A Liturgical Explanation of Holy Week by Fr.Alexander Schmemann Download
Holy Week Schedule: 2018holyweekpaschaschedule.pdf
The above download has more detail and information as well as activities. Below is just a quick guide.
March 31
Little Compline with Canon to St. Lazarus - 6:00 p.m.
March 31
St. Lazarus Saturday Orthros - 8:00 a.m.
Divine Liturgy - 9:00 a.m.*
Great Vespers for Palm Sunday - 6:00 p.m.
April 1
Palm Sunday Orthros - 9:00 a.m.
Palm Sunday Liturgy - 10:00 a.m.*
Palm Sunday Evening - Bridegroom Matins I - 6:00 p.m.
April 2
Holy Monday Presanctified Liturgy - 7:00 a.m.*
Holy Monday Evening - Bridegroom Matins II - 6:00 p.m.
Met. Isaiah will preside
April 3
Holy Tuesday Presanctified Liturgy - 7:00 a.m.*
Holy Tuesday Evening ridegroom Matins III 6:00 p.m.
Met. Isaiah to Preside
April 4
Holy Wednesday Presanctified Liturgy - 7:00 a.m.*
Holy Wednesday Evening - Mystery of Holy Unction - 6:00 p.m.
April 5
Holy Thursday Matins - 7:00 a.m.
Holy Thursday Liturgy - Mystical Supper - 9:00 a.m.*
Holy Thursday Evening - The 12 Passion Gospels - 6:00 p.m.
April 6
Holy Friday Morning - The Great Hours - 8:00 a.m.
Holy Friday Afternoon - Vespers - 3:00 p.m.
Holy Friday Evening - Lamentations - 6:00 p.m.
The Church is open all day to venerate the Holy Epitafio
April 7
Holy Saturday Morning - 1st Announcement of the Resurrection - 9:00 a.m.*
Holy Saturday Canon - Vigil - 11:30 p.m.
April 8
Paschal Resurrection Vigil & Liturgy - 12:00 a.m.*
Pascha Sunday Agape Vespers - 12:00 p.m.**
Picnic to follow Sunday afternoon service.
Notes:
* Holy Communion is offered at these services.
* Only Orthodox Christians may receive Holy Communion, Holy Confession and Holy Unction.
Memorial Services for the departed are not permitted from Lazarus Saturday (March 31) to St. Thomas Sunday (April 15 inclusive). The Church does this so we may focus our attention solely on the Resurrection of our Lord. It also reminds us that death in and of itself, is not final for the true believer. As followers of the Risen Lord, we too shall rise from the dead to live eternally with our Savior.
Also, we do not kneel during any church services from Pascha until Pentecost and the prayer of O Heavenly King..., is not said until Pentecost as it is replaced with triple singing of Christ is Risen for the forty days.
Tradition relates that in Italy Mary Magdalene visited Emperor Tiberias (14-37 A.D.) and proclaimed to him Christs Resurrection. One tradition concerning Mary Magdalene says that following the death and resurrection of Jesus, she used her position to gain an invitation to a banquet given by Emperor Tiberius. When she met him, she held a plain egg in her hand and exclaimed 'Christ is risen!' Caesar laughed, and said that Christ rising from the dead was as likely as the egg in her hand turning red while she held it. Before he finished speaking, the egg in her hand turned a bright red, and she continued proclaiming the Gospel to the entire imperial house. Then she told the emperor that in his Province of Judea the unjustly condemned Jesus the Galilean, a holy man, a miracle worker, powerful before God and all mankind, had been executed at the instigation of the Jewish High Priests, and the sentence confirmed by the procurator appointed by Tiberias, Pontius Pilate.
No Fasting During Bright Week (the week following Pascha): All foods are permitted everyday during Bright Week, even on Wednesday and Friday. The Church relaxes the normal fasting rule to celebrate our Lords Resurrection. Following Bright Week, wine and oil are permitted every Wednesday and Friday until the Ascension.
Other saints of our Orthodox Church not named in the Gospels or writings of the Scriptures are: The wife of Pontius Pilate is St. Prokla (feast day Oct. 27) and the soldier at the foot of the cross who said: 'Truly this was the Son of God' the martyr Longinus (feast day Oct. 16).