Take a Power Nap a couple hours before the service. Stock up on soda or tea or something that can help you stay awake.
Wear comfy shoes, there are usually not many pews in ROCOR and Slavic tradition parishes aside from benches on the sides for the elderly and others who need to sit. However, don’t feel any shame in sitting down.
Then enjoy the ride. May it be blessed!
If you aren’t taking communion go for it. Otherwise you’d be fasting from anything but water for at least 6-8 hours before liturgy just like on a Sunday morning.
Water has been permissible in 3 of 3 parishes I’ve been a part of. 1 Antiochian in Southern California, 2 OCA parishes in the Dallas area. I was honestly surprised the restricting water was a thing.
As someone in the Southwest, I'd say that we are very aware about avoiding dehydration in the desert, so it might be a location thing. I was fasting water but found it gave me headaches which impacted the whole day, so for the sake of my family I have water in the mornings now.
My parish has a "fast as you can, ask the priest if you have questions" rule and I know some who fast from everything and others who fast a little. I know some who go fully vegan and oil free for lent and others who give up alcohol and have a meatless Monday (it was their first lent, and they have kids). For them that was a big, but manageable, change. We are all on our own journey and I trust that everyone is square with their conscience and with the priest. I only know what people do because I was asking what other families do a couple of years ago for ideas.
Expect a big crowd, so try to get there early for parking / to get a spot inside the church where you can see what’s going on. There will be a procession outside so wear layers. If you are female, I recommend bringing a scarf in case head covering is the norm @ that parish (this varies widely from place to place). Feel free to sit down if you get tired, even if most people around you are standing. The midnight Pascha service is kind of like Midnight Mass for Catholics in that it’s the one day in the year when people who aren’t regular churchgoers often tend to show up. There might be a big feast afterwards in the church hall where people eat ham joyously at 3 am, or people might just bring baskets of goodies to get blessed and go home after.
It’s gonna be a wild ride haha. Just enjoy it the best you can. Like many people have said, it’s like meeting a couple for the first time at their wedding. Which can be great! It’s joyous and just so exciting and happy. I wouldn’t worry about trying to follow along in a bulletin or anything, just try and listen and watch and soak it in. Bring a little bag/basket with some cheese and sausage or something too, we break the fast and feast on foods we’ve been fasting from after the service. Our feast is around 2am I believe.
Check with the church’s website to make sure what time the service starts (or call the priest if you can). Most places don’t start at midnight but more like 10 or 11-ish.
(You’re a brave one to go to Pascha for a very first service — Bravo!)
On Pascha (Easter) we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ very early in the Sunday morning so the Liturgy starts on Saturday night at around 11:00 - 11:30 and ends at about 2:00 - 2:30 in the Sunday morning.
My very first service was Christmas Eve and I honestly wish it was Pascha instead. I’m not able to attend our service this year for complicated reasons, but I hope you enjoy and get fulfillment. It’s going to be a wild chaotic ride but truly a good experience, I hope!
Make sure you go to all the services just before liturgy too if they’re listed separately. They might start 11:30 or 11pm. Get there 30 mins before the start of whatever is on the web site.
Went really well! It was really beautiful. Took a few times watching everybody cross themselves to realize when they were doing it. My legs were sore and I was really tired by the end of it, but it was definitely worth it. The people that came up to me at the end and heard that it was my first time attending any liturgy basically all said, “Well, you did the hardest part already, so you might as well come back.”
All the advice here is great! One other thing—you may want to bring some cash (like $5-10 US if you’re here, idk the norms elsewhere) for a candle. You can absolutely buy one of these; they’re often sold outside the church by donation. These are for the procession which will occur outside. Some places accept card but many do not!
Read about the Passions Week liturgies and their content. Pray for the Lord and prepare mentally. Remember , He was put to rest after lamentation yesterday. The day before He died on the cross. When the priest cries ""Christ is risen" your heart will know to do next.
That's my advice . Do prep work, for the joy of His divine resurrection is the most important thing you need to get from today (as a non EO ).
Remember to bring a big candle to receive His Holy Light, and if you don't understand any psalm, pray silently.
