2021 Holy Week & Bright Week Service Schedule

Dear Ascension Community,

We are so excited to be able to celebrate Holy Week together this year! We are meant to pray, experience and participate in the Lord's crucifixion and resurrection together, as one body in Christ, and are thankful that we will be able to do so. We are grateful to the leadership of our clergy, parish council, reopening committee and staff who have put in countless hours to put together the following guidance and plan.

Reservations are now open for Holy Week (Palm Sunday and many of the Holy Week services). Please make sure to review all the services that require an RSVP and make a reservation for only the services you will attend. Our hope is that everyone who would like to attend in-person will be able to do so, and are only requiring RSVPs for services where our maximum capacity is more likely to be reached.

Please make sure to reserve a spot for service before attending via the links below. To comply with guidelines we are limiting attendance to 270 parishioners, practicing social distancing, and wearing face coverings.

To attend you must reserve your spot using the links below. Once you fill out the form, you will receive an email confirmation that you are registered. We are also accepting phone call reservations at 510-531-3400, however we encourage you to use the reservation form.

**ONCE WE REACH CAPACITY FOR A SERVICE THE LINK THE RSVP FORM WILL NO LONGER BE ACCESSIBLE**

Reservations for:
Sunday, April 25th- Palm Sunday 10am
Wednesday, April 28th- Holy Wednesday- Holy Unction 3 pm
Wednesday, April 28th- Holy Wednesday - Holy Unction and Matins- 6:00 pm
Thursday, April 29th- Holy Thursday- Matins of the 12 Gospels- 6:00 pm
Friday, April 30th- Holy Friday- Apokatheilosis 3:00 pm
Friday, April 30th- Holy Friday- Epitaphios- 6:00 pm (no outdoor procession, indoors only)
Saturday, May 1st- Holy & Great Saturday Vesperal Liturgy- 9:00 am
Saturday, May 1st- Holy & Great Saturday- Anastasis Midnight: Matins and Divine Liturgy - 11:30 pm (will begin on the Platia followed by Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral)

Your health and safety as well as your spiritual health is our top priority, all the steps we are taking are in consideration of your well being. If you are not feeling well or have health conditions that make you more vulnerable, we ask you to continue to enjoy services from home via the live streaming. Also please note- the outside doors will be open to allow for airflow which might be drafty so please bring a jacket.

Please click the link for more information about what to expect when you come to the Cathedral as well as the list of questions to ask yourself before you come.

See attached for a detailed schedule for ALL services for Holy Week.

Ascension Cathedral Now Open for Indoor Services

Dear Ascension Community,

Wonderful news! We are excited to announce the re-opening of the Cathedral for indoor liturgy!! 

On Friday, February 5, 2021 the U.S. Supreme Court entered an emergency order prohibiting California from enforcing its ban on indoor worship in “purple” tier counties. Instead, the Court found a limit of 25% capacity to be appropriate. This order is effective immediately and applies throughout the State of California. Metropolitan Gerasimos set an encyclical (linked below) informing the parishes of the Metropolis of San Francisco in California as to this announcement. We were so excited to hear this that we opened the Cathedral immediately, this past Sunday, February 7th. Fr. Tom instructed the Parish Council members and ushers to allow those who had made reservations for the outdoor liturgy to come into the Cathedral. All the appropriate guidelines, including social distancing and wearing of masks were followed as we had done earlier in the Summer and Fall of 2020.

The Parish Council met Wednesday, February 10th to discuss the re-opening of the Cathedral. At this time the configuration of the seating in the Cathedral will accommodate 140 people following the social distance guidelines. It was decided by the Parish Council that this Sunday, February 14th 100 congregants will be allowed in the Cathedral. Sunday, February 21st and 28th we will increase to 140 people. This will give the Parish Council time to assess the seating arrangements, and to increase the number to as close to the 25% as is safe. We will continue to follow the guidelines as explained below. To ensure everyone's safety, at the very end of the service after announcements, Holy Communion will be distributed. Antidoron will be pre-bagged and available as parishioners are exiting the Cathedral.

We will also continue to do Memorials and other services at the end of the divine liturgy. The Koliva (boiled wheat) will not be shared due to safety issues. However if there is an Artoklasia, it will be placed in bags like the antidoron.

