Saint Luke Orthodox Church - Events - Events Archives - 2002

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April 2010

Events Are In Sequence - Please Scroll Down

St. Luke Reaches Out Worldwide

While visiting St Luke, Floyd Franz an OCMC Missionary in Romania asked Fr. Andrew for an Orthodox Study Bible to be given to a new Orthodox convert from Hinduism who is studying in Cluj, Romania. Here is a photo of Fr. Calin presenting the Bible. He is from the Maldives, and is a 5th year medical student in Cluj. He was a Hindu before joining the Church. He said that the Maldives are about 40 % Roman Catholic, 30 % Hindu, and maybe 20 or so % being Buddest. There are no Orthodox churches on the island, which is east of Africa in the Indian Ocean. He was most pleased to have it, and I am sure will put it to good use.

As Many As Have Been Baptized Into Christ!

Congratulations to newborn Matthew who was baptized and christmated into the Orthodox Faith this Sunday and to his family. God Grant Them Many Years!

Garden Center Visit

During this month's visit to the Garden Center, Fr. Andrew explained how we sometimes give flowers to someone we care about for a special occasion. He then passed out flowers to the clients and the parishioners present.

Next everyone placed them on an icon of Jesus.

Agape Vespers And Egg Hunt

Sunday afternoon following Paschal Liturgy, the Agape Vespers service is celebrated. The church is bright and alive and full of children anticipating the Pascha egg hunt. Following a procession proclaiming the Risen Christ, the congregation gathers together to hear readings from the four Gospels in different languages proclaiming that Christ is Risen.

Here Father Andrew reads the Gospel attended by some of our altar servers.

During a procession four Gospels are read at the four corners of the church. Here are some of our future altar servers leading the procession.

Scene from the procession.

Here some parishioners are caught in the act hiding colored eggs on the grounds surrounding the church.

The children await their chance at the eggs. Get Ready! Get Set!

Go!

This seems like a nice place to pick up some eggs.

Better move quick!

Look out, coming thru.

Looks like we are too late here.

I think I will check out over here.

Pascha

Scene from Holy Week - Holy Saturday Liturgy.

After much preparation and fasting, our new sign proclaims the Paschal Service.

All the preparations have been for this night. The church is ready and the faithful have spent the day in strict fast. There is a sense of anticipation in the air. The church is darkened and the music selections are somber as during all of lent.

The nocturns are sung at the tomb of Christ.

To hear a small sample of The Nocturnes please click here.

The readers chant the responses.

The handmaidens guard the tomb. The light from the tomb throws shadows on the ceiling of the church.

All lights in the church are extinquished and there is a total darkness. At midnight the flame from a single candle appears at the altar. The priest brings forth the light of Christ and gives it to the rest of the faithful.

Father Andrew spreads the Light to a single handmaiden and from there it spreads to all the congregation.

The entire congregation leaves the church in procession and proceeds around the church. While they are doing this, the tomb is removed from the church, all the lights are turned on, and all candles are lit once again symbolizing Christ's resurrection.

Scene from the procession.

Upon finishing the procession around the church, the congregation gathers at the closed front doors of the church.

Scene from the procession.

The Priest knocks on the doors three times saying: Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. And a voice asks: Who is this King of Glory? The priest answers: The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. The priest the knocks again saying: Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. And again the voice asks: Who is this King of Glory? The priest then replies: The Lord of hosts, he is the King of Glory.

The doors of the church are opened, the tomb has been removed, the entire building is filled with light and it is now time to begin the joyous Resurrection Service. The priest reenters followed by the congregation

Led by our choir director, the choir sings the songs of the ressurrection.

The entire tone of the service is changed. The dim interior of the church is gone. The dark vestments and candle holders are also gone. The tomb and somber music are also gone. The church is as bright as possible. The vestments are bright and the singing joyous. It is the triumphal resurrection of Christ saving us from death and granting us resurrection. Christ is risen! Glorify Him. The Hymn "Christ is Risen from the Dead" is sung repeatedly with joy and power. The Cry of "Christ is risen" and the response "Indeed he is risen." fill the air. This is proclaimed in many different languages.

