. I know, O Lord, that Thy judgements are right, and that with truth Thou hast humbled me. The Orthodox Celebration of the Great and Holy Saturday, by (+) Fr. The Service for the Restoration of the Marriage of those who have been Divorced. When Thou wast laid in a tomb, O Christ the Creator, the foundations of hell were shaken and the graves of mortal men were opened. The whole earth quaked with fear, O Word, and the daystar hid its rays, when Thy great Light was hidden in the earth. This message will attempt to identify those essentials and help us latch onto them. Seeing Thee, my Christ, the Light invisible, hidden lifeless in the tomb, the sun trembled and darkened its light. Come, and as the women bearing myrrh let us sing a holy lament to the dead Christ, that like them we too may hear Him say Rejoice!'. 371. We join in singing Lamentations over Him. Holy Trinity will be hosting on the 5th. Fairer in His beauty than all mortal men, He appears now as a corpse without form or comeliness, He who has made beautiful the nature of all things. I remembered Thy judgements of old, O Lord; and was comforted. I have remembered Thy Name, O Lord, in the night, and have kept Thy law. . In place of the regular psalm reading the entire Psalm 119 is read with a verse praising the dead Saviour chanted between each of its lines. Yes! On the icons Saturday of Souls Greek Orthodox Divine Liturgy LIVE 3/4/23. Theotokos, most pure. Do not lament me, O Mother - Russian . The traitor was cast down to the depths of hell, and to the pit of destruction. When the chief captains of the heavenly hosts saw Thee, Savior, stripped, bloodstained and condemned, how could they bear the boldness of Thy crucifiers? Of Thine own will descending as one dead beneath the earth, O Jesus, Thou leadest up the fallen from earth to Heaven. our way of saying that when people die they have only gone on a journey. Stretched out upon the Wood, Thou hast drawn mortal men to unity; pierced in Thy life-giving side, O Jesus, Thou art become a fountain of forgiveness unto all. I have inclined my heart to perform Thy statutes: for therein is an everlasting reward. The Service of Holy Saturday Vespers (Morning Service) Greek/English 580KB Who will give me water and springs of tears, cried the Virgin Bride of God, that I may weep for my sweet Jesus?. Joseph and Nicodemus now sing hymns of burial to the dead Christ; and with them sing the seraphim. After the night the sun shines out again in brightness; and after death do Thou, O Word, arise once more and shine in Thy glory, as a bridegroom coming from his chamber. (Lamentations Service on Holy Friday Evening) 2022. . Some say he had his son teach the class. All that crucified Thee shall be destroyed together, O Word, Thou Son of God and King of all. I have done judgement and justice: O give me not over unto mine oppressors. Also a special icon which is painted on cloth (in Greek, epitaphios; in Slavonic, plaschanitsa) depicting the dead Saviour is placed on the altar table. . Much of the service takes place around the tomb of Christ in the center of the nave. Service. O Savior, Sun of Righteousness, Thou dost set beneath the earth: therefore the Moon, Thy Mother, is eclipsed in grief, seeing Thee no more. Of all the days the Holy and Great Forty Day Fast is the most distinguished, but more than the Holy Forty Day Fast the Holy and Great Passion Week is exalted, and more than the days of Holy Week Great and Holy Saturday is the most exalted. The answers are: Yes! My soul is grown drowsy from heaviness: strengthen me with Thy words. Live Streaming Service Index on Reddit's r/OrthodoxChristianity. How could hell endure Thy coming, O Savior? As she caught the man in the act of robbing her home of its valuables, she yelled, "Stop--Acts 2:38!" (..repent, turn from your sin..". At the End, all good things will be raised again and restored. Teach me, O Lord, the way of Thy statutes; and I shall seek it always. Though His Resurrection on earth doesnt come till tomorrow night, we now begin to celebrate Christs victory over hell and death. These Lamentations are sung on Holy Friday night for the Matins of Holy Saturday. Liturgical music - Lent to Pascha. The nonstop service has gone on in this manner for two weeks, with over 50,000 people from other states and even other countries traveling to Asbury to experience the "outpouring." When the university authorities had to close the service this Sunday, February 26, the Asbury Outpouring sparked nascent revivals in Ohio, Tennessee, and elsewhere. By keeping Thy words. Greek Orthodox Easter, also known as Pascha, is a celebration of the Resurrection of Christ. I venerate Thy Passion, I sing the praises of Thy burial, and I magnify Thy power, O loving Lord: through them I am set free from corrupting passions. O Morning Star of righteousness, Thou art gone down beneath the earth and hast raised up the dead as if