Schedule of Services
From Orthodox Parish of St Nicholas
You can download our monthly parish newsletter, and read about our weekly coffee and monthly parish lunches. For your convenience, you can also download and print out a hard-copy of our schedule of services for April 2008-January 2009. Details on choir practices are also available.
On this calendar, daily commemorations are indicated in brown bands; services and events in orange (please take special note that commemorations are indicated for all days, but services only take place on days as indicated in orange - you can turn off the display of daily commemorations by clicking the down-arrow in the upper right-hand corner of the calendar, and unselecting 'Orthodox Commemorations'). Click on any service, event, or commemoration for fuller details. Normal weekend services take place at St Giles' Church Hall. Services marked with an asterisk* take place elsewhere; please contact us for details.
The parish of St Nicholas the Wonderworker worships according to the Julian calendar (sometimes known as the 'old-style calendar'), which is at present 13 days behind the civil calendar. For convenience sake the service schedule below lists dates according to the civil calendar first; dates in brackets are the equivalent dates on the Julian calendar.
Schedule of Services as a List
February 2008
- Saturday 2nd (20th January)
- 6.00 Vigil. Tone 3.
- Sunday 3rd (21st January)- Ss Maximus the Confessor & Maxim the Greek
- 11.00 Divine Liturgy
Wednesday 6th (24th January) - St Xenia of St Petersburg 9.30 Divine Liturgy
- Saturday 9th (27th January)
- 6.00 Vigil. Tone 4
- Sunday 10th (28th January) - Synaxis of New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia
- 11.00 Divine Liturgy.
- Thursday 14th (1st February)
- 6.00 Vigil*
Friday 15th (2nd) - THE MEETING OF THE LORD IN THE TEMPLE 9.30 Divine Liturgy
- Saturday 16th (3rd)
- 6.00 Vigil. Tone 5
- Sunday 17th (4th) - Sunday of the Publican & the Pharisee
- 11.00 Divine Liturgy
Fast-free week begins
- Saturday 23rd (10th)
- 6.00 Vigil. Tone 6
- Sunday 24th (11th) - Sunday of the Prodigal Son
- 11.00 Divine Liturgy
March 2008
Saturday 1st (17th February)- Universal Commemoration of the Departed 9.30 Divine Liturgy and Pannikhida
- 6.00 Vigil. Tone 7
- Sunday 2nd (18th February) - Sunday of the Last Judgment - Meat-fare
- 11.00 Divine Liturgy
- Saturday 8th (24th February)
- 6.00 Vigil. Tone 8
- Sunday 9th (25th February) - Sunday of Forgiveness - Cheese-fare
- 11.00 Divine Liturgy, followed by the Rite of Forgiveness
Beginning of Great Lent
First Week of Great Lent:
Monday 10th (26th February): 6.00 p.m.: Great Compline with Canon of St Andrew of Crete Tuesday 11th (27th February): 6.00 p.m.: Great Compline with Canon of St Andrew of Crete Wednesday 12th (28th February): 9.30 a.m.: Hours with Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts 6.00 p.m.: Great Compline with Canon of St Andrew of Crete Thursday 13th (29th February): 6.00 p.m.: Great Compline with Canon of St Andrew of Crete Friday 14th (1st): 9.30 a.m.: Hours with Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts
- Saturday 15th (2nd):
- 6.00 p.m.: Vigil. Tone 1
- Sunday 16th (3rd) - First Sunday in Great Lent: Triumph of Orthodoxy
- 11.00 a.m.: Divine Liturgy
Second Week of Great Lent:
Wednesday 19th (6th): 6.00 pm.: Hours with Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts Friday 21st (8th): 9.30 a.m.: Hours with Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts
- Saturday 22nd (9th):
- 6.00 p.m.: Vigil. Tone 2
- Sunday 23rd (10th) - Second Sunday in Great Lent: St Gregory Palamas
- 11.00 a.m.: Divine Liturgy
7.30 p.m.: Vespers with reading of the Passion Gospel (Passia)
Third Week of Great Lent:
Wednesday 26th (13th): 6.00 p.m.: Hours with Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts Friday 28th (14th): 9.30 a.m.: Hours with Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts
- Saturday 29th (16th):
