A few days ago, I was chatting with some other Orthodox bloggers, authors, YouTubers, etc. about what we all wanted to share with our audiences for Holy Week. This is definitely a Holy Week unlike anything we've ever experienced. And one we're not likely to ever forget.Our hearts are crippled from the absence of the services and Mysteries in our lives. We miss our churches, we miss the Mysteries and we miss our church families.We’re sending our prayers and virtual hugs and want to remind you that despite the unfamiliarity of these days, Christ is amongst us. We want you to know that you’re not alone, we see you, and we’re all in this together. We wanted to join forces to offer you all something as a community to help navigate your way through Holy Week at home this year. The focus should be centered around the services like always, even though we're watching them through various livestreams.Since it feels as if we've been exiled to the desert, we put our heads together and came up with the Pascha in the Desert series. Each day, one of us will be posting an at-home schedule for each day of Holy Week beginning with Lazarus Saturday and going through Holy Saturday.We're sending our prayers and virtual hugs and want to remind you that despite the uncertainty of these days, Christ is amongst us. We want you to know that you're not alone, we see you, and we're all in this together.We need to continue praying for those in authority over us so that God can enlighten them in order to find solutions. What a difficult position to be in! We also need to make sure we're praying for our pious priests and bishops, those on the frontline in the medical field, those ill, and all those still working and serving our communities. May God give them strength!So, you want to know more about the Pascha in the Desert series, right?Head over to my Instagram account and you'll find links to everyone participating! I posted some ideas for Lazarus Saturday yesterday and Amanda from Growing This Home shared Palm Sunday, and Matushka Emily from Charming the Birds from the Trees shared her Holy Monday post today and there's lots more to come next week! (Be sure to check out Amanda's YouTube video linked above!)We've got a lot more coming up and you'll have the entire week by Saturday, giving you a full week to make any necessary preparations. We created it to be simple and practical. The ideas all include things commonly found at home or in our yards, making the supplies required minimal. No going out if you can avoid it! :)Below is my favorite Lazarakia recipe. We use this every year and love it. I hope you will, too.May the joy of Pascha reign in our hearts forever!

Lazarakia Recipe

 Ingredients:

• 4 1/2 tsp. yeast
• 12-14 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 3 tsp. salt
• 2 1/2 to 3 cups lukewarm water
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 tsp. aniseed or anise extract

if available you can also add:

• 1 tsp. mahlepi
• 1/2 tsp. masticha

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup of the 2 1/2 – 3 cups lukewarm water.
3. Add sugar and salt and stire well.
4. Add remaining water, oil cinnamon and 6 cups flour and stir the mixture until creamy.
5. Slowly add enough of remaining flour to make a medium dough.
6. Divide dough into however many Lazarakia you’d like and roll into logs. Cut slits for arms and legs. Cross arms across chest and pinch a head.
7. Place on slightly greased cookie sheets, cover with towel and let rise for about an hour or until almost doubled in size.
8. Bake loaves for 20-30 minutes or until hollow when tapped on bottom.

*I do want to insert a little disclaimer here and say that at home services, while we're grateful to have them as an option during this time, are NOT in any way the same as attending church and physically being there. We miss the Mysteries terribly and should be praying for this pandemic to get under control quickly so that we can return to the church. We are NOT St. Mary of Egypt, our situation is NOT the same and we cannot use this as an excuse to become complacent about the situation. Our hearts are hurting and yearning for Holy Communion, Confession and Holy Unction--AS THEY SHOULD BE.