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AT HOME

Preparing for and Celebrating the Feast of Feasts as a Family

APRIL-MAY 2021 ST. BASIL GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH SUNDAY SCHOOL PROGRAM 733 South Ashland Avenue Chicago, IL 60607

Lazarus Saturday

Lazarus Saturday and are an interlude, or pause, between Great and Holy Week.

On this this day, we celebrate how our Lord and Savior raised His friend Lazarus, who had been dead and been lying in a tomb for four days. This feast is a foreshadowing of Christ’s death and Resurrection, and a reminder that we will all be resurrected when Christ comes again.

This feast is directly connected to Palm Sunday, when crowds in welcomed Jesus Christ as a savior after they heard about this great miracle.

Lazarus, and his sisters Mary and Martha, were close friends and followers of Christ. The story of Lazarus’ illness and death are found in the of John (11:1-45). In that Gospel, when Jesus heard that Lazarus had died, “.” (:35). Even though Christ knew that He would soon raise Lazarus from the dead, He still wept. This is how greatly Christ loves us, and how He understands our pain, sorrow, and grief.

Services * * St. Basil live stream Vespers Readings • Hebrews 12:28-13:8 • John 11:1-45 Hymn Kontakion of the Feast By raising Lazarus from the dead before Your Passion, You confirmed the universal resurrection, O Christ God! Like the children with palms of victory, We cry out to You, O Vanquisher of Death; in the highest! Blessed is He that comes in the name of ! • Listen to the Kontakion here (The above translation begins at 01:00) • Listen to the hymn in other languages (Spanish, , Korean, etc.) here Celebrating at Home • Try baking Lazarakia. These small, fast-worthy breads look like St. Lazarus wrapped in his burial clothes. There are many recipes available online. Additional Resources • Lazarus Saturday Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (GOARCH) – learn about the feast, the gospel passages, the festal , and the Liturgical celebrations • 4 Tips for a Great Holy Week (2020) GOARCH Youth and Young Adult Ministries • Lazarus Saturday Fr. Thomas Hopko - podcast • Remembering Saint Lazarus Orthodox Mom – activities for families • The Raising of Lazarus Orthodox Pebbles – activities for children

Holy Week at Home 2021 – St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church – Chicago, IL

Palm Sunday

Before Holy Week, we celebrate Palm Sunday - one of the most joyous feasts of the year. On this day, we remember the entrance of our Lord into Jerusalem after he performed the miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead.

Anticipating His arrival, and having heard of the miracle, the people went out to meet Christ and welcomed Him with displays of honor. The children laid palms and garments on the road in front of Him, as one would for a king. The people shouted praise: “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” This is why we bless and process in our church with palms and other branches.

By Palm Sunday evening, the and the tone of our services will change from triumphant hymns, to focusing on of how our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ begins to prepare to be betrayed and crucified.

Services • Divine Liturgy* * St. Basil live stream • Matins (Orthros, or morning service) of * Readings • :1-11; 15-17 • St. Paul's Letter to the Philippians 4:4-9 • :1-18 Hymn Kontakion of the Feast By raising Lazarus from the dead before Your Passion, You confirmed the universal resurrection, O Christ God! Like the children with palms of victory, We cry out to You, O Vanquisher of Death; Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord! • Listen to the Kontakion here (The above translation begins at 01:00) • Listen to the hymn in other languages here Celebrating at Home • Have a family with branches 🌿🌿 by cutting branches from your trees (like the children of Jerusalem did for Jesus), purchasing greens from the grocery store on your next trip, or using blessed palms from last year. • Make crosses from long strips of paper instead of palm fronds. • Christians all over the world use whatever greens or branches they have available to celebrate Palm Sunday. In Greece, it is common to branches of bay leaves. In Russia and other cold climates, there are no green leaves at this time of year, so they use pussy willows. So in this unusual times, let’s use whatever we have to celebrate. Additional Resources • Palm Sunday GOARCH – learn about the feast, the gospel passages, the festal icon, and the Liturgical celebrations • Palm Sunday Lesson Dr. Pat’s Orthodox Super Sunday School • How to Make Palm Crosses video and diagram

