Holy Week Highlights: Palm Sunday Evening

Significance of this Service

Source: Goarch.org

"Behold the Bridegroom Cometh in the Midst of the Night..."
(The service is MATINS3 [Morning Prayers] of Great Monday and is sung by anticipation on Palm Sunday evening.)
Monday of Holy Week (sung by anticipation, now on Palm Sunday Evening) commemorates the blessed and noble Joseph and the fig tree which was cursed and withered by the Lord. The withering of the fig tree was a miracle of special symbolism, since the tree had leaves, but no fruit. It is symbolic of the many people who claim ethical and religious identity, but who in reality have empty lives that yield no fruit. This was also the case with some of the Pharisees of that period. Jesus cursed the tree: "May no fruit ever come from you again!" (Matt. 21:19) The reference to the story of the virtuous Joseph of the Old Testament (Genesis 37-41) is made only for contrast, since the life of Joseph was a model of propriety and sincere observance of ethical principles.
On this evening, we begin with the Hymn of the Bridegroom, "Behold the Bridegroom comes in the midst of the night...beware, therefore, O my soul, lest thou be borne down in sleep...and lest thou be shut out from the Kingdom..." The canticle hymn also has a symbolic exhortation: "I see thy bridal hall adorned, O my Savior, and I have no wedding garment...O giver of Light, make radiant the vesture of my soul and save me." At this time, the solemn procession of the Icon of Christ-Bridegroom takes place around the church. The people, anticipating the sufferings of Christ, sing: "Thy sublime sufferings, on this day, shine upon the world as a light of salvation."
The Gospel reading during this service is Matthew 21:18-43. It mentions that "the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, 'By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?'" (v. 23) They sought to have Christ accuse Himself in answering this question.

Holy Week Highlights: Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday Morning

Significance of this Service

Source: Goarch.org

"Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord..."
(Palm Sunday service is held in the morning and consists of Matins [Morning Prayers] and the DivineLiturgy.)
Palm Sunday celebrates the glorious and brilliant feast of the Entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem. Zechariah had prophesied the entrance of the Messiah into Jerusalem, saying: "Rejoice greatly...O daughter of Jerusalem; behold, the King comes unto Thee; he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass." (Zech. 9:9) The contemporary Jews associated this prophecy with the expected Messiah. This action of Christ testifies to His nature as Savior, but with the definite declaration that His Kingdom was not of this world. The news that Christ was in Bethany provoked a general enthusiasm of acceptance, but also of indignation among the High Priests, who had decided to kill Christ. The main road leading to Jerusalem was covered with palm trees. The multitudes, with palm branches in their hands, spread their cloaks on the road as a show of respect, crying out, "Hosanna to the Son of David, blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord.' All the actions and words of the people and of Christ had a Messianic meaning readily recognized by the Jews of that time. As usual, Christ went immediately to the Temple, where He prayed and taught. That evening He departed for Bethany.
A custom of distributing branches of palms to the people in the Church prevails to this day, commemorating the victory of Christ against the evil powers.
The Epistle reading is Phil. 4:4-9, and the Gospel reading is John 12:1-18.

Philoptochos Easter Market Opens!

This Saturday, the Philoptochos Easter Market opened! If you missed it, be sure to stop by tomorrow (Palm Sunday) after Liturgy. Pre-ordered items will be available for pick-up. 

Payment can be made be cash or check only.

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Holy Week Highlights: Saturday of Lazarus

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Saturday of Lazarus

After Liturgy, the community gathered for a Lenten breakfast and festive activities. Together we learned how to bake Lazarakia and how to fold palm crosses in preparation for Palm Sunday. 

