Join us as we commemorate Palm Sunday with Divine Liturgy and Holy Communion beginning at 10:00 a.m. with Confession beginning as early as 9:00 a.m. Sunday, April 9 at St. Sava Church in Merrillville.
This weekend marks the beginning of Holy Week with special services taking place throughout the week. A complete list of services is available in the schedule below.
About Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday is the holiday which commemorates the solemn entry of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ into Jerusalem six days before the Passover (Matt. 12:1-12).
As Jesus neared the Mount of Olives, He sat on an ass and entered into the Holy City. Throngs of inspired people greeted Him as their King, singing and strewing their garments and green branches in His path as He rode. The crowds followed Him, carrying Palms in their hands and crying, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”
In remembrance of that event the first Christians established the holiday, Palm Sunday. With the celebration of Palm Sunday the custom to bless palm branches was established to celebrate Christ’s victory.
Even prior to the Christian era Palms were awarded as a sign of victory. Palms, always green, are said by old beliefs, grown out of their ashes. It signifies the glory of a victor who deserves an immortal name.
Heroes were greeted and decorated with palms. Therefore, the people greeted the Savior with palms because nothing could have dissuaded His voluntary sufferings: no Gethsemane horrors, no injustice of Judean courts, no insidious leaders, not even His mother’s love nor Golgotha’s horrible sufferings.
In pictures, palms in the hands of angels or saints represent their victory over the earth and remind us of a beautiful place in Revelations, “Then I saw many people of all languages, generations and races standing before the throne and lamb, dressed in white garb, and palms in their hands.”
The word “palma” according to the Greek fine interpretation was a phoenix with which Christ was met, or in a wider interpretation may mean a bud or a shoot.
In regions where there are no palms, a willow is blessed because it is the first one to become green after winter. It reminds us of a general resurrection. Our presence at the church service with green willows in our hand witnesses our belief in Christ victory over death.
Holy Week Schedule of Services
LAZARUS SATURDAY LAZARUS SATURDAY – APRIL 8th 2017
- Confession at 9:00; Divine Liturgy at 10:00 – VRBICA
- Holy Communion for children
PALM SUNDAY PALM SUNDAY – APRIL 9th 2017
- Confession at 9:00; Divine Liturgy at 10:00AM
HOLY WEDNESDAY HOLY WEDNESDAY – APRIL 12th 2017
- Presanctified Divine Liturgy at 9:00AM
- Holy Unction Service: St. George Church East Chicago – 6:00PM
HOLY THURSDAY HOLY THURSDAY – APRIL 13th 2017
- Divine Liturgy at 9:00AM
- The Great Vigil: Reading of 12 Passion Gospels at 6:00PM
HOLY FRIDAY HOLY FRIDAY – APRIL 14th 2017
- Morning Service / Hours at 10:00AM
- Vespers with laying of Holy Shroud and Funeral Service at 6:00PM
HOLY SATURDAY HOLY SATURDAY – APRIL 15th 2017
- Divine Liturgy at 9:00AM
- Resurrection Matins at 11:30PM
PASCHA – APRIL 16th 2017
- Divine Liturgy at 10:00AM
EASTER MONDAY EASTER MONDAY – APRIL 17th 2017
- Divine Liturgy at 9:00AM
EASTER TUESDAY EASTER TUESDAY – APRIL 18th 2017
- Divine Liturgy at 9:00AM
SUNDAY – APRIL 23rd 2017
- Divine Liturgy at 10:00AM