Holy Week at Home 2021 – St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church – Chicago, IL

Holy Monday

Beginning on Palm Sunday evening and continuing through evening, we pray the Service of the Bridegroom, or Bridegroom Matins (Orthros). Although prayed in the evening, Bridegroom Matins are morning services for the following day. Therefore, on Palm Sunday evening, we pray the Bridegroom Matins for Holy Monday, and on Holy Monday evening, we pray the Bridegroom Matins for , etc. In this way, we are always anticipating the events of the next day of Holy Week.

The term Bridegroom refers to the parable of the Ten Virgins (:1-13). In this parable, Christ is the Bridegroom, and we learn from the story how we are to prepare for His coming. The term Bridegroom also reminds us of the intimacy we have with Christ, and how he loves us eternally.

The services of the first three days of Holy Week are similar, but focus on different themes that we are to consider as we prepare for Christ’s passion and Pascha. The themes for Monday are: • of the Old Testament (Genesis 37-50), whose life foreshadowed Christ’s coming, and how Christ will deliver us from the slavery and death of sin, just as Joseph delivered his people from starvation and death. His icon is above. • Jesus cursing of the fig tree in the (21:18-43). This fig tree with no fruit teaches us that if we are not alive with faith, and producing the fruit of faith, that we will be cursed like the tree. Services • Presancitfied Liturgy * St. Basil live stream • Bridegroom Matins (Orthros, or morning service of the next day)* Readings • :3-35 • Matthew 21:18-43 Hymn Troparion of the Bridegroom Behold the Bridegroom comes in the middle of the night. And blessed is the servant whom he shall find watching. And again unworthy is he whom he shall find heedless. Beware, therefore, O my soul, lest thou be borne down with sleep, Lest thou be given over unto death, And lest thou be shut out from the kingdom. Wherefore arouse thyself and cry, "Holy! Holy! Holy art thou O our God. Through the intercession of the Theotokos, Savior save us!" • Listen to the Troparion here. Celebrating at Home • Light your home oil lamp, or make one for the occasion, and light it during each Bridegroom Service this week. Additional Resources • Services of the Bridegroom (Holy Monday) GOARCH – learn about the day, the gospel passages, the , and the Liturgical services • Holy Week OrthodoxABC • Holy Week chart and Holy Week activities for kids Orthodox Education BlogSpot • Journey to Pascha Department of Christian Education Orthodox Church in America (OCA)

Holy Week at Home 2021 – St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church – Chicago, IL Holy Tuesday

The themes of Holy Tuesday are the Kingdom of Heaven and the Final Judgement. We learn about these through two parables that Christ taught his disciples in the days before his :

• Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-3), which teaches us that Judgement Day will be like bridesmaids (Virgins) who were waiting for the Bridegroom (Christ) to arrive for the wedding feast (Heaven). Some were wise and brought plenty of oil for their lamps as they waited, and some were not. We strive to live like the wise bridesmaids – watchful and ready for Christ at all times, so that we can enter with Him into the Heaven. Watchfulness is the intense love of God.

• Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30), which tells of a master (Christ) who gave different amount of wealth (talents) to each of his servants to keep for him while he was away. From this parable, we learn how each of us must use our God- given talents while on this earth, waiting for our master, Christ, to return. Services • Presancitfied Liturgy * St. Basil live stream • Matins (Orthros, or morning service of the next day)* Readings • Matthew 24:36-51; 25:1-46; 26:1-2 • :15-46; 23:1-39 Hymn Exapostelarion of Bridegroom Matins I see Thy bridal chamber adorned, O my Savior! And I have no wedding garment that I may enter therein. O Though Giver of life make radiant the vesture of my soul and save me. • Listen to the Exapostelarion here Celebrating at Home • Light your home oil lamp, or make one for the occasion, and light it during each Bridegroom Service this week. • Children can make paper lamps to remember the Parable of the Ten Virgins. Additional Resources • Services of the Bridegroom (Holy Tuesday) GOARCH • 4 Tips for a Great Holy Week (2020) GOARCH Youth and Young Adult Ministries • Holy Week OrthodoxABC • Holy Week chart and Holy Week activities for kids Orthodox Education BlogSpot • Journey to Pascha Department of Christian Education OCA

