Divine Services and Sacraments at St. Michael the Archangel Russian Orthodox Church

All Divine Services are conducted in the English language and in accordance with the Julian Calendar at our Church.

Sunday Divine Liturgy: Begins at 10:00 AM Divine Liturgy on Feastdays: Generally begins at 10:00 am (see calendar below for specific Feastdays and times). Feastdays celebrated at our Church during the Church year are:

I. Pascha (Feast of Feasts, known as “Easter” in the West); Moveable date as per Julian Calendar

II. Fixed Feastdays in chronological order according to the Julian Calendar:
Nativity of the Theotokos September 21
Elevation of the Life Giving Cross September 27
Protection of the Theotokos (Pokrov) October 14
Synaxis of St. Michael and the Archangels (Patronal Feastday) November 21
Entry of the Theotokos into the Temple December 4
St. Nicholas Feastday December 19
Nativity of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ January 7
Theophany January 19
Meeting of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ February 15
Annunciation April 7
St. Peter and St. Paul Feastday July 12
Transfiguration August 19
Dormition of the Theotokos August 28
Beheading of St. John the Baptist September 11

III. Moveable Feastdays in chronological order according to the Julian Calendar:
Lazarus Saturday One day before Palm Sunday
Entry of Our Lord into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday) Sunday before Pascha
Ascension Forty days after Pascha (Thursday)
Pentecost Fifty days after Pascha (Sunday)
Spirit Day One day after Pentecost (Monday)

Presanctified Gifts Liturgies: Begin at 630pm on Wednesday evenings during the Great Lent.

Vespers, Matins, Vesperal Liturgies, and the Sacrament of Holy Unction: Dates and times are set forth in the calendar below. NB: Vesperal Liturgies are celebrated on Holy Thursday and Holy Saturday each year.

Confessions: Fr. Luka will perform the Sacrament of Confession for any Orthodox Christian before Divine Liturgies, Presanctified Gifts Liturgies, Vespers, and Vesperal Liturgies. Please contact Fr. Luka to schedule a specific time for Confession at any time.

Communion: Orthodox Christians who have prepared themselves to receive the Body and Blood of Christ in the Sacrament of Communion may participate in the Sacrament at any Divine Liturgy, Presanctified Gifts Liturgy, or Vesperal Liturgy. Fr. Luka  will administer Communion to the sick or housebound Orthodox Christians. Please contact him at FatherLukaN@gmail.com to schedule a visit. Only Orthodox Christians may participate in the Sacraments of Confession, Communion, and Holy Unction.

Panykhidas: Are served on Soul Saturdays and in accordance with the calendar below. Please contact Fr. Luka at FatherLukaN@gmail.com to schedule a panykhida for an Orthodox soul departed this life.

Baptisms, Chrismations, and Weddings: Please contact Fr. Luka at FatherLukaN@gmail.com to schedule the celebration of one of these Sacraments at our Church.

Orthodox Fastdays:
Wednesdays and Fridays: Generally throughout the Church year.
Great Lent: Begins forty days before Lazarus Saturday.
Holy Week: From Lazarus Saturday through Holy Saturday.
St. Philip’s Fast (Advent): Begins forty days before the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord
Apostle’s Fast: Begins on the Monday following Spirit Day and runs through the day before Sts. Peter and Paul Feastday
Dormition Fast: Begins on August 14 through the day before Dormition.
Elevation of the Life Giving Cross
Eve of Theophany
Beheading of St. John the Baptist
Malenitsa: The week between Meatfare Sunday and Cheesfare Sunday.

For rules of fasting, please contact Fr. Luka at FatherLukaN@gmail.com