Long Island Orthodox Christians Begin
Lenten Journey to Easter with Service of Forgiveness
Great Lent begins on Monday, March 10, ending with Easter celebration on Sunday, April 27

East Meadow, NY – Orthodox Christians across Long Island will celebrate an evening prayer service to begin the season of Great Lent on Sunday, March 9, 2008. The service includes the rite of forgiveness preparing Orthodox Christians for the Lenten journey which culminates with the celebration of Pascha (Easter), on Sunday, April 27.

“The service of Forgiveness offers us an opportunity to enter into the experience of God’s mercy and reconciliation with His creation,” said Father Martin Kraus, rector of Holy Trinity. “The wealth of Lenten services with beautiful hymns, prayers, and readings from Scripture all lead us to our Lord’s Resurrection on Easter.”

Pascha (or Easter) is the high point of the Orthodox Christian calendar, celebrating the belief that Jesus Christ rose from the dead and saved humanity from death and sin. The Lenten season provides an opportunity to contemplate and redirect one’s life from self-motivated to other-motivated. “Like athletes preparing to participate in the Olympics, we get ready for Easter with spiritual exercises,” Father Martin said. “The Lenten prayers are combined with increased alms for the poor and fasting, which help us redirect our lives to benefit others instead of only ourselves.”

The idea of leading a life directed at helping others requires sacrifice and can be very difficult or even taboo in modern 21st-century America. “It can sometimes be a struggle to fit the Lenten services and activities into our busy schedules. But I know from personal experience that the extra effort makes our Easter celebration even more joyous and fulfilling,” said Mark Vassilakis, a member of the East Meadow parish.

Holy Trinity Orthodox Church is located at 369 Green Avenue in East Meadow and has added special weekday Lenten services and a one-day Lenten retreat to help the community on their Lenten journey. All services are open to the public.

The schedule of services and events is as follows:
Sunday, March 9: Forgiveness Vespers, 7pm
Monday, March 10 – Thursday, March 13: Kanon of St. Andrew of Crete, 7 pm each night
Wednesdays, March 19 and 26, April 2, 9, and 16: Pre-sanctified Liturgy, 6:30 pm followed by a potluck meal.
Saturday, April 5: A Lenten lecture “Of whom shall I be afraid? Security and Spirituality in Today’s World,” led by guest speaker, the V. Rev. Andrew Jarmus, 10 am – 12 noon.
Saturdays in March and April: Vespers, 7 pm

Information about Great Lent

Complete schedule of events