- 6.00 p.m.: Vigil. Tone 3: Bringing out and veneration of the Precious Cross
- Sunday 30th (17th) - Third Sunday in Great Lent: Sunday of the Precious Cross
- 11.00 a.m.: Divine Liturgy
7.30 p.m.: Vespers with reading of the Passion Gospel (Passia)
April 2008
Fourth Week of Great Lent:
Wednesday 2nd April (20th March): 6.00 p.m.: Hours with Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts Friday 4th (22nd March): 9.30 a.m.: Hours with Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts
- Saturday 5th (23rd March):
- 6.00 p.m.: Vigil. Tone 4
- Sunday 6th (24th) - Fourth Sunday in Lent - St John of the Ladder. Forefeast of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Mother of God
- 11.00 a.m.: Divine Liturgy
6.00 p.m.: Vigil
Fifth Week of Great Lent:
Monday 7th (25th March): 9.30 a.m.: Divine Liturgy - ANNUNCIATION OF THE MOST HOLY MOTHER OF GOD Wednesday 9th (27th March): 9.30 a.m.: Hours with Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts 6.00 p.m.: Great Compline with Canon of St Andrew of Crete with the reading of the Life of St Mary of Egypt Friday 11th (29th March): 9.30 a.m.: Hours with Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts 6.00 p.m.: Matins. Akathist to the Most Holy Mother of God
- Saturday 12th (30th March):
- 6.00 p.m.: Vigil. Tone 5
- Sunday 13th (31st) - Fifth Sunday in Lent - St Mary of Egypt
- 11.00 a.m.: Divine Liturgy
Sixth Week of Great Lent:
Wednesday 16th (3rd):
6.00 p.m.: Hours with Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts Friday 18th (5th): 9.30 a.m.: Hours with Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts 6.00 p.m.: Matins Saturday 19th (6th) 9.30 a.m.: Divine Liturgy -The Raising of Lazarus
- Saturday 19th (6th)
- 6.00 p.m.: Vigil. Tone 6 with the blessing of palms
- Sunday 20th (7th) - PALM SUNDAY. Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem
- 11.00 a.m.: Divine Liturgy
6.00 p.m.: Matins of the Bridegroom
HOLY WEEK
Monday 21st (8th) - HOLY AND GREAT MONDAY 9.30 a.m.: Hours with reading of the Gospel & Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts 6.00 p.m: Matins of the Bridegroom Tuesday 22nd (9th) - HOLY AND GREAT TUESDAY 9.30 a.m.: Hours with reading of the Gospel & Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts 6.00 p.m: Matins of the Bridegroom Wednesday 23rd (10th) - HOLY AND GREAT WEDNESDAY 9.30 a.m.: Hours with reading of the Gospel & Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts
All Holy Week and Easter services beginning from Wednesday evening and ending with the Paschal Liturgy at Easter midnight will take place at Holy Rood Roman Catholic Church, Abingdon Road, Oxford OX1 4LD
Wednesday 23rd (10th) - HOLY AND GREAT WEDNESDAY
ВЕЛИКАЯ СРЕДА
7 p.m.: Sacrament of Anointing
at Holy Rood Соборование
Thursday 24th (11th) - HOLY AND GREAT THURSDAY
ВЕЛИКИЙ ЧЕТВЕРГ
9.30 a.m.: Vespers & Divine Liturgy
at Holy Rood Вечерня и Литургия
7.00 p.m.: Matins & the Twelve Passion Gospels
at Holy Rood Утреня с чтением 12-и евангелией
Friday 25th (12th) - HOLY AND GREAT FRIDAY
ВЕЛИКИЙ ПЯТОК
2.00 p.m.: Vespers. Veneration of the Winding Sheet of Christ
at Holy Rood Вечерня с выносом Плащаницы
7.00 p.m.: Matins. The Burial of the Lord
at Holy Rood Утреня. Погребение Господня
Saturday 26th (13th) - HOLY AND GREAT SATURDAY
ВЕЛИКАЯ СУББОТА
9.30 a.m.: Vespers & Divine Liturgy
at Holy Rood Вечерня и Литургия
11 p.m.: Midnight Office and Matins
at Holy Rood Полунощница и заутреня
12 o'clock midnight: PASCHAL LITURGY
12 ч.полунoчи: ПАСХАЛЬНАЯ ЛИТУРГИЯ
at Holy Rood Church, followed by festal meal
Monday 28th (15th)- Bright Nonday 9.30 am: Paschal Liturgy
May 2008
Friday 2nd (19th April) - Bright Friday 9.30 am: Paschal Liturgy
- Saturday 3rd (20th April)
- 6.30 pm: Vigil
- Sunday 4th (21st April) - Sunday of St Thomas. Antipascha
- 11.00 am: Divine Liturgy
Tuesday 6th (23rd April) - Radonitsa. Commemoration of the Dead. 9.30 Divine Liturgy. Visits to cemeteries following the Liturgy
- Saturday 10th (27th April)
- 6.00 pm: Vigil.
