HOLY WEEK AT SAINT NICHOLAOS CHURCH AMBELOKIPI, ZAKYNTHOS.
DURING THE WEEK THE CHURCH IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
HOLY MONDAY.
08.30A.M AND 19.00P.M
HOLY TUESDAY
19.00P.M THE HYMN OF KASSIANIS IS SUNG
HOLY WEDNESDAY
08.30A.M FOR MORNING SERVICES
17.30P.M BLESSINGS WITH HOLY OIL . IT IS HERE THAT YOU ARE ANOINTED BY THE PREIST. THOSE WHO CAN NOT MAKE IT TO THE CHURCH CAN ORGANISE WITH THE PRIEST TO BE ANOINTED AT HOME.
19.00P.M EVENING SERVICES.
HOLY THURSDAY
08.30A.M MORNING SERVICES
18.30P.M READINGS FROM THE BIBLE (THE SAINTS OF PASSION) *** AFTER THE EVENING’S SERVICE THE EPITAPH WILL BE DECORATED.
GOOD FRIDAY
08.30 A.M MORNING SERVICES
10.30 A.M THE DEPARTURE.
19.00P.M THE EPITAPH SERVICES. HYMNS SUNG BY THE WOMEN’S CHOIR “RODAMBELOS”.
THE EPITAPH WILL BE TAKEN AROUND THE CHURHC’S COURTYARD.
HOLY SATURDAY.
08.30A.M THE FIRST RESURRECTION
23.15 P.M SERVICES FOR EASTER.
23.45P.M HOLY LIGHT
MIDNIGHT EXACTLY. RESURRECTION. THE HOLY LIGHT WILL BE GIVE FOR THOSE TO TAKE HOME, THE SERVICE WILL CONTINUE UNTIL 01.15A.M
Something unique,
MANY WHO VISIT US WANT TO GO TO A VILLAGE CHURCH RATHER THAN GOING INTO TOWN. ZAKYNTHOS INFORMER HAS PROVIDED A PROGRAMME FOR A VILLAGE CHURCH JUST OUTSIDE OF TOWN. ITS TRADITIONS ARE STILL VERY UNIQUE AND IN TIME WITH OUR ZAKYNTHIAN CULTURE.
WHAT MAKES THIS CHURCH SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT IN ITS SERVICES IS HOLY FRIDAY OR GOOD FRIDAY. THE CHURCH INVITES THE WOMEN’S CHOIR OF ‘RODAMBELOS’ TO TAKE PART IN THE HYMNS SUNG ON THIS PARTICULAR EVENING. THE SONG THAT STANDS OUT MOST IS THAT OF THE LAMENT DEDICATED TO THE VIRGIN MOTHER. IT IS SUNG BEFORE THE CHURCH’S SERVICES TAKE PLACE.
THE WOMEN ALL WEAR BLACK AND MOURN CHRIST WHO WAS NAILED TO THE CROSS. THE LAMENT IS IN MOOD OF THE DAY, WHERE THE MOTHER OF CHRIST WITNESSES HER OWN SON’S CRUCIFIXION. THE WORDS SUNG TALK ABOUT HOW CHRIST WAS CAPTURED AND TAKEN BEFORE PILATE THE GOVERNOR, AND HOW HIS MOTHER COULD DO NOTHING BUT PRAY FOR HER SON, WHILST WATCHING ONE OF THE MOST HIDEOUS FORMS OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.
THE LAMENT IS SUNG AT 19.00P.M TO START OFF THE HYMNS AND IS TRULY ONE OF THE MOST TRADITIONAL WAYS THAT ZAKYNTHOS CELEBRATES. NO OTHER CHURCH ACROSS THE ISLAND DEVOTES THEIR HYMN TO THIS LAMENT; IT IS CERTAINLY WORTH LISTENING TO DURING YOUR VISIT TO OUR ISLAND.
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