Holy Week 2026: A Complete Guide to Every Service at Sts. Peter and Paul

April 2, 2026 · Liturgical Life · Fr. Solomon Longo

Holy Week begins this Sunday with Palm Sunday Liturgy at 9:30 AM, and ends in the middle of the night on April 12th when we proclaim the Resurrection of Christ. What happens in between is the most important week of the year.

Here is what is ahead of us.

Palm Sunday, April 5, 9:30 AM. Divine Liturgy. We begin the week with the triumphant entry of Christ into Jerusalem. The crowd cries hosanna; within days they will cry crucify. Come with your palms.

Bridegroom Matins, April 6, 7, and 8, at 6:30 PM each evening. These are among the most beautiful services of the Lenten season. The service centers on the parable of the ten virgins and the image of Christ as the Bridegroom coming in the middle of the night. The refrain runs through the service: "Behold the Bridegroom comes at midnight." Come to all three if you can. Come to at least one.

Holy Unction, Wednesday April 8, 9:30 AM. The sacrament of Holy Unction is not reserved for those near death. The Church offers it to anyone seeking God's healing of body and soul, which is all of us. Seven epistle and gospel readings. Seven anointings with blessed oil. Plan to be there for the full service.

The Twelve Passion Gospels, Holy Thursday evening, April 9, at 6:30 PM. Twelve readings from all four Gospels trace the events from the Last Supper through the crucifixion and burial. The service takes about two hours. It is worth every minute. This is the night we hold candles and listen to the story of how love suffered.

Holy Friday, April 10. Two services. Royal Hours at 10:00 AM. Matins of Holy Saturday with the Lamentations at 6:30 PM. At the evening service we process around the church carrying the Epitaphios, the burial icon of Christ. This is the service when the grief is felt most directly. Come to both.

Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil the Great, Holy Saturday, April 11, 9:30 AM. Fifteen Old Testament readings, the transformation of the vestments from dark to white, and the proclamation that the day of Resurrection has come.

Pascha begins at 11:00 PM on Saturday, April 11. We gather outside in the dark, process around the church three times with candles, then enter proclaiming the Resurrection. The Paschal Divine Liturgy follows. Come. Bring a candle. Stay as long as you are able.

All of this together is Holy Week. You do not need to understand everything before you arrive. You need to arrive. The services will do the rest.

Fr. Solomon