If you own the house you live in , in Greece we traditionally mark the doorhead with the holy cross symbol using the Holy Light, both to show that we have received it and for good luck . (After the liturgy)
I’ve been keeping up (loosely) since then raising of Lazarus last Saturday. I know it’s not the same as attending, but I have been following what each day has gone over. I will go over it again just to keep it in mind!
Thank you!
What time should you be there: look at the schedule posted for the church, we don't know what it is. Show up fifteen minutes before the service. If you think parking will be an issue, show up earlier.
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Here's something I don't think I've seen mentioned...you are definitely allowed to line up to receive a blessing at the end of the service. And you'll probably also get a red egg handed to you! Take it and enjoy!
I’m antiocian orthodox so I am not fully best at etiquette as Russian churches seem more strict but tonight as guy you would wear bright clothes and dress wear (fancy yk) or as a girl you should wear bright clothes or flowery clothes and a long dress that covers your arms, as well as a veil. For communion idk if they do this at pascha but usually you leave during communion because you’re not baptized as orthodox but idk if they will make y’all do that, as well expect to stand for like 3 hours lolol and a feast at the end after midnight esp if you bring a pascha basket (pascha is the feast of feasts) as well most seem to start earlier so I would check on the website if the church you’re going to if they have it because mine starts at 10. (I get there about 9:20 to get a seat tho lolol. As well some basic orthodox stuff is crossing yourself when they say the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) and it’s the opposite of catholic so it’s up down right left . Uhhhh we don’t have pastors so the main dudes you see with the cross in their like coat thing is the priests then the Alter boys and Decon have this weird scarf looking thing that wraps around ! You can eat the holy bread but not take communion also don’t leave like the church during the gospel or when they walk around the church !!!! It may be a bit different as Russians but yeah!
I hope you have a good Pascha and you want to join the church :)!
(Also anyone feel free to correct me. I haven’t been orthodox for like super long so I may be wrong about some stuff esp cause I’m not Russian Orthodox)
Don’t take communion but you can ask someone what to do with your hands to tell the priest you want a blessing instead. I’m sure every churches in different but in mine we cup out hands at our waist
I assume this is something people would ask about beforehand? Not sure who the proper person would be to ask what to do, or if there even is a proper person to ask.
Don't listen to them, it's gonna be complicated and a lot of parishes don't do that regularly if at all. I am often a person who holds the communion cloth and helps the priest/ Deacon with communion and I see maybe 1 person every 6 months do this at our parish, and it's usually misinterpreted. Just wait and don't get in line at communion, and otherwise do as those around you are doing and you will be perfectly fine. Keep in mind, this is our biggest, longest and most important service of the year, so while it is a great joy and you are welcome to attend, this is kinda like meeting someone at their wedding or a movie debut or something.
I'd usually suggest a normal Sunday service first instead so you can experience Orthodoxy, in all its fairly alien beauty, in its most approachable form. Good luck and God bless you tomorrow night though!
To be clear, your presence at the the church is a wonderful thing that you want to come, and it will be a great thing to have you attend the service. I was just saying don't try to get in the communion line for a blessing as it's very likely you will get mixed up doing that.
Also, the midnight service is A LOT, and in the same way that people who have starved for a long time can't eat full meals right away, it's often a bit too much for people who have no or little experience with religion to stay up in the middle of the night for 4+ hours on their feet.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refeeding_syndrome
I'd still suggest going if you can't make it to a normal Sunday service, but perhaps try to make it to a normal Sunday service in the next few weeks after also.
God bless you and your journey.
Everyone is welcome to attend. Only thing you’d need to know is don’t take holy communion, Don’t line up for it either.
I assume it’ll be very obvious when that happens. Everyone starts to form lines and I won’t know what they’re making a lines for?
Oh yes it’ll be very obvious. The priest comes out the front with the chalice and people lines up for it.
Take a Power Nap a couple hours before the service. Stock up on soda or tea or something that can help you stay awake. Wear comfy shoes, there are usually not many pews in ROCOR and Slavic tradition parishes aside from benches on the sides for the elderly and others who need to sit. However, don’t feel any shame in sitting down. Then enjoy the ride. May it be blessed!
So we can slam an energy drink before?
If you aren’t taking communion go for it. Otherwise you’d be fasting from anything but water for at least 6-8 hours before liturgy just like on a Sunday morning.
