Church day
Yesterday was truly a church day, since I have been there both in the morning and the evening. You see, it was Holy Friday when the burial of Jesus Christ is commemorated.
The morning service started at 10.00 and probably had finished at around 14.00 (Actually two services are celebrated in the morning, The Royal Hours (i.e., a service that includes psalms and readings from Old (Prophets) and the New Testament (Epistles and Gospel) that refer to the Passion and death of Jesus) and the Vespers of Holy Friday (where Jesus deposition from the Cross and Burial is celebrated).
I say probably because I had a meeting at 13.30 at the department and I had to leave earlier. Funny thing though; as I got out from the church (at around 13.20) and looking for a taxi, something completely unexpected happened: The prof. I was going to meet was driving down the street and spotted me (actually she spotted my orange jacket; I always knew that this thing would eventually come in handy). It turned out that she lived at the same block the church was and she was also late because she was preparing some stuff for our meeting), so we got to the department together. What a coincidence you might say, but I do not know. Judging from the fact that so it happened, that I was late, she was also late and she drove down this street at that particular time, well, if that is not Divine Providence I do not know what is.
Anyway, after spending some time at the department, I got back home and then walked to church again for the evening service.
This is one of the most beautiful services. Typically, it is the Matins of Holy Saturday where Jesus death is celebrated. The service includes a traditional procession of the clergy and people. At the head of the procession stands the Cross and the Epitaph (representing Christ tomb). The procession is enriched with chanting of praises of Jesus Death. These chants are my favorite of the whole Passion Week.
Now, this year I had an extra duty; since there is a procession (the church I went is a Greek -Orthodox one and is located at St.Urbain. The procession begins from St. Urbain, heads south to Fairmount, then west to D' Esplanade, north to St. Viateur and from then to St. Urbain heading south to the church) somebody has to keep an eye to the people (since we were allowed to occupy one lane of the streets we were walking). It was to the police (there were three police cars making way for us) and to people from the church to ensure that everything will be alright, the traffic will not be jammed and nobody will get runover by a passing vehicle. It was my first time ever as crowd control assistant, I kind of missed the "feeling" of the service, but I believe I did a good job and in my way offered some service.
The procession of the Epitaph completes in a way the remembrance and celebration of the Passion and Death of the Lord. When the Epitaph gets back into the church, the bells toll in a vivid rhythm (for celebration) since the Resurrection is at hand.
The Resurrection will be celebrated today at a midnight service but already from the morning the psalm " Arise 0 God judge the earth for you shall inherit all nations (Psalm 82,8)) that will be chanted at the Holy Saturday Liturgy this morning prepares the celebration of Easter.
I only hope it will not rain on Sunday (contrary to current weather forecasts!)
The morning service started at 10.00 and probably had finished at around 14.00 (Actually two services are celebrated in the morning, The Royal Hours (i.e., a service that includes psalms and readings from Old (Prophets) and the New Testament (Epistles and Gospel) that refer to the Passion and death of Jesus) and the Vespers of Holy Friday (where Jesus deposition from the Cross and Burial is celebrated).
I say probably because I had a meeting at 13.30 at the department and I had to leave earlier. Funny thing though; as I got out from the church (at around 13.20) and looking for a taxi, something completely unexpected happened: The prof. I was going to meet was driving down the street and spotted me (actually she spotted my orange jacket; I always knew that this thing would eventually come in handy). It turned out that she lived at the same block the church was and she was also late because she was preparing some stuff for our meeting), so we got to the department together. What a coincidence you might say, but I do not know. Judging from the fact that so it happened, that I was late, she was also late and she drove down this street at that particular time, well, if that is not Divine Providence I do not know what is.
Anyway, after spending some time at the department, I got back home and then walked to church again for the evening service.
This is one of the most beautiful services. Typically, it is the Matins of Holy Saturday where Jesus death is celebrated. The service includes a traditional procession of the clergy and people. At the head of the procession stands the Cross and the Epitaph (representing Christ tomb). The procession is enriched with chanting of praises of Jesus Death. These chants are my favorite of the whole Passion Week.
Now, this year I had an extra duty; since there is a procession (the church I went is a Greek -Orthodox one and is located at St.Urbain. The procession begins from St. Urbain, heads south to Fairmount, then west to D' Esplanade, north to St. Viateur and from then to St. Urbain heading south to the church) somebody has to keep an eye to the people (since we were allowed to occupy one lane of the streets we were walking). It was to the police (there were three police cars making way for us) and to people from the church to ensure that everything will be alright, the traffic will not be jammed and nobody will get runover by a passing vehicle. It was my first time ever as crowd control assistant, I kind of missed the "feeling" of the service, but I believe I did a good job and in my way offered some service.
The procession of the Epitaph completes in a way the remembrance and celebration of the Passion and Death of the Lord. When the Epitaph gets back into the church, the bells toll in a vivid rhythm (for celebration) since the Resurrection is at hand.
The Resurrection will be celebrated today at a midnight service but already from the morning the psalm " Arise 0 God judge the earth for you shall inherit all nations (Psalm 82,8)) that will be chanted at the Holy Saturday Liturgy this morning prepares the celebration of Easter.
I only hope it will not rain on Sunday (contrary to current weather forecasts!)
posted by Immortalis at 1:30 π.μ.
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