Over the past three weeks, most of us have accepted that social distancing is something we absolutely must do for the sake of our loved ones and our neighbors. Sadly, for us Orthodox Christians, our ongoing efforts at social distancing will include Holy Week and the Feast of Feasts (Pascha) itself. (Read our priest’s sermon on social distancing as love for our neighbor.) Naturally, many of our people are understandably weighed down with grief. (Read our our priest’s sermon on our grief and bright sadness in this Lenten season.)
Archbishop Alexander continues to shape the response of our clergy and laity. In early March, our archbishop offered a robust response to the pandemic. On March 31, Archbishop Alexander offered a refined directive to get our diocesan parish communities through the “peak” of the Coronavirus crisis–and to address the immediate questions we face about how our parishes will celebrate Holy Week and Pascha. Accompanying our archbishop’s directive are further directives from the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America. What do all these directives mean for St. Athanasius, specifically?
- We are to prioritize serving Liturgy, offering it “on behalf of all.”
- In an attempt to limit exposure and not spread the coronavirus, we are strictly limiting attendance at the Liturgy to the same 5 people for each service (no rotating of persons–trying to limit households exposed together in the Liturgy.) The doors must be locked at each service once the singers and servers are present.
- With only a handful of people in attendance, our primary Holy Week Services will be Livestreamed via our YouTube channel. Lesser Holy Week services will be sung simply by Fr. Justin (and possibly his family) from the temple and Livestreamed via our parish Facebook Page. View our online service schedule here.
In the meantime….
- Divine Services are Still Being Offered
- Our Liturgies are being Livestreamed on the St. Athanasius YouTube Channel
- Other lesser services and various talks are being shared out via our parish Facebook Page (which you can access without having a Facebook account)
- Materials for Domestic Worship During Holy Week and Pascha are available (many parishioners prefer this mode of worship to livestreaming–and that is fine!)
- View our incredible Resource Page for Holy Week & Pascha
- Pray our Lay Service with Prayers Concerning Pandemic
- Daily YouTube Meditations for Holy Week & Pascha from Fr. Justin (visit our channel beginning April 10 for our-episode series!)
- OCA-wide Online Church School Resources (visit here!)
- Phone Confession & Pastoral Conversations as Needed Even in Holy Week
- Please reach our to Fr. Justin by email or by contacting him at 859-361-2823
- (In dire emergency and with the archbishop’s blessing, Fr. Justin will available for Communion)
- Special Volunteer Sign-ups
- Online Sign-up for Daily Ringing of Bells at 10am (every day of the week) per the Governor’s request
- Revised Online Sign-up (stay tuned) for grounds beautification and sanitization of the church
- Online Sign-ups for Virtual Psalter Reading (overnight Holy Friday) and Virtual Acts Reading (Holy Sat.)
- “Virtual Coffee Hour” on Sundays (12pm) and Wednesdays (720pm)
- We are using the app “Houseparty” (learn how to download and use here)
In this unusual season in our parish history, we sadly cannot invite you to join us physically. But we do invite you to connect virutally, through the livestreaming options and by praying along with our community. We also encourage you to reach out to our priest, Fr. Justin (859-361-2823.) It is vital that everybody in this crazy season–parish members and newcomers–be able to contact the priest for support, prayer, and a listening ear.
An Update on our Unusual Lenten Journey