Holy Week(var. Red week, Red week, Ukrainian White day, Pure day, field. Rusalna Nedzelya, Christ. Passion Week, Holy Week) - follows after Palm, the seventh last week before the Great Day (Easter), lasting six days; it begins on the Monday and ends on the Saturday preceding Easter Sunday.
Throughout the week, preparations were made for the main holiday: tables, benches, benches, windows, doors were washed. They whitewashed the stove, and even the walls. Scraping, washing the floor, shaking out the rugs, washing the dishes. From Thursday to Saturday, cooking was going on at the stove and in the yard: the housewives baked Easter cakes, dyed eggs, baked meat; men set up swings, prepared firewood for the holiday, etc. The villagers tried to be laconic. As during the entire Lent, loud street singing was avoided, there were no street games and round dances. According to the beliefs of the Bulgarians, the samovils monitored the observance of traditions. According to Slavic beliefs, before or after Great Day, the ancestors return to earth, where they stay for some time.
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Holy Week Holy Week is a special period in Christianity. This is the last week before Easter, following Palm Sunday and established in memory of suffering and martyrdom Jesus Christ. They also call this week: Holy Week, Holy Week, Terrible Week, Great Week, Great Week, Red, Chervona, Holy Week, White Day, Clean Day. The last six days of Great Lent are devoted to memories of the last days of the Savior's earthly life, of His sufferings, crucifixion, death on the cross, and burial. This week is especially honored by the Church. This week is called Great, because in this week great and supernatural miracles and extraordinary deeds of our Savior took place. In Christianity, all the days of Holy Week are called "Great" - Great Monday, Great Tuesday, etc., the epithet "Passion" is also used. According to ancient custom, Holy Week begins on Sunday and ends on Saturday. During Holy Week, the Last Supper, the judgment, the crucifixion and burial of Jesus Christ are remembered. Divine services during Holy Week are of particular importance. During Holy Week, fasting is especially strict. The path of Passion Week is the path of fasting, confession and communion. Every day of Holy Week is filled with sacred meaning. Within just one week, Jesus Christ learned the price of human love and betrayal, life and death. At the beginning of Passion Week, he entered Jerusalem, in the middle he was captured and put to suffering, at the end of the week he was crucified. The course of the church service changes depending on what event happened on a certain day of the week preceding Easter. Every day of Holy Week is great and holy, and on each of them special services are performed in all churches. During Holy Week, the Orthodox Church does not celebrate the days of its Saints, does not commemorate the dead, and does not conduct such sacraments as weddings and baptisms. This is the week before Easter, every day of which is great and holy. Orthodox Christians spend this time praying fervently and staying in strict abstinence. Let's look at each day separately. Palm Sunday On Palm Sunday, the Savior entered Jerusalem to preach there, to be arrested, and to suffer. Jesus Christ knew what was ahead of him, and made a conscious sacrifice for the sake of the one whom he loved most in the world - for the sake of man. The inhabitants of Jerusalem accepted Jesus as a prophet and greeted him with palm branches in their hands. In the Slavic countries, they decided to replace them with willow branches. On this day, people consecrate willows in temples. From Monday to Wednesday, Jesus Christ preached in Jerusalem. Knowing that the period of his earthly life was coming to an end, he tried to put as much information into the ears of his listeners as possible. Great Monday On Monday, the story of the fig tree is remembered, on which Jesus found no fruit and withered it. This barren tree symbolizes souls that do not bear spiritual fruit in the Kingdom of God - true repentance, faith, prayers and good deeds. On this day, the biblical Joseph is also remembered - the son of Jacob, whom the brothers sold into slavery in Egypt, as a prototype of the suffering Jesus Christ. Joseph was brought out of prison and placed over Egypt. It is allowed to eat vegetables, fruits, bread. Maundy Tuesday On Maundy Tuesday, Jesus denounces the Pharisees and scribes, as well as the parables uttered by Him in the Jerusalem Temple: about the tribute to Caesar and the resurrection of the dead, also about the Last Judgment and the end of the world, about ten virgins and talents. They eat hot on this day without the presence of vegetable varieties of oil in food. Great Wednesday Wednesday of Holy Week is the day on which Christ was given over to suffering. On Wednesday, two important events take place: the repentant sinner Mary of Magdala pours precious ointment on the feet of a tired Jesus and receives forgiveness, washing Christ’s feet with tears and anointing with precious ointment, thus preparing Him for burial. On Great Wednesday, Christians remember with sorrow the decision of Judas Iscariot to betray his Teacher for 30 pieces of silver. This day is significant for the celebration of the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, the cessation of great prostrations. Maundy Thursday On Maundy Thursday, Christians remember four events: 1. The Last Supper takes place on Thursday, during which Jesus Christ gives the last instructions to his disciples and foreshadows his imminent death and resurrection. 2. Washing by the Lord of the feet of his disciples 3. The Savior goes to the Garden of Gethsemane, where he prays and reminds the apostles that they cannot sleep that night. 