We will continue to comply with the county guidelines practicing social distancing, and wearing face coverings. Also, as per the Metropolitan’s request, attendance is reserved for our Ascension parishioners only at this time. This number does not include clergy, cantor and ushers. In order to attend you must reserve your spot using the link that is emailed weekly.

We are very excited to welcome you back into the Cathedral! We have missed you and are looking forward to seeing you in person. Your physical health and safety as well as your spiritual health is our top priority, all the steps we are taking are in consideration of your well being. If you are not feeling well or have health conditions that make you more vulnerable, we ask you to continue to enjoy services from home via the live streaming.

We ask for your patience during this time and encourage you to take a moment and review the FAQs (attached). If you have any questions or concerns please don’t hesitate to reach out.

We will continue to update you as information and guidance becomes available. We appreciate your patience and understanding at this time and look forward to seeing each of you soon!

In Christ’s service and yours,

The Ascension Parish Council

Ascension Cathedral Returns to Outdoor Services Sunday 11/22

Sunday services will be held outdoors on Sunday, November 22nd as per Alameda County Guidelines. Please dress warm as we are now approaching the winter season. We will continue having one service starting inside for the live streaming that starts at 8:30am. If you would like to attend live outdoor services on Sunday, that service starts at 10am and finishes by 11:30am.

Please make sure to reserve a spot each week before attending via the instructions below. To comply with county guidelines we are limiting attendance to 80 parishioners, practicing social distancing, and wearing face coverings.

To attend you must reserve your spot using the following link: Reserve your spot for Sunday
Once you fill out the form, you will receive an email confirmation that you are registered. We are also accepting phone call reservations at 510-531-3400, however we encourage you to use the reservation form. Please make your reservations by 4:00 pm Thursday, November 19th.

Your health and safety as well as your spiritual health is our top priority, all the steps we are taking are in consideration of your well being. If you are not feeling well or have health conditions that make you more vulnerable, we ask you to continue to enjoy services from home via the live streaming.

Please click the link for more information about what to expect on Sunday as well as the list of questions you will be asked when you come.

Ascension Cathedral Reopens for Indoor Services

Great news! We are excited to announce the re-reopening of the Cathedral!!!  In accordance with the most recent Alameda County update from last week, we can once again assemble for worship in the Cathedral with a limited capacity. We will continue with our reservation process which is now open for this Sunday, November 1st.

Please make sure to reserve a spot each week before attending via the instructions below. To comply with county guidelines we are limiting attendance to 80 parishioners, practicing social distancing, and wearing face coverings. 

To attend you must reserve your spot using the following link: Reserve your spot for this Sunday Once you fill out the form, you will receive an email confirmation that you are registered.  We are also accepting phone call reservations at 510-531-3400, however we encourage you to use the reservation form. Please make your reservations by 4:00 pm Thursday, October 29th. 

Your health and safety as well as your spiritual health is our top priority, all the steps we are taking are in consideration of your well being.  If you are not feeling well or have health conditions that make you more vulnerable, we ask you to continue to enjoy services from home via the live streaming. 

Please click the link for more information about what to expect on Sunday as well as the list of questions you will be asked when you come.
 

Great Vespers at PAOI for St. Demetrios the Great Martyr and Myrrh-Streamer

God-Appointed Hierarchs, Reverend Clergy, Beloved Stewards of Ascension Cathedral,

His Eminence Metropolitan TARASIOS of Rhodopolis, Director of the Patriarch Athenagoras Orthodox Institute (PAOI), cordially invites you to Great Vespers for St. Demetrios the Great Martyr and Myrrh-Streamer on Tuesday, October 27th at 6 PM. The Great Vespers will be broadcast over Zoom (please use Zoom code 917 0584 2601) to join.

His Eminence would especially like to invite the young adults and young professionals of our community and beyond. For many years, the PAOI has offered a unique ministry for young adults through their Orthodox Campus Fellowship ministry. Meeting on Tuesday evenings during the academic year, this ministry offers PAOI and UC Berkeley students the opportunity to attend Divine Liturgy at the St. Demetrios Chapel, dinner, and a discussion lead by His Eminence Metropolitan TARASIOS, clergy, faculty and other guest speakers.

