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Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!   he journey to Pascha was truly sweet and joyful as it is every year. After the prayerful, contemplative and repentant period of the Great Fast the parish community gathered on the morning of Lazarus Saturday to celebrate the Divine Liturgy and processed with the Cross around the Church. Father Paul emphasized the beautiful foretaste of the Resurrection that this feast proclaims and reminded us all to embrace the joy of the feast. After the Lazarus Saturday Liturgy and a delicious agape meal of Fish Soup, the community gathered for what is likely to become our annual liturgical arts and crafts day. This was an opportunity for participants to learn and practice seasonal arts from a variety of Orthodox cultures: palm weaving, decorate Easter eggs (pysanky / писа́нки) and bake Lazarakia. The next day -- Palm Sunday -- the parish processed with palms and pussywillows while singing the troparion: "By raising Lazarus from the dead before Your passion, You did confirm the universal Resurrection, O Christ God! Like the children with the palms of victory, we cry out to You, O Vanquisher of death: Hosanna in the Highest! Blessed is He that comes in the Name of the Lord!" Reader Aaron also gave a homily reminding us to be wary of the various temptations that beset us and how we are to hold on to holiness: Holy Week continued with the splendor and reverent prayers of the Bridegroom Matins on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday evening. St. Silouans is always open to all. We were delighted to see our Holy Week services visited by Orthodox faithful from throughout the GTA and also by several inquirers. On Holy Wednesday the Church prayed Bridegroom matins and also celebrated the rite of the Holy Unction calling on all to repentance and to draw close to Christ, the physician of our soul and body. Father Paul reminded everyone to hold on to these holy moments and the peace of Christ. Many stayed in the Church in quiet vigil enjoying the loving presence of Christ and the silent joy that echoes after the Church's many acts of blessing. On Great and Holy Thursday Divine Liturgy for the Last Supper was celebrated during the day. In the evening of Great and Holy Thursday, the Service of the 12 Gospels was prayed which led all the faithful in contemplation, prayer and participation in the Lord's Passion, Trial and Crucifixion. To hear the Holy Gospel readings along with the rich poetry of the Church's hymns, one truly participates in the Passion of our Lord Christ. In attending this service and other liturgical acts in the Orthodox Church, one experiences the way the Holy Church, the Body of Christ, understands Holy Scripture and encounters the Living God. If you ever want to experience the richest, deepest and life giving study of the Holy Scripture please come, attend, listen, pray and participate in the Liturgical Life of the Orthodox Church at St. Silouan, Toronto. With all the readings, hymns and poetic movements, sights and smells you'll experience "Bible Study" par excellence! The Church processed again through the streets of Regent Park in downtown Toronto singing the following 15th antiphon after the 5th Gospel reading: "Today is hung upon the Tree, He Who did hang the land in the midst of the waters. A Crown of thorns crowns Him Who is King of Angels. He is wrapped about with the purple of mockery Who wrapped the Heavens with clouds. He received buffetings Who freed Adam in Jordan. He was transfixed with nails Who is the Bridegroom of the Church. He was pierced with a spear Who is the Son of the Virgin. We worship Thy Passion, O Christ. Show also unto us thy glorious Resurrection." At the end of the service Fr Paul reminded us all that the most important words are "Remember me O Lord when You come into Your kingdom" and many parishioners and visitors spent quiet vigil at the foot of the Cross of Christ. On Great and Holy Friday the Parish prayed Royal Hours. This was followed by our local tradition where the children of the parish and the community decorate the epitaphios (burial icon placed in the tomb of Christ) and the tomb in anticipation of the upcoming burial service. Later the Church prays the Crucifixion Vespers and again the children participated in preparing the Tomb and also lowering the Cross. Fr Paul walked into the altar with the lowered Cross and returned with the epitaphios and placed it in the now beautifully adorned tomb. In the evening of Great and Holy Friday the burial service of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ commenced and all assembled stood in holy vigil and prayer before the Tomb of Christ. This service is also what Orthodox funeral services are modeled after as we all follow and meet Christ when we take our last breath and are buried. In the darkness of the night the Tomb of Christ is gilded with beauty from on high and we the faithful are comforted by the light and beauty that is shining forth from that Tomb. The Church processed, holding the epitaphios and singing "Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal have mercy on us." Once we reached the door of the Church we venerated the epitaphios and crouched down and passed under it where we were blessed by Fr Paul who sprinkled rose scented water as he prayed for each person entering the Church under the epitaphios. Once back in the Church we continued to pray before the Tomb as some of the most beautiful liturgical hymns are being sung. The heart weeps at the calamity of the death of God and cries out in prayer at all the violence, anger, injustice and brokenness in the world and among men that put Him to death. The Source of Life lays motionless on the Tomb and all of creation stands in holy vigil as we contemplate the great fiat and the completion of the Holy Work of our Lord. As the Church comes to venerate the Holy and Life Giving Body of our Lord Christ laying in the Tomb we also hear the hymn commemorating that brave and noble Saint Joseph of Arimathea. Come let us bless Noble Joseph of eternal memory. Who came by night to Pilate and plead for the Life of all. "Give me the Stranger Who has no place to lay His head" "Give me the Stranger Who an evil disciple betrayed to death" "Give me the Stranger Who's mother saw hanging on the Cross, and with a mother's