4. But the apostles fall asleep, and, betrayed by Judas, Christ, on the night of Thursday to Friday, falls into the hands of Roman soldiers. Another betrayal falls to the share of Christ: a frightened Peter renounces his teacher in front of the soldiers. Good Thursday, also known as "Thursday" Good Friday - Good Friday Good Friday is the day when Jesus Christ was tortured, judged and crucified on the cross. After several hours of unbearable suffering, Christ dies crucified on the cross. This is the most mournful day of Holy Week, the day of sadness and strict fast. There is no liturgy on Good Friday. Divine services are dedicated to the crucifixion and death of Christ. There is no liturgy, and Christians hold burning candles - a symbol of the greatness of the Lord. According to the custom, alms are given to the poor, it is customary to distribute various foodstuffs to poor people. Even for those who did not fast during Lent, the priests strongly recommend that this Friday refrain from eating fast food and alcohol. Holy Saturday On Saturday, faithful disciples bury the body of Jesus Christ. Saturday is the most mysterious day of Holy Week. While the body of Christ lies in the tomb, his soul descends into hell, where it forgives the ancient prophets and the righteous who lived before the birth of Jesus. Hell groans with anger as Christ establishes his authority even in the realm of the devil. Only a few hours remain until Easter - the great day that marked the victory over death. On Great Saturday, one should prepare for the coming of the Resurrection of Christ. After the morning service, Easter, eggs, Easter cakes are consecrated in all churches. Priests dress in bright clothes and celebrate the liturgy. On Saturday, the Holy Fire descends in Jerusalem. After Great Saturday, Easter comes. Holy Week for Christians For a Christian, Holy Week is a time of strict fasting and repentance. The Church Fathers prescribe to spend this time in prayers and abstinence, visit the temple, attend services, confess sins. Being present in Holy Week at church services representing all events last days Savior, as if taking place before us, we mentally go through the whole majestically touching and immeasurably edifying history of the sufferings of Christ. The Holy Church calls us this week to leave everything vain and worldly and follow our Savior. The Fathers of the Church composed and arranged the services of Holy Week in such a way that they reflect all the sufferings of Christ. The temple these days alternately represents either the Zion Upper Room and Gethsemane, or Golgotha. The Divine Services of Passion Week were furnished by the Holy Church with a special external grandeur, sublime, inspired hymns and a whole series of deeply significant rites that are performed only in this week. Slavic traditions True believers are encouraged to reflect on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, the events of the last days of his earthly life during Holy Week. The Russian people fulfilled the precepts of the Orthodox Church: they prayed, kept a strict fast, tried to attend church all week, behave with dignity, at this time it was forbidden to have fun, sing songs, laugh. Throughout the week, preparations are underway for the main Easter holiday: houses, yards, gates, and wells are being put in order. Previously, the stove was whitewashed, and even the walls. It is believed that Holy Week is a time of rampant evil spirits. According to Slavic traditions, before or after the Great Day, the ancestors return to earth, where they stay for some time. During Holy Week, many rituals of a cleansing and protective nature were performed. Holy Thursday, Maundy Thursday. Customs prescribe to wake up before dawn and begin to cleanse yourself and your home. Folk traditions call this day "Maundy Thursday". Accordingly, believers at this time strive for both spiritual and bodily purification. Candles lit in the church and brought into the home, according to legend, bring happiness. On Maundy Thursday, according to Russian custom, it was necessary to wash the whole house: floors, ceilings, walls, doors and windows, clean icon frames, dry everything that had been stored in chests for the whole winter, burn old straw beds, throw away old shoes, clothes, take out all garbage, thoroughly wash all the dishes in the house. After Maundy Thursday and until Easter itself, the house was no longer cleaned and swept, this prohibition was explained by the fear of dusting the eyes of Jesus Christ lying in the tomb. On the same day, ritual ablutions of people were widespread, which were supposed to cleanse a person from sins, give him health, beauty. They were usually held at sunrise, before the birds wake up, when the water is still "not stained with anything." Ablution was carried out on a river, pond, lake or at home. People tried to enhance the magical effect of water by performing various additional ritual actions. So, silver coins were thrown into the water prepared for ablution, as well as into a natural reservoir, which, according to legend, had cleansing properties. On Maundy Thursday, according to custom, eggs were dyed, Easter cake was baked, Easter was made from cottage cheese. Kulich had to be baked, according to the peasants, on Thursday, since on this day Jesus Christ broke bread and gave it to his disciples to eat with the words “this is My Body”. On Good Friday - the day of the crucifixion of Christ on the cross - all work was prohibited. On Holy Saturday, Easter cake, Easter and painted eggs were consecrated in churches. Holy Saturday ends Great Lent. You need to go to church and bless the prepared Easter cakes and other Easter food. No food is allowed until the end of the night service. After the end of the procession comes Great Easter
Pure, Terrible, Great Monday
The week of preparation for the meeting of the Holy Resurrection begins. On this day, they washed and whitewashed huts, cleaned cattle. Anyone who sincerely fasts on Clean Monday (does not eat or drink all day) will, as they say in the Vitebsk region, successfully find bird nests in summer. The Gomel Poleshchuks avoided keeping anything unclean (from food) in the house on this Monday and Tuesday, so that spoilage would not attack people and beef (cattle) [ ] . The peasants said about this day: “From Great Monday to Great Day whole week, up to the throats of the women of the case! .
