Church Services

In the Evening of Holy Thursday - April 8, 2004 - the Matins Service of Great and Holy Friday Was Served.
Early in the Service, the Book of Gospels is Brought to the Center of the Church Before The Golgotha
and the Twelve Passion Gospels Are Read. These Readings Recount the Last Hours of Jesus Christ on Earth
Prior to His Resurrection. Most of the Passages Were Read in English - Several Were Read in Church Slavonic.

V. Rev. Sergius Kuharsky and Rev. David Garretson, Rector of Our Church, Concelebrated the Service.
Parishoners Knelt or Stood Attentively During the Readings and Most Held Candles as Is the Custom.

There Are No Brief Orthodox Church Services and This One is Particularly Lengthy.
Altar Servers Enjoyed a Brief Respite Between Gospel Readings by Taking a Seat.

As the Service Drew to a Close, Father David Processed to the Sanctuary With
the Book of Gospels and Then Prayed Briefly Before The Golgotha.

At the Conclusion of the Service Father David Gave a Brief Homily. In It He Said That God Does
Not Expect Us to Make As Great a Sacrifice as His Son Did On the Cross, However, He Expects
Us to Continually Make the Sacrifice of Love to All, Even to Those Who Do Not Love Us.

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