from sleep, dispersing all the darkness of hell. April 24 - Holy Resurrection - PASCHA 10.00AM - Divine Liturgy ~Blessing of Easter Eggs followed by Luncheon in Hall~ In the furnace Thou didst save the holy youths from the flame. The transgressors told me idle tales, which are not after Thy law, O Lord. Church Holy Days. 12 Tamerlain Ct., Highlands Ranch, CO 80130-3984 303-773-0777 E-mail: gtdemos1@comcast.net. Now art Thou hidden like the setting sun beneath the earth and covered by the night of death: but, O Savior, rise in brighter dawn. Glory to Thee! In the Hebrew Bible, Lamentations stands with Ruth, the Song of Solomon, Ecclesiastes, and Esther and with them makes up the Megillot, five scrolls that are read on various festivals of the Jewish religious year. Alas! For the proud domain of death Thou destroyest now I have declared my ways, and Thou heardest me: teach me Thy statutes. Taking Thee down dead from the Tree, O Word, Joseph now has laid Thee in a tomb: but rise up as God to save us all. My soul is consumed with the longing that it has for Thy judgements at all times. "In a grave they laid Thee . The angel standing by the grave cried out to the women: Myrrh is proper for the dead, but Christ has shown himself a stranger to corruption. By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from Bible Gateway, a division of The Zondervan Corporation, 3900 Sparks Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA, including commercial communications and messages from partners of Bible Gateway. Have you ever considered what she went through? All those on earth shall greatly rejoice., Ode 6 There is in the person of Jesus Christ the perfect unification of the perfect love of man toward God and the perfect love of God toward man. Shared on April 19, 2006 at 9:59 am Lamentations Service. Forever, O Lord, Thy word endures in Heaven. Thou who art the Life wast laid in a tomb, O Christ; and the hosts of angels were amazed and glorified Thy self-abasement. A sword was sharpened against Thee, O Christ: but the sword of the strong was blunted, and the sword that guards Eden was turned back. I will keep Thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly. Thou hast slept a little while, and brought the dead to life; Thou hast arisen, O loving Lord, and raised up those that from the beginning of time had fallen asleep. Thine all-blameless Mother wept bitterly, O Word, when she beheld Thee in the grave, God ineffable and without beginning. I have gone astray like a lost sheep, seek Thy servant, for I do not forget Thy commandments (119:176). The older generation served the younger generation, with students leading most of the sermons during the two-week revival chapel service. Thou hast gained folly and madness, O accursed Satan. How sweet are Thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! A remarkable display of intergenerational unity was evident at the Asbury Awakening. If you cannot, please find yourself a place to worship live-stream tonight. CONSTANTINIDES, REV. Through it all, essentially nothing has changed. Bill's Orthodox Blog Orthodoxy from the Third Coast, Saints, Seasons, Society, Sins, plus Travels mostly to Greece and who knows what next? We die with Christ in His Church. Even her Sons disciples had turned away in doubt and fear. Noble Joseph, taking down Thy most pure body from the Tree, wrapped it in clean linen with sweet spices, and he laid it in a new tomb. The fortieth day after death is considered to be the the most important day of commemoration. The centurion knew Thee to be God, though Thou wast dead. I have sworn, and am steadfastly purposed, that I will keep the judgements of Thy righteousness. O Mother, do not strike thy breast in grief.. Yet Thou dost destroy death's kingdom and raise the dead from hell. All things in all worlds are One in Him. 2 Reader: Amen. Now creation beholds Thee suspended on Calvary. Take away my reproach which I fear: for Thy judgements are good. Holy Friday Vespers: Removal of Christ from the Cross Time: 11:30am - 12:30pm Followed by decoration of the Bier 3. How art Thou now by a grave and its darkness hid? Special melodies are sometimes used to convey the solemn feeling. Every generation chanteth hymns of praise . Yes! by Father Bill Olnhausen. Joseph and Nicodemus bury the body that is the Source of life. The revelation of Thy words shall give light and understanding unto the simple. By observing vanities and lies you have forsaken your own mercy., Ode 7 3. Come, evil disciple, murderer of thy Lord, and show me the manner of thy wickedness, how thou hast become Christ's betrayer. Be amazed, O heavens! The Church calls this day the Blessed Sabbath. Orthodox (5) Other (14) Pentecostal (71) Presbyterian/Reformed (26) . I have been very greatly humbled: quicken me, O Lord, according unto Thy word. Ode 3 Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart stands in awe of