Journey to Pascha

Opening Prayer

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

O Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth,

Who are everywhere present and fill all things,

Treasury of Blessings and Giver of Life,

Come and abide in us and cleanse us from every impurity,

And save our souls, O Good One.

Brief Relection on Opening Prayer

Talk with students about the meaning of the phrase “cleanse us from every impurity.” This prayer, directed to the Holy Spirit, asks that the Spirit help us overcome sins, bad thoughts, and other things that are painful and bad for us--things that may keep us away from God.

Scripture & Discussion (Part 1)

• Read with the class the first part of the Gospel for Lazarus Saturday, John 11: 1-27.
  Be sure students understand that this is the day on which we remember Jesus raising His friend Lazarus from the dead.
• Discuss the following questions, giving students a chance to answer.  Suggested answers are in italics.

1. How does the first part of the passage tell us that Jesus had real friends who loved Him?  Verses 3 and 5 tell us this.
2. Why does Jesus wait two days to go to Bethany?
   Verse 4 tells us that God’s glory will be shown in Lazarus’ dying and being raised from the dead. Jesus’ words about daylight and night in verse 9 refer to His doing the work He was sent to do at the time ordained by His Father. This work is seen by all, being done in the "daytime". The world, therefore, cannot undermine it.
3. What are the disciples afraid of?
   Verses 7-10 tell us that Jesus has just recently been stoned and persecuted in the place He now wants to return to.
4. What promise does Jesus make to Martha?
   In verse 25 Jesus says, “though he die yet shall he live.” His promise to believers is that though they die to their life on earth, they will be raised to live with God forever.

Troparion & Icon of the Feast

• Have students stand. Sing together the Troparion for Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday: the words are below as the Closing Prayer.
  

• Be sure students understand the meaning of certain words in the hymn:
  •  Passion: The passion of Christ is His suffering and agony. This is the original meaning of the word.
  • Universal resurrection: All human beings will be raised when Christ comes again.
    
  • Vanquisher: Conqueror.
• Point out that the words “children with the palms of victory” look ahead to Palm Sunday.
• Look at the icon together.  Note details such as the grave clothes, and that Mary and Martha are depicted differently. Mary is usually shown with her head bowed, while Martha is looking up or around to see what is happening. In some icons (details can vary slightly from icon to icon) she is holding a handkerchief to her nose!

Scripture & Discussion (Part 2)

Continue with a discussion on the day’s Scripture reading (John 11: 28-45):

• What does Mary say to Jesus that her sister Martha said before?
  In verse 21 she “scolds” Jesus for not having come sooner. This shows the comfortable closeness that these sisters had with Him.
  
• Why do you think Jesus weeps at Lazarus’ tomb?
  Jesus’ grief is not only that of a friend, but He grieves as Creator of the universe to see the power of death in His creation.

Reviewing the Story

• Divide the class into groups of 3 or 4 and give each group a copy of the Resource: Reviewing the Story, and Bibles (Revised Standard Version) to work with.
• Explain how this activity works as explained in the the Answer Key.
• You may wish to make this activity a contest to see which group can be first to figure out what the letters spell out. However, if a group figures out what the letters spell before finishing, they should, nevertheless, complete the exercise and fill in each statement.
• Go over the answers together when all the groups have finished.

Closing Prayer

Opening Prayer

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Troparion (Tone 1)
By raising Lazarus from the dead before Thy passion, 
Thou didst confirm the universal resurrection, O Christ God.
Like the children, with the palms of victory,
We cry out to Thee, O Vanquisher of Death,
Hosanna in the Highest!
Blessed is He that comes in the Name of the Lord.

Bridging to Scripture

Reading Activity

Read together from the Bible the Gospel for Matins of Palm Sunday: Matthew 21: 1-11.

