Holy Week: An Explanation
Great
Lent and Holy Week are two separate fasts, and two separate
celebrations. Great Lent ends on Friday of the fifth week (the day
before Lazarus Saturday). Holy Week begins immediately thereafter.
Let's explore the meaning of each of the solemn days of Passion Week.
Lazarus Saturday:
Lazarus Saturday is the day which begins Holy Week. It commemorates
the raising of our Lord's friend Lazarus, who had been in the tomb four
days. This act confirmed the universal resurrection from the dead that
all of us will experience at our Lord's Second Coming. This miracle led
many to faith, but it also led to the chief priest's and Pharisees'
decision to kill Jesus (John 11:47-57).
Palm Sunday (The Entrance of our Lord into Jerusalem):
Our Lord enters Jerusalem and is proclaimed king - but in an earthly
sense, as many people of His time were seeking a political Messiah. Our
Lord is King, of course, but of a different type - the eternal King
prophesied by Zechariah the Prophet. We use palms on this day to show
that we too accept Jesus as the true King and Messiah of the Jews, Who
we are willing to follow - even to the cross.
Holy Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday:
The first thing that must be said about these services, and most of
the other services of Holy Week, is that they are "sung" in
anticipation. Each service is rotated ahead twelve hours. The evening
service, therefore, is actually the service of the next morning, while
the morning services of Holy Thursday and Holy Saturday are actually the
services of the coming evening.
Understanding
that, let's turn to the Services of Holy Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
(celebrated Palm Sunday , Monday and Tuesday evening). The services of
these days are known as the Bridegroom or Nymphios Orthros Services. At
the first service of Palm Sunday evening, the priest carries the icon
of Christ the Bridegroom in procession, and we sing the "Hymn of the
Bridegroom." We behold Christ as the Bridegroom of the Church, bearing
the marks of His suffering, yet preparing a marriage Feast for us in
God's Kingdom.
Each of
these Bridegroom Orthros services has a particular theme. On Holy
Monday, the Blessed Joseph, the son of Jacob the Patriarch, is
commemorated. Joseph is often seen as a Type of Christ. Joseph was
betrayed by his brothers, thrown into a pit, and sold into slavery by
them. In the same way, our Lord was rejected, betrayed by His own, and
sold into the slavery of death. The Gospel reading for the day is about
the barren fig tree, which Christ cursed and withered because it bore
no fruit. The fig tree is a parable of those who have heard God's word,
but who fail to bear the fruit of obedience. Originally the withering
of the fig tree was a testimony against those Jews who rejected God's
word and His Messiah. However, it is also a warning to all people, in
all times, of the importance of not only hearing the God's word, but
putting it into action.
The
Parable of the Ten Virgins is read on Holy Tuesday. It tells the story
of the five virgins who filled their lamps in preparation for receiving
the bridegroom while the other five allowed their lamps to go out, and
hence were shut out of the marriage feast. This parable is a warning
that we must always be prepared to receive our Lord when He comes again.
The theme of the day is reinforced by the expostelarion hymn we sing:
"I see Thy Bridal Chamber adorned, O my Savior, but have no wedding
garment that I may enter. O Giver of Light, enlighten the vesture of my
soul, and save me." The theme of Holy Wednesday is repentance and
forgiveness. We remember the sinful woman who anointed our Lord in
anticipation of His death. Her repentance and love of Christ is the
theme of the wonderful "Hymn of Kassiane" which is chanted on this
night, reminding us one more time, before "it is too late," that we too
may be forgiven if we repent.
Holy Unction:
The Mystery or Sacrament of Holy Unction is celebrated on Holy
Wednesday evening. Actually this service can be celebrated any time
during the year, especially when one is ill. However, because of our
need for forgiveness and spiritual healing, we offer this service during
Holy Week for the remission of our sins. We should prepare for this
service in a prayerful way, as we do for Holy Communion.
Great and Holy Thursday:
On Holy Thursday we turn to the last events of our Lord and His
Passion. Thursday morning begins with a Vesperal Divine Liturgy
commemorating the Mystical Supper. As previously mentioned, this is
actually Holy Thursday evening's service celebrated in the morning in
anticipation. Everyone who is able should make an effort to receive
Holy Communion at this service as it was at the Mystical Supper that our
Lord instituted the Holy Eucharist. At this Liturgy a second Host is
consecrated and kept in the Tabernacle. It is from this Host that Holy
Communion is distributed to the shut-ins and the sick throughout the
coming year.
Thursday
evening actually begins the services of Great and Holy Friday. The
service of the Twelve Passion Gospels commemorates the solemn time of
our Lord's Crucifixion. After the reading of the fifth Gospel, the holy
cross is carried around the church in procession, and Christ's body is
nailed to the cross in the center of the church.
Great and Holy Friday:
This is a day of strict fast. As little as possible should be eaten
on this day. It is the only day in the entire year that no Divine
Liturgy of any kind can be celebrated. In the morning we celebrate the
Royal Hours. These solemn hours are observed as we read the various
accounts and hymns concerning the crucifixion. In the afternoon we
celebrate the Vesper service of the taking down of Christ's body from
the cross. During the Gospel reading, our Lord's body is taken off the
cross and wrapped in a new, white linen sheet. This act commemorates
the removal of Christ's body from the cross by Joseph of Arimathea (John
19:38-42). Later in the service, the Epitaphios, or winding-sheet, with
Christ's body on it is carried in procession and placed in the recently
decorated tomb. In the evening the Lamentations Orthros service is
sung. This service begins in a solemn manner, but by the end of the
service we are already anticipating the Resurrection of our Lord.
Remember again, that the Holy Friday evening Orthros is actually the
first service of Holy Saturday, the day in which we commemorate our
Lord's body resting in the tomb while His all-pure soul descends into
Hades to free the faithful of the Old Covenant.
Great and Holy Saturday:
This day is a day of hope and waiting. In the morning we celebrate a
Vesperal Divine Liturgy which commemorates Christ's victory over death.
Bright vestments are worn as we anticipate Christ's Resurrection.
Laurel leaves are strewn throughout the church during the service,
because in the ancient world laurel leaves were a sign of victory. As
the leaves are strewn, the choir chants "Arise O God and Judge the
earth, for to Thee belong all the nations." The Old Testament story of
Jonah in the belly of the whale is read at this service because Jonah is
seen in the Church as a Type of Christ. As Jonah was three days in the
belly of the great fish, and was then safely deposited back onto land,
so our Lord was three days in the tomb before His glorious Resurrection.
The Vesperal Divine Liturgy of Holy Saturday concludes the services of
Holy Week, and brings us to the eve of Great and Holy Pascha.
