Back in the days when the world was not so small, the churches of the east and those of the west settled on different ways to calculate when Easter would be celebrated in the spring. Two formulas remain to this day, and in many years Eastern Orthodox Christians celebrate what they call Pascha at a time different from Catholics and Protestants. This year, Orthodox Pascha falls on April 27.

Holy Annunciation Orthodox Church on Prospect Street in Maynard invites everyone to share our celebration of the central acts of our salvation. Services, with special music for the season, are all in English.

Monday, April 21 and Tuesday April 22 at 6:30 p.m. Bridegroom Matins warns us to prepare for the wedding banquet of The Lord.

Wednesday, April 23 at 6:30 p.m. Holy Unction is offered to all Orthodox Christians for healing of body and soul.

Thursday, April 24 at 9:30: a.m. at the Vespers and Liturgy of Holy Thursday all prepared Orthodox Christians may receive communion as we commemorate the Last Supper. Then at 6:30 p.m. Matins of Holy Friday is served with the reading of the Twelve Passion Gospels.

Friday, April 25 at 9 a.m. Royal Hours of Great and Holy Friday brings us psalms Bible readings, and prayers to guide us to the heart of the celebration. At 4 p.m. comes Vespers of Holy Friday, when the Plashchanitsa is placed in a flower-decked tomb in the center of the church. At 7 p.m. Matins of Holy Saturday is celebrated with the singing of the Lamentations before the tomb and a procession around the church.

Saturday, April 26 at 10 a.m. Vespers and Liturgy of Holy Saturday are celebrated with 15 Old Testament readings and communion for Orthodox Christians.

Saturday/Sunday April 26 and April 27, Nocturns is sung in the dark church at 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, followed at midnight by the Procession of the Cross around the church, then Matins of Holy Pascha and the Paschal Divine Liturgy, with communion for Orthodox faithful. These glorious Paschal services are followed by the blessing of baskets of food, which can immediately be shared in a community meal of celebration.

On Sunday, April 27 at 1 p.m. the joyful Vespers of Pascha is sung, and on Monday at 9:30 a.m. the Paschal Liturgy is celebrated again, with a procession.

For further information call Father Robert Dick: 978-897-7695.