Discussion Questions

• If you had been one of the people along the road in Jerusalem that day, what might have surprised you? (Jesus was riding humbly on a donkey, not on a horse or in a chariot.) Look together at the icon and at the pictures of magnificent kings you have brought, to show the contrast. Point out the children with palms in the icon, as mentioned in the Troparion. (Note: Students might make jokes about the word “ass” in the Scripture passage. Just remind them that its original meaning was the same as “donkey” and drop the subject! We don’t suggest bringing it up yourself; talk about it only if students do bring it up or notice it.)
• Were there differences between Jesus as King and earthly kings? (The Kingdom Jesus promises is with God in heaven. He was not trying to have power like a king in this world. He taught that we can begin to be part of His Kingdom here and now, but not by gathering worldly power. Instead we must serve others.) Also, Christ’s kingship was prepared for through the whole Old Testament. Read together Psalm 118: 25-6 and note that Jesus points out that He is fulfilling this prophecy. Also read Zechariah 9:9.
• Talk again about loyalty in friends. How many of the people who were shouting “Hosanna” (which means “save us now”) would still be Jesus’ friends at the time of His arrest and trial? (Some of them would be the same people who would shout to have Him crucified.) So Our Lord shared our human experience fully. He had loyal and loving friends like Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. But He also knew that some friends are not loyal. He suffered the disappointments that we sometimes experience.

Review Questions

Have students stand in two lines, as two teams. Toss a coin to decide which team will go first. Throw the beach ball to one student on that team. The student chooses a question from the basket. If the student can answer the question with no help, the team gets three points.

If the student needs to confer with others or check in the Bible to answer the question, the team gets one point. (If the team can’t come up with an answer, or answers incorrectly, no points are given. The time limit for giving each answer is 5 seconds, though if a team is really stumped they may have 5 extra seconds.) When the question has been answered, the student throws the ball to someone on the other team, who then picks a question and answers or confers in the same way.

The winning team will be the one with the most points after all ten questions have been answered. (If there are questions to which students cannot come up with answers, give the answers. But they should be able to find them all. Go over all the answers together at the end.)

Closing Prayer

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Troparion (Tone 1)
By raising Lazarus from the dead before Thy passion, 
Thou didst confirm the universal resurrection, O Christ God.
Like the children, with the palms of victory,
We cry out to Thee, O Vanquisher of Death,
Hosanna in the Highest!
Blessed is He that comes in the Name of the Lord.

Go over the meanings of some words; ask students whether they know what the following words and phrases mean, and if not, tell them:

Passion: the suffering and death of Jesus Christ.

Universal resurrection: Jesus had power to raise Lazarus from the dead. So we know He will keep His promise that we can be with God in His Kingdom, too.

Vanquisher: winner or one who has a victory.

Ask students: How are we "like the children with the palms of victory"? (We, too, are preparing to welcome Jesus Christ at Pascha. But we will not abandon Him--instead we will keep vigil and stay with Him by attending the services of Holy Week.)

Opening Prayer

From the Apostikha for Great and Holy Monday

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The fig tree was withered up because it was unfruitful.
We should fear the same punishment, O brothers and sisters,
And bring worthy fruits of repentance to Christ, who brings us great mercy.

Discussion Starter

Ask students what they know about the services of Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of Holy Week. (Perhaps they can tell you what they remember about attending these services, or what they have heard about them.) Remind or tell them that one theme of these days is preparation. We are called to be watchful, and to be prepared, because the Lord Jesus Christ might come at any time. We should be ready to greet Him with joy. We should never be unprepared or unready to meet Him.

Say to the class that you are going to find out more about this. Read together Matthew 25: 1-13. The maidens here are following the custom of accompanying a bridegroom who is going to get his bride from her home. While waiting for him, they may fall asleep, but they must be ready right away to light their lamps and go with him, and they must be prepared with plenty of oil. If they have not brought enough, there may not be time for them to get some from the others and get their lamps lighted if he comes at a time they do not expect. The Church compares Christ to the Bridegroom, who may come at any time. Let students suggest ways in which we can be prepared to meet Christ (for example, by doing good and helping others, by praying, by trying to live as Christians and to come closer to God, by not making excuses for the things we have done or the things we have failed to do that we should have done. Being ready means not making excuses!)

