Journey to Pascha
A Guided Journey Through the Lenten and Paschal Seasons
We have seen the true Light; we have received the heavenly Spirit; we have found the true faith, worshipping the undivided Trinity, who has saved us. (A Troparion from Pentecost Sunday Kneeling Vespers)
This class is a guided tour through the Lenten and Pascal Seasons. The scripture readings, services, commemorations, and personal disciplines which occur in these two seasons are used to teach the faith, worship, and life of the Eastern Orthodox Churh in its historical and living traditions. It is taught and led by Reader Michael Colburn.
We use the New King James Version (NKJV) translation as found in the Orthodox Study Bible. As needed, other translations as well as the Greek text will be referenced.
A video recording of each week’s session will be provided below as I am able. Also, at the bottom, are books and articles referred to in the class.
Please keep me in your prayers because the effects of Parkinson’s Disease make it very challenging for me to prepare these sessions, and to edit the videos, and post them.
Daily Readings
Daily online Scripture readings are available for OCA parishes and for GOARCh parishes. Differences in readings can occur because the monastic tradition (followed by OCA) reads both the fixed-date readings and the readings for the commemoration or feast of the day if there is one. Often, in US Greek parish practice, only the festal readings are read, and the ones from the Menaion are not for that day. This is why in OCA parishes (and other Slavonic) there can be two Gospel readings and two Epistle readings.
Journey to Pascha
Note that each week prepares you to understand and participate in the services that will occur the next week. The goal is to answer ahead of time questions you might ask yourself in the services: What are they doing? Why are they doing that? What am I supposed to do?
| On Tue Meeting Date | Last Sunday Was | We Are In | Coming Up Is Sunday Of | Meeting Topic | Links | Scriptures (Continuous, not Pericopes) | Slides | Video |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Feb | Last Judgement (Meatfare) | Week Before Lent | Exile of Adam and Forgiveness Vespers (Cheesefare) | The Triodion, Prayer of St. Ephrem, Great Canon of St Andrew of Crete | Forgiveness Vespers Text: GOARCH, OCA. Readings: OCA Old and New Testament Composite. About this service: Fr. Alexander Schmemann. Prayers: Great Canon of Andrew of Crete. About Lent: Great Lent: A School of Repentance Its Meaning for Orthodox Christians. Teachings of the Fathers Summarized: 55 Maxims of Fr. John Hopko | |||
| 24 Feb, No Meeting | Exile of Adam and Forgiveness Vespers (Cheesefare) | 1st Week of Lent | The Triumph of Orthodoxy | NA | Isaiah 1:1-4:1; Genesis 1:1-3:20; Proverbs 1:1-3:24 | |||
| 3 Mar | 1st Sunday of Lent - The Triumph of Orthodoxy | 2nd Week of Lent | St. Gregory Palamas | Vision of Isaiah (Chapter 6, Thursday reading) and Its use in the Divine Liturgy | Isaiah 4:2-7:25; Genesis 3:21-6:8; Proverbs 3:34-7:1 | Watch | ||
| 10 Mar | 2nd Sunday of Lent - St. Gregory Palamas | 3rd Week of Lent | Veneration of Precious Cross | Sanctification of Matter, Uncreated Light, Uncreated Energies of God | PDF - Gregory Palamas at the Council of. Blachernae, 1351. Aristeides Papadakis | Isaiah 8:1-13:22; Genesis 6:9-8:21; Proverbs 8:1-11:12 | Watch | |
| 17 Mar | 3rd Sunday of Lent - Veneration of Precious Cross | 4th Week of Lent | St. John Climacus | Crucified With Christ | Definitions - Galatians - Works of Flesh - Fruit of Spirit | Isaiah 14:1-29:24; Genesis 8:21-12:7; Proverbs 11:19-14:26 | Watch | |
| 24 Mar | 4th Sunday of Lent - St. John Climacus | 5th Week of Lent | St. Mary of Egypt | Isaiah 30:1-47:15; Genesis 13:12-29:18; Proverbs 14:27-18:5 | ||||
| 31 Mar | 5th Sunday of Lent - St. Mary of Egypt | 6th Week of Lent | The Triumphant Entry (Palm Sunday) | TBD | Isaiah 48:1-66:24; Genesis 27:1-50:26; Proverbs 19:16-31:31 | |||
| 7 Apr No Meeting | The Triumphant Entry (Palm Sunday) | Holy Week | Great and Holy Pascha | TBD | ||||
| 14 Apr No Meeting | Great and Holy Pascha | Bright Week | Thomas Sunday |
Journey to Pentecost
| On Tue Meeting Date | We Are In | Last Sunday Was | Coming Up Is Sunday Of | Meeting Topic | Links | Slides | Video |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Apr | Week of Thomas the Apostle | Thomas Sunday | Holy Myrrhbearers | TBD | |||
| 28 Apr | Week of the Holy Myrrhbearers | Holy Myrrhbearers | Paralytic | TBD | |||
| 5 May | Week of the Paralytic | Paralytic | Samaritan Woman | TBD | |||
| 12 May | Week of the Samaritan Woman | Samaritan Woman | Blind Man | TBD | |||
| 19 May | Week of the Blind Man | Blind Man | Fathers of the Ecumenical Councils | TBD | |||
| 26 May | Week of the Fathers of the Ecumenical Councils | Fathers of the Ecumenical Councils | Feast of Pentecost | TBD |
Anthologions Text Locations
The following are page locations for certain prayers and/or hymns that might be difficult for you to locate. The modern version page number is for the 3rd edition. The traditional is from the 1st edition.
| What | Section | Modern English Version | Traditional English Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biblical Odes | Lenten Weekday Matins | 155 | 156 |
| Prayer of St Ephrem | Lenten Weekday Vespers | 232 | 233 |
Primary Texts and Recommended Personal or Family Library
Biblical:
Liturgical:
Hapgood Service Book of the Holy Orthodox Church or PDF of Hapgood’s Service Book or Hieratikon Vol. 1 Vespers and Matins and Hieratikon Vol. 2 Divine Liturgies
Note: Greek Archdiocese Digital Chant Stand provides daily services for each day with both the fixed and variable parts combined. Digital Chant Stand. You can also see the texts for the Holy Mysteries. On the DCS website, click on the three lines in the upper left of any page on the site and then click on “Sacraments and Services”. Then click on “Sacraments and Blessings”.
Primary References
Keep in mind that the Old Church Slavonic liturgical texts were translations from the Greek texts in use at various points in history. Over time a few original Slavonic texts were added to the Slavonic tradition, such as some Akathists.
English translations of liturgical texts available to use over the Internet and printed books usually fall into one of two categories: direct translation from the Greek texts, or a translation from the Slavonic translation of the Greek texts. I will let you know what we are viewing or using during each session.
English Translated directly from the Greek Liturgical Texts
Baptism Service PDF (Greek-English)