Holy Week

Holy Week is a special time for Christians all around the world. It is the seven days leading up to Easter and is very important in remembering the life and teachings of Jesus. It starts with Palm Sunday, when people celebrated Jesus entering Jerusalem. During Holy Week, important events are remembered, such as the Last Supper and the events leading to Jesus' death.

In different parts of the world, Christians have many ways to honor this time. Some have special services in church, while others put on plays or create sculptures showing scenes from Jesus' life. These traditions help people think about the meaning of Jesus' teachings and his resurrection.

Holy Week ends with Easter Sunday, the day Christians believe Jesus came back to life. This time is a period of deep reflection and celebration for Christians everywhere, marking one of the most significant weeks in their religious calendar.

History

Holy Week is the week right before Easter in the liturgical year. It has been celebrated with special practices since the 3rd and 4th centuries. Early Christians often fasted during this time, especially on Friday and Saturday.

Good Friday and Holy Saturday became important days early on. Many churches today, including Lutherans, Anglicans, Methodists, Presbyterians, and Catholics, use similar services during Holy Week. The Moravian Church also has special services that follow the events of Christ's final week, starting before Palm Sunday and ending with an Easter Sunrise service.

Holy Week in Western Christianity

Holy Week is the seven days leading up to Easter. It begins with Palm Sunday, which marks Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. People waved palm branches and cheered as he arrived. This event is celebrated in many churches with special blessings and processions.

The days that follow, Holy Monday and Holy Tuesday, remember other important moments from Jesus' last days. On Holy Wednesday, the story of Judas planning to betray Jesus is remembered. Maundy Thursday celebrates the Last Supper, where Jesus shared a special meal with his disciples and introduced the tradition of Holy Communion. Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus. The week ends with Holy Saturday, a quiet day of waiting, followed by Easter Sunday, which celebrates Jesus' resurrection.

Holy Week in Eastern Christianity

Eastern Orthodoxy

In the Eastern Orthodox Church, the forty days of Great Lent end on the Friday before Palm Sunday. The two days that follow, Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday, form a transition to Holy Week, neither in Lent nor in Holy Week themselves, lightening the fast, with fish eggs being allowed on Lazarus Saturday, and fish on Palm Sunday, which is the lightest degree of fasting.

Lazarus Saturday commemorates Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, just before he went to Jerusalem himself. The main themes anticipate the Resurrection of Jesus, showing him as master over death. Palm Sunday is considered one of the Great Feasts of the Lord, therefore the normal resurrectional elements of Sunday hymnography are omitted, and the services focus on the Entry of the Lord.

Holy Week is referred to as "Great and Holy Week", or "Passion Week". In the languages of traditionally Orthodox countries, the days of Holy Week are usually called Great Monday, Great Tuesday etc.

During Holy Week, in most parishes, services usually are held earlier than the canonical time so that more faithful may attend.

Fasting during Great and Holy Week is very strict, as in Lent at a minimum: dairy products and meat products are strictly forbidden, and on most days, no alcoholic beverages are permitted and no oil is used in cooking. Holy Thursday being more joyful than the rest of the week, oil and wine are allowed, and it is traditional that hot wine be served along with dry fruit after the vesperal liturgy of Holy Saturday. Holy Friday especially may exceed Lenten norms. Those who can, including monastics, observe it as days of abstention, meaning that nothing is eaten. However, fasting is always adjusted to the needs of the individual, and those who are very young, ill or elderly are not expected to fast as strictly.

Great and Holy Monday through Wednesday

Main articles: Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday, and Holy Wednesday

A new liturgical day beginning at sunset, the first liturgy of each day is vespers at which stichera are chanted elaborating the theme of the new day.

These days' Orthros liturgies are often referred to as the "Bridegroom Prayer", because of their theme of Christ as the Bridegroom of the Church, a theme expressed in the troparion that is solemnly chanted during them. On these days, an icon of the "Bridegroom" is placed on an analogion in the center of the temple, portraying Jesus wearing the purple robe of mockery and crowned with a crown of thorns.

The same theme is repeated in the exapostilarion, a hymn which occurs near the end of the liturgy.

