This year, unlike any we have experienced before, will be one in which we will be unable to participate in the services of Holy Week and Pascha in person. It kind of reminds me of two occasions in my past in which, because I was underway at sea, I could not offer or participate in these cherished and edifying worship services. Yet I knew then, as we know now, that the services are a remembrance of the events that occurred 2,000 years ago. We can still remember. We still know that He suffered for us. We remember Jesus Christ who entered into Jerusalem, was arrested by the Jewish leaders, tried surreptitiously, was turned over to the Roman Procurator, Pontius Pilate, was humiliated, mocked, scourged, spit upon, whipped, nailed to the wood, hung upon the cross until He died, and buried in a tomb. Of course, we also anticipate each year His glorious Resurrection on the third day.

During this difficult time, perhaps now more than in any other year, we can better understand the loneliness and despair He must have felt. Did He not say, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death”? In the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed with such intensity that sweat came from his brow “as if drops of blood” and implored His Father “if it be possible, let this cup pass from me” before He accepted the Will of God with those immortal words, “nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.” 

Of course, in our Orthodox Christian teaching, our Journey through Holy Week is more than a mere remembrance, it is a mystical participation in these events. So, if you miss not being able to participate in them, then I commend you. You have been mystically participating as if you were at the foot of the cross and then at the empty tomb. You are a good Orthodox Christian who, whether you have realized it or not, have learned to live the theology of the Church. We call that orthopraxia – the practice of Orthodoxy. God bless you for that and for so much more. We shall all rise with Him even on this Pascha and be reunited once again.

All worship services are suspended through March 29th. Governor Northam has issued an Executive Order prohibiting gatherings of more than 10 at a time through June 10. As such, unless things change, we will continue to live stream Holy Week services. Please refer to the schedule below.

PLEASE NOTE ALSO, as per the directive of His Eminence Metropolitan Evangelos, and in concert with the Eparchal Synod of the Archdiocese of America, NO PALMS WILL BE DISTIBUTED, NO HOLY UNCTION WILL BE TAKEN HOME, NO VENERATION AT CHURCH OF THE CRUCIFIX OR EPITAPHION, NO LIGHTING OF CANDLES, NO CONFESSION AND NO HOLY COMMUNION AT THIS TIME. Please see the communique below.

This is for the safety of one and all and should be considered an act of charity and love.

Please note the following revised schedule. These and only these services will be aired on St. Demetrios YouTube channel.

April 13, Holy Monday

Orthros of the Bridegroom, 6 p.m.

April 14, Holy Tuesday

Orthros of the Bridegroom, 6 p.m.

April 15, Holy Wednesday

     The Sacrament of Holy Unction, 6 p.m.

April 16, Holy Thursday

Divine Liturgy of the Last Supper, 9 a.m.

Orthros of the Passion (12 Gospels), 6 p.m.

April 17, Good Friday

Great Vespers—the Descent from the Cross, 3 p.m.

Lamentation Service, 6 p.m.

April 18, Holy Saturday

Divine Liturgy of St. Basil, 9 a.m.

April 18,  "Midnight" Resurrection Service

       Paschal Proclamation, 11 p.m. followed by Orthros and the Divine Liturgy. 

_____________________________________________

13 Απριλίου, Μεγάλη Δευτέρα

     Ο Όρθρος του Νυμφίου, 6 μμ.

14 Απριλίου, Μεγάλη Τρίτη

     Ο Όρθρος του Νυμφίου, 6 μμ.

15 Απριλίου, Μεγάλη Τετάρτη

     Μέγα Ευχέλαιον, 4 μμ.

16 Απριλίου, Μεγάλη Πέμπτη

Η Θεία Λειτουργία του Αγ. Βασιλείου, 9 πμ.     

Ο Όρθρος του Πάθος του Χριστού (τα 12 Ευαγγέλια), 6 μμ.

17 Απριλίου, Μεγαλη Παρασκευή

      Ο Μέγας Εσπερινός (Αποκαθήλωσης), 3 μμ.

      Ο Επιτάφιος Θρήνος, 6 μμ.

