March 30/April 12 ns 2026 † THE RESURRECTION OF OUR SAVIOR • St. John of the Ladder ~ NO FASTING

THE GLORIOUS RESURRECTION

OF OUR LORD GOD AND SAVIOR

JESUS CHRIST

• St. John of the Ladder

~ No Fasting ~

Christ is Risen!

Kecharitomene

Pateras Cyprian and Chrysostomos

Protect us always

By their love, errors were corrected, and Holy Tradition was restored.  By their sacrifice and example they urged us to keep, in brotherly love and good cheer, the gifts our Lord bestowed on His Church.

For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother St. Matthew12:50 KJV

March 29/April 11 ns 2026 †GREAT SATURDAY †THE BURIAL OF THE DIVINE BODY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST • Holy Martyrs Mark, Bishop of Arethoúsa, et al.; St. Diádochos ~ Fast day ~ St. John the Wonderworker: Concerning the Reception of the Holy Mysteries on Pascha

HOLY & GREAT SATURDAY
 †THE BURIAL OF THE DIVINE BODY

OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

• Holy Martyrs Mark,

Bishop of Arethoúsa, et al.;

St. Diádochos 

FAST DAY

March 29/ April 11 ns 2026

GREAT Saturday Morning commemorates the Blessed Sabbath as a day of waiting.  The Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil is served as we anticipate Christ's victory over death in Hades and His Glorious Resurrection. Saturday Evening, at 11:30 p.m., we sing the Paschal Matins service. As midnight approaches, in a darkened church, we begin the Resurrection service. At the appointed moment, the priest comes forth from the altar with a candle symbolizing the Light of Christ and proclaims "Christ is Risen!" The Paschal Liturgy and Homily of Saint John Chrysostomos invites us to share in His Resurrection through Holy Communion.

Kecharitomene

~`Full of Grace`~

St. John the Wonderworker:

Concerning the Reception

of the Holy Mysteries on Pascha

“The Lamb of God communicates with us on the holy and light-bearing night of Resurrection. We pray for this when we are just beginning to prepare for Lent, and afterwards many times during the course of the Great Fast: that the lord would vouchsafe us to partake of the Holy Mysteries on the night of Holy Pascha. At that time the grace of God acts in a special way upon men’s hearts. We partake of the Christ Resurrected, we become partakers of His Resurrection. Of course, we must prepare ahead of time, and, having already communed during Great Lent, receive again the Holy Mysteries. Before Paschal Liturgy there is no time for a proper confession; this must be done earlier. And then, on that light-bearing night, having received general absolution, to draw near to the Divine Lamb, the pledge of our resurrection. No one should leave the Church prematurely, rushing away to eat the meat of animals instead of receiving the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.”

March 28/April 10 ns 2026 † GREAT FRIDAY  THE CRUCIFIXION OF OUR SAVIOR • St. Hilarion the New  Fast day

 HOLY & GREAT FRIDAY

 THE CRUCIFIXION OF OUR SAVIOR

• St. Hilarion the New

FAST DAY

March 28/ April 10 ns 2026

Kecharitomene

~`Full of Grace`~

THE AFTERNOON
commemorates the supreme sacrifice of Christ on the Cross. The priest unnails Christ from the Crucifix, wraps His Body in white linen, and places It on the altar symbolizing His burial by Joseph of Arimathea.


THE EVENING
includes the Hymn of the Lamentations which are chanted to reflect our sorrow, to proclaim Christ's descent to Hades, and to herald His expected Resurrection.

FROM THE FIRST STASIS OF THE LAMENTATIONS AT THE TOMB

In a grave they laid Thee, O my Life and my Christ;
and the armies of the angels were sore amazed,
as they sang the praise of Thy submissive love.
.
How, O Life, canst Thou die?
Or abide in a grave?
For Thou dost destroy the kingdom of death, O Lord,
and Thou raisest up the dead of Hades’ realm.

St. John the Wonderworker: Concerning the Reception of the Holy Mysteries on Pascha

“The Lamb of God communicates with us on the holy and light-bearing night of Resurrection. We pray for this when we are just beginning to prepare for Lent, and afterwards many times during the course of the Great Fast: that the lord would vouchsafe us to partake of the Holy Mysteries on the night of Holy Pascha. At that time the grace of God acts in a special way upon men’s hearts. We partake of the Christ Resurrected, we become partakers of His Resurrection. Of course, we must prepare ahead of time, and, having already communed during Great Lent, receive again the Holy Mysteries. Before Paschal Liturgy there is no time for a proper confession; this must be done earlier. And then, on that light-bearing night, having received general absolution, to draw near to the Divine Lamb, the pledge of our resurrection. No one should leave the Church prematurely, rushing away to eat the meat of animals instead of receiving the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.”