NEWS

18.04.2009

GREAT AND HOLY WEEK IN COLOMBIA

Bishop Andrei of Pereira and All Colombia headed the Holy Offices of the Great and Holy Week, at the Sanctuary of the Most Holy Face. Colombian Faithful of UAOC-C followed them, with a deep sense of spirituality.
The whole narration of our Lord's Passion was given during the Service of the Twelve Gospels. A tall Crucifix stood in the middle of the Church with many candles lighted round it. After the Six Psalms and the Great Litany, the choir chanted "Alleluia" and the Troparion of Holy and Great Thursday. This day, Vladika Andrei washed the feet of some selected Clergy and Faithful too, to remember the actions of Our Lord during the Mystical Supper.
During Holy and Great Friday, in awe and trembling, Colombian Clergy and Faithful stood before the Cross on which our Savior died and saw the image of Him dead, lying in their midst, on the Epitaphios. Higoumene Liz of the Monastery of the Most Holy Face prayed with great devotion, entrusting Patriarch Moses and Universal Church to God, and asking for the healing of sick people.
Some Security Officials took part of the Holy Service.
On Saturday night, the service began in darkness with the chanting of the Midnight. Afterwards, all remained in silence and darkness until the stroke of midnight. Then, Vladika Andrei lighted a single candle. The light was spread from person to person until everyone held a lighted candle. Then a procession took place circling around the outside of the Church, recreating the journey of the Myrrh Bearers as they journeyed to the tomb of Jesus on the first Easter morning. The procession stopped in front of the closed doors of the church. The opening of these doors symbolized the "rolling away of the stone" from the tomb by the angel, and all entered the church joyfully singing the Troparion of Pascha. Paschal Orthros began with an Ektenia and the chanting of the Paschal Canon.