GREAT AND HOLY WEEK: Great Holy and Monday Morning

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God, and Savior,

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

Great Holy and Monday Morning

“Both watch and pray…”

(The service is Orthros (Matins) of Holy Tuesday Morning
sung in anticipation of Holy Monday Evening.)

Great and Holy Tuesday of Holy Week commemorates the Parable of the Ten Virgins, Matthew 25:1-13. Ethical preparation and wakefulness are the foundations of vivid faith. The Parable of the Ten Virgins is developed around the theme of the Bridegroom: “Why are Thou heedless, O my soul?… Work most diligently with the talent which has been confided to thee; both WATCH and PRAY.” The hymnologist reminds us “I do not possess a torch aflame with virtue, and the foolish virgin I imitate when it is the time for action”; and into the splendor of thy Saints, how can I , who am unholy, enter?” The exhortation is given: “Come, Ye faithful, let us work earnestly for the Master…increase our talent of grace…Wisdom through good works.”

The Gospel is Matthew 22:15-23 through
23:39; 24:26 through 26:2

GREAT HOLY TUESDAY EVENING

“When he came to himself…he came to his
father…”

(The service is Orthros (Matins) of Great Holy Wednesday Morning
sung in anticipation on Tuesday evening.}

On Great Holy Wednesday of Great and Holy Week (sung in
anticipation, now on Holy Tuesday evening), it has been ordained by the Holy Fathers of the Church that commemoration should be made of the anointing of Christ with myrrh by the woman in the house of Simon, the leper, in Bethany. Repentance was the mission of the holy Prophets. It would be an apt one-word title for the Holy Bible, because “repentance” was the mission of our Lord. This woman who demonstrated her repentance and her warm faith toward our Lord still presents to us the aroma of her virtue for imitation today.

On this evening is such the beautiful “Hymn of Cassiane,” probably a work of Patriarch Photius. It begins: “The woman who had fallen into many sins recognized thy Godhead, O Lord; Woe to me, saith she; receive the sources of my tears, O Thou who doth gather into clouds the water of the sea. Who can trace out the multitude of my sins and the abysses of my misdeeds? O thou whose mercy is unbounded.”

The Holy Gospel reading is John 12:17-50

(The Divine Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts)

The Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is celebrated on this day for the last time during Holy Lent. This very ancient Liturgy is a Vesper Service, with the Holy Gifts PRESANCTIFIED IN THE DIVINE LITURGY ON THE PREVIOUS SUNDAY. This Liturgy is offered every Wednesday and Friday during Holy Lent so that the faithful may receive Holy Communion. This Liturgy is solemn and reflects the grandeur and simplicity of the early Church. During Holy Lent, NO OTHER LITURGY IS HELD EXCEPT ON SATURDAY, SUNDAY, AND March 25 (Holy Annunciation), when the Liturgies of Saint Basil (on Sundays) and Saint John Chrysostomos are officiated.

GREAT HOLY WEDNESDAY EVENING

“Anointing him sick with oil in the name of
the Lord…”

(The Mysterion [Sacrament] of Holy Unction)

The Sacred ceremony of the Mysterion (Sacrament) of the Holy Unction (Efchelaion) takes place on this Holy Wednesday evening, following an old tradition. It is the evening OF REPENTANCE, CONFESSION, AND THE REMISSION OF SINS BY THE LORD, PREPARING THE FAITHFUL TO RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNION, USUALLY THE NEXT DAY, GREAT AND HOLY THURSDAY MORNING. Holy Unction (Holy Oil) is the Mysterion (Sacrament) for CLEANSING SINS AND RENEWING THE BODY AND THE SPIRIT OF THE FAITHFUL. Holy Unction (Holy Oil) is one of the SEVEN MYSTERIA (SACRAMENTS) OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCH, and it has its origin in the practice of the early Church as recorded in the Epistle of Saint James (Iakovos) 5:14-15). At the end of the service, the priest anoints the people with Holy Oil, THE VISIBLE CARRIER OF THE GRACE OF GOD.

