APRIL 7: GREAT VESPERS, PROCESSION WITH SHROUD & ENTOMBMENT – 6:00 PM (LIVE-STREAMED)(OUTSIDE). (STRICT FAST).
HOLY FRIDAY VESPERS: Holy_Friday_Vespers
OFFICE OF READINGS GREAT & HOLY FRIDAY: Holy_Friday_Office_of_Readings
Streaming via Facebook Live. https://www.facebook.com/saintscyrilandmethodius/
Parishes live-streaming in the Diocese can be found here: https://www.eparchyofpassaic.com/livestream
“STRASTI” SERVICES OF THE HOLY PASSION OF OUR LORD according to the BYZANTINE TRADITION (from the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh): https://archpitt.org/strasti-services-of-the-holy-passion-of-our-lord-according-to-the-byzantine-tradition/
THE VENERATION of the HOLY SHROUD according to THE BYZANTINE RITE TRADITION (from the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh): https://archpitt.org/the-veneration-of-the-holy-shroud-according-to-the-byzantine-rite-tradition/
BYZANTINE LITURGICAL THEOLOGY OF GREAT & HOLY WEEK – GREAT FRIDAY: Byzantine Liturgical Theology of Great and Holy Week Great Friday
The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ and Entombment. Today we read from the Gospel and recall Jesus’ crucifixion, death and burial, for the life of the world in the Gospels of Matthew, Luke and John.
From the Metropolitan Cantor Institute: “The service of Matins on Great & Holy Friday commemorates the day our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for the life of the world. At Matins, the Reading of the Twelve Passion Gospels takes place, the Gospels being placed in the middle of the church. These are selections from the four Gospels which proclaim the Passion of the Savior, beginning with His final conversation with the disciples at the Mystical Supper, and ending with His burial in the garden by Joseph of Arimathea and the setting of the military who watch His Tomb.
Great and Holy Friday’s Vesper Liturgy is one of the most beautiful services during the worship cycle. The Plaschanitsa or Shroud, is a icon of rectangular stiffened cloth, on which is painted or embroidered the Body of the dead Christ laid out for burial. The icon depicts Christ after He was removed from the cross, lying supine, as his body is being prepared for burial with the Theotokos, disciple John, Joseph of Arimathea; and Mary Magdalene, and angels surrounding Him.
Near the end of the Vesper service, the priest and deacon, accompanied by servers with candles and incense, bring the Shroud in procession from the Holy Table to the outside of the church encircling the church 3 times with the faithful following with lit candles. During the procession the Troparian: “The Noble Joseph, took down your most pure Body from the Cross, He wrapped it in a clean shroud, and with fragrant spices, laid it in burial a new tomb” is sung. It is then brought to the center of the church and placed on a “tomb” which is richly decorated with flowers. The Gospel Book is laid on top of the Shroud and ceremonially incensed. Then the priest and faithful venerate the Shroud respectfully.”