Holy Week at Home 2021 – St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church – Chicago, IL Holy Wednesday

On the afternoon of Holy Wednesday, the of Holy Unction is offered for the healing of soul and body, and for forgiveness of sins. This service includes seven readings, seven Gospel readings, and seven prayers over oil. In the Sacrament of Holy Unction and the Sacrament of Chrismation (if we were baptized as infants, Chrismation happened along with our ), oil is a sign of God's presence, strength, and forgiveness.

The theme of Holy Wednesday is repentance, which we learn about through the stories of two very different people:

• The sinful woman (:6-13, :3-9): she had lived a life of sin but repented of her ways, and despite people ridiculing her, had the courage to approach Christ to ask for His forgiveness. While doing so, she anointed His head with a costly ointment. Her selfless repentance set her free.

• , the : who although he was a disciple and therefore had every opportunity to live a holy life alongside Jesus, instead betrayed Christ for . Instead of running to Christ for forgiveness as the sinful woman did, he instead killed himself. His selfish refusal to repent cut him off from the love of God. Services • Presancitfied Liturgy • Holy Unction Service* * St. Basil live stream • Matins of Holy * Readings • Matthew 26:6-16 • John 12:17-50 Prayer of the Oil – from the Service of Holy Unction O Lord who, in Your mercies and bounties, heals the disorders of our souls and bodies, do You, the same Master, sanctify this Oil, that it may be effectual for those who shall be anointed therewith, unto healing, and unto relief from every passion, every malady of the flesh and of the spirit, and every ill; and that therein may be glorified Your most Holy Name, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. Celebrating at Home • If you have Holy Oil at home, anoint one another with this in lieu of unction. • Just as Holy Unction heals – body and soul – let’s pray for the healing of those suffering from coronavirus, and all those caring for them. Here is a prayer especially for this crisis. Additional • Services of the Bridegroom (Holy Wednesday) GOARCH Resources • 4 Tips for a Great Holy Week (2020) GOARCH Youth and Young Adult Ministries • Holy Week OrthodoxABC • Holy Week chart and Holy Week activities for kids Orthodox Education BlogSpot • The Dr. Pat’s Orthodox Super Sunday school (to prepare for Holy Thursday morning)

Holy Week at Home 2021 – St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church – Chicago, IL Holy Thursday

In the services of Holy Thursday, we commemorate four events of Christ’s passion (suffering): • Jesus washes his disciples' feet: when the Master washes His students’ feet, he shows us how perfect love comes from humility.

• Jesus institutes the Sacrament of the Holy at : through this, He offers us His own body and . The Eucharist (Holy ) is the center of our lives as Orthodox Christians. At the Vesperal Liturgy on Holy Thursday morning, two lambs (a special piece of bread that becomes the in Holy Communion) are consecrated. One lamb is used for Holy Communion that day, and the other becomes the Reserve Sacrament kept in the . Father uses the Reserve Sacrament when he goes to give Holy Communion to those who are sick or dying.

• Christ’s of Gethsemane: is when Christ goes to pray to His Father in the garden for the last time. In His prayer, we see Jesus’ pain, sorrow, and fear, knowing that He will be soon be crucified for our sakes. In his agony, Christ also shows us how to pray – not that our own will, but God’s will, be done.