OCA - Christ is Risen! / Indeed He is Risen!
Greek Diocese - Christ is Risen! / Truly He is Risen!
Greek - Christos Anesti! / Aleithos Anesti!
Slavonic - Christos Voskrese! / Voistinu Voskrese!
Arabic - Al-Masih-Qam! / Hakkan Qam!
Romanian - Christos E Anviat! / Adeverat Anviat!
Spanish - Christo Ha Resucitado! / Verdaderamente, Ha Resucitado!
German - Christus ist Auferstanden! / Jawohl Er ist Auferstanden
French - Le Christ est ressuscite! / En verite il est resuscite!
Japanese - Harisutosu Siochatsu! / Makoto-ni Siochatsu

Fr. Andrew reads the sermon of St. John Chrysostom welcoming all to the celebration.

At the conclusion of the service, everyone present receives a red egg and the baskets are laden with food are blessed. All are invited to break the fast and break bread together.

Orthodox Christians as they are able, fast from all meat and dairy products for all of Holy Week and the preceeding forty days of Lent. After the Paschal Liturgy a pot luck dinner is served and as you can imagine, some serious eating goes on. The celebration lasts into the early hours of the morning.

Father Andrew blesses the baskets laden with food.

Father Andrew blesses the shared fellowship meal.

The congregation then breaks the fast by sharing a meal and fellowship.

Saturday Morning

Holy Week - Holy Saturday Liturgy

Holy Saturday Liturgy celebrates Christ's decent into hell to free Adam and Eve and all who lived and died in anticipation of the coming of Christ. Historically this service was a time for new members to be chrismated into the church. Today St. Luke Parish chrismated Shirley into the Orthodox Church.

Scene from the Chrismation - The Seal Of The Holy Spirit.

Scene from the Chrismation. Our congratulations go out to Shirley as we welcome her into our church family. God Grant Her Many Years!

During this Vesper service, 15 different readings from the bible are read. The readings all refer to resurrection.

Here Father Andrew reads the 15th reading concerning the three Holy Youths and the Fiery Furnace.

At the point when Christ raises out of hell, the covers are changed. The priest, deacon, and altar servers change their vestments from the somber dark colors of lent to white. The words "Let God arise," are said. The altar cloths and candle holders are also changed at this time.

The Eucharist is extended into an agape meal consisting of wine, bread, fruit, dates, figs, and nuts. Here Father Andrew blesses the meal

We invite all to join us at St. Luke's on our lenten journey to Pascha. If you are unable to attend in person please visit "Journey To Pascha" on our website to follow along and for more information on the faith and services. Each year we try to update this part of our site with new pictures so you can look ahead or follow along as we progress towards Pascha.

Friday Evening The Lamentations

As the name suggests the service is a mournful one lamenting the death of Christ. Psalm 119 "Blessed are those who walk in the law of the Lord." is chanted by the priest. The refrains are sung by the congregation, "O Life, how can You die?". During the singing of the 9th ode of the Canon, the priest blesses the congregation with rose water as rose petals are scattered around the church. Here we see some of our handmaidens standing guard at the tomb.

Father Andrew blesses the congregation with Rose Water while rose petals are scattered around the church.

During the service, the shroud is removed from the tomb and four men along with the priest, choir and entire congregation make a procession around the entire exterior of the church while the "Hymn of Noble Joseph" is sung. They return to the church to hear the reading Ezekiel about the valley of the dry bones. The service ends with the veneration of the shroud and the distribution of flowers. Immediately following this service the vigil of the tomb begins and continues all the way up to Saturday morning.

Father Andrew under the burial shroud leaves the church for the procession.

Scene from procession.

The procession is concluded as the parishioners reenter the church walking under the burial shroud.

The reading of The Prophecy of Ezekiel.

At dismissal, parishioners venerate the burial shroud.

Friday Afternoon Procession With The Burial Shroud

Procession with the Burial Shroud - At this service the icon of Christ is removed from the Cross as the priest reads,"And taking Him down they wrapped Him in a linen shroud." The tomb prepared by the women stands empty in the center of the church. The shroud is carried by four men over the head of the priest who is carrying the gospel as the choir sings the "Hymn of Noble Joseph". The procession ends as the shroud is placed in the flower-decorated tomb. While the lamentations of the Virgin Mary are sung, the faithful make a prostration before the tomb and kiss the wounds on the figure of Christ on the shroud.

Here Father Andrew reads the Gospel.

Procession with the burial shroud.

Icon of Christ in place in the tomb.

Parishioner venerates the Burial Shroud.

Preparing The Tomb

Following the crucifiction, the myrrh bearing women prepared the tomb and Christ for burial. The women of the parish decorate the tomb of Christ with flowers.

Group Photo.

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