sorrow cried weepingly 'Woe is me O my Child, Light of my eyes and beloved of my bossom, for what Simeon foretold in the Temple now has come to pass. A sword has pierced my heart, but change my sorrow to gladness by Your resurrection" We worship Your passion O Christ We worship Your passion O Christ We worship Your passion O Christ And Your Holy Resurrection! On Great and Holy Saturday we again experienced some of the most beautiful moments of Holy week. After many days, weeks, months and years, the catechumens who have been praying, learning and desiring to be grafted to the Holy Vine are now ready to be illumined by the love and light of their beloved Christ. With their godparents' prayers, support and love they proclaim that they desire to be united with Christ. The Church welcomes six new Christians on this Holy Saturday: Catherine, Christopher, Adam, Chloe, Photini and Stephania enter the waters of Holy Baptism and in dying with Christ they now rise with Christ! Axioi! Those who have been Baptised in Christ have put on Christ forever! Throughout the service there were also several prophecies read from the Old Testament by various members of the parish. (If you're interested in what these readings are or if you would like to revisit them please see https://www.stsymeon.com/files/Printable-Services/Holy-Saturday-Complete.pdf )    Reader Mena read the Epistle before the Tomb of Christ. When the Epistle ended the Choir sang "Arise O God" while all the vestments and altar coverings and colours of the Church change from the colours of mourning (purples and reds) to the colours of Christ's glory and victory (gold and white). Christ's has harrowed hell and now something momentous and joyful is upon us: The Gospel was then read and we completed the vesperal liturgy by praying on the Tomb of Christ for what was once a place of death and sorrow has now become the place of life and joy. Death is overthrown and creation has already quaked with this realization. Now man takes the same posture of Second Adam, Who's Holy and Life giving sacrifice has allowed Adam to once again be priest, prophet and king as he was intended to be in Eden. The Church witnesses the making and raising of Saints, Eucharistic animals, human beings made fully alive. Thine Own of Thine Own we offer unto Thee on behalf of all and for all!  At the end of the Liturgy, Fr Paul tonsured the newly illumined Catherine, Christopher, Adam, Chloe, Photini and Stephania and reminded them and all of us to remember Galilee and our first love of Christ. Pascha Finally after the labours and repentant works of mercy experienced in the Lenten season and the continual encounter with our Lord during Holy Week we arrived again at the Church to the place of the Tomb. In our small parish (sometimes referred fondly as the "catacomb" because of our location in the basement) we continued the Church's vigil. The stunningly beautiful odes of Holy Saturday matins were sung again which included several references to prophecies such as: "Isaiah saw the never setting light of Thy compassionate manifestation to us as God, O Christ. Rising early in the night he cried out, "the dead shall arise. Those in the tomb shall awake, all those on earth shall greatly rejoice!"" and also the comforting words of Christ to the Theotokos: "Do not lament Me, O my mother seeing Me in the tomb, the Son concieved in the womb without seed, for I shall arise and be glorified with eternal glory as God. I shall exalt all who magnify Thee in faith and in love."  Soon the lights and candles were all extinguished as Fr Paul took the epitaphios into the Altar behind the iconostasis and closed the altar veil. We all stood awaiting Christ in the darkness of the tomb. In the silence we heard Fr Paul singing "Come receive the Light" as a warm glow began to shine forth from the altar.  Fr Paul brought the light out from the altar and the whole Church drew forth to light our candles and share the light of Christ throughout the Church. Then with candles lit the Church processed again singing "Thy resurrection, O Christ our Savior, the angels in heaven sing, enable us on Earth, to glorify Thee with purity of heart." Once we arrived at the doors of the Church the Gospel was read and the whole parish began to sing the Paschal Troparion. Christ is Risen from the dead trampling down death by death and to all those in the tombs bestowing life! Father then knocked on the doors crying out "Lift up your heads, O gates, and be lifted up, ye ancient doors, that the King of Glory may enter." From behind the doors a voice called out asking "Who is the King of Glory?" Father then proclaimed "The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle." This was repeated and the third time Father proclaimed "The Lord of Hosts, He is the King of Glory!" as the doors of the Church were opened and the faithful entered singing the Paschal Troparion. Once back in the church the Paschal Canon was sung while bells were rung every time we sang: Christ is Risen from the dead trampling down death by death and to all those in the tombs bestowing life! To read the beautiful poetry of the Paschal Canon see: https://holytrinity-oca.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Matins_Pascha.pdf https://www.eighthdayinstitute.org/a-brief-commentary-on-the-paschal-canon The Divine Liturgy was then prayed after the Paschal Canon. After the Liturgy, Fr Paul distributed red Easter eggs and Antidoron. The Easter baskets brought by families and parishioners were then blessed and then the congregation enjoyed the food and festivities of the Holy Feast of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Many stayed till the early morning and helped with cleaning up the Church and packing any leftovers. On Easter Sunday the Church celebrated Agape Vespers in the late afternoon where the Gospel was read in multiple languages by members of the parish and community. The Love of Christ, His Love and His Peace go out to all the world. Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen! If you've never attended an Orthodox Church we invite you to visit us. If you wish to experience the Great and Holy Lent, Holy Week and the beauty and joy of Pascha we invite you to please join us every year! Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen! Comments are closed.
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