For
Immediate Release:
Contact:
Rev.
Athanasios C Haros, Pastor
Transfiguration
of Our Savior Greek Orthodox Church of Florence
Office:
843-662-5471 Cell: 843-496-4533
TransfigurationFlo@mail.goarch.org
www.GoFlorence.org
Orthodox
Christians prepare for holiest week of the year
(Florence, SC – April 8, 2014) With traditions that date from
the earliest decades of Church history, Orthodox Christians will share the ancient
experience of Holy Week, Sunday, April 13-20, 2014, which commemorates the
final days of Jesus Christ on Earth.
The traditions of Holy Week
originated in the practices of the ancient Christian Church, and have been
documented as early as 150AD. This year will begin with Palm Sunday
commemorations and continue with services each evening culminating with the
ancient Midnight Resurrection service Saturday night and last into the early
morning hours on Sunday. Holy Week services include readings from the Gospels
highlighting the events surrounding the betrayal, trial, crucifixion, burial,
and ultimate resurrection of Jesus Christ, whom Christians believe to be the
Incarnate Word of God.
According to Father
Athanasios C Haros, Pastor of the Transfiguration of Our Savior Greek Orthodox
Church, “Pascha is the time of year everyone gets excited about. Children are
in Church with their parents and grandparents being a part of some of the most
ancient customs in all of Christianity. Of course, we can’t forget the “newer”
traditions like Easter Egg hunts. We’ll enjoy those too!”
Pascha (a Greek/English
transliteration for the Hebrew Pesach) is the oldest, most venerable and
preeminent feast of the Church. The prototype of Pascha is the Jewish Passover,
the festival of Israel’s deliverance from bondage. Like the Old Testament
Passover, Pascha is a festival of deliverance.
Services for Holy Week take place
twice each day in the Church and visitors are welcome to attend. A special
Midnight Resurrection Service will take place on Sunday, April 20th
(Saturday night) at MIDNIGHT. The complete Holy Week Schedule is available at www.GoFlorence.org.
"A Week of Freedom" is planned to honor
freedom in all forms as a gift from God. Freedom comes in many forms: freedom
of religion, freedom of expression, freedom from sin, freedom from suffering and
oppression. Each event during "A Week of Freedom" will focus upon one
or more aspects of freedom.###
