JERUSALEM MATINS - GOOD & HOLY FRIDAY
April 10, 2020
JERUSALEM MATINS - GOOD FRIDAY
with the ST VLADIMIR'S COLLEGE CHOIR & THE MACENKO MEMORIAL MALE CHOIR
The Lamentations at the Tomb of Christ
This Matins service of Great and Holy Saturday is traditionally prayed on Friday evening. We gather at the tomb where Joseph and Nicodemus hurriedly buried Jesus after his body was taken down from the cross and released by Pontius Pilate.
This service, surely one of the most beautiful and soul-stirring liturgies of the year, and especially Holy Week, is accessible in two wonderful formats given below. Both involve the Redemptorist Fathers' once renowned St. Vladimir's College of Roblin, Manitoba. The first is a rare quality recording of the Saint Vladimir's College Choir singing the service in the 1960s under the direction of Dr. Paul Macenko. The priests that are involved in the services are: Fr. Peter Romanyshyn (soloist), Fr. Nestor Hodowany, CSsR, Fr. Michael Bzdel, CSsR and Fr. George Perejda, CSsR. The original album has been digitized by Joe Dudych and is available via Sound Cloud [HERE]. We thank Dennis Wawrykow for making this available.
The other possibility involves tuning in to an online broadcast of a slightly different version as sung by the Macenko Memorial Male Choir under the direction of choir founder Walter Zulak. This choir is made up primarily of alumni of the now closed St. Vladimir's College. This can be followed on Friday, April 10 at 8:30 PM by clicking [HERE].
Those who would like a text by which to follow along may download a booklet printed a few years back that really corresponds to the latter Macenko Memorial Choir version, but it may be helpful when listening to the 1960s St. Vlad's recording as well. For the booklet, click [HERE].
* PARISHES IN THE ARCHEPARCHY MAY BE LIVE-STREAMING THIS BEAUTIFUL SERVICE AS WELL. PLEASE CHECK THE VARIOUS PARISH LINKS BELOW AT "LET US PRAY TO THE LORD"
Lord, in Your love and mercy, grant us all a powerful and transforming Holy Week experience even in the midst of the Pandemic.
