Holy Week 2009 in Albany

Looking back from 2015

For the St. Paul's Orthodox congregation in Albany, this was the debut year of Holy Week Services. We were unsure of how it all will pan out. 

 

Achen Arrives

Rev. Fr. M.M. Vaidyan arrived in town late on the eve of Palm Sunday. The Palm leaves were brought the previous evening and arrangements were made to make the decorative cross at one of our parishioner's home. Early morning on Palm Sunday a couple of volunteers showed up to move the items to the venue of the Holy Qurbana - the gym of the Pine Grove Church in Central Ave (we did not have a permanent place of worship). They were joined by the others soon and everything was set up including the altar, Golgotha, chairs,books etc. It was a blessed experience of Holy Qurbana of Hosanna and the first glimpse of Fr. M.M.Vaidyan for the congregation at the beginning of what was to be a blessed week in the history of our little community. The procession with singing of "Hosanna, Hosanna - Davidathmajanu Hosanna" was a warm and comforting experience. Achen reminded us to raise ourselves to spiritually experience the ecstasy of the crowd singing Hosanna to their King on the first Hosanna day.

Setting up
After lunch, some of the volunteers stayed back to pack up and move things back to the old church (The Church on Lapham Drive) where there was to be evening prayers that evening. Achen and others went to the tomb of Mundukuzhy achen whose memorial was also commemorated on the same day (Mundukuzhy achen passed away on March 30 2007). Dhoopa praarthana was offered at the tomb. (April 5th was also the day of the dukhrono of Pampadi Thirumeni)

That evening, the Golgotha was turned black for the evening prayer. In the evenings of the Holy Week we had the Holy Week prayers, devotional addresses and Holy Confession. The prayers and devotional addresses were in the homes of the faithful. One of the volunteers offered to bring copies of the prayers from the book as there were not enough books.

 

Achen's Stay

Achen stayed in the homes of the parishioners. The parishioners were mindful that they had an achen in their midst for the week (which was not normal) and would call and check on the achen. The initial days of the Holy Week which were working days for most needed to be managed the most regarding achen's welfare. Everyone felt that the latter part of the Holy Week would pass quickly because of the different services and preparations for those. Those were the days when we realized the care needed to make the Kurbana Appam especially during week days Holy Qurbanas which we had not had to deal with till then.

 

Messages
Achen spoke about the journeys of the Lord during the different addresses in the Holy Week -

first to Jerusalem on the lowly donkey(are we willing to lower ourselves to the level of the donkey to be a vehicle of the Lord?) ,

then to Gethsemane (the Lord wishes to keep us close to him(a stone's throw away) at the time of His agony; teaches us to pray - that the Father's Will be done.)

then to Calvary (the depositions of the Lord before the various worldly authorities)

On Wednesday night, we had the Holy Passover Service. The faithful had prepared Pesaha Appam which was distributed after Holy Qurbana.

 

Again Setting up
For Good Friday service, we were back at the Pine Grove Church in their gym. Preparations for Good Friday included preparing the "chorka", getting the books, items needed for burial service etc ready and some volunteers gathered together after Pesaha Service to check off the action items. On Good Friday, the service started by 8:30 am. 

 

The Great Friday

It was a great sight to see the faithful kneeling down (for kumbideel) and participating in the singing and prayers. This was something several of us in Albany had yearned for since a long time - to have our own Good Friday service here. By the grace of the Almighty, it became a reality. After a blessed service,the faithful were served the traditional Kanji.

 

A Surreal Burial Service

The burial of the Lord was a bit of a surreal experience. A suitcase was prepared for the burial in which the Sleeba used for the burial service was stored since we did not have a permanent place for this. This suitcase which formed the tomb of the Lord till the Kyamtha service.

 

No Holy Saturday Service

We had told achen earlier in the week that the venue will not be available during the day on Saturday and hence we could not hold the Holy Saturday service. Since this was an important feast of Holy Week, we were apprehensive explaining our situation to achen, but achen told us not to worry and agreed to adjust considering our circumstances.

 

 He is Risen!

 The Holy Easter service started with the Kyamtha Namaskaram on Saturday evening. We brought new candles for the Golgotha which again adorned in its royal red colors. Kaimuthu (kiss of Peace) was restored. The glorious experience of the Uyarppu Shushroosha and Holy Qurbana rounded up a blessed Holy Week for us.

Fruit of Quiet Labor
I know a few volunteers who worked really hard for everything to be in place. Little things that bigger congregations take for granted had to be planned and worked upon in detail in our case. I only have heartfelt gratitude for these selfless volunteers with the good tidings that may our Good Lord who sees
everyone's work in secret reward you and your families abundantly for your time and efforts.

(At the end, we had the Nombu Veedal Dinner! - No prizes for guessing what was the most sought after dish after 50 days of Lent; and many thanks to our wonderful ladies who prepared and arranged everything!)

 

Worship out of the Box

At the end the Altar was dismantled and everything was neatly put back into boxes. Books and articles for Holy Week were packed into their own boxes to be picked up next year, while others needed for the next service into their boxes. Everything was shipped back either to the small storage we had in the Church on Lapham Drive or to the basement of one of our parishioners. We worshiped out of boxes in those days, but we lacked nothing!

 
Memorable Time
Looking back,what seemed not possible a while back, has been achieved by the little parish in Albany - we had our own Holy Week in Albany!Reminds me "With the Lord, I can do anything!". (We hope)there will be many more Holy Week Services in Albany by the grace of our Lord, but this one, the first one, will remain etched in memory for ever!

This one is for history!!

Christ is Risen!!