Worship & Services
84 writings in Worship & Services. Clear
Worship & Services
What makes Holy Week services different?
Holy Week isn’t like the rest of the year. The services are longer, darker, and more intense. We’re not commemorating events from a distance. We’re…
Worship & Services
What is the Bridegroom Service?
The Bridegroom Service is the evening Matins celebrated on Palm Sunday night, Holy Monday night, and Holy Tuesday night. It prepares us for Christ’s Passion…
Worship & Services
What is Holy Unction?
Holy Unction is the Church’s sacrament of healing. We anoint the sick with blessed oil while praying for God to heal both body and soul…
Worship & Services
What happens on Good Friday in the Orthodox Church?
Good Friday in the Orthodox Church is when we commemorate Christ’s crucifixion, death, and burial through three major services: the Royal Hours in the morning,…
Worship & Services
What is the Epitaphios (burial shroud)?
The Epitaphios is an embroidered cloth icon depicting Christ’s dead body, used during Holy Week to represent His burial. We place it on a decorated…
Worship & Services
What is the Paschal service like?
It’s the most joyful night of the Orthodox year. The Paschal service begins in darkness and silence, then explodes into light and singing when the…
Worship & Services
Why is Pascha (Easter) at a different time than Western Easter?
Orthodox Pascha and Western Easter follow the same ancient rule but use different calendars to calculate it. The longer story goes back to the Council…
Worship & Services
What is the Paschal greeting?
“Christ is risen!” That’s what you say. The other person responds, “Truly, He is risen!” (Some say “Indeed” instead of “Truly”, both work.) This exchange…
Worship & Services
What is Forgiveness Sunday Vespers?
Forgiveness Sunday Vespers is the evening service on the last Sunday before Great Lent begins. It’s when we ask each other’s forgiveness before entering the…
Worship & Services
What is prosphora?
Prosphora is the bread we offer for the Divine Liturgy. It’s leavened bread, baked with prayer, and from it the priest cuts the portion that…
Worship & Services
What happens during the Liturgy of the Presanctified?
The Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is Vespers with Holy Communion added. That’s the simplest way to say it. We celebrate it on weekday evenings…
Worship & Services
What is Vespers?
Vespers is the evening prayer service of the Orthodox Church. We serve it at sunset to give thanks for the day that’s ending and to…
