| The Greek OrthodoxCathedral of the Annunciation24 W. Preston St, Baltimore, MD 21201 |
Lazarus Saturday
Palm Sunday: The Entrance of Christ into Jerusalem
Services of the Bridegroom
The Sacrament of Holy Unction
Great and Holy Thursday
the washing of
the disciples' feet Great and Holy Friday
This commemoration begins on Thursday evening with the Matins of Holy Friday and concludes with a Vespers on Friday afternoon that observes the taking down of Christ from the Cross and the placement of His body in the tomb. Great and Holy Saturday
The Great and Holy Feast of Pascha
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On
the Saturday before Holy Week, the Orthodox Church commemorates a major
feast of the year, the miracle of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ when
he raised Lazarus from the dead after he had lain in the grave four
days. Here, at the end of Great Lent and the forty days of fasting and
penitence, the Church combines this celebration with that of Palm
Sunday. In triumph and joy the Church bears witness to the power of
Christ over death and exalts Him as King before entering the most solemn
week of the year, one that leads the faithful in remembrance of His
suffering and death and concludes with the great and glorious Feast of
Pascha.
On the
Sunday before the Feast of Great and Holy Pascha and at the beginning of
Holy Week, the Orthodox Church celebrates one of its most joyous feasts
of the year. Palm Sunday is the commemoration of the Entrance of our
Lord into Jerusalem following His glorious miracle of raising Lazarus
from the dead. Having anticipated His arrival and having heard of the
miracle, the people went out to meet the Lord and welcomed Him with
displays of honor and shouts of praise. On this day, we receive and
worship Christ in this same manner, acknowledging Him as our King and
Lord.
Beginning on the evening of Palm Sunday and continuing through the
evening of Holy Tuesday, the Orthodox Church observes a special service
known as the Service of the Bridegroom. Each evening service is the
Matins or Orthros service of the following day (e.g. the service held on
Sunday evening is the Orthros service for Holy Monday). The name of the
service is from the figure of the Bridegroom in the parable of the Ten
Virgins found in Matthew 25:1-13.
On the afternoon or evening of Great and Holy Wednesday, the Sacrament
or Mystery of Holy Unction is conducted in Orthodox parishes. The
Sacrament of Holy Unction is offered for the healing of soul and body
and for forgiveness of sins. At the conclusion of the service of the
Sacrament, the body is anointed with oil, and the grace of God, which
heals infirmities of soul and body, is called down upon each person. The
Sacrament is performed by a gathering of priests, ideally seven in
number, however, it can be performed by a lesser number and even by a
single priest.
On Thursday of Holy Week four events are commemorated:
On Great and Holy Friday the Orthodox Church commemorates the death of
Christ on the Cross. This is the culmination of the observance of His
Passion by which our Lord suffered and died for our sins. 
On Great and Holy Saturday the Orthodox Church commemorates the burial
of Christ and His descent into Hades. It is the day between the
Crucifixion of our Lord and His glorious Resurrection. The Matins of
Holy Saturday is conducted on Friday evening, and while many elements of
the service represent mourning at the death and burial of Christ, the
service itself is one of watchful expectation.
On the Great and Holy Feast of Pascha, Orthodox Christians celebrate the
life-giving Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This
feast of feasts is the most significant day in the life of the Church.
It is a celebration of the defeat of death, as neither death itself nor
the power of the grave could hold our Savior captive. In this victory
that came through the Cross, Christ broke the bondage of sin, and
through faith offers us restoration, transformation, and eternal life.