The fathers of our Church Abroad blessed Fr. Panteleimon to found our monastery almost one hundred years ago with the provision that we celebrate the full typicon of the Russian Orthodox Church.  Therefore, the monastery has always done its utmost to preserve the traditions of the Church concerning the divine services.  This is no different for Holy Week.  Whereas in parishes, frequently services have to be abbreviated due to the requirements of present day circumstance, in the monastery, we are able to have the spiritual enjoyment of the fullness of the Church typicon.

            One often hears the thought that it is worth living in the monastery the whole year if only to be able to live through the monastery services of Holy Week and Pascha. Many pilgrims come here expressly for this reason -to be able to leave “the World” and fully participate in the grace of each service during this sacred time of year.

            Each day, as it were, the spiritual feeling only increases as we go from the first three days of Holy Week, with all of the Gospels being read and with the singing of the troparion about the divine Bridegroom coming at midnight.  From Holy Thursday on we cease to perform full prostrations.  The Psalter is laid aside until after Bright Week. 

            For Holy Thursday, all prepare for receiving the Holy Mysteries.  At the end of the liturgy His Grace Bishop Luke washes the feet of twelve of the clergy in a moving ceremony, which brings tears to many of the pilgrims. 

            On Holy Thursday evening, the Crucifixion is placed in the middle of the church with a large stone from Golgotha placed beside it.  The matins service of the “Twelve Gospels” are read solemnly intertwined with special hymns about the Passion of the Lord.  The very moving hymns “Today hangs on the Cross…” and “The Wise Thief” bring many to compunction. 

            The large bell of the monastery belfry sounds the number of each reading.  At the end, the “trezvon” is rung to symbolize that the Lord’s saving Passion has been accomplished. 

            On Holy Friday, the Royal Hours were well attended, while some of the brethren were busy at work preparing special items for the upcoming feast.  Some boiled and dyed hundreds of eggs.  Others prepared the Pascha bread and cheese, as well as other foods connected with the holy days.

            On Friday afternoon, the Holy Winding Sheet, (Epitaphion) was brought out of the altar to be laid upon the Tomb, which beforehand had been decorated with many flowers.  At the end, Vladyka Luke gave a most moving sermon about the salvific sacrifice of the Lord and His provision for our salvation.

            One of the most unique services of the monastery is Matins for Holy Saturday, which is served, beginning at 2AM.  Despite the late hour, many attend this most moving service, popularly called “The Burial.”  For the convenience of young families, Vladyka has blessed an earlier service in the cemetery chapel.

            At the end of this matins service, the Epitaphion is carried in procession around the church with the funeral tolling of bells.  Towards the end of the service, the first feeling of the Resurrection is felt with a Gospel reading concerning this.  Also, the melodies sung by the choir change in tune.

            Holy Saturday liturgy is very long with about an hour of Old Testament readings.  But this is only a small reflection of how in the early Church, the faithful remained in church all day, anticipating the Lord’s Resurrection.  One remainder of this is the tradition of the giving out of bread and wine for the sustenance of the faithful at the end of the service. 

            In the evening, at 8PM, the reading of the Acts of the Apostles commences and is read by anyone who want to read an in any language.