Activities for children and their families to do at home during Holy Week

Have your children complete the Holy Week Diary every day and then share your photos daily.
Just tag your parish and use the hashtag #holyweekathome on your favourite Social Media platforms, such as Instragram and Facebook!

A hard copy of these ‘Holy Week at Home’ activities can be found here. You can print this and use it as a checklist or guide. Refer back to this webpage for all the videos and links plus extras.

Your child can also print Celebrating Holy Week at Home and record what you do everyday during Holy Week.

Palm Sunday

Cut palms, olive branches, or even Eucalyptus leaves and decorate your home! Your doors, fence, lounge room, prayer corner… wherever you can!

On Palm Sunday have a procession around your home while chanting the prayers of Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday!

“Rejoice, Rejoice O Bethany!”

Don’t forget to tag your final product with #holyweekathome

21 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. 3 And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.”

4 All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:

5 “Tell the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your King is coming to you,
Lowly, and sitting on a donkey,
A colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ”

6 So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. 8 And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:

“Hosanna to the Son of David!
‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’
Hosanna in the highest!”

10 And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?”

11 So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.”

Matthew 21: 1-11

“O Christ God, when we were buried with Thee in Baptism, we became deserving of Thy Resurrection to immortal life. Wherefore, we praise Thee, crying: Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord.”

Apolytikon of Palm Sunday (Fourth Mode)

In confirming the common Resurrection, O Christ God, You did raise up Lazarus from the dead before Your Passion. Wherefore, we also, like the children, bearing the symbols of victory, cry to You the vanquisher of death: Hosana in the highest; blessed is he that comes in the Name of the Lord.”

Apolytikon of St Lazarus (First Mode)

On the night of Palm Sunday, we celebrate a beautiful prayer called the Bridegroom Service! It is a matins prayer and we hear many powerful chants and prayers that remind us of our requirement to prepare and be ready for Christ’s arrival!

Watch any livestream of the service in the dark, with candles and calm.

“Behold the bridegroom is coming in the middle of the night!”

Holy Monday

Instructions and printable here: http://easybreezysundayschool.blogspot.com/2016/02/the-parable-of-barren-fig-tree.html

Choose your favorite chant and chant it as a family. Record your family and upload it onto social media with the hashtags #holyweekathome and #antiochianAUS .

6 He also spoke this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’ 8 But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. 9 And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’ ”

Luke 13:6-9

“Behold the bridegroom comes at midnight; and blessed is he, who He shall find watching; but unworthy is he whom He shall find heedless. Beware, therefore, O my soul, not to be weighed down with sleep, lest you be given up to death, and shut out from the kingdom But, rouse yourself crying: “Holy, Holy, Holy are You, our God”. Through the prayers of the heavenly hosts have mercy on us.”

Apolytikon of the Bridegroom (Plagal Fourth Mode)

On the night of Holy Monday, we celebrate a beautiful prayer called the Bridegroom Service! It is a matins prayer and we hear many powerful chants and prayers that remind us of our requirement to prepare and be ready for Christ’s arrival!

Watch any livestream of the service in the dark, with candles and calm.

“Behold the bridegroom is coming in the middle of the night!”

Holy Tuesday

25 “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 6 “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ 7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise,

‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 

9 But the wise answered, saying,

‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 

10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. 11 “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 12 But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.”

Matthew 25: 1-13

Make oil lamps out of paper.

My Oil Lamp: I Can Prepare

Print this image and list 5 things you can do to prepare for Jesus’ second coming.
Two examples are prayer and showing kindness to others.

My Oil Lamp

“I see Your Bridal Chamber adorned, O my Saviour, and I have no wedding garment, that I may enter therein; O giver of Light, make radiant the vesture of my soul and save me.“

Exaposteilarion of the Bridegroom (Third Mode)

On the night of Holy Tuesday, we celebrate a beautiful prayer called the Bridegroom Service! It is a matins prayer and we hear many powerful chants and prayers that remind us of our requirement to prepare and be ready for Christ’s arrival!

Watch any livestream of the service in the dark, with candles and calm.

“Behold the bridegroom is coming in the middle of the night!”