Significance of this Service

Source: goarch.org

"In Remembrance of a Pledge of Resurrection"
(Saturday before Palm Sunday; the service consists of Matins [Morning Prayers] and the Divine Liturgy.)
On this day, the rising from the dead of St. Lazarus, the righteous friend of Christ, is celebrated. Holy Week begins with the phrase: "Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany..." (John 12:1) His arrival coincided with the Jewish Passover. It started on the 15th of the month of Nissan in commemoration of the freeing of the Hebrew people, under the leadership of Moses, from the slavery of the Egyptians by the miraculous act of God. The Church relates preparation and redemption to the events of this week.

Six days before the Passover, a feast was given for Christ in Bethany of Judea, where Christ had stopped on His way to Jerusalem. Lazarus, His friend, and his sisters were present. A short time earlier, Christ had raised Lazarus from the dead, thereby gaining the respect and faith of the people, but also the hatred of the fanatics. The Church names this day the "Saturday of Lazarus" in remembrance of the resurrection of Lazarus and its promise of universal resurrection for all men. The Church connects this celebration, by anticipation, with the Entrance of Christ into Jerusalem: "We carry the Symbols of victory and cry Hosanna in the highest."
The readings are Hebrews 12:28-13:8 and John 11:1-45.

Philoptochos Prepares for the Easter Market

The Philoptochos has prepared many delicious items for Holy Week and Pascha.

Please visit their Easter Market after church on Palm Sunday.

Cooking For Hope Update

During the Lenten season, God asks us to give a little more of ourselves.  

Our last session was Thursday, April 6. Our numbers were few due to inclement weather, however we were still able to accomplish the task at hand!  Sign up now to join us for our next session on Thursday, May 11 at 6:00pm.

Soup Run Update - March 31

By Despina Kartson

During last night's soup run in Manhattan, the rain stopped, a coach bus moved out of the way and made room for us, the NYPD stood by and said they'd be there if we needed them - people working together to feed our guests on the street. We arrived next to Madison Square Garden where a large crowd was waiting for us. We could hardly set up shop fast enough before we were giving out meals of homemade macaroni & cheese, vegetables and peach cobbler - all still warm and delicious. Hundreds of socks, underwear, hoodies, jackets and toiletry kits were distributed within an hour. More than 100 meals were offered and just as we served the last one, a few more hungry souls arrived and all we could offer was a cup of coffee or hot chocolate. There never seems to be enough for the homeless in New York City.

As always, our guests were thankful for what we provided - food, compassion, laughs and respect. A gentleman took our meal, walked away to eat it, returned for coffee and said he was going to sit at a nearby table and drink it imagining he was in Paris! One of our volunteers was talking with an elderly woman who takes the A train from Far Rockaway to Manhattan for food and clothing. She lives on a fixed income and doesn't have enough money to pay rent and buy food so she does the best she can through the kindness of strangers. Her fingers were swollen, stiff and in pain due to a medical problem so one of our volunteers took off her own gloves and helped put them on the woman. When the woman saw that the gloves had a few sparkles on them, she smiled and said they were nice enough for her to wear them to church! 
A young man, wearing only pants and a light jacket, was happy to be given a pair of sweat pants and a sweatshirt. He put them on right in front of us and said even though the size was a bit small, anything warm was better than nothing. Toward the end of the evening, a man brought back a jacket we had given him earlier. He said it didn't fit him so he was returning it so that someone else could wear it. Within a minute, we found that someone else.

We always find that someone else, the one more person who is in need and we offer them all that we have. We went home with empty bins last night - as we should - all items given away. Through the generosity of our Holy Trinity parish community, the Philoptochos, this month's sponsor Kathy Tzortzidis, Minos Samoladas, Manny Louros' great cooking and the many volunteers who offer their time and talents, we try to make a difference once a month to the hungry and homeless. Please help us continue to make a difference and join us next month on April 27th. Donations of socks and new men's and women's underwear are always welcome.

Philoptochos Lenten supper and retreat

Following the Pre-sanctified Divine Liturgy, dedicated to our Ladies Philoptochos Society, a Lenten supper and retreat was held in the social hall with the topic "Iconography and the Role of Women Saints'" in the Orthodox Church.