John 12:17-50 - "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be Glorified..." Theme: Anointing of Jesus before his death. Hymn of the nun Kassiani remembering the sinful woman (call to repentance).
HOLY WEDNESDAY EVENING - The Sacrament of Holy Unction (Greek/American
Tradition), for the healing of soul and body.
HOLY THURSDAY
- MORNING - Vespers & Divine Liturgy of St. Basil, done by anticipation.
Commemorates the Last Supper. Also, the reserve sacrament is consecrated
now for the entire year.
- EVENING - Orthros of Great Friday, done by anticipation. Passion Service with 12 Gospel readings that tell of the arrest, trial and crucifixion of Christ.
GREAT FRIDAY
- MORNING - Royal Hours (Commemorate the arrest, trial, judgement & crucifixion).
- AFTERNOON - Vespers
of <<APOKATHELOSIS>>,
the taking down of the body of Christ from the cross.
- EVENING - The "Lamentations" (Orthros of Holy Saturday, done
by anticipation). The Funeral of Jesus.
HOLY SATURDAY MORNING - Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil the Great, done by anticipation. This is the "First" resurrection, (the Descent into Hades Icon of Christ breaking the gates of Hell and binding the devil, causing the earthquake felt when Jesus died on the Cross).
EASTER SUNDAY
- SATURDAY EVENING - Orthros of the Resurrection, done before Midnight;
The Resurrection Service, and then the Orthros and Divine Liturgy of
St. John Chrysostom.
- SUNDAY AFTERNOON - Agape Vespers done in many languages. This reminds
us that the message of Christ went to the entire world.