• Christ’s betrayal by Judas: when Judas used a kiss, the sign of friendship and love, to betray Christ and turn him over the Jewish and Roman leaders so that He could be killed. After Christ is betrayed, His suffering (passion) begins. During the Twelve Passion Gospels Service of Holy Thursday evening, we hear of Christ’s passion and crucifixion, which occurred on Great and Holy Friday.

Services • Vesperal Liturgy of the Mystical Supper* * St. Basil live stream • Holy Passion Service (Reading of the Twelve Gospels)* Readings • :1-39 • St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 11:23-32 • Matthew 26:1-20; :3-17; Matthew 26:21-39; Luke 22:43-44; Matthew 26:40- 75; 27:1-2 • Twelve Gospels Hymn Troparion of Holy Thursday When the glorious disciples were enlightened at the washing of their feet before the supper, the impious Judas was darkened by the disease of avarice, and to the lawless judges he betrayed You, the Righteous Judge. Behold, this man because of avarice hanged himself. Flee from the insatiable desire which dared such things against the Master! O Lord Who deals righteously with all, glory to You! Celebrating at Home • To celebrate the first Eucharist, try baking prosforo (or “offering bread” used in the Divine Liturgy) at home. Here is another recipe (pages 7-9). • In remembrance of Jesus washing the feet of the disciples, wash each other’s feet. • Dye red eggs by using dye and these tips, or try a natural (onion skin) egg dye • Start getting ready for Pascha by baking Pascha bread (Greeks call their Pascha bread tsoureki) or other Paschal treats. Additional Resources • Holy Thursday GOARCH • The Last Supper (Search for this title here) Retold for Children OCA • Jesus Christ is Judged (Search for this title here) Retold for Children OCA

Holy Week at Home 2021 – St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church – Chicago, IL Holy (Good) Friday

On Great and Holy Friday, we commemorate Christ’s death on the Cross, which He suffered for our sins. We began this on Holy Thursday night, and it continues throughout all of Friday. On Holy Friday, we specifically remember these sufferings of Christ: • He was mocked, • He was forced by the Romans to wear a , • He was nailed to the cross, • And while He suffered on the cross, he was given vinegar and gall to drink. Holy Friday and Saturday are the only two days of the year when there is no Eucharist (Holy Communion). On Holy Friday morning, the services of the Royal Hours consist of reading prayers, hymns, and passages from the Old and New Testaments.

In the afternoon at the Vespers service, we remove the body of Christ (wooden icon) from the cross, and wrap it in a white cloth, like did with Christ’s actual body. After His body is removed from the cross, Father carries the Epitaphion – a cloth on which the icon of the Body of Christ is painted or embroidered - around the church. He then places it inside the Sepulcher (Kouvouklion). The Sepulcher is a carved wooden structure that symbolizes the tomb of Christ. When we are physically in Church, we may crawl or walk underneath this tomb. This is to remind us that by being in communion with Christ, we will pass from death into life.

On Friday evening, we begin to commemorate what happened to Christ on : while His body laid in the tomb, He descended into Hades to conquer death. At the Lamentations Service (a mourning or funeral type service), Christ’s tomb is covered in flowers, and we hold candles while we sing the beautiful hymn, “The Life in the Tomb (Η Ζωή εν Τάφω).” While we sing these hymns of mourning, we never forget that Christ’s death is what leads to His resurrection, and the life of the world! Services • Royal Hours of Holy Friday* • Vespers of Holy Friday -Removal from the Cross (Apokatheilosis)* * St. Basil live stream • The Lamentations* Readings • St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 5:6-8 • :62-66 Hymn Fifteenth Antiphon of the Matins (Plagal of the Second Tone) Today He who hung the earth upon the waters is hung upon the Tree. He who is King of the angels is arrayed in a crown of thorns. He who wraps the heavens in clouds is wrapped in the purple of mockery. He who in Jordan set Adam free receives blows upon His face. The Bridegroom of the Church is transfixed with nails. The Son of the Virgin is pierced with a spear. We venerate Thy Passion, O Christ. Show us also Thy glorious Resurrection. • Listen to the Hymn here Celebrating at Home • Like a Kouvouklion (the wooden structure we decorate with flowers to hold the Epitaphion (the cloth icon of Christ in the tomb)), decorate a box or platter with flowers, and put an icon of Christ in the center. Keep a vigil candle lit near it. Additional Resources • Holy Friday GOARCH • Holy Friday icon coloring pages OCA • Holy Friday retold for children OCA • Jesus Christ is Hung on the Cross (Search for this title here) Retold for Children OCA

