"Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it dies, it bringeth forth much fruit" (John 12:24).

Why does the sower cast wheat upon the ground? Does he do this so that the wheat will die and rot? No, he does this so that it will live and bear fruit. In sowing the seed, the sower does not think about the death and decay of the seed, but rather about its life and yield. Indeed, with joy does the sower sow his seed, not thinking about the death of the seed, but rather about life and fruitfulness.

The Sower is Christ the Lord and men are His wheat. He was pleased to call us wheat...

A Firm Request Concerning Last Minute Confessions on the Night of Pascha!

Please do not approach for confession just before the Paschal Matins, the last minute before the Divine Service for the Feast of the Resurrection begins at midnight. The required Repentance does correspond with the impending spirit of joy and forgiveness present within the atmosphere of the church at that time. In addition, the priest physically has little time to devote to this.

We request that everyone come for confession during Passion Week, or no later than after the Divine Liturgy on Great Saturday, at approximately 1:00 pm on May 4th. 

The Schedule of Divine Services for Holy Week, 2024

April 29th: HOLY & GREAT MONDAY
10:00 am -- Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts
6:00 pm -- Great Compline & Matins

April 30th: HOLY & GREAT TUESDAY
10:00 am -- Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts
6:00 pm -- Great Compline & Matins

May 1st: HOLY & GREAT WEDNESDAY
10:00 am -- Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts
6:00 pm -- Great Compline & Matins

May 2nd: HOLY & GREAT THURSDAY
9:00 am -- Vesperal Liturgy
6:00 pm -- Matins with the 12 Passion Gospels 

May 3rd: HOLY & GREAT FRIDAY
8:00 am -- Royal Hours
2:00 pm -- Vespers (bringing out the Holy Winding sheet)
4:30 pm -- Matins with procession around the church

May 4th: HOLY & GREAT SATURDAY
9:00 am -- Vesperal Liturgy
11:30 pm -- Mid-night Office

May 5th: THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST
Midnight -- Paschal Matins
2:00 am -- Paschal Liturgy
2:00 pm -- Great Vespers

On February 6th, 2024, a longstanding parishioner of Holy Ascension Russian Orthodox Church of Sacramento, Nicholas Storm, reposed in the Lord. Having been born in Yugoslavia on May 11, 1920, the newly-departed servant of God Nicholas lived a full and rich life of over 103 years.

His maternal grandfather was an archpriest in Saint Petersburg. And, his mother would recall how Saint John of Kronstadt had been in her father’s home when she was a little girl. Nicholas’ father was a white army officer who sustained wounds during one battle and eventually succumbed to them. Details of Nicholas’ immediate ancestry may be found in a biography about his mother entitled “Valentina.”