In the Kherson region, a big commemoration for the ancestors is held at the "Living Monday" - "Dead Great Day".
Clean Tuesday
On Tuesday of the last week of Great Lent in the villages of the Tula province, flaxseed and hemp seeds are collected from the bins together, crushed in a mortar, and then juiced milk is prepared from them with water. All this is done in the morning, before dawn. Such milk is given to all domestic animals at dawn, as a precaution against future diseases. Here is the main condition: men should not know this business, otherwise it will be useless. According to the remarks of the old women, it is known that if an animal does not drink juicy milk, then no good can be expected in it; it is then already either sick or enchanted [ ] .
Passion Wednesday
On a passionate Wednesday, they douse the cattle with snow water.
In Belarus, on the eve of Maundy Thursday, they put bread, salt and soap under the roof. With that bread, cattle were driven out of the barn against Yuri, salt was later used as a remedy for the evil eye, and the next day before sunrise, they washed themselves in a bathhouse with soap to be clean (healthy) for a whole year. If the bread taken out froze during the night, it was assumed that the spring ones would also freeze [ ] .
Clean Thursday
Pure Thursday, depending on the region, was called: “Navsky Great Day” (Ukrainian), Tree Thursday (Belarusian), Zhilnik (Belarusian)
Before sunrise (“until the crow ransomed its children”), the whole family should bathe so that illnesses and illnesses do not stick all year, and during the day they remove water, hang out to dry winter clothes. From the memoirs of a Voronezh peasant woman: “Clean Thursday is bathing. We got up early in the morning, before dawn, before sunrise. Grandmother would boil water with succession, wake me up early, before sunrise, and start by washing my hair. She washed my head - "Our Father" once read; she washed me up to the waist - she read “Our Father” a second time; and the third time she reads "Our Father", when she washed my legs and everything below the waist. Three times she read "Our Father", finishing: "Send, Lord, health to me and my child." Then she washed herself. She did not pour out this water, she gave it to the goats to drink. The goats drank it with pleasure. Everyone bathed before sunrise. Clean Thursday was not celebrated. Thursday, Friday, Saturday were revered as strict days. Everyone was at home, the village was quiet. The nights were dark and eerie. Bathed, washed, washed everything. They also slaughtered a pig before the sun, its fat was considered healing [ ] .
In the Kiev region, Podillya and the Left Bank, “clean Thursday” is Navsky Great Day (nav, other Russian - dead man, other world). According to old beliefs, God releases the souls of the dead from the "other world" three times a year: the first time on "Maundy Thursday", the second time when the life blooms (probably on Semik), and the third time - on Spas. Mythological stories about the exit of the dead on Good Thursday have been preserved in Northern Russian and Ruthenian (among the Lemkos) materials [ ] [ ] .
On the Russian-Belarusian borderland, in the east of Belarus and in the Western Russian territories, large community bonfires are burned on Good Thursday.
Good Friday
They said about Friday in Passion Week: “Whoever fasts this Friday, that person will be saved from enemies and robbers” [ ] .
Holy Saturday
Holy Saturday (rus. Dye Saturday, Belarusian Red Saturday, Vyalikzen Valachobny, Ukrainian great day saturday, Serbian Vrbica) - the eve of the Great Day.