- Sunday 11th (28th April)- Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women
- 11.00 am. Divine Liturgy
- Saturday 17th (4th April)
- 6.00 pm: Vigil.
- Sunday 18th (5th April)- Sunday of the Paralysed Man
- 11.00 am. Divine Liturgy
Wednesday 21st (8th): Mid-Pentecost 9.30 am: Divine Liturgy 6.30 pm: Vespers Thursday 22nd (9th): Translation of St Nicholas’ relics to Bari 9.30 am: Liturgy
- Saturday 24th (11th)
- Sunday 25th (12th)
- No weekend services for St Nicholas' Parish in Oxford because of the Diocesan Conference in Reigate
- Saturday 31st (18th)
- 6.00 pm: Vigil.
June 2008
- Sunday 1st (19th May) - Sunday of the Blind Man
- 11.00 am: Divine Liturgy
- Thursday 5th (23rd May) - ASCENSION OF THE LORD
- No services for the Ascension in St Nicholas' Parish. However, services for the feast of the Ascension are celebrated by at the Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity and the Annunciation
- Saturday 7th (25th May)
- 6.00 pm: Vigil
- Sunday 8th (26th May) - Sunday of the Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council
- 11.00 am: Divine Liturgy
Saturday 14th (1st) - Saturday of the Departed 9.30 am: Divine Liturgy
- Saturday 14th (1st)
- 6.00 pm: Vigil
- Sunday 15th (2nd) - DAY OF THE HOLY TRINITY. PENTECOST
- 11.00 am: Divine Liturgy
6.00 pm: Vespers with kneeling prayers
Fast-free week begins
Monday 16th:(3rd): Day of the Holy Spirit 9.30 am: Divine Liturgy
- Saturday 21st (8th)
- 6.00 pm: Vigil. Tone 8
- Sunday 22nd (9th) - Sunday of All Saints
- 11.00 am: Divine Liturgy.
Monday 23rd (10th) - Beginning of the Apostles’ Fast
- Saturday 28th (15th)
- 6.00 pm: Vigil. Tone 1
- Sunday 29th (16th May) - All the Saints of Russia
- 11.00 am: Divine Liturgy
July 2008
- Saturday 5th (22/5)
- 18.00 Vigil. Tone 2
- Sunday 6th (23/5) - All the Saints of the British Isles
- 11.00 Divine Liturgy.
Monday 7th (24/5) - Nativity of St John the Baptist 9.30 Divine Liturgy.
Friday 11th (28/5) 18.00 Great Vespers
Saturday 12th (29/5) - Holy Apostles Peter and Paul 9.30 Divine Liturgy
- 18.00 Vigil. Tone 3
- Sunday 13th (30/5) - Synaxis of the Holy Apostles
- 11.00 Divine Liturgy.