Holy Week at Home 2021 – St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church – Chicago, IL Holy Saturday

On Holy Saturday, we commemorate how Christ was buried and descended into Hades (the realm of the dead) before His Resurrection on Pascha. Our services for Holy Saturday began with the Lamentations on Holy Friday evening. Although that service is one of mourning at the tomb of Christ, it is full of watchful expectation. Christ’s tomb is no grave – rather than decay and sadness, it is going to forth with life and victory!

The Vesperal Liturgy on Holy Saturday morning is called the First Resurrection. We read Old Testament passages that prophesy Christ’s coming, and how He will deliver us from sin and death. In the ancient church, the catechumens (those preparing to be Christians) were baptized during these readings. We then read the Epistle, after which we chant the hymn - “Arise, O God, Judge the earth…” – calling on Christ to arise and show us His victory. During this powerful hymn, the priest throws bay leaves and flowers all around the church. In ancient times, people celebrated military victories by throwing bay leaves. Now, we throw leaves for Christ’s coming victory! We then read from the Gospel of Matthew and hear the first message of the resurrection – how the myrrbearing women went to Christ’s tomb, and He was not there! The next service will start just before midnight, when we gather to celebrate Christ’s Pascha. Services • The First Resurrection (Protianastasi) Vesperal Liturgy* • Service of Preparation* * St. Basil live stream • Service of the Resurrection – Come Receive the Light!* Readings • Matthew 27:62-66 • St. Paul's Letter to the Romans 6:3-11 • :1-20 Hymns Resurrectional Apolytikion When he took down Your immaculate Body from the Cross, the honorable Joseph wrapped it in a clean linen shroud with spices and laid it for burial in a new tomb. When You descended unto death, O Lord who yourself are immortal Life, then did You mortify Hades by the lightning flash of Your Divinity. Also when You raised the dead from the netherworld, all the Powers of the heavens were crying out: O Giver of life, Christ our God, glory be to You. The Angel standing at the sepulcher cried out and said to the ointment-bearing women: The ointments are appropriate for mortal men, but Christ has been shown to be a stranger to decay.

Prokeimenon Arise, O God; judge the earth, for Though shalt have an inheritance among all the nations. • Listen to this amazing, powerful hymn here! Celebrating at Home • During the First Resurrection. join Father in singing “Arise O God…” While you sing, celebrate Christ’s victory like we do in church - throw fresh leaves 🍃🍃 or flowers in the air, or make lots of noise with bells or by banging pots and pans! • On the island of Cyprus, the faithful bring pots and pans to church to make noise during this hymn. Residents of the Greek Island of Corfu break clay pots on Holy Saturday by throwing them off their balconies. Both of these traditions symbolize how Christ has broken open Hades and released us from the prison of sin and death! Additional Resources • Holy Saturday GOARCH • Holy Week chart and Holy Week activities for kids Orthodox Education BlogSpot • Family Gospel Lesson , Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea GOARCH

Holy Week at Home 2021 – St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church – Chicago, IL