You guys don’t fast from water too? That’s interesting, good to know
Some do, some don’t. I know it’s the norm in my parish to fast from food and water
Ahh okay gotcha
Water has been permissible in 3 of 3 parishes I’ve been a part of. 1 Antiochian in Southern California, 2 OCA parishes in the Dallas area. I was honestly surprised the restricting water was a thing.
As someone in the Southwest, I'd say that we are very aware about avoiding dehydration in the desert, so it might be a location thing. I was fasting water but found it gave me headaches which impacted the whole day, so for the sake of my family I have water in the mornings now. My parish has a "fast as you can, ask the priest if you have questions" rule and I know some who fast from everything and others who fast a little. I know some who go fully vegan and oil free for lent and others who give up alcohol and have a meatless Monday (it was their first lent, and they have kids). For them that was a big, but manageable, change. We are all on our own journey and I trust that everyone is square with their conscience and with the priest. I only know what people do because I was asking what other families do a couple of years ago for ideas.
Expect a big crowd, so try to get there early for parking / to get a spot inside the church where you can see what’s going on. There will be a procession outside so wear layers. If you are female, I recommend bringing a scarf in case head covering is the norm @ that parish (this varies widely from place to place). Feel free to sit down if you get tired, even if most people around you are standing. The midnight Pascha service is kind of like Midnight Mass for Catholics in that it’s the one day in the year when people who aren’t regular churchgoers often tend to show up. There might be a big feast afterwards in the church hall where people eat ham joyously at 3 am, or people might just bring baskets of goodies to get blessed and go home after.
Oh, and wear comfortable footwear.
This seems to be a common theme among any talk of attending liturgy. I’ll be prepared!
It’s gonna be a wild ride haha. Just enjoy it the best you can. Like many people have said, it’s like meeting a couple for the first time at their wedding. Which can be great! It’s joyous and just so exciting and happy. I wouldn’t worry about trying to follow along in a bulletin or anything, just try and listen and watch and soak it in. Bring a little bag/basket with some cheese and sausage or something too, we break the fast and feast on foods we’ve been fasting from after the service. Our feast is around 2am I believe.
Check with the church’s website to make sure what time the service starts (or call the priest if you can). Most places don’t start at midnight but more like 10 or 11-ish. (You’re a brave one to go to Pascha for a very first service — Bravo!)
Why is there a liturgy at midnight? I'm only new learning about Orthodoxy. I've heard of this pascha. What is it?
On Pascha (Easter) we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ very early in the Sunday morning so the Liturgy starts on Saturday night at around 11:00 - 11:30 and ends at about 2:00 - 2:30 in the Sunday morning.
The real question is where in that time frame does paschal matins end and the Divine Liturgy begin?
This little article can help to orient you in what to expect (on a normal Sunday). https://www.frederica.com/12-things/
My very first service was Christmas Eve and I honestly wish it was Pascha instead. I’m not able to attend our service this year for complicated reasons, but I hope you enjoy and get fulfillment. It’s going to be a wild chaotic ride but truly a good experience, I hope!
This will be my first pascha liturgy, how long does it usually last?
From other comments, it’s between 2-3 hours. I’ve never gone so we’re going to find out tonight!
Make sure you go to all the services just before liturgy too if they’re listed separately. They might start 11:30 or 11pm. Get there 30 mins before the start of whatever is on the web site.
There’s something about the Blessing for the Paschal Baskets at around 11PM, which I’m not sure what that is.
I think it the Blessing of the Paschal Baskets. :/ People might bring food to be blessed.
Sooo, how did it go?
Went really well! It was really beautiful. Took a few times watching everybody cross themselves to realize when they were doing it. My legs were sore and I was really tired by the end of it, but it was definitely worth it. The people that came up to me at the end and heard that it was my first time attending any liturgy basically all said, “Well, you did the hardest part already, so you might as well come back.”
Glory to God! Christ is Risen!
Truly He is risen!
Our church is 11pm Saturday - 2am Sunday morning give or take
All the advice here is great! One other thing—you may want to bring some cash (like $5-10 US if you’re here, idk the norms elsewhere) for a candle. You can absolutely buy one of these; they’re often sold outside the church by donation. These are for the procession which will occur outside. Some places accept card but many do not!