Thursday 17th (4th): 18.00 Vespers
Friday 18th (5th) - St Sergius of Radonezh. New Martyrs Grand Duchess Elizabeth
& Nun Barbara
9.30 : Divine Liturgy
- Saturday 19th (6th)
- 18.00 Vigil. Tone 4
- Sunday 20th (7th)
- 11.00 Divine Liturgy
- Saturday 26th (13th)
- 18.00 Vespers. Tone 5
- Sunday 27th (14th) - Holy Fathers of the First Six Ecumenical Councils
- 11.00 Divine Liturgy.
August 2008
- Saturday 2nd (20/7)
- 18.00 Vespers. Tone 6 Fr Stephen is away at the Children's Summer Camp until 8th August
- Sunday 3rd (21/7)
- 11.00 Divine Liturgy celebrated by Fr David Smith
- Saturday 9th (27/7)
- 18.00 Vespers. Tone 7
- Sunday 10th (28/7)
- 11.00 Divine Liturgy
Thursday 14th (1st) - Procession of the Holy Cross Feast of Christ the All-Merciful Saviour: patronal feast of the house chapel 9.30 Divine Liturgy, followed by a meal Beginning of the Dormition Fast
- Saturday 16th (3rd)
- 18.00 Vespers. Tone 8
- Sunday 17th (4th)
- 11.00 Divine Liturgy
Monday 18th (5th): 18.00 Vigil
Tuesday 19th (6th)- TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD 9.30 Divine Liturgy, followed by the blessing of fruit
- Saturday 23rd (10th)
- 18.00 Vespers. Tone 1
- Sunday 24th (11th)
- 11.00 Divine Liturgy.
Wednesday 27th (14th): 18.00 Vigil
Thursday 28th (15th)- DORMITION OF THE MOTHER OF GOD 9.30 Divine Liturgy
- Saturday 30th (17th)
- 18.00 Vespers. Tone 2
- Sunday 31st (18th)
- 11.00 Divine Liturgy, followed by a moleben for the beginning of the school year
September 2008
- Saturday 6th (24/08)
- 18.00 Vigil. Tone 3
- Sunday 7th (25/08)
- 11.00 Divine Liturgy
Thursday 11th (29/08)- Beheading of St John the Baptist 9.30 Divine Liturgy.
- Saturday 13th (31/08)
- 18.00 Vigil. Tone 4
- Sunday 14th (1): Beginning of indiction (new church year)
- 11.00 Divine Liturgy.
- Saturday 20th (7th)
- 18.00 Vigil. Tone 5
- Sunday 21st (8th) - NATIVITY OF THE MOST HOLY MOTHER OF GOD
- 11.00 . Divine Liturgy
Friday 26th (13th) - Veneration of the Holy Cross 18.00 Vigil.
Saturday 27th (14th) - EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS 9.30 Divine Liturgy
- Saturday 27th (14th)
- 18.00 Vigil. Tone 6
- Sunday 28th (15th)
- 11.00 Divine Liturgy
Tuesday 30th (17th)- Sts Vera, Nadezhda, Liubov (Faith, Hope, Charity) and Sophia 9.30 Divine Liturgy
October 2008
- Saturday 4th (21/9)
- 18.00 Vigil. Tone 7
- Sunday 5th (22/9)
- 11.00 Divine Liturgy
Wednesday 8th (25/9) - St Sergius of Radonezh 9.30 Divine Liturgy
- Saturday 11th (28/9)
- 18.00 Vigil. Tone 8
- Sunday 12th (29/9)
- 11.00 Divine Liturgy.
Monday 13th (30/9): 19.00 Great Vespers
Tuesday 14th (1st)- The Protecting Veil of the Mother of God (Pokrov) 9.30 Divine Liturgy
- Saturday 18th (5th)
- 18.00 Vigil. Tone 1
- Sunday 19th (6th) - Apostle Thomas
- 11.00 Divine Liturgy. .
Thursday 23rd (10th) - St Ambrose of Optina 9.30 Divine Liturgy
- Saturday 25th (12th)
- 18.00 Vigil. Tone 2
Clocks go back one hour tonight
- Sunday 26th (13th) - Fathers of the 7th Ecumenical Council. ‘Iveron’ Icon of the Mother of God
- 11.00 Divine Liturgy.
