All Saints of America Antiochian Orthodox Mission P.O. Box 30 Homer, Alaska 99603 (907) 235-8871 www.homerorthodoxy.org Under: His Eminence, the Most Reverend Metropolitan JOSEPH Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of all North America Feast of Palm Sunday: Entrance of Our Lord Jesus Christ into Jerusalem
APOLYTIKION OF LAZARUS SATURDAY IN TONE ONE In confirming the common Resurrection, O Christ God, Thou didst raise up Lazarus from the dead before Thy Passion. Wherefore, we also, like the children, bearing the symbols of victory, cry to Thee, the Vanquisher of death: Hosanna in the highest; blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord. APOLYTIKION OF PALM SUNDAY IN TONE FOUR O Christ God, when we were buried with Thee in Baptism, we became deserving of Thy Resurrection to immortal life. Wherefore, we praise Thee, crying: Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord. KONTAKION OF PALM SUNDAY IN TONE SIX Upborne upon the heavenly throne, and seated upon the earthly foal, O Christ our God, receive the praises of angels and the hymns of men, exclaiming before Thee: Blessed is He that cometh to restore Adam. THE EPISTLE The Epistle of St. Paul to the Philippians. (4:4-9) Brethren, rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand. Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, these do; and the God of peace will be with you.
THE GOSPEL The Holy Gospel according to St. John. (12:1-18) Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus who had died was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at table with Him. Mary took a pound of costly ointment of pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment. But Judas Iscariot, Simon s son, one of His Disciples (he who was to betray Jesus), said, Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor? This he said, not because he cared for the poor but because he was a thief, and as he had the moneybox he used to take what was put into it. Jesus said, Let her alone, let her keep it for the day of My burial. The poor you always have with you, but you do not always have Me. When the great crowd of the Jews learned that He was there, they came, not only on account of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus also to death, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus. The next day a great crowd who had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying, Hosanna! Blessed is He Who cometh in the Name of the Lord, the King of Israel! And Jesus found a young ass and sat upon it; as it is written, Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on an ass s colt! His Disciples did not understand this at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that this had been written of Him and had been done to Him. The crowd that had been with Jesus when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead bore witness. The reason why the crowd went to meet Jesus was that they heard He had done this sign.
Clergy Update: Fr Michael -will be back with us May 4th through June 18th. Fr John -will be here for Palm Sunday, Holy week, and Pascha Many Years Birthdays: Arseny Macauly 4/24, Cynthia Baganov 4/27 Choir Practice: Saturday 4:00 PM before Vespers. Here at the Church. All are welcome Palm Crosses Join us in the trapeza after services on Lazarus Saturday for the traditional making of our palm crosses of Palm Sunday. Snacks will be provided. Confession: Fr John will be hearing confessions through Tuesday of Holy week.
Antiochian Fasting Guidelines for Palm Sunday and Holy Week PALM SUNDAY Fish, oil and wine are allowed on Palm Sunday HOLY WEEK Holy Week is a special time of fasting separate from Great Lent. Like the first week, a strict fast is kept. Some Orthodox Christians try to keep a total fast on Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday and Holy Wednesday. Most eat a simple Lenten meal at the end of each day before going to the evening Church services. On Holy Thursday, wine is allowed in remembrance of the Last Supper. Holy Friday is kept as a strict fast day, as is Holy Saturday. Holy Saturday is the only Saturday in the entire year when oil is not permitted. In short, these are the Lenten rules for fasting. Traditionally, the Church Fathers recommend that someone new to fasting begin by resolving to faithfully do as much as he or she is able during the Lenten period. Each year as one matures as a Christian, a fuller participation can be undertaken. However, it is not recommended that a person try to create their own rules for fasting, since this would not be obedient or wise. The Faithful are encouraged to consult with their priest or bishop regarding the Fast when possible. Personal factors such as one's health and living situation need to be considered as well. It is important to keep in mind that fasting is not a law for us rather, a voluntary way of remembering to not sin and do evil, and to help keep our focus on prayer, repentance and doing acts of kindness, for we are not under the law but under grace (Romans 6:14). EASTER, BRIGHT WEEK AND THE PASCHAL SEASON The Lenten Fast is broken following the midnight Easter service. With the proclamation, Christ is risen! the time of feasting begins. The week after Easter is called Bright Week and there is no fasting. For the next 40 days, the Church celebrates the Paschal (Easter) season and it has been the custom in the Antiochian dioceses in past years to not require fasting from Pascha until Ascension.
Service Schedule Friday, April 19th 5:00 PM Rd Small Compline with Lazarus Akathist Lazarus Saturday, April 20th 10:00 AM Orthros and Typika for Lazarus Saturday followed by Palm Cross making and snacks in the trapeza. 5:00 PM Festal Great Vespers followed by confession Palm Sunday, April 21st 9:00 AM Orthros 10:00 AM Divine Liturgy followed by fish potluck 5:00 PM Bridegroom Orthros (1 hour) Holy Week Schedule Monday, April 22nd 9:00 AM Pre-sanctified Liturgy (1 1/2 hours) 6:00 PM Bridegroom Orthros (1 hour) Tuesday, April 23rd 9:00 AM Pre-sanctified Liturgy (1 1/2 hour) 6:00 PM Bridegroom Orthros (1 hour) Wednesday, April 24th 9:00 AM Pre-sanctified Liturgy(1 1/2 hour) 6:00 PM Holy Unction (1 hour & 40 min.)
Thursday, April 25th 9:00 AM Vesperal Liturgy (2 hours) 6:00 PM Orthros of Holy Friday: "the 12 Gospels (2 1/2 hours) Friday, April 26th 9:00 AM Royal Hours (1 1/2 hours) 3:00 PM Great Vespers for Holy Saturday (Taking down of Christ from Cross) (1 hour) 6:00 PM Lamentations: Orthros of Holy Saturday (2 1/2 hours) Saturday, April 27th 10:00 AM Vesperal Liturgy (2 hours) 11:30 Midnight Office Sunday April 28th Great and All-Holy PASCHA!!!!!!!! (2 hours) 12:00 AM Resurrection Service, Paschal Orthros, and Paschal Divine Liturgy with blessing of Paschal Baskets and breaking the fast together at approx 2:00 AM 3:00 PM Agape Vespers (1 hour)with Gospel Reading in many languages followed by the Paschal Feast and egg hunt in the trapeza
Spiritual Morsels "The commemoration of Christ's saving Passion is at hand, and the new, great spiritual Passover, which is the reward for dispassion and the prelude of the world to come. Lazarus proclaims it in advance by coming back from the depths of Hades and rising from the dead on the fourth day just by voice and command of God, Who has power over life and death (cf. Jn. 11:1-45)." -- St. Gregory Palamas