journey to pascha pt1

8/14/2019 Journey to Pascha Pt1

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Journey to Pascha Journey to Pascha

Published by:BLESS Group Educators 2010

Ypapanti Greek Orthodox Church4648 Elk Lake Drive


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Victoria, B.C. V8Z 5M1


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Paschal Troparion

This hymn (song) is sung at all services beginning withPascha, and is sung for 40 days afterwards. We will be

practicing it until Pascha.

ENGLISH:Christ is risen from the dead,

Trampling down death by death,And upon those in the tombs

bestowing life.

GREEK:

,

,

, !

Hristos anesti ek nekron Thanato thanaton patisas,


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Ke tis en tis mnimasin,Zoin harisamenos!

What is a troparion and a kontakion ? They are types of hymns in Byzantine music , in the OrthodoxChurch and other Eastern Christian churches.
http://byzantine_music/http://orthodox_church/http://orthodox_church/http://orthodox_church/http://orthodox_church/http://byzantine_music/


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Lazarus Saturday - the start of HolyLazarus Saturday - the start of Holy Week Week

The Raising of Lazarus from the DeadOne day, Jesus' friend Lazarus became very sick. His sisters, Marthaand Mary, sent a messenger to tell Jesus and ask Him to come quickly.

Jesus knew Lazarus was very sick and would die, but He waited twomore days and then went to Bethany. Jesus knew Lazarus was alreadydead, but He said to His disciples, "For your sake, I am glad I was notthere, so that now you may believe."

The disciples did not understand what Jesus was saying. Martha ran tomeet Jesus and said to Him: "Lord, if you had been here, my brotherwould not have died." Jesus told them: "Your brother will rise again."Martha answered: "I know he will rise from the dead when everyonewill be made alive again, when the resurrection comes on the last day."

Then Jesus said: "I am the resurrection and the life for all who believein me. Do you believe this?" Martha answered: 'Yes, Lord, I believe thatyou are the Messiah (Savior), the Son of God."

Jesus went to the tomb where Lazarus was buried. He wept for hisfriend and told the men to move the stone that covered the cave.Martha said: "Lord, there will be a terrible smell, for Lazarus has beendead for four days!" But Jesus called: "Lazarus, come out!" The deadman arose and walked out of his tomb, covered with the bands of cloth

that had been his burial clothes. Jesus said: "Unwrap him and let himgo." Many people saw this and were excited about what had happened! They ran to tell their friends about the miracle they had seen with theirown eyes!

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:What miracle did Jesus perform at Lazarus home?How were Mary, Martha and Lazarus related?Were Lazarus and Mary and Martha related to Jesus?When Jesus arrived at the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, what

had happened to Lazarus?

What did Jesus do for His good friend?Why is the raising of Lazarus important to us?Was Lazarus really dead or was he just very, very sick?How do we know that Jesus really loved Lazarus?Why do you think Jesus waited a few days to come to Lazarus' tomb

instead of coming right away? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


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----------------------------------------------------------------TroparionBy raising Lazarus from the dead before Your Passion,

You confirmed the universal resurrection, O Christ God!Like the children with 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 theLord!KontakionChrist - the Joy, the Truth, and the Light of All, the Life of the World andthe Resurrection - has appeared in his goodness to those on earth. Hehas become the Image of our resurrection, granting divine forgivenessto all.For ParentsLazarus Saturday is a paschal celebration. It is the only time in theentire Church Year that the resurrection service of Sunday is celebratedon an other day. At the liturgy of Lazarus Saturday, the Church glorifiesChrist as "the Resurrection and the Life" who by raising Lazarus,has confirmed the universal resurrection of mankind even before hisown suffering and death.

At the Divine Liturgy of Lazarus Saturday the baptismal verse fromGalatians: As many as have been baptized into Christ have puton Christ (Galatians 32:27) replaces the Thrice-Holy Hymn thusindicating the resurrectional character of the celebration, and the factthat Lazarus Saturday was once among the few great baptismal days[of adultcatechumens] in the Orthodox Church Year.

Because of the resurrection of Lazarus from the dead, Christ was hailedby the masses as the long-expected Messiah-King of Israel. Thus, infulfillment of the prophecies of the Old Testament, he entered

Jerusalem, the City of the King, riding on the colt of an ass. (Zechariah9:9; John 12:12) The crowds greeted him with branches in their handsand called out to him with shouts of praise: Hosanna! Blessed is hewho comes in the name of the Lord! The Son of David! TheKing of Israel! Because of this glorification by the people, the priestsand scribes were finally driven "to destroy him, to put him todeath." (Luke 19:47; John 11:53, 12:10)

From The Orthodox Faith, Vol. II: Worship, by Fr. Thomas Hopko.