Holy Unction

22 Then He came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to Him, and begged Him to touch him. 23 So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything. 24 And he looked up and said, “I see men like trees, walking.” 25 Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly.

Mark 8: 22-25

Print and read this Bible verse about Holy Unction. Colour and decorate it.

Holy Unction Bible Verse and Colour In

Anoint one another with Holy Oil, making the sign of the Cross on each other’s foreheads.

“In mercy, O Good One, cast Your eyes on the prayer of us who today have are gathered in Your Holy Temple, to anoint Your sick servants with Your Divine Oil.“

Exaposteilarion of Holy Unction (Third Mode)

Great and Holy Thursday

Make Prosphora Bread and share with your family.

Instructions and video here: http://www.kurskroot.com/prosphora.html

During the evening service, light 12 candles; one after every Gospel reading.

17 Now on the first day of the Feast of the Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?” 18 And He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.” ’ ” 19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover. 20 When evening had come, He sat down with the twelve. 21 Now as they were eating, He said, 

“Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.”

22 And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to Him, “Lord, is it I?” 23 He answered and said, 

“He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me. 24 The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.”

25 Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, “Rabbi, is it I?” He said to him, “You have said it.”

26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, 

“Take, eat; this is My body.”

27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, 

“Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 29 But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”

30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Matthew 26: 17-30

“Today He who hung the earth upon the waters is hung upon the Tree. The King of the Angels is decked with a crown of thorns. He, Who wrapped the Heavens in clouds, is wrapped with the purple of mockery. He, who freed Adam in the Jordan, is slapped on the face. The Bridegroom of the Church is affixed to the Cross with nails. The Son of the Virgin is pierced by a spear. We worship Your Passion, O Christ. Show us also, Your glorious Resurrection.“

The Fifteeth Antiphon (Plagal Second Mode)

Great and Holy Friday

27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around Him. 28 And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. 29 When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head. 31 And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified.

32 Now as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. Him they compelled to bear His cross. 33 And when they had come to a place called Golgotha, that is to say, Place of a Skull, 34 they gave Him sour wine mingled with gall to drink. But when He had tasted it, He would not drink. 35 Then they crucified Him, and divided His garments, casting lots, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet:

“They divided My garments among them,
And for My clothing they cast lots.”

36 Sitting down, they kept watch over Him there. 37 And they put up over His head the accusation written against Him: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

38 Then two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and another on the left. 39 And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads 40 and saying, “You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”

41 Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders, said, 42 “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him. 43 He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” 44 Even the robbers who were crucified with Him reviled Him with the same thing.

45 Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, 

“Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

47 Some of those who stood there, when they heard that, said, “This Man is calling for Elijah!” 48 Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink. 49 The rest said, “Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to save Him.” 50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. 51 Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, 52 and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. 54 So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

55 And many women who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him, were there looking on from afar, 56 among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.

Matthew 27: 27-56

Decorate a funeral bier with flowers. Use a platter or box and lay the icon of the Crucified Christ in the centre.

“In a grave they laid You, O my life and my Christ; And the armies of the angels were so amazed, as they sang the praise of Your submissive love.“

The First Stasis – first verse (Plagal First Mode)

Great and Holy Saturday

57 Now when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. 58 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him. 59 When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed. 61 And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb.

62 On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, 63 saying, “Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise.’ 64 Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead.’ So the last deception will be worse than the first.” 65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard.

Matthew 27: 57-66

Read the story of St Mary Magdalene and the Red Egg here: https://www.getfed.com/mary-magdalene-first-easter-egg-6029/

Dye eggs red ready for tomorrow.

“Arise, O God, and judge the earth; for You shall inherit all the earth.”

Arise, O God (Varis Mode)

Resurrection Sunday

28 Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.

5 But the angel answered and said to the women,

“Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”

8 So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.

9 And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”

11 Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. 12 When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13 saying, “Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.’ 14 And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure.” 15 So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, 

“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Amen.

Matthew 28

Prepare a festive and beautiful table. Crack eggs, enjoy a meal and this special time with your family. Christ is Risen!

“Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and to those in the tombs bestowing life!“

Paschal Apolytikon (Plagal First Mode)