Orthodox Easter/ Pascha Services

In most years Western Christian churches and Eastern Orthodox churches celebrate Easter on different dates. In 2013, for example, Easter was celebrated on March 31 by Western churches, which included most Christian churches in the Fort Smith area. In the Orthodox Church, the feast of Christ's resurrection is commonly referred to as "Pascha" (PAS-ka), the Greek term for "Passover." The Eastern Orthodox celebration of Easter (Pascha) will be Sunday, May 5, at Sts. George and Alexandra Orthodox Church, 7500 Mahogany Ave., Fort Chaffee. All are invited.
Sunday, April 28^th is Palm Sunday. Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at 9:30am
Monday, April 29^th, Holy Week begins with Bridegroom Matins at 6 pm.
Wednesday, May 1^st, Holy Unction will be at 6 pm.
Holy Thursday, May 2^nd, Liturgy at 10 am followed by the Reading of 12 Gospels at 6 pm.
Holy Friday, May 3^rd, Vespers at 3 pm and Matins at 6 pm
Holy Saturday, May 4^th, Liturgy 11 am and Nocturns at 11:30 pm
On the Great and Holy Feast of Pascha, Orthodox Christians celebrate the life-giving Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This feast of feasts is the most significant day in the life of the Church. It is a celebration of the defeat of death, as neither death itself nor the power of the grave could hold our Savior captive. In this victory that came through the Cross, Christ broke the bondage of sin, and through faith offers us restoration, transformation, and eternal life.
Holy Pascha (Easter Sunday), May 5^th, “The Feast of Feasts” begins with Matins at 12 midnight followed by Divine Liturgy.
Following the midnight Paschal Liturgy, those present will gather together for the blessing of Pascha baskets which have been carefully prepared with many of the foods from which Orthodox have been fasting for the past month and a half during Great Lent. The feast will continue until early morning.
All are invited. Sts. George and Alexandra Orthodox Church is located in Fort Chaffee at 7500 Mahogany Ave. From Fort Smith go East on Rogers Ave/Highway 22, through Barling. About 0.6 miles after passing the traffic light at the intersection of Highway 59, turn onto the first street on the right into the old Fort Chaffee. That is Mahogany Avenue. Go straight for about 0.8 mile, to the church on the right.