On vespers at the end of Monday through Wednesday is a reading from the Gospel which sets forth the new day's theme and then the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts may be celebrated.

Great and Holy Thursday

Main article: Holy Thursday

In many churches, especially Greek Orthodox, a liturgy of Anointing is held on Wednesday evening, following the Presanctified Liturgy.

Orthros of Great and Holy Thursday does not follow the format of Great Lent, but is celebrated as outside Lent, having a complete canon. Also, beginning at this liturgy there will be no more reading of the psalter for the rest of Holy Week, with the exception of kathisma XVII at Orthros of Great and Holy Saturday.

Divine Liturgy of the Last Supper is held on the morning of Great and Holy Thursday, combining Vespers with the Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great. There is a custom among some churches to place a simple white linen cloth over the Holy Table for this Liturgy. In cathedrals and monasteries it is customary for the bishop or hegumen to celebrate the Washing of Feet.

Great and Holy Thursday is the only day during Holy Week when those observing the strict tradition will eat a cooked meal, though they will not do so until after the dismissal of the Liturgy. At this meal wine and oil are permitted, but the faithful still abstain from meat and dairy products.

Great and Holy Friday

Main article: Good Friday

Matins of Great and Holy Friday is celebrated on the evening of Holy Thursday. During this liturgy, twelve Matins Gospels are chanted, from which this liturgy derives its name of "Matins of the Twelve Gospels".

On Great and Holy Friday morning the Royal Hours are served.

Vespers of Great and Holy Friday is held in the morning or early afternoon of Great and Holy Friday. The figure of Christ is taken down from the Cross, and a richly embroidered cloth icon called the Epitaphios depicting Christ prepared for burial is laid in a "Tomb" decorated with flowers. At the end of the liturgy all come forward to venerate the Epitaphios.

Compline of Great and Holy Friday contains a Canon of Lamentations of the Theotokos.

Great and Holy Saturday

Main article: Holy Saturday

Matins of Great and Holy Saturday is, in parish practice, held on Friday evening. The liturgy is known as the "Orthros of Lamentations at the Tomb", because the majority of the liturgy is composed of the clergy and faithful gathered around the tomb, chanting the "Lamentations" interspersed between the verses of Kathisma XVII. At a certain point the priest sprinkles the tomb with rose petals and rose water. Near the end of the liturgy, the Epitaphios is carried in a candlelit procession around the outside of the church as the faithful sing the Trisagion.

Vespers joined to the Divine Liturgy is served on Great and Holy Saturday. This is the Proti Anastasi (First Resurrection) liturgy, commemorating the Harrowing of Hell. Just before the reading of the Gospel, the hangings and vestments and changed from dark lenten colors to white, and the entire mood of the liturgy changes from mourning to joy. However, the faithful do not yet greet one another with the Paschal kiss, since the Resurrection has not yet been announced to the living.

If there are catechumens who are prepared for baptism they are baptized and chrismated during the Old Testament readings.

On Saturday night, the Paschal Vigil begins around 11:00 pm with the chanting of the Midnight Office. Afterwards, all of the lighting in the church is extinguished and all remain in silence and darkness until the stroke of midnight. Then, the priest lights a single candle from the eternal flame on the altar. The light is spread from person to person until everyone holds a lighted candle.

A procession then circles around the outside of the church, recreating the journey of the Myrrhbearers as they journeyed to the Tomb of Jesus on the first Easter morning. The procession stops in front of the closed doors of the church. The opening of these doors symbolized the "rolling away of the stone" from the tomb by the angel, and all enter the church joyfully singing the Troparion of Pascha. Paschal Orthros begins with an Ektenia and the chanting of the Paschal Canon.

One of the highpoints is the sharing of the paschal kiss and the reading of the Hieratikon by the priest. The Divine Liturgy follows, and every Orthodox Christian is encouraged to confess and receive Holy Communion on this holiest day of the year. A breakfast usually follows. Slavs bring Easter baskets filled with eggs, meat, butter, and cheese—to be blessed by the priest which are then taken back home to be shared by family and friends with joy.

On the afternoon of Easter Day, a joyful liturgy called "Agape Vespers" is celebrated. During this liturgy, the Great Prokeimenon is chanted and a lesson from the Gospel is read in as many different languages as possible, accompanied by the joyful ringing of bells.