Great & Holy Pascha

The Feast of feasts has finally arrived! We have come to the most important day in our Church calendar, and in our own lives. This is celebration of the life-giving Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Just before midnight on Holy Saturday, we continued singing the Lamentations at Christ’s tomb. Then, the Service of the Resurrection Matins (Orthros) began in complete darkness, just like the darkness of Hades. At midnight – the first moments of Pascha morning - Father comes out the altar with a single light and chants: "Come receive the light from the light that is never overtaken by night, and glorify Christ, who is risen from the dead", and we all join him. From this moment, we hold our Paschal candles as a symbol of Christ, who is our Light and our Resurrection! Then comes the moment we’ve all been waiting for: when we join Father in singing the hymn of Resurrection, "Christ is Risen…” From this moment on, everything in the Church, and in our own hearts, is joyous. As the hymns say, “It is the Day of Resurrection, let us be glorious, let us embrace one another and speak to those that hate us; let us forgive all things and so let us cry, Christ has arisen from the dead"

After Matins we then begin the Divine Liturgy. Starting at this Liturgy, instead of chanting the Triasagion Hymn -“Holy God, Holy Mightly, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us” - we will chant the words of St. Paul, “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ, Alleluiah.” (Galatians 3:27). We will do this at every Divine Liturgy until Christ’s Ascension, 40 days after Pascha. This is the same hymn that was chanted at our baptism as we processed around the baptismal font with our sponsors (Godparents). This is a beautiful reminder that our entire life as a Christian is focused on Christ and His Resurrection. At the end of the Paschal Divine Liturgy, we listen to the greatest ever given – the Paschal of St. John Chrysostom.

On Pascha afternoon, we gather again for the Vespers (Love Vespers) service, during which the (20:19-25) is read in as many languages as possible. This is done to show that Christ is the Savior of all people.

Services • Matins (Orthros) & Divine Liturgy of Pascha* * St. Basil live stream • Love (Agape) Vespers* Readings • 1:1-8 • :1-17 • of St. John Chrysostom –called the greatest homily ever preached! Hymn Apolytikion (Plagal of the First Tone) Christ is risen from the dead, by death trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs He has granted life. • Listen to the hymn in many languages here!

First Ode of the Canon of Pascha (First Tone) It is the day of Resurrection, let us be radiant, O ye peoples: Pascha, the Lord's Pascha; for Christ God hath brought us from death to life, and from earth unto Heaven as we sing the triumphal hymn.

Doxastikon of the Praises (Plagal of the First Tone) It is the day of Resurrection; let us be radiant for the festival, and let us embrace one another. Let us say, O brethren, even to those that hate us: Let us forgive all things on the Resurrection; and thus let us cry: Christ is risen from the dead, by death He has trampled down death, and on those in the tombs He has bestowed life. Holy Week at Home 2021 – St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church – Chicago, IL

Celebrating at Home • During the Service of the Resurrection, Orthros, and Divine Liturgy, light candles to symbolize the light of Christ. • Have a special Paschal meal today with all the foods we have been fasting from for 40 days. Have a virtual Paschal meal by video streaming with your loved ones who don’t live in your house. Next year, when we can all be together physically for Pascha, this meal will be all the more meaningful. • Video chat with your godparents, godchildren, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. Greet everyone with “Christ is Risen!” (in whatever language you like) instead of “hello” on Pascha, and for the next 40 days Additional Resources • Resurrection icon coloring pages (first 4 images) OCA • Christ is Risen (Search for this title here) Retold for Children OCA • Pascha OrthodoxABC • Pascha Dr. Pat’s Orthodox Super Sunday School • Pascha Learning Basket from Charming the Birds from the Trees • Pascha printable Antiochian Archdiocese • Story Printables 1+1+1=1 • Pascha Learning Sets Orthodox Pebbles • Four Icons for Pascha Orthodox Pebbles • Lesson Orthodox Catechism Project

Additional Citations: • The Orthodox Church in America (OCA) – My Guide to Holy Week and the Feast of Psalms • Parousia Press – Resources Lazarus Saturday, Palm Sunday, and Holy Week; post March 31, 2020 • The Ascetic Life of Motherhood – Holy Week at Home; Instagram post April 3, 2020

Holy Week at Home 2021 – St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church – Chicago, IL