Corfu Easter: Programme of Holy Services at Saint Spyridon Church
Photo: imcorfu.gr
CORFU. Times of services from Lazarus Saturday to Easter Tuesday.
LAZARUS SATURDAY
“Believing in Your common Resurrection before Your Passion, O Christ our God, You raised Lazarus from the dead; therefore, we too, like children, bearing the symbols of victory, cry out to You, O Conqueror of death: Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”
19:00 Hierarchical Vespers, presided over by Archbishop Nektarios of Corfu, Paxos, and Diapontia Islands
PALM SUNDAY
On this same day, Palm Sunday, we celebrate the glorious and magnificent feast of the Lord’s entrance into Jerusalem.
07:00–10:30 Matins and Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, officiated by Archbishop Nektarios of Corfu, Paxos, and Diapontia Islands
11:00 Supplication Service and Procession of the Holy Relics of Saint Spyridon
19:00 Matins of Holy Monday
HOLY MONDAY
On Holy and Great Monday, we commemorate the blessed Joseph the All-Praised and the fig tree cursed and withered by the Lord.
07:30–10:00 Hours, Vespers, and Presanctified Divine Liturgy
19:00 Matins of Holy Tuesday
HOLY TUESDAY
On Holy and Great Tuesday, we commemorate the Parable of the Ten Virgins from the Holy Gospel.
07:30–10:00 Hours, Vespers, and Presanctified Divine Liturgy
19:00 Matins of Holy Wednesday (Kassiani Hymn)
HOLY WEDNESDAY
On Holy and Great Wednesday, we commemorate the woman sinner who anointed the Lord with perfume, as ordained by the holy Fathers, for this occurred shortly before the salvific Passion.
07:00–11:00 Hours, Holy Unction, Vespers, and Presanctified Divine Liturgy
19:00 Matins of Holy Thursday
HOLY THURSDAY
On Holy and Great Thursday, the God-bearing Fathers, following the tradition of the Holy Apostles and the sacred Gospels, established four celebrations for us: the Holy Washing of the Feet, the Mystical Supper (i.e., the institution of our sacred Mysteries), the Extraordinary Prayer, and His Betrayal.
08:00–10:00 Vespers and Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil, officiated by Archbishop Nektarios of Corfu, Paxos, and Diapontia Islands
18:30 Matins of Good Friday – Service of the Lord’s Holy Passion
GOOD FRIDAY
On Holy and Great Friday, we commemorate the holy, salvific, and fearful Passion of our Lord, God, and Saviour Jesus Christ: His spitting, scourging, blows, insults, mockery, the purple robe, the reed, the sponge, the vinegar, the nails, the spear, and above all, the Cross and death, which He voluntarily accepted for us, as well as the salvific confession of the repentant thief crucified beside Him.
08:00 Great Hours and Vespers of the Deposition from the Cross
18:30 Matins of Easter Saturday – Epitaphio Procession inside the church
EASTER SATURDAY
On Holy and Great Saturday, we celebrate the God-bearing Burial and the Lord’s descent into Hades, through which our mortal race was recalled from corruption to eternal life.
05:00–07:30 Vespers and Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil
09:00 Epitaphio Procession and Procession of the Holy Relics of Saint Spyridon
23:00 All-Night Vigil
00:00 Resurrection Ceremony (inside the church) – Matins and Divine Liturgy
EASTER SUNDAY
On Holy and Great Easter Sunday, we celebrate the life-giving Resurrection of our Lord, God, and Saviour Jesus Christ.
08:45–10:00 Resurrection Matins
10:00 Procession of the Holy Icon of the Resurrection
10:30–12:00 Resurrection Divine Liturgy
19:00 Vespers of Love
22:00 Resurrection Matins
EASTER MONDAY
08:30 Resurrection Divine Liturgy
19:00 Vespers
22:00 Matins Service
EASTER TUESDAY
08:30 Resurrection Divine Liturgy
18:00 Deposition of the Holy Relics of Saint Spyridon
From the morning of Easter Saturday, after the procession and until the afternoon of Easter Tuesday, the Holy Relics of Saint Spyridon will be at the church entrance for veneration by the faithful. During this period, the church remains open 24 hours a day.
All services will be broadcast via the official channel of the Holy Metropolis at imcorfu.gr, YouTube, Facebook, and on the radio station “Agios Spyridon 91.1.”
ELENI KORONAKI
