His Grace, Bishop Benjamin, celebrates the full Paschal cycle of services with the community of Holy Trinity, the cathedral of the Diocese of San Francisco and the West, its dean, the Very Reverend John Takahashi, the Very Reverend David Lowell, and Reverend Deacon Brendan Doss. The week began with the singing of the Canon of Saint Andrew Sunday through Wednesday evenings, Presanctified Liturgies served Monday through Wednesday mornings, and liturgy celebrated on Great Thursday morning. On Thursday evening, the twelve Passion Gospels were read during the Great Friday Matins.

During the Vespers of Deposition on Great and Holy Friday, the body of our Lord was taken down from the cross and laid out for veneration by the faithful. And as the custom of Holy Trinity, Bishop Benjamin strengthen the community with his words, but also with some soup and bread between services.

That same evening, during the Matins of Great and Holy Saturday, the shroud was carried around the temple in procession.

On the morning of Great and Holy Saturday, the Vespers and Liturgy were served, including the fifteen Old Testament readings prophesying Christ’s Passion. Again, the community was fortified, both by inspirational words from Fr David and by bread baked and served by the parish teens.

And at last, THE Resurrection Nocturns and Liturgy.

And the cycle concluded with the joyful proclamation of the Gospel in several languages Sunday afternoon during the Pascha Vespers, after which the bells were rung in celebration and we celebrated together again with all the leftovers.

Web Poster’s note: I just wanted to apologize for taking so long to post this article; it has taken me several days just to look all the pictures to reduce it down to ONLY this many. If you would like to see the rest, feel free to visit Diocese’s Picasa site at the following links:

picasaweb.google.com/dowoca/BBVisitHTC0904GreatFridayMatins?feat=directlink
picasaweb.google.com/dowoca/BBVisitHTC0904GreatFridayVespersOfDeposition?feat=directlink
picasaweb.google.com/dowoca/BBVisitHTC0904GreatSaturdayMatins?feat=directlink
picasaweb.google.com/dowoca/BBVisitHTC0904GreatSaturdayLiturgy?feat=directlink
picasaweb.google.com/dowoca/BBVisitHTC0904PaschalNocturnsLiturgy?feat=directlink
picasaweb.google.com/dowoca/BBVisitHTC0904PaschalVespers?feat=directlink