On Sunday, May 5, the entirety of the Orthodox Church celebrated the Feast of feasts and the Festival of festivals – Christ’s Glorious Resurrection. The Pascha of the Lord is the Feast of the triumph of Life over death, God’s Love over evil and emptiness, of Truth over falsehood.

The faithful try to prepare every church and adorn them to the best of their abilities, to offer their love and gratitude to the Crucified and Risen Lord Jesus. So also did the brethren of Our Lady of Pochaev community lovingly decorated the church and prepared a floral arrangement for the Savior’s Shroud. Above the Shroud was placed a Cross with flowers, which did not include a crucifix… there is a deep meaning to this, inasmuch as Jesus Christ is no longer on the Cross, having risen and granted life to everyone who believes on Him.

The brethren and parishioners spent all of Passion Week in church, prayerfully recounting the sacred events of our salvation: Judas’ betrayal, the Mystical Supper, the Crucifixion of the Savior, His burial…

On Saturday, Midnight Office began at 11:20 PM, with the rector, Archimandrite Stefan (Khilchuk), reading the canon of Great Saturday to the singing of Hieromonk Arkadii (Polishchuk) and Hierodeacon Paisius (Alexeevets). After this, once the Shroud was taken up into the altar, the procession took place and Paschal Matins began.

Frs. Stefan, Paisius, and Deacon Alexander Kharitoniuk served the Paschal Matins. Fr. Arkadii directed a mixed choir. After the appointed Matins, Hours, and Liturgy, the Paschal Epistle of the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, was read aloud.

Upon conclusion of the service, the Artos, cheese paschas, kuliches, and other offerings were blessed.

The festivities ended with a communal meal, which had been lovingly prepared by the church’s parishioners and guests.