Icon and Scripture Memorization

Look together at the Icon of the Wise and Foolish Maidens, and note details. Then, light the candle, and read together John 12: 46. Spend a few minutes having students memorize the verse:

I have come as light into the world,
[so] that whoever believes in Me may not remain in darkness.

Note: We have added the word “so”, which appears in some translations, to make the verse a little easier for students to understand.

Blow out the candle when you have finished.

Scripture, Discussion, Activity

Tell students that another short passage is also part of the readings for these first days of Holy Week. Read it together: Matthew 21: 19. Ask students to consider how the Church applies this to us. Go back to the Opening Prayer, which shows us that we are meant to be "fruitful" and not "fruitless" as the fig tree was.

Give students a few minutes of silence to think about “fruits of repentance” they will offer to Christ. This means things that they want to make better and more truly Christian in their lives, or new efforts they want to make to be close to God. These things should be more specific than the discussion of the Wise and Foolish Maidens. They can look at the drawing of the bare branch which you have posted, and think about it as an example of what we do not want to be--a branch with no fruit.

Have student cut out shapes like pieces of fruit from the construction paper, and write their plans, the fruits they will offer Christ, on the “fruit pieces.” They can take these home as reminder of their plans.

Closing Prayer

Repeat the Opening Prayer together. Have each student choose a piece of fruit from the bowl, and then eat together. Remind studens of the plan and pledge they have made to offer the Lord "fruits of repentance."

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The fig tree was withered up because it was unfruitful.
We should fear the same punishment, O brothers and sisters,
And bring worthy fruits of repentance to Christ, who brings us great mercy.

Opening Prayer

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

O Heavenly King, the comforter, the Spirit of truth,
Who art everywhere and fillest all things,
Treasury of blessings and giver of life,
Come and abide in us, and cleanse us from every purity,
And save our souls, O Good One.

Review

Review the memorized verse from the last session: “I have come as light into the world, [so] that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness” (John 11: 46.)

Activity and Discussion

Bridging to Scripture:  Ask students (seeing the pitcher or glass of water) to name things one could do with water that would serve others (give someone a drink, clean or wash things for another person to use, water crops for food, put out a fire, etc.)

Then, write these phrases on the chalkboard:

1. prepare an iced drink when the weather is very warm
2. do a load of laundry
3. wash someone else’s feet
4. swim or paddle around on a float in a beautiful pool

Have students stand. Say, “All of these things involve water. Think about which of these you would most like to do.” After about five seconds of time for students to think about their choice, point to one corner or area of the room for #1, another area for #2, and so on. Have students move to the area of the room that represents their choice.

Next, ask which would be the thing they would least like to do. Again, indicate areas of the room for each answer. Chances are that this time most of the students will choose #3 as the thing they’d least like to do.

Ask students what they know about traveling by foot in the time of Jesus. Let them tell the class if they know, or else tell them yourself, that in those days people traveled on dusty roads wearing sandals or foot coverings that did not cover the whole foot. So it was a courtesy to a guest who had walked to wash that person’s feet. It was the lowliest of jobs, and was usually left to a slave or servant.

Ask, “What did Jesus do, on the night of the Last Supper, that astonished His disciples?” Students may know that He washed their feet. Read the story together in John 13: 1-17. Discuss:

Why did Jesus choose this particular act? (Probably because it was such a lowly task, and He wanted those who knew Him as Lord to have the truest example of humility that He could possibly give them.)

What do verses 1-3 tell us about Jesus’ divinity? (He knew things that only the Son of God could know, both about Judas and about the terrible ordeal He was about to face for the sake of all human beings.)