Family ActivitiesMake a point of being in Church for Liturgy on this day to worship as


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a family. Receive the Eucharist as a family. This day begins the eventsof the Passion Week.

If the youth of your parish fold the palms into the form of a cross, ortrim the pussywillow branches in preparation for Palm Sunday, make ita point for your children to be involved.

In some Orthodox parishes, it is the custom on Lazarus Saturday forthe children of the parish to make a procession around the church.

They sing, carry banners and even play musical instruments,recreating the children of the Gospels who heralded the entry of OurLord into Jerusalem by waving palm branched and crying, "Hosanna!Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord." If your parish doesthis, make a point of having your children participate. If not, ask yourpriest and Church School Director about starting a new custom!

Use the Troparion and Kontakion as prayers at mealtime today.Use the ABOUT THE ICON section to review the different individualsand elements of the icon.


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About the Icon: The Raising of Lazarus

St. Lazarus the figure on the extreme right; he is depicted at the entrance of histomb, wrapped in his white burial shroud.Christ the third figure from the left; He is depicted commanding Lazarus to comeforth from the tomb.St. Peter the Disciple the figure on the extreme left; usually all twelve aredepicted in the icon, but in the present icon, Saint Peter, the chief disciple, isdepicted to represent all twelve.St. Mary the Sister of Lazarus second figure from the left; usually both SaintMary and Saint Martha, the two sisters of Lazarus, are depicted in the icon, but in thepresent icon Saint Mary is depicted to represent them both.

Jerusalem in the background of the icon is the walled city of Jerusalem, which


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Christ would enter in triumph the day following His raising of Lazarus.

Taken from The Icon Book, by Boojamra, Essey, McLuckie & Matusiak.


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The Entrance of Our Lord intoThe Entrance of Our Lord into Jerusalem Jerusalem

(Palm Sunday)(Palm Sunday)- celebrated on the Sunday before Pascha

The great Jewish holiday, called Passover, was drawing near. The city of Jerusalem was full of people who had come from all parts of thecountry for the holiday. The streets were crowded with people hurryingto the temple. It was spring and the trees had fresh, green leaves.

Jesus Christ and His disciples were also going to Jerusalem for theholiday. Jesus knew that the time was coming when He would have tosuffer and die. He also knew that all this must happen in Jerusalem. Asthey were approaching the city, Jesus said to two of His disciples: "Gointo the town ahead and, as you enter it, you shall see a donkey and acolt tied to a door. Untie them and bring them to Me. If anyone asksyouwhy you untie them, tell them it is because the Lord needs them." Thedisciples obeyed, and as they came to a road crossing they saw thedonkey and the young colt tied to a door. They did as Jesus told themand brought them to Jesus Christ. Then Jesus rode the colt to

Jerusalem.

Very soon among the holiday crowds in the streets of Jerusalem therumor spread: "Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of theLord, the King of Israel"("The Lord is approaching Jerusalem. He is the promised Savior. He willbe our King.")

The people hurried to the city gates. They hurried along the road. Moreand more people joined the crowd. There were children running amongthe grown-ups. Everyone was asking: "Where is the Lord? Where is theSavior?" Some important Jewish people came up to Jesus and said:"Master, tell Your disciples to stop this noise." But Jesusanswered them: "I tell you, if these people will stop shouting and beingglad, then the stones themselves, which you see there, will cry out."

The crowd pressing around Jesus was slowly approaching Jerusalem. They were coming down a hill, and there before them lay the beautifulcity shining in the sun. Jesus looked at the city sadly. He knew, evennow, that in a few days the people of Jerusalem would turn againstHim. But the people surrounding Him did not know this. They followed

Jesus rejoicing and singing until He entered the temple.


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About the Icon: Palm Sunday Christ central figure depicted seated upon a donkey.The Disciples the group of figures on the extreme left.The Jews the group of figures on the extreme rightThe Children the miniature people in front of the donkey, carrying palm boughs.The City of Jerusalem walled buildings on the right; the temple is symbolized bythe dome.

Taken from The Icon Book, by Boojamra, Essey, McLuckie & Matusiak.


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Bridegroom Service - Holy MondayBridegroom Service - Holy Monday and Tuesdayand Tuesday

The Bridegroom Service - The hymn we sing on the evenings of

Palm Sunday, Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday and in some churches, onHoly Wednesday, comes from Scripture. On Palm Sunday, we sing thishymn as our priest carries this icon of Christ during a procession whilewe kneel.