In Belarus, bonfires were lit on the eve of Great Day. On Holy Saturday, back in the 20th century, in some villages of Belarus, a rite was observed that came from hoary antiquity: 12 girls, wearing white shirts, took a plow and prayerfully made a furrow around the village with it - they wanted to fence themselves off from everything dashing for a whole year [ ] .
In the west of Polissya, in Poland, Slovenia, the ban on sleeping during the all-night vigil was motivated by the threat of crop failure: they believed that the owner, who fell asleep / lay on Easter night, would fall rye, wheat and flax, the fields would be overgrown with weeds, etc. .
Treat of the merman
It was believed that the merman lies on the river bottom all winter and sleeps. deep sleep. By spring, he - pretty hungry for hibernation - wakes up, begins to break the ice and tortures the fish to death: to spite the fishermen. That is why they are trying to propitiate the angry river governor with a treat. After that, he becomes more accommodating, more accommodating and he himself begins to guard the fish, entice "for princely bread" big fish from other rivers, saves fishermen on the waters during storms and untangles their seine [ ] .
Sayings and signs
see also
Notes
- “Rusalna nedzelya, yih try: big day, on Trinity and on Christmas”. –See: Tolstaya S. M. Polessky folk calendar - M .: Indrik, 2005 - S. 216.
- , with. 161.
- , with. 267.
- , with. 102.
- , with. 163.
- , with. 209.
- , with. 257.
- Thursday candle // SEM
- Wiping fire // SEM
- Thursday bread // SEM
- Thursday salt // SEM
- Veres // REM
- , with. 621.
- Folk bichaјand and religion
- , A. Korinfsky believed that in the old days Holy Week was dedicated to Perun, and bonfires were lit on the hills in his honor., p. 213, 222.
- , with. 642.
- , with. 214-215.
- , with. 214-215.
- , with. 459.
- , with. 457.
Literature
- Bonfire / T.A.Agapkina // Slavic Antiquities: Ethnolinguistic Dictionary: in 5 volumes / ed. ed. N. I. Tolstoy; . - M. : Int. relations, 2004. - V. 3: K (Circle) - P (Quail). - S. 620–6271. - ISBN 5-7133-1207-0.
- Agapkina T. A. Mythopoetic foundations of the Slavic folk calendar. Spring-summer cycle. - M.: Indrik, 2002. - 816 p. - (Traditional spiritual culture Slavs. Modern research).
- Easter /
Holy Week is the last days before Easter. These days, believers remember the path of suffering and the death of the Savior on the Cross, so that later they can celebrate His Bright Resurrection with joy.
Holy Week-2018
In 2018, or Holy Week (or, as they say, Holy Week) runs from April 2 to April 7. On the last day of the week - April 8 - the Orthodox celebrate the bright holiday of Easter.
It is believed that during this period you need to go to services and cleanse yourself as much as possible for the bright holiday of Easter.
Holy Week: what to eat
In terms of strictness in restricting food, Holy Week is equal to the first week of Great Lent:
- Monday- dry eating (vegetables and fruits are eaten raw, bread, water are also allowed);
- Tuesday- dry eating;
- Wednesday- dry eating;
- Thursday- warm food, but cooked without oil, and only once a day;
- Friday- on this day they do not eat anything in the morning - until the removal of the Shroud, which symbolizes the removal of Jesus from the Cross. At the same time, a strict fast is observed on this day: only bread and water are allowed;
- Saturday- according to the canon, only wine is allowed at the meal;
- Sunday- both meat products and wine are already allowed.
Holy Week: Do's and Don'ts
Every day of Passion Week is great and holy. In all churches, special services are performed, and the temples these days represent either the Zion Upper Room and Gethsemane, or Golgotha.
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Holy Week are devoted to the last conversations of Christ with the disciples and the people. And on Thursday, the reading of the Passion of Christ begins, so that people remember and honor His sufferings.
You need to finish all the work around the house - repair, paint, clean.
Complete the repair of clothes, washing, ironing.
On this day, the last garbage is taken out of the house. They also begin to prepare eggs for dyeing, stocking up with everything necessary (for example, onion peel, if they want, according to the canon, paint the eggs red).
On Maundy Thursday it is customary to bathe - and certainly before sunrise. Candles are lit in churches, which must be saved and brought home, as such a candle will protect the house from fire throughout the year.
By popular belief, on this day the souls of the righteous return to earth to produce the "Dead Easter", so at night in the church you can supposedly see the dead priests and parishioners.
Great Sunday - Easter
This day marks the end of Lent and Easter Sunday.
Earlier, Glavred wrote about. By the way, in Ukraine the holiday of the Resurrection of Christ is approved at the state level.
Holy Week- last before . It is dedicated to the memory of the last days of earthly life: His suffering, death on the cross and burial (in Church Slavonic the word "passion" means "suffering"). All days of Passion Week are called great.
This week is especially honored by the Church. “All days - it is said in - is superior to the Holy and Great Forty Days, but more than the Holy Forty Days is the Holy and Great Week (passionate), and this Great and Holy Saturday is greater than the Great Week itself. This week is called great, not because its days or hours are longer (others), but because great and supernatural miracles and extraordinary deeds of our Savior took place in this week ... ”.
Remembering the events of the last days of the Savior’s earthly life in the Divine Service, the Saint follows every step with an attentive eye of love and reverence, listens to every word of Christ the Savior coming to the free passion, gradually leads us in the footsteps of the Lord throughout His entire way of the cross, from Bethany to the Place of the Skull , from His royal entry into Jerusalem and until the last moment of His redemptive suffering for human sins on the cross, and further - until the bright triumph of Christ's Resurrection.
The first three days of this week are devoted to intense preparation for the Passion of Christ.
In accordance with the fact that Jesus Christ, before His sufferings, spent all the days in the temple, teaching the people, the Holy Church distinguishes these days with a particularly long Divine service.
Trying to gather and focus the attention and thoughts of believers in general on the entire Gospel story of the incarnation of the God-Man and His service to the human race, the Holy Church on the first three days of Passion Week reads the entire Four Gospels on the clock.
AT Great Wednesday I remember the sinful wife who washed her tears and anointed the feet of the Savior with precious ointment when He was at the supper in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, and thereby prepared Christ for burial. Here, Judas, with imaginary concern for the poor, revealed his love of money, and in the evening he decided to betray Christ to the Jewish elders for 30 pieces of silver (an amount sufficient at the then prices to acquire a small plot of land even in the vicinity of Jerusalem).
On Great Wednesday at the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, after the prayer behind the ambo, the prayer of the monk is said for the last time with three great prostrations.
On Thursday During Passion Week, the divine service commemorates four major evangelical events that took place on that day: the Last Supper, at which the Lord established the New Testament sacrament of Holy Communion (Eucharist), the Lord’s washing of the feet of His disciples as a sign of deepest humility and love for them, the Savior’s prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, and betrayal of Judas.
In commemoration of the events of this day, after the prayer behind the ambo at the Liturgy in cathedrals, during the hierarchal service, a touching rite of washing the feet is performed, which resurrects in our memory the immeasurable condescension of the Savior, who washed the feet of His disciples before the Last Supper.
On this day, the Lord established the Sacrament of Communion, so all Orthodox Christians strive to partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ on the Divine. Troparion of the day “When the glorious disciple is enlightened at the washing of the supper, then Judas, the wicked with the love of money, becomes darkened, and betrays the righteous Judge to the lawless judges. See, the property of the zealot, who used the strangulation for this sake: run the unsatisfied soul to the Teacher who dared. Who is good about all, Lord, glory to Thee”
Great Heel Day dedicated to the memory of condemnation to death, suffering on the Cross and the death of the Savior. In the worship of this day, the Church, as it were, sets us at the foot of Christ and before our reverent and trembling gaze depicts the saving sufferings of the Lord. At Matins of the Great Heel (it is served on Thursday evening), the 12 Gospels of the Testament of the Holy Passion are read.
There is no Liturgy on Good Friday, since on this day the Lord Himself sacrificed Himself, and the Royal Hours are celebrated.
Vespers is served at the third hour of the day (14.00), at the hour of the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, in remembrance of the removal from the cross of the body of Christ and His burial. When singing the troparion: “Noble-looking Joseph, from the tree we will take down Your most pure body, wrapping it in a clean shroud, and covering it with stench in a new tomb.(Translation: “The noble Joseph, having removed Your most pure Body from the cross, wrapped it in a shroud and anointed it with fragrances, put it in a new tomb”)” the clergy raise the Shroud (that is, the image of Christ lying in the tomb) from the Throne, as if from Golgotha, and they carry her out of the altar into the middle of the temple, offering lamps and burning incense. The shroud is placed on a specially prepared table (tomb). Then the clergy and all the worshipers bow before the Shroud and kiss the ulcers of the Lord depicted on it: His pierced ribs, hands and feet. In the evening there is a second service with a procession.