Icon and Troparion

Look at the icon together. Notice signs of closeness (such as John leaning near Jesus.) Of course, students will also want to pick out the figure of Judas! Sing or say together the Troparion (Matins of Holy Friday):

When the glorious disciples were enlightened at the washing of their feet before the supper, then the impious Judas was darkened, ailing with avarice, and to the lawless judges he betrays Thee, the righteous judge.

Behold, O lover of money, this man who because of money hanged himself.

Flee from the greedy soul which dared such things against the Master.

O Lord, who art good towards all men, glory to Thee.

Make sure students understand certain words:

Impious (pronounced im-pea-us) means lacking respect and reverence for God 

Avarice is an overwhelming desire for or love of money

Scripture

Read together Matthew 26: 6-30. Ask students to compare (as the services do) the woman who anoints Christ’s feet with Judas. Use these questions:

What does Jesus mean by saying, “You always have the poor with you” in verse 11? (He means that the poor can always be helped and shown love, but there is a limited time for people to show their love for Him, since He will not be in the world much longer. This is why he tells Judas not to trouble the woman who has done a beautiful thing for Him. He knows Judas’ heart, and knows that Judas’ concern for the poor is not sincere.)

Do you agree that to do a “beautiful thing” for someone else is important? How do we as Christians try to do “beautiful things” for God? (We make churches and vestments beautiful, we give our best to God by coming to church on time and paying attention to the prayers we are saying, and by showing love to the other people who worship with us. Of course we still have the responsibility to care for the poor and those in need. This is why in the Divine Liturgy we pray for “those who remember the poor.”)

Closing Prayer

Say or sing the Troparion (words above) together.

Opening Prayer

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (From Matins of Holy Thursday)

Lord, You said to Your disciples:
My beloved, see that no fear separates you from Me.
Though I suffer, it is for the sake of the world.
I came, not to be served, but to serve,
To give Myself for the salvation of the world.
If you are My friends, then imitate Me.
Let the first among you be the last.
Let the master be like the servant.
Abide in me and bear fruit,
for I am the vine of life. Amen.

Scripture Activity

As a way of going through the story of the arrest, trial, and sentence of Jesus Christ, have students take turns reading aloud the numbered items on the sheet Our Lord’s Last Days on Earth.

Give each student a copy of the sheet. Some students really do not enjoy reading aloud in front of others. Encourage them to take part in the reading, but let them sit and listen if they prefer. Ask them to pay close attention.

Have students who are going to read take a few minutes to look through the text. Answer any questions they have. Then they can stand in a line, and read the items in order.

Scripture Reading and Discussion, Icon

Continue the reading of the Scripture story from Bibles. Read together Mark 15: 16-32 and Luke 23: 32-49. Students will probably note that some details are repeated. That is because we read from all four Gospels in the course of this Holy Friday Matins service, so that we get the details and full meaning of the events.

Look together at Luke 23: 21 and 23, and Mark 15: 29-30. Ask students, “Do you think the people who said these things were some of the same ones who shouted ‘Hosanna” on Palm Sunday?” (Certainly there were some who “turned on” Christ when they realized He was not the kind of worldly political King they wanted.)

Look together at the icon of the Crucifixion. Note that there is not a crowd of people to stand by Christ as He dies. The crowds that surrounded Him on Palm Sunday are gone.

Remind students of the words we say in the prayer before Holy Communion: “Like the thief will I confess Thee.” Ask students where these words come from. If necessary, help them find the basis for the words in Luke 23: 39-43. We, as Christians, want to be like the thief who confessed Jesus to be the Christ. We also say in the Communion prayer, “Neither like Judas will I give Thee a kiss.” We do not want to be like Judas, who betrayed the Lord to His enemies.

Discussion & Icon

Show students the icon of Saint Maria Skobtsova, and if possible also some photos. Tell students that she was a nun who died in a Nazi concentration camp on Holy Friday of 1945. She did many things to help others, but the thing that got her sent to the concentration camp was giving false baptismal certificates to Jews, in order to save their lives. She said that she must help everyone, in order to show her love for Jesus Christ.

