Why Every Orthodox Christian Should Engage in Holy Week and Pascha
“Let us also go, that we may die with Him.” (John 11:16)
As we approach the most sacred days of the Church year, we are invited to enter the mystery of our Lord’s Passion, Death, and glorious Resurrection. Holy Week is not merely a series of religious services; it is a sacred journey we undertake with Christ, step by step, from His entry into Jerusalem to the empty tomb on Pascha morning.
This week is not meant to be watched from a distance. It is intended to be lived.
Each day of Holy Week is a step toward resurrection.
The Holy Gospels provide a detailed account of Jesus’ final days. The Church, with profound wisdom, guides us through these days in real time:
- Palm Sunday Evening – Bridegroom Service: We hear, “Behold, the Bridegroom comes at midnight” (Matthew 25:6). We are called to be spiritually awake and prepared.
- Holy Wednesday – The Woman Who Anointed Christ: A service of healing and forgiveness. The Church extends Holy Unction to all the faithful.
- Holy Thursday – The Mystical Supper: Christ offers us His Body and Blood and instructs us to love and serve.
- Holy Friday – The Cross and the Tomb: We follow Christ to Golgotha and mourn with the Theotokos at the foot of the Cross.
- Holy Saturday – The Great and Holy Sabbath: Christ rests in the tomb but descends to Hades to conquer death.
- PASCHA – The Resurrection of Christ: The Church resounds with joy: “Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death!”
These services are filled with Scripture, hymns, and silence. They invite us not only to remember what Christ did for us, but also to participate in it.
What Saints Say
St. John Chrysostom tells us, “The entirety of our life is simply one single day, and that day is Holy Week.”
St. Ephraim the Syrian writes, “If you wish to overcome the world, run to Golgotha, fall before the Cross, and embrace it with your heart.”
The Church Fathers understood what we sometimes forget: our salvation is not merely a theory; it is a Person- Christ Himself. He walks through this week for our sake.
Hymns That Shape the Soul
The hymns of Holy Week guide us in prayer.
- “I behold Thy bridal chamber adorned, O my Savior, yet I possess no wedding garment to enter. O Giver of Light, illuminate the garment of my soul and save me.” (Bridegroom Service)
- “Weep not for Me, O Mother, as you see Me in the tomb, the Son whom you conceived in the womb without seed…” (Lamentations)
- “This is the day of Resurrection! Let us be illuminated, O people!” (Paschal Canon)
If we truly listen, these hymns stay in our hearts for life.
How can families experience Holy Week together?
Even if we cannot attend every service, we should make this week stand out from all others. Here are some practical ways to experience it both at home and in church:
- Attend church services. Allocate time to participate in the services of Holy Thursday, Holy Friday, Holy Saturday, and Pascha—these are the core of the Christian year.
- Pray and fast together. Simplify meals, disconnect from screens, and dedicate time for family prayer.
- Discuss Christ’s love. Explain the significance of each service to your children. Let them witness your own love for Christ.
- Maintain the silence. As much as possible, allow your home to embody the solemn beauty of this week.
- Celebrate Pascha with joy! Let your home resonate with “Christ is Risen!”—not merely as a greeting, but as the triumphant shout of our faith.
Service Schedule
We invite you and your family to join us for the Holy Week and Pascha services. Please find the complete schedule here:
Come, beloved faithful, and walk with Christ—through the sorrow of the Cross into the unending joy of the Resurrection.
“Come, O faithful, let us enjoy the Master’s hospitality: the Banquet of Immortality! In the upper chamber with uplifted minds, let us receive the exalted words of the Word, whom we magnify.”
(Holy Thursday Hymn)
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