A tape? That would require a working tape recorder. Ain't got none of them.

Okay, Sundays. We've already missed several. Pre-Lent starts with Zaccheus Sunday (Jan 28 this year). Gospel reading is --- doh! Zaccheus. Next is the Sunday of the Pharisee and the Publican. Then the Sunday of the Prodigal Son. Then the Sunday of the Last Judgment, which is the last day we eat meat until Pascha, and is thus called Meatfare.

Then this past Sunday (the day before Lent) was Forgiveness Sunday. Also known as the Expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden. Also known as Cheesefare (last day we eat cheese until Pascha). The gospel reading is "unless you forgive others their sins, neither will my heavenly father forgive you your sins" (Matthew 16). Also "when you fast do not disfigure your faces, etc." which is rather appropriate at the beginning of Lent.

The chief service was the afternoon "vespers" after which we made a serving line and every person in the church asked every other person for forgiveness. We bow before them as if they're an icon (which of course they are!) and ask "Forgive me, brother" (or "sister"). Then we exchange the kiss of peace (3 times of course because we're Orthodox) and then say, "God forgives."

It seems kinda rote when you hear about it, but when you do it, it's very moving. Many people get kinda weepy before the whole thing is over.

So we enter Lent knowing we must be forgiving if we want God to forgive us, and knowing that our sins separate us from God, like Adam and Eve's sins separated them from God and resulted in their being cast out of the Garden.

But while the congregation is exchanging forgiveness (the choir goes last, of course!) we sing the resurrection hymn, "Let God Arise" (get it?). In part to remind us that at the far end of Lent is the Resurrection, and in part in case any of the people there should die during Lent, they will have heard the Resurrection hymn one last time.

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Let God arise! Let His enemies be scattered! (Psalm 68:1)

Today a sacred Pascha has been shown unto us: a new and holy Pascha, a mystical Pascha, a Pascha worthy of veneration, a Pascha that is Christ the Redeemer; a holy Pascha; a great Pascha; a Pascha of the faithful; a Pascha that has opened to us the gates of Paradise; a Pascha that sanctifies all the faithful.

As smoke vanishes so let them vanish! As wax melts before the fire! (68:2a)

Come from the vision, you women, bearers of good tidings, and say unto Sion: receive from us the good tidings of the Resurrection of Christ; adorn yourself, exult, and rejoice, O Jerusalem, for you have seen Christ the King come forth from the tomb like a bridegroom in procession.

So sinners shall perish before the face of God, but let the righteous be glad! (68:2b, 3)

The myrrh-bearing women in the deep dawn stood before the tomb of the Giver of life; they found an angel sitting upon the stone, and he said to them, Why do you seek the living among the dead? Why do you mourn the incorruptible amid corruption? Go, proclaim unto His disciples.

This is the day which the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it! (Psalm 118:24)

A beautiful Pascha, the Pascha of the Lord, a Pascha worthy of veneration has been revealed to us. Pascha, with joy let us embrace one another. O Pascha! Ransom from sorrow, for from the tomb today, as from a bridal chamber Christ shone forth, and filled the women with joy, saying: proclaim unto the apostles.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

It is the day of Resurrection, let us be radiant for the feast, and let us embrace one another. Let us call "brothers" even those that hate us, let us forgive all things by the Resurrection, and thus let us cry out:

Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, And upon those in the tombs bestowing life!

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After exchanging forgiveness, the whole congregation sings "The Angel Cried" (the Paschal Theotokion), and we departed in silence.

The Angel cried to the Lady full of Grace:
'Rejoice, rejoice, O pure Virgin!
'Again I say, Rejoice!
'Your Son is risen from His three days in the tomb.
'With Himself He has raised all the dead;
'Rejoice, rejoice, O ye people!'
Shine, shine, shine, O New Jerusalem!
The glory of the Lord has shone on you!
Exult and be glad, O Zion!
Be radiant, O pure Theotokos,
in the resurrection of Your Son!

(Paschal=for the easter season) (theotokion=hymn to Mary)

All this week is called "Clean Week."

Next week: the "Sunday of Orthodoxy" (also called "Orthodoxy Sunday" and "The Triumph of Orthodoxy")!

Alex