Click Icon

Saint Nicholas
Greek Orthodox
Church

San Jose, California

© 1999-2006 St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church of
San Jose, CA

Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
Father John Asimacopoulos
Father Soterios Rousakis and Father Deacon Demetrios Diakos


Eortologion for Great and Holy Week April 21 - April 27,2008

PASCHA SCHEDULE

Holy Monday            Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts 8:00-10:00am
                                Service of Nymphios (Christ the Bridegroom)  7:00pm

Holy Tuesday           Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts 8:00-10:00am
                                Service of Nymphios & Troparion of Kassiane  7:00pm

Holy Wednesday      Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts 8:00-10:00am
                                Sacrament of Holy Oil (Euchelaion) 4:00pm
                                Sacrament of Holy Oil (Euchelaion) 7:00pm

Holy Thursday          Holy Liturgy of St. Basil the Great 8:00-10:00am
                                Service of the Twelve Gospels and
                                the Passion of Christ  7:00pm

Holy Friday              The Royal Hours  9:00am 
                                Vesper of Apokathilosis (unnailing from the Cross) 3:00pm
                                Epitaphios Service  7:00pm

Holy Saturday          Holy Liturgy of St. Basil the Great 8:00-10:00am
                                Evening Vigil  11:00pm
                                Resurrection Service at midnight
                                Paschal Holy Liturgy follows until 1:45am

Holy Pascha            Vesper of Agape  11:00am
                        HRISTOS ANESTI!   CHRIST IS RISEN!
                        ALITHOS ANESTI!   TRULY HE IS RISEN!

		This is the day which the Lord has made;
		 let us rejoice and be glad in it!    Psalms 118:24

			
 

The Catechetical Homily of St. John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople

Whosoever is a devout lover of God let him enjoy this beautiful bright Festival. And whosoever is a grateful servant let him joyously enter into the joy of his Lord. And if any be weary with fasting, let him now receive his reward. If any has toiled from the first hour, let him receive his just debt. If any came after the third, let him gratefully celebrate. If any arrived after the sixth, let him not doubt; for he too shall sustain no loss. If any has delayed to the ninth, let him come without hesitation. If any arrived only at the eleventh hour, let him not be afraid by reason of his delay; for the Lord is gracious and receives the last, even as the first. He gives rest to him who arrives at the eleventh hour, as well as to him who has labored from the first. He is merciful to the one who delays, and nourishes the first. He gives also to the one, and to the other. He is gracious. He accepts the works, as he greets the endeavor. He honors the deed, and the intent He commends. Let all of you then enter into the joy of our Lord. The first and second enjoy your reward. You rich and poor, rejoice together. You temperate and you heedless, honor the day. You who fasted, and you who did not, rejoice today. The Table is richly laden. All of you, fare sumptuously on it. The calf is a fatted one; let no one go away hungry. All of you enjoy the banquet of faith. All of you enjoy the riches of His goodness. Let no one grieve at his poverty; for the universal Kingdom has been revealed. Let no one grieve over sins; for forgiveness has dawned from the tomb. Let no one fear death; for the Death of our Saviour has set us free. He has destroyed it by enduring it. He despoiled Hades, when He descended thereto. He embittered it, having tasted of His flesh. Isaiah foretold this when he cried out: .You, O Hades, have been embittered by encountering Him below.. It was embittered,* --for it was abolished. It was embittered,* -- for it was mocked. It was embittered,* -- for it was slain. It was embittered,* --for it was annihilated. It was embittered,* --for it is now made captive. It took a body and, lo, it discovered God. It took earth and behold! it encountered Heaven. It took what it saw, and was overcome by what it could not see. O death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory? Christ is risen,* --and You are annihilated. Christ is risen,* --and the demons have fallen. Christ is risen,* --and the Angels rejoice. Christ is risen,* --and life is liberated. Christ is risen,* --and the tomb is emptied of the dead; for Christ having risen from the dead, has become the first fruits of those that have fallen asleep. To Him be the glory and the dominion to the Ages of Ages. Amen.

(The Congregation repeats, .It was embittered,. and .He is Risen,. at the asterisk mark* In Greek we repeat, "Epikranthi" and "Anesti Hristos.)