Holy Week and Pascha
Thank you to everyone who attended our Great Lent, Holy Week and Pascha services!
In 2025 Pascha will be celebrated on the 20th April. This page will be updated closer to that time.
Welcome to our information page about Holy Week 2024 at Holy Annunciation Orthodox Church!
This page is intended for parishioners of Holy Annunciation Orthodox Church to provide more information about the Holy Week services. Please check this website periodically for updates and new information. A printed version of this page will be available to collect at HAOC services.
For more in-depth information about Holy Week services themselves, please see the Holy Week article on OrthodoxWiki
Visitors are welcome to attend these services. We realise that these services may be quite different to what you are used to and longer in length as well. Please feel free to sit down whenever you need to during the service. For first time visitors, please see our First Time Visitors Information Page.
Some items of note:
- Confession:
- Confessions will be heard during evening services from the Matins for Lazarus Saturday to the Matins for Holy Wednesday, as below.
- That is: Friday 5-6:30pm, Saturday 6-8:30pm, Sunday 6-7:30pm, Monday 6-7:30pm, Tuesday 6-7:30pm, Wednesday 6-8pm.
- Parishioners are requested to see Fr Andrew for Confession on Holy Wednesday or prior.
- If you wish to have Confession at another time, please directly contact us ASAP (admin [at] holyannunciation.net) to arrange an appointment.
- Confessions will be heard during evening services from the Matins for Lazarus Saturday to the Matins for Holy Wednesday, as below.
- Paschal Baskets:
- Paschal Baskets (including Kulichi) are blessed following the Paschal Divine Liturgy, just before the Paschal meal in the early hours on Sunday.
- Other Arrangements:
- As always: all services at our parish, including in Holy Week and Pascha, are celebrated in the English language.
- Communion:
- As at any time of year, Communion is distributed only to those Orthodox Christians who have prepared themselves through prayer, fasting and recent Confession.
- Fast Free Week:
- To celebrate the Resurrection of Christ, the week from the 6-10 May is a fast free week.
If you are visiting Holy Annunciation from another Orthodox parish, and wish to receive Communion, please directly contact us (admin [at] holyannunciation.net) to advise Fr Andrew, including details regarding receiving Communion.
Friday, 26 April, 2024
66 Junction St, Woolloongabba
(St Paul's Antiochian Orthodox Church)
- From 4pm: Confession available (and available during Matins).
- 4:30pm: Matins for Lazarus Saturday. (to ~6pm).
- On Lazarus Saturday, we celebrate when Jesus came to Bethany, and raised Lazarus from the dead.
- Read more: https://orthodoxwiki.org/Lazarus_Saturday
- Watch the Livestream Service from Holy Week 2021 at: https://fb.watch/jy6w72nZVp/
- On Lazarus Saturday, we celebrate when Jesus came to Bethany, and raised Lazarus from the dead.
Saturday, 27 April, 2024
66 Junction St, Woolloongabba
(St Paul's Antiochian Orthodox Church)
- 8:30am: Divine Liturgy for Lazarus Saturday. (to ~10:30am).
- On Lazarus Saturday, we celebrate when Jesus came to Bethany, and raised Lazarus from the dead.
- Read more: https://orthodoxwiki.org/Lazarus_Saturday
- Palm cross making TBC
- Watch the Livestream Service from Holy Week 2021 at: https://fb.watch/jy2eyGaek7/
- On Lazarus Saturday, we celebrate when Jesus came to Bethany, and raised Lazarus from the dead.
Saturday, 27 April, 2024
66 Junction St, Woolloongabba
(St Paul's Antiochian Orthodox Church)
- From 5:30pm: Confession available (and available during Matins).
- 6pm: Festal Vigil for Palm Sunday (to ~8:30pm).
- Includes blessing of palm crosses and palm bushels, as well as the blessing of bread, wheat, wine and oil ('litia').
- On Palm Sunday, we celebrate when Jesus entered Jerusalem, acclaimed as King, riding on a donkey.