The PAOI is a member of the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California. It is directly under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. The PAOI represents the various canonical Orthodox Christian jurisdictions in the country and educates, promotes, and sustains Orthodox traditions, values, teachings, and culture.

We offer our continued prayers for the ministry of the Patriarch Athenagoras Orthodox Institute, His Eminence Metropolitan TARASIOS, and its faculty, staff and students as they celebrate their feast day! 

AXIOS! Ordination of Demetrios "James" Kumarelas / No Outdoor Liturgy this Week

“Make him worthy to practice according to Your Will his degree conferred upon him, by Your goodness; for those who minister well, prepare themselves for good reward; and proclaim him Your perfect servant….”

From the Prayers of the Ordination to the Holy Diaconate

Reverend Clergy, Honorable Parish Council Members, and Beloved Stewards,

It is our joy and honor to announce that respectively, on Saturday, October 10th and Sunday, October 11th, Mr. Demetrios "James" Kumarelas will be ordained to the Holy Diaconate and Holy Priesthood by the laying on of hands and invocation of the Holy Spirit by His Eminence Metropolitan GERASIMOS of San Francisco. Axios! Worthy! 

On behalf of the Kumarelas family we ask for your prayers as he prepares to enter the Holy Priesthood. Of course, we know James’ love for Christ and His Church firsthand as he has served in our community many capacities. He has set a humble example to all through his faith and dedication to Christ. Our prayers are with James and Vasso as they begin this new chapter in ministry with Rev. Fr. Photios Dumont at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Seattle, Washington as an assistant priest.

On hearing such news, our natural response is to celebrate, to offer our thanks and to participate in the joy and honor of this ordination. In accordance with our Tradition, an ordination is the affirmation and confirmation not only of one’s personal calling the priesthood, but also an expression of the love, support and endorsement of the clergy and the laity. 

However, we sorrowfully announce that, out of an abundance of caution and in accordance with local and state health guidelines, there will be no in-person attendance to divine services this weekend. Additionally, there will be no outdoor Divine Liturgy on Sunday, October 11th. Therefore, we ask that you continue to pray for James and Vasso that our good God may grant unto them a pure and blameless ministry. We encourage you to join the services which will be streamed through our regular channels: our parish website, Facebook and Youtube.

We look forward to welcoming the Kumarelas family back when we are able to fully celebrate this occasion, ask for God’s every blessing on them as they begin their ministry, and look forward to worshipping together again as a community in the coming weeks. 

In Christ,

Fr. Tom

Divine Services for St. Sophia and her three daughters Faith, Hope and Love Canceled

Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances we will not be able to celebrate services tomorrow September, 17th for St. Sophia and her children Faith, Hope and Love.

We pray that God blesses all those who celebrate tomorrow! Kronia polla!

Reopening for Outdoor Services Sunday, September 13th

Dear Ascension Community,
 
As you are aware the Cathedral remains closed for services by order of the State of California and Alameda County. However, churches are permitted to offer services outdoors. Starting this Sunday, September 13th, an outdoor Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at 10am.
 
To comply with county guidelines we are limiting attendance to 80 parishioners, practicing social distancing, and wearing face coverings. Also, as per the Metropolitan’s request, attendance is reserved for our Ascension parishioners only. This number does not include clergy, cantor and ushers. To attend you must reserve your spot using the following link: Reserve your spot for Sunday.

Once you fill out the form, you will receive an email confirmation that you are registered.  We are also accepting phone call reservations at 510-531-3400, however we encourage you to use the reservation form. Please make your reservations by 4:00 pm Friday, September 11th. 
 
Your health and safety as well as your spiritual health is our top priority, all the steps we are taking are in consideration of your well being.  If you are not feeling well or have health conditions that make you more vulnerable, we ask you to continue to enjoy services from home via the live streaming (Matins 8am, Divine Liturgy 9:30am). 
 
We ask for your patience during this time and encourage you to take a moment and review the details of attending in the attachment.  If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Please read the Ascension Guidelines below for more information about what to expect on Sunday as well as the list of questions you will be asked when you arrive. 

Just a reminder - You will need a confirmed reservation to attend Sunday services.  The campus is still currently closed at all other times and we are not allowing public access to our grounds or buildings.
 
We will continue to update you as information and guidance becomes available. We appreciate your patience and understanding at this time and look forward to seeing each of you soon!