Category: Holidays

Happy Easter!

Having completed the vigil at the tomb, we go out, bearers of the cross, those carrying banners, icons, the Gospel, the choir, the Priest and the faithful carrying  candles ablaze.  Circling the church (3 times typically – unless the weather is really bad), we sing that Christ is risen from the dead.  Coming to the front of the church, a small service is completed by the priest, wherein he calls out, Christ is Risen, and the faithful respond, Indeed He is risen.

Father Jonah using his sensor outside the church.
Father Jonah using his sensor outside the church.

Vince Tutiakoff holds the Gospel, while Boris Galaktionoff has the icon depicting the Ascension of Christ.

It was snowing and quite chilly.
It was snowing and quite chilly.

Luckily enough, with the joyful celebration, came a very spring-like afternoon.  Just in time for the egg hunt.  As we got out of church the evening before – or should I say morning – at around 3:15 AM, we set the time of the egg hunt for 2 PM. 

Caleb finishes hiding eggs in the churchyard.
Caleb finishes hiding eggs in the churchyard.

Chomping at the bit, the kids only had to wait a few minutes.  And then they went crazy, running all over looking for enough eggs to win them a prize.

SP on the look-out.
SP on the look-out.
Sweet success!
Sweet success!

And look!  Who can that be with a cute, new haircut??  Might it be Alena!

Alena! with her new do.
Alena! with her new do.

 I will probably be falling asleep early.  For some reason, my husband thought that I needed to get up at 8:30 AM, so he thoughtfully brought me a cup of coffee and woke me up.  At my age, 41/2 hours of sleep just doesn’t cut it anymore.

Saturday morning and afternoon – before Midnight service.

Flowers surrounding the shroud of Christ.
Flowers surrounding the shroud of Christ.

The Cathedral of the Holy Ascension of Christ, the oldest and largest Russian Orthodox cruciform-style church on the North American continent, is beautiful on any given day.  It is particularly so during the solemn services leading up to the resurrection of Christ.  As the judgement and crucifiction of Christ unfold each year, the coverings on the icon stands are changed to black or dark purple.  This morning, as we prepared for the resurrection, the dark covers were removed to reveal white.   Tonight, at 11:30, the shroud will be taken and placed on the alter behind the iconostas.  It is a particularly beautiful service, although a bit lengthy as it includes both a Matins and a Divine Liturgy.  All are welcome to attend.

Getting ready for the egg hunt.
Getting ready for the egg hunt.

The children, of course, are getting excited because they not only get to stay up late, circle the church three times at nearly midnight, trying to keep their candles lit, but then they get to participate in  an egg hunt after service on Easter Sunday afternoon.

Othodox Easter, plus SP and Alena coming home!

We are fast approaching, by the Julian calendar, the day we proclaim Christ is Risen.  The mysteries of the Julian calendar never fail to confuse me.  But I love using it for our orthodox services.  Alaska is actually the only diocese in the US who continues to use the Julian calendar.  The calendar was introduced by Julius Ceasar, in 46 BC, and revised, most recently, in 1923.  Probably more than you wanted to know.

We have been celebrating presanctified lenten services this week, and this morning we had our last lenten service.  Father Jonah announced it with such joy, that I felt like leading the parishoners in a cheer.  AJ Bereskin, our choir leader, laughingly noted that now that she finally has the lenten tones down pat, we are done with them.

Choir leader AJ Bereskin during one of her few moments of relaxation.
Choir leader AJ Bereskin during one of her few moments of relaxation.

Choir leaders and readers in our church have to be extremely dedicated to their jobs.  As an example, this week we have had services at 9 AM each morning and at 6 PM each evening.  Heaven help the rest of us if the choir leader and readers don’t show up!  I am in total awe of the amount of work that is required.

And WOO HOO.  SP and Alena are due home tomorrow.  SP had his final checkup with the doc, and the doc says everything is healing up great from his surgery.  Everybody do a dance for good flying weather.  They are due on the 5 PM flight.