Behold the Bridegroom comes in the middle of the night and blessed is the servant whom He shall find watching; and unworthy is he whom He shall find heedless (not payingattention). Beware, therefore, O my soul, lest (for fear that) yoube given up to death and shut out from the Kingdom. He who isfound negligent (forgetful) shall be judged unworthy. Wherefore

rouse yourself (wake up) and cry: Holy, Holy, Holy are You, our God, through the protection of the Heavenly Hosts save us.

Christ is the Bridegroom of the Church. The Church is the Bride andeach of us is a servant. The Bridegroom service warns us to be readyfor Christ's Second Coming by preparing our souls living the Christianlife as Jesus taught. He wants all people to join Him in Heaven. When

Jesus tells stories about the Wedding Feast, He is talking about Heaven.

For ParentsEach day of Holy Week has its own particular theme. The theme of Monday [celebrated in anticipation on Palm Sunday evening] is that of the sterile fig tree [Matthew 21: 18-20] which yields no fruit and iscondemned. Tuesday [celebrated Monday evening] the accent is on thevigilance of the wise virgins [Matthew 25: 1-13] who, unlike theirfoolish sisters, were ready when the Lord came to them. Wednesday[celebrated Tuesday evening] the focus is on the fallen woman[Matthew 26: 6-13] who repents.Great emphasis is made in the liturgical services to compare thewoman, a sinful harlot who is saved, to Judas, a chosen apostle who islost. The one gives her wealth to Christ and kisses his feet; the otherbetrays Christ for money with a kiss. The Gospel is read at the Matinsservices, which are traditionally called the "Bridegroom" servicesbecause the general theme of each of these days is the end of theworld and the judgment of Christ. It is the common practice toserve the Bridegroom services at night.From The Orthodox Faith, Vol. II: Worship by Fr. Thomas Hopko.


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Holy MondayHoly Monday

About the Icon: Holy Monday Jesus stands in the center pointing to the fig tree that has no fruit on it. An axe liesat His feet.The Young Man on the right represents the Apostles to whom Jesus is speaking.Barren Fig Tree People plant fig trees for figs and shade. If a fig tree is sick, theowner pays special attention to it so that it will once again yield figs and shade. If thefig tree remains sick, the owner cuts it down and replaces it with a healthy fig tree.God has planted all of us in the orchard of his Kingdom. We give our Owner shadeand figs by our works of kindness and love for Him. When we are sick in sin, we stop


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growing in kindness and love. God in His loving-kindness tries to help us, save us andhave mercy on us. If we refuse to regain our health, we are cut out of the orchard of the Kingdom.

The following icon is taken from The Parables of Christ, Byzantine Seminary Press,1985, p. 14.


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The Barren Fig Tree.

"A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and hecame and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he

unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years Icome seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down;why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto him,Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dungit: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shaltcut it down" (Lk. 13:6-9).

God the Father, like the owner of the fig tree, was expectingrepentance and faith from the Jewish people over the three years of HisSon's public ministry. The Son of God, like a kind and caring dresser,asked the Lord to wait while he would try to make the fig tree, the

Jews, fruitful again. But His efforts were not crowned with success andthe dreadful prophecy was fulfilled in that God did cast off the peoplewho steadfastly resisted Him. The Lord Jesus Christ depicted thefulfillment of this fearful moment when, on His way to Jerusalem,several days prior to His sufferings on the cross, He withered thefruitless fig tree growing at the side of the road (See Matthew 21:19).

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Holy TuesdayHoly Tuesday Jesus told this story to His followers:

There were ten maidens (that means girls) who were waiting for abridegroom to come to a wedding. Their job was to walk with himand light the way with oil lamps. They needed to have plenty of oilfor their lamps, so they would be ready. Five of them did haveplenty of oil, but the other five had not bothered to make surethey had lots of oil.

It got so late that all the maidens fell asleep. At midnight, the

bridegroom came and everyone called, "He is here! Come to meethim!" The maidens all woke up and started to get their lampsready. The foolish ones said to the wise ones, "Give us some of your oil."

But there was not enough time for the wise maidens to share theiroil. The foolish girls rushed out to buy some. But while they weregone, the bridegroom came. He and the wise maidens went to the


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wedding party. The door was closed.

The foolish maidens returned, and knocked on the door. They said,"Let us in!" But it was too late. The bridegroom said, "I do notknow you."

After He finished telling this story, Jesus said, "Keep watch and beready, for you do not know the day or the hour when the Son of Man is coming."


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This icon is taken from The Parables of Christ, Byzantine Seminary Press, 1985, p.17.

journey to pascha pt1

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