April 2026 Service Schedule

APRIL 2026 SERVICE SCHEDULE FOR SAINT PATRICK’S CHAPEL IN CLIFDEN, IRELAND

As we celebrate Holy Pascha, we will make allowance this year for the unfortunate reality that Fr. Robert is quite sick. The intense service schedule of Holy Week is ideally shared with more than one priest, but out here on the west coast of Ireland, God helps us make do as best as we can. In preparation of the Great and Holy Feast, we share our collection of festal recipes here, including how to dye red Easter eggs from yellow onion skins and how to break the fast without getting sick on a gently nourishing stew.

O taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

Psalm 33:9 according to the Septuagint

April 2025 Service Schedule

  • Sa 04.04: 9 am – 11:30 am Baptism, Hours and Divine Liturgy, Lazarus Saturday.
    • 6 pm – 9 pm All-Night Vigil
  • Su 05.04: 10 am – 12:30 am Hours and Divine Liturgy, Palm Sunday
  • Mo 06.04: Vespers for Feast of the Annunciation
  • Tu 07.04: Typika for the Feast of the Annunciation
  • Th 09.04: 10 am – 12 pm Vesperal Liturgy of Great and Holy Thursday
    • 4 pm – 8 pm Matins for Great and Holy Friday, including reading the 12 Passion Gospels
  • Fr 10.04: 6 pm – 8 pm Lamentations
  • Sa 11.04: (God-willing) 10 am – 1 pm Vesperal Liturgy of Great and Holy Saturday
    • 11 pm Midnight Office, followed by…
  • Su 12.04: …12 am – 3 am Matins and Divine Liturgy of Great and Holy Pascha
    • Time TBA Vespers of Great and Holy Pascha
  • Sa 18.04: 7 pm – 10 pm All-Night Vigil 
  • Su 19.04: 10 am – 12:30 am Hours and Divine Liturgy, Thomas Sunday
  • Sa 25.04: (no service)
  • Su 26.04: 10 am – 12:30 am Hours and Divine Liturgy
Orthodox Pacha differs from typical celebrations of Easter in both emphasis and tone. The difference between eggs which are dyed blood-red (recipe here) rather than pastel-pink is easy to see. The extreme poverty and length of Orthodox Lent certainly make the first festal bites extremely memorable. As a colour or flavour might be hard to describe for someone who has never experienced it, however, the celebratory joy of Orthodox Pascha is more difficult to describe. For those interested in Orthodoxy, Pascha may be the best time to step into a Church.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *