19 April 2009
At the beginning of Holy Week Father told us to prepare for a marathon, not a sprint. Wow, was he right! The week started off rather peacefully with the beautiful Bridegroom services Sunday, Monday and Tuesday evening. I am a master at the art of procrastination so naturally I waited until Tuesday night for the Sacrament of Confession (to be done before receiving the Sacrament of Holy Unction)--which actually wasn't a bad thing because I don't think I had ever been so well prepared having just gone through all of the Bridegroom services. Wednesday was the Sacrament of Holy Unction. EARLY Thursday morning (6:30am!!!) we celebrated the Divine Liturgy. Thursday evening was the 12 Gospels service. Friday we had 3 services, Royal Hours, Apokathelosis (The Taking Down from the Cross) and the mournful, beautiful, yet hopeful Lamentations. Saturday morning the Divine Liturgy and, of course, late Saturday night Orthros with joyous Pascha immediately following early Sunday morning and Agape Vespers this afternoon.
By Thursday my head was full of nothing but the chanting of the services which only intensified as the week progressed. I was blessed to be able to immerse myself in the Holy Week. Mr. Dixie went to visit his sister in Florida. His mom was also visiting so it was a some good family time for him and an equally great opportunity for me. But a marathon it was. By Saturday morning about mid-service I hit the wall. Everything after that is a bit of a blur.
After the Pascha service I made the huge mistake of breaking the Lenten Fast by eating some pork sausage patties and cheese. And maybe those malted milk Easter Eggs I had in the car on the way home didn't help either. I haven't yet recovered--my stomach is still queazy. And I am completely exhausted.
All that said, however, this was by far the best Holy Week journey of my life. The Church in her wisdom prepares us for the reality of the Paschal Feast. Not just a special Sunday with special music, white patent leather shoes and new hats. But the Feast of Feasts. The true magnitude of the Feast can escape us. The rigors of the Holy Week marathon puts that Feast into proper perspective.
So here I am...queazy stomach, heavy eyelids, non-stop chanting in my head, and a joy that my heart cannot contain. "Christos Anesti! Christ is risen!" My best to all of you as we celebrate our Risen Lord.
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6 comments:
For the first time ever and by the grace of God, I kept the fast from meat and dairy through all of Lent. However, by the end, I was ill - some low grade virus that saps strength and makes one's voice sound like Mickey Mouse - and I wasn't able to attend all the Holy Week services as I have in the past.
Given the choice, I would have rather attended all the services. In the great scheme of things, they are so much more meaningful. After all, St. John says that those who have not kept the fast should also come.
And after a day filled with meat and eggs and cheese (and a few vegetables), my husband and I feel ready to go back to the fast. We are counting the days until the Wednesday after Bright Week!
It is so wonderful, isn't it! I feel blessed, exhausted, and joyful all at once.
Blessed Bright Monday to you. I hope your tummy has calmed down.
I ate a whole pound of bacon. Mmmm!
Al-Masih qam!
Anam Cara...Christos Anesti! Sorry to hear about your virus. I actually was sick the first three weeks of Lent, first with a stomach virus and then with the flu. It was the double whammy wake up call..."hey...it's Lent and the evil one is working overtime!" While it would be wonderful if we all could put ills, family demands and the rest of the world on hold so we could walk the journey of Holy Week through all the services...that can't happen every year. So St. John's homily bids us to rejoice whatever the season has delivered to us...and we can relish those words of comfort and encouragement.
RightWingProf...you are my new role model!!! A pound of bacon. What genius! I hope your stomach was kinder to you than mine was. Next year it will be bacon for me!
Happy (belated) Easter, Dixie! I was in Rome for Western Easter and in Constantinople for Eastern Easter. Unfortunately, I was not able to join the Patriarch at the Fanar, but I did attend mass celebrated by the Apostolic Vicar to Constantinople who then immediately after the mass went to the Fanar to be with the Patriarch - I don't know if that counts!
Hey David...thanks for stopping in. I am very behind in my blog reading and have only caught about 1/3 of your travel postings. I need to catch up!
I'll give you credit for a "near miss" Fanar contact. That's better than nothin'!
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