St. James Orthodox Church, located at 37 S. Cranberry Road, Westminster, will celebrate Holy Week through May 5. For information regarding their Bright Week schedule, May 6 to May 11, visit their website.
Due to a difference in how the date for the celebration of Christ's Resurrection is calculated, Eastern Christians sometimes celebrate Holy Pascha (or Passover) on the same date as Western Christians celebrate Easter, but most often there is a week's difference in the celebrations, and some years, such as this year, the difference is five weeks.
The schedule for celebration is:
Today: Lazarus Saturday, Divine Liturgy, 10 a.m. and Great vespers (litya), 5 p.m.
Sunday: Palm Sunday, Matins, 9 a.m.; Divine Liturgy with procession and with palms, 10 am.; and bridegroom service, 7 p.m.
Holy Monday and Holy Tuesday: Bridegroom service, 7 p.m.
Holy Wednesday: Holy Unction, 7 p.m.
Holy Thursday: Divine liturgy, 10 a.m. and 12 Gospels, 7 p.m.
Holy Friday: Royal Hours, 10 a.m.; Vespers, 3 p.m.; and lamentation service, 7 p.m.
Holy Saturday, May 4: Vesperal liturgy with baptisms, 10 a.m.; and Holy Pascha with Rush Service/Matins Liturgy, 11 p.m. (through early Sunday morning)
For more information call the church at 410-751-6101, visit stjamesorthodoxchurch.org, or http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/features/religion to read more about the holiday celebration.
