Schedule of Divine Services
O Come, let us Worship and bow down before our King and God.
O Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ, our King and God.
O Come, let us worship and bow down to Christ Himself, our King and God.
This invitation marks the beginning of each day for the Orthodox Church. It comes from the office of Vespers, and it expresses the attitude which is at the heart of Orthodoxy. The Worship of God - the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, - is fundamental to the life and spirit of the Orthodox Church.
Parish Calendar Divine Services Photo Album
SUNDAY SERVICES
Orthos: 9 AM
Divine Liturgy 10 AM
LENTEN SERVICES -- Great Lent begins on Monday, March 18th.
Presanctified Liturgies every Wednesday throughout Great Lent at 5:30 p.m. followed by a lenten pot-luck supper
Salutations to the Theotokos will be sung on the first 5 Fridays of Great Lent at 7:00 p.m.
LAZARUS SATURDAY
Saturday, March 27th. Orthros, 9 a.m. Divine Liturgy, 10 a.m.
HOLY WEEK -- March 29th through April 4th
Orthros of the Bridegroom on Monday and Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Holy Unction (the sacrament of healing) on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
Divine Liturgy of the Mystical Super on holy Thursday at 9 a.m.
Orthros of the Passion (12 gospels) on holy Thursday at 6 p.m.
Great Vespers of the Descent from the Cross (Apokathilosis) at 3 p.m. on Good Friday
The Lamentations at 6 p.m. on Good Friday
St. Basil's Divine Liturgy of the Resurection, 9 a.m. on Holy Saturday
The Resurrection service begins at 10:30 p.m. on Holy Saturday with the proclamation of Christ Risen at 11:00 p.m.
Orthros at 11:30 p.m. on Holy Saturday night followed by the midnight Divine Liturgy of Pascha.
Easter Sunday (Pascha), the AGAPE Vespers at 11 a.m.
CONFESSIONS ARE HEARD ON WEDNESDAYS & FRIDAYS PRIOR TO THE SERVICES OF GREAT LENT
HOLY COMMUNION
The Orthodox believe in the actual presence of the Body and Blood of Christ. In the Divine Liturgy, we believe that the bread and wine are consecrated and are truly changed into the Body and Blood of Christ. A communicant must prepare to receive through prayer and fasting. Only baptized and confirmed Orthodox Christians should receive Holy Communion, and only when properly prepared.
Currently, at St. Demetrios, Holy Communion is distributed using separate spoons, one per person. What is critical is not the means of receiving Christ's gift, but what we receive: His Body and Blood. This is not only consistent with the wisdom of the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, but it underscores what His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros has affirmed since the beginning of the crisis: "It is not the way we receive; it is the Communion itself that saves us and gives us eternal life.”
Sunday services each week are as follows:
Orthros at 9 a.m. Divine Liturgy at 10 a.m.
On Saturdy March 9th, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros will make an archpastoral visit to St. Demetrios. This is the First Saturday of the Souls service. The memorial service for loved ones past will be celebrated at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy.
Our Acolytes will also be tonsured by His Eminence on this day.
FEAST OF THE ANNUNCIATION
Monday, March 25th. Orthros, 8:45 a.m. Divine Liturgy, 9:30 a.m.
LENTEN SERVICES -- Great Lent begins on Monday, March 18th.
Presanctified Liturgies every Wednesday throughout Great Lent at 5:30 p.m. followed by a lenten pot-luck supper
Salutations to the Theotokos will be sung on the first 5 Fridays of Great Lent at 7:00 p.m.
LAZARUS SATURDAY
Saturday, March 27th. Orthros, 9 a.m. Divine Liturgy, 10 a.m.
HOLY WEEK & PASCHA
April 28, Palm Sunday – The Entry Into Jerusalem
Orthros, 9 a.m. Divine Liturgy, 10 a.m.
NO Sunday evening Bridegroom service.
April 29, Holy Monday
Orthros of the Bridegroom, 6 p.m.
April 30, Holy Tuesday
Orthros of the Bridegroom, 6 p.m.
May 1, Holy Wednesday
The Sacrament of Holy Unction, 6 p.m.
May 2, Holy Thursday
Divine Liturgy of St. Basil - Institution of the Last Supper, 9:00 a.m.
Orthros of the Passion (12 Gospels), 6 p.m.
May 3, Good Friday
Great Vespers — the Descent from the Cross, 3 p.m.
Lamentation Service, 6 p.m.
May 4, Great Saturday
Divine Liturgy of St. Basil, 9:00 a.m.
"Midnight" Resurrection Service – Paschal Proclamation, 11 p.m. Please note, the Pannychis service will begin at 10:30 p.m. The light, the Resurrection Gospel, and the singing of Christ is Risen will be at 11 p.m., followed by Orthros and the Divine Liturgy, followed by Orthros and the Divine Liturgy.
May 5, Pascha (Easter Sunday)
Agape Vespers, 11 a.m.
Father's Corner
How Often Should We Receive Holy Communion
Suggested Readings
Becoming Orthodox: A Journey to the Ancient Christian Faith
by Peter E. Gillquist Jan 1, 2010
The Orthodox Way
by Kallistos Ware Sep 1, 1995
The Orthodox Church: New Edition
by Timothy Ware Jun 1, 1993
The Mountain of Silence: A Search for Orthodox Spirituality
by Kyriacos C. Markides Nov 19, 2002
Encountering the Mystery by Patriarch Bartholomew
From the Archdiocese
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
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