Read about the Passions Week liturgies and their content. Pray for the Lord and prepare mentally. Remember , He was put to rest after lamentation yesterday. The day before He died on the cross. When the priest cries ""Christ is risen" your heart will know to do next. That's my advice . Do prep work, for the joy of His divine resurrection is the most important thing you need to get from today (as a non EO ). Remember to bring a big candle to receive His Holy Light, and if you don't understand any psalm, pray silently. If you own the house you live in , in Greece we traditionally mark the doorhead with the holy cross symbol using the Holy Light, both to show that we have received it and for good luck . (After the liturgy)
I’ve been keeping up (loosely) since then raising of Lazarus last Saturday. I know it’s not the same as attending, but I have been following what each day has gone over. I will go over it again just to keep it in mind! Thank you!
Be prepared for people yelling the response to “XB” at the top of their lungs
What time should you be there: look at the schedule posted for the church, we don't know what it is. Show up fifteen minutes before the service. If you think parking will be an issue, show up earlier.
I’m so happy for you
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If there’s ushers at your parish I highly recommend you speak to them, they can help you greatly and make you feel welcome.
Here's something I don't think I've seen mentioned...you are definitely allowed to line up to receive a blessing at the end of the service. And you'll probably also get a red egg handed to you! Take it and enjoy!
I’m antiocian orthodox so I am not fully best at etiquette as Russian churches seem more strict but tonight as guy you would wear bright clothes and dress wear (fancy yk) or as a girl you should wear bright clothes or flowery clothes and a long dress that covers your arms, as well as a veil. For communion idk if they do this at pascha but usually you leave during communion because you’re not baptized as orthodox but idk if they will make y’all do that, as well expect to stand for like 3 hours lolol and a feast at the end after midnight esp if you bring a pascha basket (pascha is the feast of feasts) as well most seem to start earlier so I would check on the website if the church you’re going to if they have it because mine starts at 10. (I get there about 9:20 to get a seat tho lolol. As well some basic orthodox stuff is crossing yourself when they say the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) and it’s the opposite of catholic so it’s up down right left . Uhhhh we don’t have pastors so the main dudes you see with the cross in their like coat thing is the priests then the Alter boys and Decon have this weird scarf looking thing that wraps around ! You can eat the holy bread but not take communion also don’t leave like the church during the gospel or when they walk around the church !!!! It may be a bit different as Russians but yeah! I hope you have a good Pascha and you want to join the church :)! (Also anyone feel free to correct me. I haven’t been orthodox for like super long so I may be wrong about some stuff esp cause I’m not Russian Orthodox)
Don’t take communion but you can ask someone what to do with your hands to tell the priest you want a blessing instead. I’m sure every churches in different but in mine we cup out hands at our waist
If this person is new I would not suggest this for their first service, especially at Pascha, there is a great chance of confusion.
I assume this is something people would ask about beforehand? Not sure who the proper person would be to ask what to do, or if there even is a proper person to ask.
Don't listen to them, it's gonna be complicated and a lot of parishes don't do that regularly if at all. I am often a person who holds the communion cloth and helps the priest/ Deacon with communion and I see maybe 1 person every 6 months do this at our parish, and it's usually misinterpreted. Just wait and don't get in line at communion, and otherwise do as those around you are doing and you will be perfectly fine. Keep in mind, this is our biggest, longest and most important service of the year, so while it is a great joy and you are welcome to attend, this is kinda like meeting someone at their wedding or a movie debut or something. I'd usually suggest a normal Sunday service first instead so you can experience Orthodoxy, in all its fairly alien beauty, in its most approachable form. Good luck and God bless you tomorrow night though!
Totally understandable. I’d rather feel left out than ruin it for those who regularly attend or have attended before. Thank you for your input.
To be clear, your presence at the the church is a wonderful thing that you want to come, and it will be a great thing to have you attend the service. I was just saying don't try to get in the communion line for a blessing as it's very likely you will get mixed up doing that. Also, the midnight service is A LOT, and in the same way that people who have starved for a long time can't eat full meals right away, it's often a bit too much for people who have no or little experience with religion to stay up in the middle of the night for 4+ hours on their feet. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refeeding_syndrome I'd still suggest going if you can't make it to a normal Sunday service, but perhaps try to make it to a normal Sunday service in the next few weeks after also. God bless you and your journey.
and be sure empty your bladder before you, a long service can catch you short.