Each Friday in March we sang the Salutations to the Lady Theotokos, and we continue our annual Journey to Pascha. As Lent progresses, we move to the third Sunday – the "Adoration of the Cross". This Sunday commemorates the venerable Cross and the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The Cross takes on meaning and adoration because of the Crucifixion of Christ. Therefore, whether it be in hymns or prayers, it is understood that the Cross without Christ has no meaning or place in Christianity. The adoration of the Cross in the middle of Great Lent is to remind the faithful in advance of the Crucifixion of Christ, and in overcoming our own weaknesses by "bearing our cross."

The choir sings (Soson Kirie ton laon Sou) "Save O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance. Give victory to those who battle evil and protect us all by your holy cross." Also sung during this service is the second hymn that reminds us that the resurrection is the resulting triumph of the crucifixion – "We reverence your Cross, O Master, and we glorify your Holy Resurrection" (Ton Stavron Sou).

Next we move onto Palm Sunday. On this day Christ is welcomed as the King of Israel. The hymns and service are beautiful. The evening services of Palm Sunday, Holy Monday and Holy Tuesday’s during Holy Week provide the over-riding theme all things of last times. Christ, the Bridegroom of the Church (O Nymphios) is called to mind, Who will come again on the last day to Judge the world. During these services, the Church repeats the message of Great Lent – The End is close at hand; be watchful; repent while there is still time.

During the Holy Tuesday evening service we commemorate the sinful woman who anointed Christ’s feet as He sat in the house of Simon three days before His Passion, with the "Hymn of Kassiani." This extremely beautiful hymn was written some time in the ninth century by the Nun Kassia. She was a Byzantine abbess and composer of liturgical chants and hymns. Kassia is the only woman poet to come down to us from the Byzantine Greek. Considered the most important woman hymnographer of the Byzantine era, she composed 49 liturgical chants, and as a poet, 261 secular verses and moral sentences. In 843, she became the abbess of her monastery in Constantinople, composing music for the services in her convent and writing liturgical and secular verses. "The Fallen Woman", Troparion Tis Kassianis, is a poem about Mary Magdalene (Luke 7:36-50)

"Today is hung upon the cross, he who suspended the Earth amid the waters" – These words, sung by the choir, begin the Crucifixion Hymn.

Great and Holy Matins of Good Friday, by anticipation, are held on Thursday evening. There is a series of 12 Gospel readings which begin with Christ's discourse at the Last Supper and ends with the account of His burial. In the Greek tradition, just prior to the sixth Gospel reading, the Priest carries a large Cross from the Sanctuary……and sets it up in the center of the Church as a dramatic representation of the procession of the Crucified One. During this procession the chilling hymn that you must hear is sung by the choir.

In the evening service of Holy Friday, Matins of Holy and Great Saturday by anticipation are held.

The faithful sing Lamentations as the clergy gather around the flower-adorned Sepulcher (tomb).

From the Lamentations on Good Friday, the Orthodox faithful journey to Holy Saturday and the midnight service, celebrating Christ’s resurrection.