Now read together John 19: 38-42. Ask students what is similar in these two men’s actions to the actions of Saint Maria. (They took risks in order to show their love for Jesus Christ.) Help students see the point that people much closer to our own time, like Mother Maria, still do the same brave and loving things that Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus did because they are following Jesus Christ.)

Wrap Up

Closing Prayer

Pray together these words from the Odes (Matins of Great and Holy Thursday):

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Come, O faithful, let us enjoy the Master’s hospitality;
The banquet of immortality.
In the upper chamber with uplifted minds,
Let us receive the exalted words of the Word,
Whom we magnify. Amen.

Opening Prayer

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

O Heavenly King, the comforter, the Spirit of truth,
Who art everywhere and fillest all things,
Treasury of blessings and giver of life,
Come and abide in us, and cleanse us from every purity,
And save our souls, O Good One.

Old Testament Bridging to New Testament

Ask students, “What have we found in the Old Testament that prepares us for the coming of Jesus the Savior in the New Testament?” (Let them give answers, or remind them of some Old Testament prophecies you have looked at together, such as Psalm 118: 25-6 and Zechariah 9:9) You might also read Micah 5: 2 and Isaiah 7: 14.

Go on to look at another way God prepares us, in the Old Testament, for what Jesus Christ will do. Read together I Kings 17: 8-24, a story about the prophet Elijah. This is the 8th reading at the Vespers and Divine Liturgy for Great and Holy Saturday. Ask

students, “How does this reading help prepare us for the coming of Christ?” (Elijah is given the grace to raise the son of the widow. It’s by this action that the woman knows that Elijah is a man of God, and that the word of God in his mouth is truth. The reading prepares us for Jesus Christ being raised from the dead. He not only has the true word of God in His mouth, He is the Word of God. He is the divine Son of the Father who does His Father’s will.)

Icon and Hymn Verse

Look together at the icon of the Resurrection. Then put this verse from the Vespers on the chalkboard:

Today Hades cries out groaning: I should not have accepted the Man born of Mary. He came and destroyed my power. He shattered the gates of brass. As God, He raised the souls I had held captive.

Glory to Thy cross and resurrection, O Lord!

Invite students to find phrases in the verse that are depicted in the icon: Hades “accepted” the Man born of Mary because He went there, as the icon shows. The icon shows the “gates of brass” being shattered, and Jesus “raising” the souls Hades had held, pulling them out with His own hands. The old man at the bottom of the icon represents Hades, or Satan, crying out and groaning.

Make the point that in the Church we often say the same things in Scriptural words, in icons, and in hymns.

A Sung and Said Prayer

Scripture Reading

Discussion Questions

Discuss these points about verses 17-20:

• What words tell us that Jesus Christ really is fully divine and fully human?
  He says, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.” This assures us that He is what He claims to be, and that we can rely on and trust Him and His promises.
• How do you think we can fulfill Jesus’ words to us in verses 19 and 20?
  Let students give their own answers.

Wrap Up

Read to the class the hymn to the Theotokos from the Liturgy for this day:

Do not lament me, O Mother, seeing me in the tomb,
The Son conceived in the womb without seed.
For I shall arise and be glorified with eternal glory as God.
I shall exalt all who magnify you in faith and in love.

• Ask the class, “Who is saying these words?”
  Christ says them, addressing His mother, who of course is “lamenting” and sorrowful at the suffering and death of her beloved Son. But He reminds her that He will rise and be glorified, because He is God. He calls us to “magnify” or praise her because she gave birth to Him, thus doing God’s will in the most important way.
• Sing “Christ is Risen” together. The sorrow of the Mother of God’s lament gives way to joy for her and for all of us. If you can, sing or say “Christ is Risen” in some other languages as well as English.

Closing Prayer

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Do not lament me, O Mother, seeing me in the tomb,
The Son conceived in the womb without seed.
For I shall arise and be glorified with eternal glory as God.
I shall exalt all who magnify you in faith and in love.