The shroud is located in the middle of the temple for three (incomplete) days, thus reminiscent of the three-day stay of Jesus Christ in the tomb.
This is a day of strict fasting, when nothing can be eaten, according to at least, before the removal of the Shroud. This is the strictest day of the year.
On Holy Saturday(the service begins on Good Friday evening) The Church commemorates the burial of Jesus Christ, the stay of His body in the tomb, the descent of the soul into hell to proclaim victory over death and the deliverance of souls who with faith awaited His coming, and the introduction of the prudent thief into.
On Great Saturday, a liturgy is celebrated, beginning with vespers. After a small entrance with the Gospel (near the Shroud), 15 paramias are read before the Shroud, which contain the main prophecies and types relating to Jesus Christ, as having redeemed us from sin and death by His death on the Cross and His Resurrection. After the 6th Parimia (about the miraculous crossing of the Jews through the Red Sea), the chant is: "Gloriously glorified." The reading of the parimias concludes with the song of the three youths: "Sing to the Lord and exalt unto all ages." Instead of the Trisagion, “They were baptized into Christ” and the Apostle is read about the mysterious power of Baptism. This singing and reading serve as a remembrance of the custom of the ancient Church to baptize catechumens on Holy Saturday. After the reading of the Apostle, instead of "Alleluia", seven verses selected from the psalms containing prophecies about the Resurrection of the Lord are sung: "Rise, O God, judge the earth." During the singing of these verses, the clergy change into bright clothes. Instead of the Cherubic Hymn, the song "Let all human flesh be silent" is sung. At the twelfth hour of the night, the Midnight Office is celebrated, at which the canon of Great Saturday is sung. At the end of the Midnight Office, the clergy silently transfer the Shroud from the middle of the temple to the altar through the Royal Doors and place it on the throne, where it remains until the feast of the Ascension of the Lord, in memory of the forty-day sojourn of Jesus Christ on earth after His resurrection from the dead.
After that, believers reverently await the onset of midnight, at which bright Paschal joy begins. greatest holiday Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Paschal joy is a holy joy that does not and cannot be equal on the whole earth. It's endless eternal joy eternal life and bliss. She is exactly the joy that the Lord Himself said: “Your heart will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy from you” ().
What happened on Holy Week by day can be read in detail in the four Gospels, plus, if a person goes to church these days, then at the sermons after the service, you can learn a lot of interesting things about those events, as well as better understand their interpretation.
This strict week of fasting is dedicated to the memories of the last days of the Savior's earthly life, his suffering, crucifixion, death and then burial. Every day of Holy Week is considered majestic and important. These days are perceived in Christianity as Divine Feast who is illumined by salvation through suffering and death. On these days, no commemoration services are performed, no prayer services are sung, and no liturgy is held on Good Friday.
Since the time of the apostles, this week has been especially revered by Christians. At the very beginning, there was not yet a long seven-week fast on the eve of the holiday, but a strict fast on Holy Week was established and strictly observed even then. This time, if you approach each day correctly, is filled with experiences, contemplation and sorrow.
What Happened During Holy Week
Great Monday
On this day, the Old Testament story about Patriarch Joseph the Beautiful is remembered. His brothers envied him and sold him into slavery in Egypt, but Joseph was still able to live a decent life and help the Egyptian people. Also on this day, they remember the withering that Jesus Christ spent on a fig tree covered with rich greenery. This plant has many leaves, but does not bear fruit.
Similarly, the scribes, the Pharisees clearly positioned their piety, but in fact they did not believe in the Lord, they did not live according to the prescriptions of God. Similarly, the soul of a person who only externally believes will not bear spiritual fruit.
Maundy Tuesday
It is written in the Gospel how on this day the Lord God Jesus Christ, already in Jerusalem, denounced the scribes and Pharisees. In the Temple in Jerusalem, Jesus told parables and talked to ordinary people. He's a story about the future resurrection of the dead about the Last Judgment.
Also on this day, they remember Mary, who washed Jesus' feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. Judas on that day in the Jerusalem temple showed great concern for the poor, revealing his compassion and already in the evening of that day decided to sell Christ for thirty silver coins. At that time, that kind of money could only buy a small piece of land near Jerusalem.
Great Wednesday
On this day of Passion Week, the betrayal of Judas Iscariot is remembered. At the liturgy on this day, a prayer is said for the last time Saint Ephraim Sirina. It is believed that it is this prayer that the laity should read daily during the entire Great Lent.
Maundy Thursday
The people know that this Thursday is also called, you can cook Thursday salt. But exactly what gospel events are remembered on this day? The Last Supper took place - the last supper of Jesus with his disciples, where he told that it was a complete betrayal and that tomorrow he would be arrested.