Coptic Orthodox Church

Main article: Pascha (Coptic Church)

The Coptic Orthodox Christians fast the Lent for 55 days including the Holy Week which they call Holy Paschal Week.

The Friday before Palm Sunday is called "The Concluding Friday of Great Lent". On this day a special liturgy called "The Unction of the Sick" is conducted.

The following day – the last Saturday before Holy Week – is called "Lazarus Saturday". On this day the Coptic Church commemorates the Raising of Lazarus, the brother of Martha and Mary of Bethany.

Since the liturgical day starts from the evening before a calendar day, the prayers of Palm Sunday begin on the evening of Lazarus' Saturday.

Throughout Holy Week, a paschal liturgy is conducted each evening, starting on Sunday night, and every morning, up until Easter.

On Thursday of Holy Week, also called Covenant Thursday, a liturgy is prayed and communion is given to symbolize the Last Supper of Jesus. Also, before the liturgy the priests wash the feet of the congregation in imitation of Jesus washing his disciples' feet.

Late Friday night until early Saturday morning is called Apocalypse Night or Holy Saturday. During this night, another liturgy is prayed and the entire Book of Revelation is read, to symbolize the Second Coming.

The series concludes with the Easter liturgy on Saturday night, followed by a gathering in the church where the participants can celebrate the joy of the Resurrection, eating together and ending their long fast. From Easter until Pentecost the usual fasts on Wednesday and Friday are not observed, because it's a time of joy called the Holy Fifty Days.

Eastern Catholic Churches and Eastern Lutheran Churches

Holy Week observances and customs of the Eastern Catholic and Eastern Lutheran churches are generally the same as in the rites of the corresponding Eastern Orthodox or Oriental Orthodox Church or Assyrian Church of the East.

Related observances

Holy Week has grown to include days before and after it. Observances now start with Friday of Sorrows, the last Friday before Palm Sunday, and continue with Eastertide, which has many days of celebration in the week after Easter.

Friday of Sorrows

Main article: Friday of Sorrows

In many countries, religious processions that are part of Holy Week begin two days before on a day called Friday of Sorrows.

On the Friday before Holy Week, a special church celebration honored the Virgin Mary’s sadness and worry for Jesus. This celebration started in Germany and spread to many places. It was once a big part of church services but is now remembered in a simpler way in some places.

Octave of Easter

Main articles: Octave of Easter and Bright Week

The Octave of Easter, also called Bright Week in some traditions, is the eight-day period starting with Easter Sunday and ending with the next Sunday.

Easter Monday

Main article: Easter Monday

Easter Monday is the day after Easter Sunday and is a holiday in some countries. It is the second day of the Easter celebration in both Western and Eastern Christian traditions. In many places, people have special church services, blessings, and traditions like hunting for Easter eggs.

Dyngus Day in Central Europe

Main article: Śmigus-dyngus

Śmigus-dyngus, also called Dyngus Day, is a celebration on Easter Monday mostly in Poland and some other Central European countries, as well as among Polish communities in the United States.

Traditionally, people play games involving water and willow branches. The celebration may have started long ago and continues to be enjoyed in many places.

Bright Monday in the Eastern Orthodox Church

In the Eastern Orthodox Church and Byzantine Rite Catholic Churches, Easter Monday is called “Bright Monday” or “Renewal Monday”. Church services are special, and often include a procession outside the church. Sometimes, if an important saint’s day falls during Holy Week or on Easter Sunday, it is celebrated on Easter Monday instead.

Sham-Ennessim in Coptic Church

Main article: Sham Ennessim

In Egypt, a celebration called Sham Ennessim marks the beginning of spring. It always happens on the day after Easter and is a national holiday. It is especially important to the Coptic Orthodox Church.

Easter Tuesday (Emmaus Tuesday)

Main article: Easter Tuesday

Easter Tuesday is the second day after Easter Sunday and is a holiday in only a few places.

In the Latin tradition, a special Gospel story was told on this day during church services. This led to joyful plays that contrasted with the serious processions of Holy Week. These plays were popular in the Middle Ages.