Illuminated Week: PROGRAM of religious services at the Coronation Cathedral in Alba Iulia. When is the first holiday after Easter

Bright Week: After Easter, believers enter Bright Week. It includes a feast dedicated to the Mother of God and ends on the following Sunday called Thomas Sunday (of Saint Thomas the Apostle). On May 10 is the Healing Spring, with the sanctification of the water – Agheasma Mică.

For Orthodox Christians, Holy Week is the beginning of a period of celebration, which ends fifty days after Easter at the Descent of the Holy Spirit (Pentecost).

EASTER WISHES 2024 Messages and CONGRATULATIONS on the Resurrection of the Lord. Send a good thought to your loved ones for the Holidays

Holy Week: meanings for believers

The enlightened week is under the sign of light. The first service this week begins with the words “Come and take light”. Christ emerges from the tomb enveloped in the holy light of His divinity.

In the first centuries of Christianity, during Holy Week, the catechumens (those who were preparing to receive the sacrament of Baptism), who were baptized on Easter night, wore white clothes, a symbol of the joy of the Resurrection. During this week, they came every day to the Church, participating in the Holy Liturgy and partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ the Redeemer. Because they had received Baptism, they were called “enlightened”, and this week was considered for them the “Enlightened Week”.

During this period, Church services are different from those during the rest of the year. All the chants and readings during this period of Bright Week make direct reference to the Savior’s Resurrection from the dead.

Even the funeral service for those who fell asleep during this week, no matter for whom it was performed (priest, monk or believer), is replaced by the Resurrection service. “Christ is Risen!” is sung at the death.

This period is distinguished by the brightness, beauty and joy of the entire creation, which is expressed through very specific cultic ordinances that are carried out in the Church. Everything seems shrouded in white, everything is light, everything expresses the joy of being with Christ in His Church. And the churches are dressed in white and the vestments of the priests. That is why this period of Pentecost is the period when “Christ is risen!” is sung in all circumstances. and songs of joy: “Come let us enlighten our peoples! Come let’s enjoy the Resurrection of Christ!”

During all this time, Christians should greet each other with the greeting “Christ is Risen!”. From the Ascension, “Christ is Risen!”, followed by the answer “Truly He is Risen!” and “Truly He Has Risen!”

Bright Week: rules in churches

Another liturgical peculiarity of this week is Wednesday and Friday, which are marked in the calendar with “maps”. In these days, when there is usually a fast, all sweets are given up, for the joy of the Holy Resurrection.

During the Holy Week, they don’t bow and kneel, fast and confess.

Also during this period, the Royal Doors remain permanently open and no public memorials are made for the sleeping ones.

During Bright Week, as well as at Easter Odovania (Wednesday before the Ascension of the Lord), instead of the usual morning and evening prayers, the Order of the Hours of Holy Easter is read.

Also, in Bright Week, instead of the Chapel to the Mother of God, the Resurrection Canon is read, and the Resurrection Akathist is read from Easter to the Ascension.

Until the Great Feast of the Descent of the Holy Spirit, fish are released on Wednesdays and Fridays.

From Resurrection Sunday, a new liturgical period of the church year begins in the Orthodox Church, called the period of Pentecost. The name of this period – one of the three great divisions of the liturgical year (along with the period of the Octoih and that of the Triod) – comes from the book of Pentecost, which is particularly used in the Orthodox cult in the period between Easter and Pentecost (50 days ).

Illuminated Week: Schedule of services at the Coronation Cathedral in Alba Iulia

Monday, May 6 – Holy Easter (second day)

• 9.00-10.00 – Matins
• 10.00-12.00 – Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom (preaching by Fr. Lucian Colda)
• 18.00-18.50 – Vespers

Tuesday, May 7 – Holy Easter (third day)

• 9.00-10.00 – Matins
• 10.00-12.00 – Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom (preaching by Rev. Dorin Opriș)
• 18.00-18.50 – Vespers

Wednesday, May 8

• 7.00-8.00 – Matins
• 8:00-9:20 a.m. – Divine Liturgy of Saint John Golden Mouth
• 18.00-18.50 – Vespers

Thursday, May 9

• 7.00-8.00 – Matins
• 8:00-9:20 a.m. – Divine Liturgy of Saint John Golden Mouth
• 18.00-18.50 – Vespers

Friday, May 10 – Healing Spring

• 9.00-10.00 – Matins
• 10.00-12.00 – Divine Liturgy of Saint John the Golden Mouth (sermon Hierom. Teofil)
• 12.00-12.30 – Consecration of water (Little Aghiasma)
• 18.00-18.50 – Vespers

Saturday, May 11

• 7.00-8.00 – Matins
• 8:00-9:15 a.m. – Divine Liturgy of Saint John Golden Mouth
• hours 18.00-19.25 – Great Vespers with Litia

Illuminated Week: customs, traditions

Monday, the second day of Easter, is the custom of “wetting” and walking with pascha to herald the Resurrection. It is the day when the gates of Heaven and forgiveness are opened

On Tuesday, the third day of Easter, there is no work in households. He gives alms from the pascha left over from Easter and red wine.

On Wednesday, the “wedding of mice”, it would not be good to work. So, rodents could enter your house and you won’t have food.

On Green Thursday, gardens and agricultural lands are honored. Whoever works on this day brings misfortune, drought and pests in the orchards to the house. “Bad Thursday”, as this day is also called, requires a ritual of the dead. 44 buckets of water are carried by one person, 2 candles are lit at all 4 ends, and the “sanctified” water is then poured into the fountain in the yard.

Friday is the feast of the Healing Spring. It is also called Dear Friday or Fântâniţa. Housewives don’t wash, don’t iron clothes and don’t cut a thing to wear, because it won’t be useful and will never be finished.