On the evening of Forgiveness Sunday, March 1, Vespers with the Rite of Forgiveness was celebrated at St. Nicholas Cathedral in New York. After the singing of the Great Prokeimenon and the closing of the Royal Doors, the clergy changed into the black vestments of Great Lent. At the end of Vespers, Hegumen Nikodim (Balyasnikov) addressed the faithful with words of guidance on the threshold of Great Lent and conveyed the blessing and good wishes of the Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, Bishop Matthew of Sourozh.
Schedule of services for the first week
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday:
9:00 AM — Matins, the Hours, Typika and Vespers
6:15 PM — Great Compline with the reading of the Penitential Canon of St. Andrew of Crete
Wednesday:
9:00 AM — Matins and the Hours
4:00 PM — Ninth Hour, Typika and Vespers with the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts
6:15 PM — Great Compline with the reading of the Penitential Canon of St. Andrew of Crete
Friday:
9:00 AM — Matins and the Hours
6:00 PM — Ninth Hour, Typika and Vespers with the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts
Saturday, commemoration of the Great Martyr Theodore the Recruit:
9:30 AM — Matins, Liturgy and blessing of kolyva
6:00 PM — All-Night Vigil
Sunday, the Triumph of Orthodoxy:
7:00 AM — Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great (in English)
9:15 AM — beginning of the Sacrament of Confession
10:00 AM — Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great