- Read more: https://orthodoxwiki.org/Palm_Sunday
- Watch the Livestream Service from Holy Week 2022 at: youtube.com/watch?v=k78td9lsT0k
Sunday, 28 April, 2024
19 Lotus St, Woolloongabba
(QRCC Hall)
NB: On this day, the fast is relaxed, to allow the eating of fish.
- 8:30am Divine Liturgy for Palm Sunday (to ~10:45am). .
- Watch the Livestream Service from Holy Week 2022 at: https://fb.watch/jy7KNm3Ax0/
- Sunday School [details]
- A HAOC fundraising fish lunch is planned for this day.
- On Palm Sunday, we celebrate when Jesus entered Jerusalem, acclaimed as King, riding on a donkey.
- Read more: https://orthodoxwiki.org/Palm_Sunday
Sunday, 28 April, 2024
13/2120 Logan Rd, Upper Mt Gravatt
(St John of Kronstadt Academy)
- From 5:30pm: Confession available (and available during Matins).
- 6pm: Bridegroom Matins (to ~7:30pm).
- At the Bridegroom Matins services, we commemorate Christ, who gave Himself to be the bridegroom of the Church.
- Watch the Livestream Service from Holy Week 2022 at: youtube.com/watch?v=GKgD78v_7Aw
Monday, 29 April, 2024
13/2120 Logan Rd, Upper Mt Gravatt
(St John of Kronstadt Academy)
- From 5:30pm: Confession available (and available during Matins).
- 6pm: Bridegroom Matins (to ~7:30pm).
- At the Bridegroom Matins services, we commemorate Christ, who gave Himself to be the bridegroom of the Church.
- Watch the Livestream Service from Holy Week 2022 at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60KCp91G_eY
Tuesday, 30 April, 2024
13/2120 Logan Rd, Upper Mt Gravatt
(St John of Kronstadt Academy)
- From 5:30pm: Confession available (and available during Matins).
- 6pm: Bridegroom Matins (to ~7:30pm).
- At the Bridegroom Matins services, we commemorate Christ, who gave Himself to be the Bridegroom of the Church.
- Read more: https://orthodoxwiki.org/Christ_the_Bridegroom
- Watch the Livestream Service from Holy Week 2022 at: https://www.youtube.com/live/gRWiZQSlMIE?feature=share
Wednesday,1 May 2024
13/2120 Logan Rd, Upper Mt Gravatt
(St John of Kronstadt Academy)
- 8am: Presanctified Liturgy (10am~)
- From 5:30pm: Confession available (and available during Matins).
- NB: After this point, Confessions are only available by prior appointment.
- 6pm: Matins of the Mystical Supper (to ~8pm).
- This service remembers Judas betraying Christ, and also, remembers the Mystical Supper (or 'the Last Supper'), shared by Christ with His disciples.
- Watch the Livestream Service from Holy Week 2022 at: https://www.youtube.com/live/wCsjqEOzgvY?feature=share
- NB: After Wednesday, confession is only available by prior appointment.
Thursday, 2 May 2024
13/2120 Logan Rd, Upper Mt Gravatt
(St John of Kronstadt Academy)
- 8:30am: Vesperal Divine Liturgy (to ~10:45am).
- This service remembers Judas betraying Christ, and also, remembers the Mystical Supper (or 'the Last Supper'), shared by Christ with His disciples.
- Watch the Livestream Service from Holy Week 2021 at: https://fb.watch/jy8O_cqlra/
Thursday, 2 May 2024
13/2120 Logan Rd, Upper Mt Gravatt
(St John of Kronstadt Academy)
- 6pm: Matins of the Crucifixion & Burial of Christ (to ~9pm).
- During this service, Twelve Gospel readings are read out, with hymns about the significance of the Crucifixion. This includes Christ's last instructions to his disciples, prophecies of the Cross, Christ's prayer, and His new commandments to His disciples.