GREAT HOLY WEDNESDAY EVENING

“Let no fear separate you from Me…”

(The service is Orthros (Matins) of Holy Thursday morning
sung in anticipation, on Holy Wednesday evening.)

In many Orthodox churches, however, this service is sung at iits designated Holy Thursday morning time, before the Vespers and Divine Liturgy. “On Thursday in Holy Week (now Wednesday evening or Thursday morning) the Holy Fathers of the Church, who had well-ordained things handed down to us successively from the Holy Apostles and the Sacred Gospels to celebrate FOUR EVENTS: THE WASHING OF THE DISCIPLES’ FEET, THE INSTITUTION OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST, THE MARVELOUS PRAYER, THE BETRAYAL.”

The Holy Gospel reading is Saint Luke 22:1-39.

GREAT HOLY THURSDAY MORNING

“Do this in remembrance of Me…”

(The service is the Vespers and Divine Liturgy of
Holy Thursday evening which is sung in the
morning in anticipation.)

Jesus drew His last breath of freedom on this Holy Thursday night. Christ knew all the incidents which were about to take place and called to Him His Apostles in order to institute the Holy Eucharist for them and for the Church FOREVER. At the end of March, with the full moon as a brilliant lantern in the sky and the weather mild, the people in Jerusalem enjoyed the beginning of spring. In this atmosphere, Christ presented BREAD and WINE as the ELEMENTS OF His Very Body and His Very Blood, they are the Precious Gifts which have been left as His PERPETUAL PRESENCE IN THE CHURCH. THE INSTITUTION OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST AND ITS RE-ENACTMENT THROUGH THE CENTURIES, BOTH AS A SACRIFICE AND SACRED CEREMONY (MYSTERION OR SACRAMENT), IS THE LIFE-GIVING REMEMBRANCE WHICH, ALONG WITH THE CRUCIFIXION AND RESURRECTION OF CHRIST, CONSTITUTES THE BASIS (FOUNDATION) OF SALVATION FOR THE CHRISTIAN.

Then followed the incidents of the dramatic closing moments of Christ’s life. After the washing of His Apostles’ feet, He pointed out the betrayer, INAUGURATED THE HOLY EUCHARIST, and pronounced THE NEW COMMANDMENT OF AGAPE (LOVE) FOR ONE ANOTHER. He spoke to them words of comfort, promising the DESCENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO COMPLETE MAN’S UNION WITH CHRIST. His departure, Christ said, WOULD BRING TO THEM AND THE WORLD JOY. Christ took His Apostles out in the mild night where He could see face-to-face His CO-WORKERS in the bright light of the full moon. In this spiritual mood and physical setting, Jesus withdrew to pray. After this agony of the “bloody sweat” came THE KISS OF JUDAS AND HIS ARREST. He thus became THE SOURCE OF SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL FREEDOM FOR MANKIND.

The Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great is officiated on this day. The readings are: 2 Corinthians 11:23-32; Matthew 26:2-28; John 13:3-17; Matthew 26:21-39; Luke 22:43-44; Matthew 26:40-75; Matthew 27:1-2. During this Divine Liturgy, the Orthodox Priest PREPARES THE “AMNOS” [“THE LAMB”), the Holy Communion, which is kept throughout the whole year to be given to the faithful IN TIMES OF SICKNESS. The Holy Body and Precious Blood IS PRESENT IN THE CHURCH DURING THE ENTIRE YEAR AND THROUGHOUT THE AGES. On this day, with greater feeling than ever, Orthodox Christians come for Holy Communion singing: “RECEIVE ME TODAY, O SON OF GOD, AS A PARTAKER OF THY MYSTIC FEAST; FOR I WILL NOT SPEAK OF THE MYSTERY TO THINE ENEMIES, I WILL NOT KISS THEE AS DID JUDAS, BUT AS THE THIEF I WILL CONFESS THEE, LORD, REMEMBER ME WHEN I COMEST TO THY KINGDOM.”

(To be continued)

_____
“Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!”
– Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +

With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George