Good Friday
The worst day is the trial of Jesus Christ, his crucifixion and death on Krset. In the morning, the 12th Gospel of the Holy Passion of Christ is read, in the evening the shroud is taken out to the center of the temple. From this day until the end of the Easter service, according to the strict church charter, the clergy must abstain from food.
Holy Saturday
Memories on this day are dedicated to the burial of Jesus Christ, his stay in the tomb. On this day, the soul of Jesus descended into hell to proclaim the victory of life over death and deliver sinful souls from suffering. Services begin early in the morning and continue throughout the day until Easter midnight.
These are the exact events that took place on Holy Week more than two thousand years ago, when the Savior lived and walked the earth, professed Christianity and gave people freedom from sins, hope for future life. On Holy Week, every believing Christian should try to lead a righteous life, give up entertainment, go to church or pray fervently at home. We hope that this period of fasting will be useful to you as a strong and correct spiritual preparation on the eve of the joyful feast of Easter.
Alena Baltseva 03/31/2015 9548
We offer a chronology of events of Holy Week - the last week before Easter.
Holy Week is the most important week of Great Lent, when believers remember the last days of the life of Jesus Christ on this earth. For most of Christendom, which uses the Gregorian calendar, it has already arrived. In our area, where churches still celebrate holidays according to the Julian calendar, Holy Week will begin on April 25 and end with Easter on May 1.
Holy Week is called because during it the “passion” (that is, suffering) of Jesus Christ occurred.
The suffering of Christ, His death and Resurrection is a key moment in Christianity, therefore believers treat the Great Week with special trepidation. If for you Easter is not just an occasion to gather with your family for Easter cakes, but a holiday that you want to celebrate consciously, this article is for you.
We offer you a chronology of the Gospel events of Holy Week.
Palm Sunday, April 24
Even though Holy Week technically starts on Monday, it is worth mentioning Palm (or Palm) Sunday as the culmination of the last days of the life of Jesus Christ.
Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem, fresco by Giotto, 14th century
Events
On the last Sunday before Easter, believers celebrate the Lord's Entry into Jerusalem. According to the Gospels, on this day, Jesus Christ, together with his disciples, solemnly entered the main city for the Jews, sitting on a donkey. This was the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and showed that he was moving in peace.
As the Gospel describes, the inhabitants of Jerusalem met Jesus Christ as the king and the long-awaited Messiah and paved the way in front of him with their clothes and palm branches. That is why Sunday was called Palm Sunday.
In our area, where palm trees simply do not grow, exotic leaves were found worthy replacement- willow branches that just bloom for Easter. It is customary on this day to come to church with a bouquet of twigs, consecrate them and keep them at home.
Great Monday, April 25
The first day of Holy Week, from which fasting becomes stricter.
The Curse of the Fig Tree, Book miniature from an Arabic Gospel of the 17th century.
Events
According to the evangelists, the day after his solemn entry into Jerusalem, Jesus curses the barren fig tree. This story is remembered in the church as a warning to all Christians whose faith does not bear good fruit in the form of sincere repentance, love, mercy.
On the same day, Christ mourns Jerusalem, foreseeing that the Jews will reject and kill Him. After that, he drives out merchants from the Jerusalem temple, who turned religious rites into profitable business, and the temple - in the "den of robbers."
AT Orthodox churches on this day, it is also customary to remember the Old Testament story about Joseph, who was sold by his brothers into slavery in Egypt, and as a result, from a servant "grew" to right hand pharaoh and subsequently saved his family from starvation. Joseph is seen as a type of Christ who suffered for His people to save them.
Maundy Tuesday, April 26
Holy Tuesday. Sometimes called Maundy Tuesday.
Wise and Foolish Virgins, Peter von Cornelius, 19th century
Events
On Tuesday morning, the apostles notice that the cursed fig tree has dried up.
Christ preaches in the temple and denounces the priests and elders. After alone with the disciples, he predicts the Apocalypse and His second coming.
On that day, Judas Iscariot plans to betray Christ.
On Holy Week Tuesday, the churches read the words of Christ spoken by Him in the Temple:
About the tribute to Caesar ("Caesar - Caesar's, and God - God's").
- About the resurrection of the dead (“God is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living”).
- About the most important commandment (“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength”, the second main commandment is “Love your neighbor as yourself”).
- The parable of 10 virgins, etc.
Great Wednesday, April 27
Events
The events of this day are not described in the Gospel. On this day, Jesus did not appear in Jerusalem and was in its suburb - Bethany.
