My Joy in the Lord,

Long before the Church established the 40 days Fast as a preparation for Pascha (which began in the 3rd and 4th centuries), the Church observed a Holy Week of preparation. Unlike the 40 days Fast which came to be focused on spiritual development, the Holy Week was, and is, focused on the observances of the last few days of Our Lord’s life before His Crucifixion.

It begins with Lazarus Saturday and the commemoration of Lazarus resurrection from the dead. It is immediately followed by the Great Holy Day of Our Lord’s Entrance into Jerusalem.

On a side note, I call it the “Great Holy Day” instead of “Great Feast”. I do so because it is still a Fast Day. We really should change our terminology because several of the “Feast” days are, in fact, Fast Days. In Church Slavonic, these days are called “prazdniki”. The word comes from “prazdnyj” which means “empty” or “workless” day or, in modern English parlance, a “holiday” – which, interestingly enough comes from “holy day”. Thus it would be more than fitting to get rid of “Feast” day and start referring to them as “Holidays”!

So, getting back to my theme, the Great Holiday of our Lord’s Entrance into Jerusalem switches the theme from the power of God (resurrection of Lazarus) to the meekness of God (riding on a donkey). We are offered palm branches and pussywillow branches (there are no palm trees in Russia) to take home and place with our icons. At the end of the following Lent, these should be burned rather than thrown in the garbage and fresh ones received.

This is followed by three “Bridegroom” days. On Monday remembering the fig tree (again the power of God), and the end of the world. On Tuesday, a warning to avoid hypocrisy and to be prepared for the Second Coming at any moment. Finally on Wednesday, remembering the woman who anointed Jesus in asking forgiveness, contrasted with Judas who goes to betray his Lord.

By tradition, we also serve the Sacrament of Holy Unction on Holy Wednesday though this service is not found in the Triodion.

On Holy Thursday we have the Liturgy of the Last Supper in the afternoon followed by the 12 Gospels recounting His betrayal, condemnation, crucifixion, death and burial. It is a tradition (not Tradition) to hold lit candles during these 12 Gospels, then carry the fire home and leave it burning until we return from the Paschal service (either midnight or the Agape service in the morning). We have special 72 hour candles that can be purchased to take the fire home and to have burning at home.

Holy Friday is one day in the year that Communion may not be offered (except and unless someone is in danger of dying on that day). We begin with the Royal Hours which recount the crucifixion and burial, followed by the Vespers of Burial when the Epitaphios (plaschanitsa in Russian – the icon of Christ in the tomb) is brought out and placed in the middle of the Church. It is also my custom to have a Common Confession before the Epitaphios in preparation for Pascha. Friday evening we have the service of Lamentations with a procession around the church at the end of which the Epitaphios is held over our heads as we re-enter the church, kissing the Gospel book. At the end we are offered flowers to take home as symbols of burial, rebirth, and resurrection.

Finally, we celebrate the Great and Holy Saturday – the Sabbath – on which Christ rested from His redeeming act of our salvation. In the middle of the Liturgy, the colors change from dark to light. This service ends with a blessing of bread and wine which all are invited to partake in. This is the only service in the Orthodox Church which has an appointed end time (10 pm) though we end much earlier than that.

Finally, at 11:30 in Saturday night, we serve the closing service of the Triodion – Nocturne – in which we recapitulate Christ’s saving actions on the Cross.

And at midnight, we begin the service of Resurrection: the glorious announcement that Christ is Risen!

I invite everyone to come to every service during Holy Week. If you can’t come to all, see how many you can participate in so that our movement from Lent to Pascha becomes richer.

With love, in Christ,

Fr. Seraphim