Thy words. Thou hast gone down beneath the earth, O Creator of light, and with Thee the sun's light has also set; creation is seized with trembling and proclaims Thee the Maker of all. joining those in hell as the almighty Lord., Ode 5 I have regarded all the wicked of the earth as transgressors: therefore I love Thy testimonies. Lamentations Service He who granted me the breath of life is carried lifeless in Joseph's hands to burial. And He has failed. O my Son, I glorify Thy supreme compassion, that causes Thee to suffer so.. Saint Perpetua and her Heart-breaking Dilemma, 365. None is holy but Thee, O Lord., Ode 4 He expelled his first two students for learning the wrong subject. Please get to church tonight. The 40th day. Be ashamed, O Jews, for the Life-giver raised your dead, yet ye slew Him out of envy. By Thy resurrection grant peace to the Church and salvation to Thy people! Thou hast drunk vinegar and gall, in Thy compassion, to loose us from the guilt of the forbidden fruit. Behold the disciple whom Thou hast loved and Thine own Mother, O my sweetest Child, and do Thou speak to them, cried the pure Virgin weeping. With Thine own consent slain and laid beneath the earth, O my Jesus, Fountain of Life, Thou hast brought me back to life when I was dead through bitter sin. Publishers of Liturgical and Sacred Music. She suffered as no other mortal on earth has ever suffered. Listen carefully and notice:Throughout these long Lamentations over Christ, the words of lament are put not in our mouths, but in the mouth of His Mother. for the salvation of us who sing: Thou through Thy commandment hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for it is mine forever. . All Thy commandments are true: they persecute me wrongfully; help Thou me. O my sweet springtime, O my sweetest Child, where has all Thy beauty gone?. Thorns and snares beset the path of Judas the foolish and the thrice-wretched. Concerning Thy testimonies, I have known of old that Thou hast founded them forever. Bill Olnhausen. Accept, I beseech Thee, the free-will offerings of my mouth, O Lord, and teach me Thy judgements. When wilt Thou execute judgement on them that persecute me? Greek / English. My soul shall live, and it shall praise Thee: and Thy judgements shall help me. The Service at the making of a Spiritual Father. Adam was slain of old through envy, but by Thy dying Thou hast brought him back to life, O Savior, revealed in the flesh as the new Adam. Joseph hid Thee reverently in a new tomb, O Savior, and lamenting sang to Thee a funeral hymn fitting for God. The Slav practice usually reverses this order, with the choir singing the Psalm verses, while the priest reads the Praises. We stand before the bier on which Christ is laid out before us. The beginning of Thy words is truth: and every one of Thy righteous judgements endures forever. Most churches host two services - one in the afternoon and another during the day. Uplifted on the Cross, Thou hast uplifted with Thyself all living men; and then descending beneath the earth, Thou raisest all that lie buried there. How canst Thou dwell in a tomb? I have chosen the way of truth: Thy judgements have I not forgotten. The Burial of Christ.During Matins, Lamentations (Greek: , epitaphios thrnos, lit. Yet Thou dost destroy deaths kingdom and raise the dead from hell. 13. The Service of Holy Saturday Vespers (Morning Service) English 176KB. How is God enclosed within a tomb?. What price hast thou received for the heavenly Myrrh? Strange and dreadful wonder! (7) Now we magnify Thee, My hands also have I lifted up unto Thy commandments, which I have loved. 3. The Praises, as the verses are called, glorify God as the Resurrection and the Life, and marvel at his humble condescension into death. Tremble, O Heaven, at this sight. 2. So already in tonights Epistle (1 Corinthians 5:6-8) we begin the celebration: Christ, our Passover has been sacrificed for us. And with faithful hearts we honour the burial In the pit of destruction shall all the men of blood be destroyed together. The Lamentations Service - Great and Holy Friday Evening. Our Lord Jesus Christ has been taken . Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Thy law is. The Lord of Creation today accepts the Passion and dies for our sake. Heres what were going to miss again: Christs Temptations, 283. My zeal has consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten Thy words. Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, Rev. Thou hast rebuked the proud: and cursed are they that do err from Thy commandments. Arise, O Giver of Life', the Mother who bore Thee said with tears. Thou art near, O Lord; and all Thy ways are truth. The Lamentation service is long, and constraints may cause a parish to omit them from the Matins services for Holy Saturday. O arrogant Israel, O people guilty of blood, why hast thou set free Barabbas but delivered the Savior to be crucified? One of the most characteristic, widely attended rites is the Epitaphios, the Good Friday procession. Today, leading film production company Cinedigm announced a major step towards becoming the premier provider of Faith & Family content with the acquisition of movie review and ratings service Dove.org and faith-based streaming platform Christian Cinema from Giving Company. Therefore I walked uprightly according unto all Thy commandments: and I hated every evil way. Source of the river of life, the Wisdom of God descends into the tomb and gives life to all those in the depths of hell. I have longed for Thy salvation, O Lord; and Thy law is my study. O Word and God of all, in our hymns we praise Thee with the Father and Thy Holy Spirit, and we glorify Thy divine burial. Scheduled for 3/4/23, 7:00 AM. I made ready, and I was not troubled: that I might keep Thy commandments. The Divine Liturgy Service Book contains the Liturgy of St John Chrysostom (including those parts that the priest reads silently as well as explanations of the order of the church service). Thou art in very truth, O Word, the myrrh that never fails: yet the women with their spices brought myrrh to Thee, the living God, to anoint Thee as a corpse. My salvation, my light 15. Give me understanding, and I shall seek Thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O Lord: I will seek Thy statutes. Thy Mother saw Thee drink the bitter vinegar, O Sweetness of the world, and her cheeks were wet with bitter tears. These two well-known brands will be . O people, exalt Him above all forever! This is the day of rest, on which the only-begotten Son of God rested from all His works. Out of Thy side, as from a single source, there flows a double stream; and drinking from it we gain immortal life. They begin in the normal way with the singing of God is the Lord, the troparion The Noble Joseph, and the following troparia: When Thou didst descend to death 0 Life Immortal, Thou didst slay hell with the splendor of Thy Godhead! For we know: In the End, if we have lived and died with Jesus Christ, in Christ, there will be nothing for us to lament, for her Son has risen victorious. As Solomon said, the mouth of the transgressing Hebrews is a deep pit. May the very grave-clothes and the napkin put you to shame at Christ's Resurrection. Armenian Orthodox have also the tradition of the epitaphios. I am young and despised: yet have I not forgotten Thy statutes. Brothers and sisters, if you are with Jesus Christ, do not fear death. Great peace have they that love Thy law: and for them there is no stumbling-block. O my God in Trinity, Father, Son and Spirit, grant Thy mercy to the world. Thou hast slept, O Christ, a life-giving sleep in the tomb, and aroused mankind from the heavy slumber of sin. O Life, how canst Thou die? NATIONAL FORUM OF GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH MUSICIANS. Teach me goodness, discipline and knowledge: for I have believed in Thy commandments. (5) All we call Thee blessed, That poor dear blessed Woman! Thy testimonies that Thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful. I beheld the foolish and was grieved; because they kept not Thy words. Though Thou wast shut within the narrowest of sepulchres, O Jesus, all creation knew Thee as true King of Heaven and earth. But now at Thy Passion I suffer unbearable pain.. Below are some historical notes regarding this tradition. In the Coptic . According to the order of the Lenten Triodion, the Matins service for Holy and Great Saturday is served Friday night, or on Friday evening as is the practice in most parish churches. As the mother of a foal, the Virgin gazed on Thee in grief when she saw Thee hanging on the Tree. Let Thy mercy come also upon me, O Lord, even Thy salvation, according to Thy word. Stablish Thy word in Thy servant, that I may fear Thee. Alone among women without pain I bore Thee, my Child', said the Holy Virgin. 370. Basil the Great 11.300AM - Paschal Matins. Help me, and I shall be saved: and my study shall be ever in Thy statutes. This service is also sometimes called Jerusalem Matins. O my Jesus, Thou art all of my heart desire; All comments will be read by the editors of. Sinners have laid a snare for me: yet have I not gone astray from Thy commandments. Though His Resurrection on earth . See how I have loved Thy commandments: quicken me, O Lord, in Thy mercy. As the moon hides the circle of the sun, O Savior, now the grave has hidden Thee, bodily eclipsed in death. How, then, my God, shall I touch Thee with my hands? Here for the first time comes the clear proclamation of the good news of salvation in Christs resurrection. 1. I have kept Thy commandments and Thy testimonies: for all my ways are before Thee, O Lord. Willingly, O Savior, Thou hast gone down beneath the earth, and Thou hast restored the dead to life, leading them back to the glory of the Father.