- Watch the Livestream Service from Holy Week 2022 at: https://www.youtube.com/live/SIl0psC6rA8?feature=share
Friday, 3 May 2024
13/2120 Logan Rd, Upper Mt Gravatt
(St John of Kronstadt Academy)
- 12pm: Royal Hours (to ~1:40pm).
- Watch the Livestream Service from Holy Week 2021 at: https://fb.watch/jya2fkYPhV/
- Watch the Livestream Service from Holy Week 2021 at: https://fb.watch/jya2fkYPhV/
- 3pm: Vespers of the Shroud (to ~4:40pm).
- After this service we will have a strict fasting meal. Please bring a plate to share of foods with no: dairy, eggs, meat/fish or oil. If possible, please bring food that is ready to eat and does not require cooking or heating.
- Watch the Livestream Service from Holy Week 2022 at: https://www.youtube.com/live/T1eqB6GC89Q?feature=share
- After this service we will have a strict fasting meal. Please bring a plate to share of foods with no: dairy, eggs, meat/fish or oil. If possible, please bring food that is ready to eat and does not require cooking or heating.
- 6pm: Matins of the Lamentations (to ~9pm).
- From this service on Thursday evening, we begin to liturgically commemorate the death of Christ on the Cross.
- It is common practice to wear black or dark clothing on this day. It is also a strict fasting day - please talk to Fr Andrew about your specific fasting needs.
- Watch the Livestream Service from Holy Week 2022: https://www.youtube.com/live/9s9-PoSpmQg?feature=share
Saturday, 4 May 2024
13/2120 Logan Rd, Upper Mt Gravatt
(St John of Kronstadt Academy)
- 8:30am: Vesperal Divine Liturgy (to ~12:30pm).
- This service includes Baptisms.
- At the end of this service the priest will bless bread & wine, which the faithful will have after the service.
- Watch the Livestream Service from Holy Week 2020 at: https://fb.watch/jy9GeASnpo/
Saturday, 4 May - Sunday, 5 May 2024
19 Lotus St, Woolloongabba
(QRCC Hall)
- 9:30pm Reading of the Book of Acts
- The Reading of the Book of Acts will cease at the beginning of the Midnight Office.
- Livestream: A Recording of the entire Book of Acts, read by HAOC Parishioners, for Holy Week and Pascha 2020: fb.watch/cu4U6DZa8y
- 11:30pm Paschal Midnight Office
- 12am Paschal Procession, Matins & Divine Liturgy (to ~3am).
- After the Paschal Divine Liturgy a festive meal will be shared, please bring a plate of your favourite fast breaking food to share.
- Watch the Livestream Service of the Paschal Midnight Office, Procession, Matins & Divine Liturgy, from Holy Week 2020, at: https://fb.watch/jy9N4FpimY/
- After the Paschal Divine Liturgy a festive meal will be shared, please bring a plate of your favourite fast breaking food to share.
Sunday, 5 May 2024
HAOC Celebration Lunch: Oxley Bowls Club 24A Englefield Road, Oxley
Join us from 12-5 pm as we celebrate the resurrection of Christ. Please bring a dish to share (kitchen facilities are available).
The bowls club offers ample outdoor space and is extremely kid-friendly. All HAOC parishioners and friends are invited.
Feel free to join us for part of the event or stay for the whole duration. You're welcome anytime!
St Nicholas Cathedral,
344 Vulture St, Woolloongabba
This year the Deanery Paschal Vespers will be held at St Nicholas Cathedral, 344 Vulture St, Woolloongabba
- 6pm Paschal Vespers (to ~7pm).
- Paschal Vespers is a joyous service, with all clergy of ROCOR churches in Brisbane and surrounds coming together to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ, in the presence of many parishioners. This service will be served predominantly in Slavonic.
- Paschal Vespers is a joyous service, with all clergy of ROCOR churches in Brisbane and surrounds coming together to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ, in the presence of many parishioners. This service will be served predominantly in Slavonic.
