During the holy days of Passion Week, preceding the feast of Pascha, the services prescribed by the Typikon were celebrated at St. Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral in New York.
On the eve of Great (or Clean) Thursday, the Sacrament of Holy Unction was celebrated on Wednesday evening, and on the day commemorating the Mystical Supper, Matins and the Divine Liturgy were celebrated, at which many faithful partook of the Holy Mysteries of Christ.
On the eve of Great Friday, on the evening of April 9, Matins with the reading of the Twelve Passion Gospels on the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus Christ was celebrated according to tradition. On April 10, the Royal Hours and Vespers with the bringing out of the Shroud were celebrated, after which the Canon of the Lamentation of the Most Holy Theotokos was read before it.
On the evening of April 10, on the eve of Great Saturday, Matins with the Rite of Burial of the Shroud was celebrated. On the morning of April 11, the Divine Liturgy of Great Saturday was celebrated, during which, after the reading of the Epistle, the clergy changed into white vestments. After the sermon, according to tradition, the blessing of Paschal foods and the final preparations of the church for the Paschal night service began.