Betrayal of Judas, Duccio, 13th century
On this day, believers remember how Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus Christ, for which he received 30 pieces of silver. It also recalls how one of Christ's disciples, named Mary, anointed His feet with precious oil as an omen that He would soon die.
Maundy Thursday, April 28
Good Thursday, Pure Thursday, Pure Thursday.
The Last Supper, fresco by Leonardo da Vinci, 15th century
Events
The Last Supper - Jesus celebrates the Jewish Passover (Passover) with the 12 Apostles: he washes their feet, establishes the sacrament of Communion, which has since been held in all Christian churches.
Judas Iscariot comes out to arrange Christ's arrest. Jesus and the remaining disciples go to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane, where he asks the Father to deliver Him from death on the cross (“let this cup pass from me”), but in the end he obeys His will. This moment is also called the struggle in Gethsemane and the prayer for the cup.
Judas betrays Christ with a kiss, who is immediately taken into custody.
The apostles scatter in fear, only the apostle Peter watches what is happening from afar, and as a result, during the night Peter denies Jesus three times, as He predicted.
In churches, passages from the Gospel are read about the events of this day. Among the people, Maundy Thursday was called clean, since on this day it was customary to do general cleaning in the house on the eve of Easter and go to the bathhouse.
Good Friday, April 29
Carrying the Cross, Hieronymus Bosch, 15th century
Events
Judgment on Christ:
1. First interrogation- in front of the priest Anna.
2. Second interrogation before the Sanhedrin supreme court Jews) and the high priest Caiaphas.
3. Third interrogation- again before the Sanhedrin. Renunciation of Peter. Christ is accused of blasphemy and sent to the Romans.
4. Fourth interrogation- before Pontius Pilate, prefect of Judea. Pilate finds no crime for Jesus and sends him to Herod, the ruler of Galilee.
5. Fifth interrogation before Herod. Herod asks Christ to perform some miracle, but he does not answer him.
6. Sixth and final interrogation- again before Pilate.
- Jesus is beaten with whips.
- Pilate offers to let Christ go, but the crowd demands crucifixion.
- Pilate washes his hands and sends Christ to be executed.
- Soldiers humiliate Christ, "crown" Him crown of thorns and share His clothes among themselves.
- Judas commits suicide.
- Jesus carries His cross to Calvary (around 9 am).
Denial of Peter, Carl Bloch, 19th century
Jesus on the Cross
- A sign is hung on the cross of Jesus, where instead of accusation it says "King of the Jews."
- The crowd insults Christ. Jesus asks the Father to "forgive them, for they know not what they do."
- Jesus promises the repentant thief crucified nearby that he will be with Him in Paradise on the same day.
- Jesus entrusts the care of His mother Mary to the apostle John.
- It gets dark at 3pm.
- Jesus dies on the Cross.
- The veil in the Temple, which separated the Holy of Holies, is torn in two (this is understood as a symbol of the change old testament new).
- There is an earthquake. As described in the Gospels, the dead are raised and come out of the tombs.
- By sunset, the body of Christ is buried in a tomb, the entrance to which is covered with a huge stone.
On Good Friday, believers adhere to a particularly strict fast. At church services on this day, they take out the shroud, which symbolizes the fabric in which the body of Christ was wrapped. Some abstain from food completely until the Sabbath.
Holy Saturday, April 30
Holy Saturday, Greek icon
Events
What is known about the events of that day from the Gospel is only that the Jewish elders convinced the Romans to put guards on the tomb of Jesus, fearing that the disciples would steal the body and announce the resurrection of the teacher.
On this day, Old Testament prophecies about Christ are read in churches. Easter cakes and eggs are also consecrated.
Holy Sunday of Christ, May 1
Easter, Resurrection of Christ.
Resurrection of Christ, fresco by Fra Angelico, 15th century
Events
- Early in the morning the disciples of Christ (in Orthodox tradition they are called “myrrh-bearing women”, because they came to the tomb with ointment - embalming oil) find His tomb empty. An angel announces to them the resurrection of Jesus.
- Christ appears to Mary Magdalene and instructs her to tell the apostles about His resurrection.
- Jesus appears to two disciples on the road to Emmaus.
- Christ appears to the astonished disciples (Thomas, who would later be called the unbeliever, was not with them then).
Easter is the central holiday in Christianity. Its offensive begins to be celebrated from the evening of Holy Saturday. And the traditions of the celebration (christening, egg exchange, etc.) are already familiar to you.
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