November 2008
Saturday 1st (19/10)- Commemoration of the Dead 9.30 Matins. *Saturday 1st (19/10)
- Saturday 1st (19/10)
- 18.00 Vigil. Tone 3
- Sunday 2nd (20/10)
- 11.00 Divine Liturgy
Thursday 6th (24/10) - Icon of the Mother of God ‘Consolation of All the Afflicted’ 9.30 Divine Liturgy.
- Saturday 8th (26/10)
- 18.00 Vigil. Tone 4
- Sunday 9th (27/10)
- 11.00 Divine Liturgy
- Remembrance Day. Pannikhida for all who have died as a result of war and civil strife
- Saturday 15th (2nd)
- 18.00 Vigil. Tone 5
- Sunday 16th (3th)
- 11.00 Divine Liturgy
Friday 21st (8th) - St Michael and Bodiless Powers 9.30 Divine Liturgy.
- Saturday 22nd (9th)
- 18.00 Vigil. Tone 6
- Sunday 23rd (10th)
- 11.00 Divine Liturgy
Saturday 29th (16th) - Apostle and Evangelist Matthew 9.30 Divine Liturgy
- Saturday 29th (16th)
- 18.00 Vigil. Tone 7
- Sunday 30th (17th)
- 11.00 Divine Liturgy
December 2008
Wednesday 3rd (20/11): 18.00 Vigil
Thursday 4th (21/11) - ENTRY OF THE MOTHER OF GOD INTO THE TEMPLE 9.30 Divine Liturgy
- Saturday 6th (23/11)
- 18.00 Vigil. Tone 8
- Sunday 7th (24/11)- Great-Martyr Catherine
- 11.00 Divine Liturgy.
- Saturday 13th (30/11)
- 18.00 Vigil. Tone 1.
- Sunday 14th (1st)
- 11.00 Divine Liturgy
Wednesday 17th (4th) - Great Martyr Barbara 9.30 Divine Liturgy
- Thursday 18th (5th)
- Vigil
- Friday 19th (6th) - St Nicholas the Wonderworker Patronal feast
- Divine Liturgy.
For times and location of St Nicholas services, see announcement on the parish website nearer the time
- Saturday 20th (7th)
- 18.00 Vigil. Tone 2
- Sunday 21st (8th)
- 11.00 Divine Liturgy.
- Saturday 27th (14th)
- 18.00 Vigil. Tone 3
- Sunday 28th (15th) - First Sunday of the Forefathers of Christ. St Stephen of Sourozh
- 11.00 Divine Liturgy.
Open house at 2 Bowness Avenue for Fr Stephen's nameday from 7 pm
Wednesday 31st (18th) 20.00 Moleben for the New Year
January 2009
- Saturday 3rd (21/12)
- 18.00 Vigil. Tone 4
- Sunday 4th (22/12) - Second Sunday of the Forefathers of Christ
- 11.00 Divine Liturgy.
Tuesday 6th (24/12) - Eve of the Nativity of Christ 9.30 Vespers and Liturgy
- Tuesday 6th (24/12)
- 18.00 Great Compline and Matins
- Wednesday 7th (25/12) - NATIVITY OF CHRIST
- 11 Divine Liturgy
For times and location of Christmas services see announcement on the parish website nearer the time
Language of Services
Services are held in English and Church Slavonic. In general, the principal languages used are as follows:
- First Sunday of the Month: Slavonic and English
- Second Sunday of the Month: English
- Third Sunday of the Month: Slavonic
- Fourth Sunday of the Month: English
- Fifth Sunday of the Month: Slavonic and English
Coffee and Parish Meals:
A bring-and-share breakfast or coffee follows all Sunday celebrations of the Divine Liturgy in St Giles' Church Hall, and a full parish lunch takes place after the Liturgy on the second Sunday of each month. Please click here for more details on these meals, and how you can help...
For information on singing in the choir, please see our Choir and Music pages.