18 Απριλίου, Μέγα Σάββατο

      Η Θεία Λειτουργία του Αγ. Βασιλείου (Πρώτη Ανάσταση), 9 πμ.

      Η Ανάστασis,  Ο Όρθρος, Θεία Λειτουργία, 11 μμ.

ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE

Communiqué

HOLY EPARCHIAL SYNOD

 

 COMMUNIQUE

 

 NEW YORK – On Monday, April 6, 2020, the Holy Eparchial Synod convened, via teleconference, in order to discuss significant matters that affect the Archdiocese of America, and unanimously decided the following:

 

1)    The sacred services of our Orthodox tradition for Holy Week and Easter will continue to be observed in the Parishes and the Monasteries following the directives of the local Metropolitans and in accordance to the mandates of the respective State and Health authorities. Therefore, the “closed-doors” policy will be strictly enforced, the services will be broadcasted via the internet and they will be celebrated only with the participation of the priest, the chanter, and the acolyte.

 

2)    Abiding by the regulations of the aforementioned State and Health authorities, there will be absolutely no distribution of the traditional material offerings to the faithful, including palms, candles, Holy Unction, flowers, eggs and the Paschal Light.

 

3)    Spiritual guidance may be provided remotely using technological means, but the Sacrament of Holy Confession and the Prayer of Absolution cannot be offered via the telephone or via electronic media.

 

4)    This year’s National Clergy-Laity Congress will be held through an internet teleconference forum on a date to be announced in the near future.

 

FROM THE CHIEF SECRETARIAT OF THE HOLY EPARCHIAL SYNOD

 

Please join us on line for Holy Week via YouTube.  Click HERE and you will go directly to the St. Demetrios livestream.

BRING YOUR OWN EGG - One of the most troubleing aspects of the pandemic we are currently in is that we cannot gather as a community or family to celebrate Pascha. So, I invite your to join us on Pascha at 12 noon to "crack and egg" together and to sing Christos Anesti. You will receive an email with the link prior to the meeting.

Topic: Pascha Zoom Meeting 

Meeting ID: 547 076 555

Time: Apr 19, 2020 12:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) 

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/547076555

Meeting ID: 547 076 555
One tap mobile
+61861193900,,547076555# Australia
+61731853730,,547076555# Australia

Dial by your location
+61 861 193 900 Australia
+61 731 853 730 Australia

Although Church services are suspended for the time being, we still are in need of your weekly stewardship offerings. Please continue to give through our web page or send your weekly offering checks by mail. We have PayPal for your convenience.

Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church whenever you shop on AmazonSmile. Same products, same prices, same service, but we get a donation. Click the link below to learn more.

https://smile.amazon.com/ch/20-4454773

Updates on Orthodox Church news items can be found on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=saint%20demetrios%20greek%20orthodox%20church%20-%20williamsburg%20va.

We now have a Go Fund Me page for St. Demetrios. Help spread the word on it, share it with friends and boost it if you can.  That can be on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc.  

New York, NY – On the Saturday of Lazaros, April 11^th, at 3:00 pm EST, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America will hold a Virtual Town Hall with the Greek Orthodox Faithful of America. 

This nationwide call-in will be moderated by Journalist Demetria Kalodimos, a trusted voice in Middle Tennessee for over 35 years, where she anchored the evening news at the dominant NBC affiliated station and her investigative and documentary reporting won many of the most prestigious awards in broadcast journalism.

Commenting on the upcoming virtual Town Hall, Archbishop Elpidophoros said:

“Especially in this moment, when there is real pain and anxiety in our Church, I am glad to have the technology to reach out across the country and listen to the voice of the Faithful. I want them to know that their Archbishop stands with them in solidarity, and I want to tell them how much they are loved and valued – each and every one, as we begin this difficult journey through Holy Week to the Holy Pascha of the Lord.”

The details for the call-in and registration information is below: 

When: Apr 11, 2020 03:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada) 

Topic: Pastoral Word with Archbishop Elpidophoros of America 

Register in advance for this webinar at:

https://bit.ly/pastoral-word

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. Although the webinar will be simulcast on the Archdiocese YouTube and Facebook channels, you must be registered specifically for the webinar to ask a question.