Holy week begins – the path of Christ’s suffering

Holy Week has begun. Photo: Holos

For Orthodox Christians, Holy Week begins today – a special period in the liturgical calendar leading up to the celebration of the Bright Resurrection of Christ, Pascha. This week is dedicated to remembering the suffering, crucifixion, and burial of Jesus Christ.

During these days, the faithful strive to attend church services and spiritually prepare themselves for the celebration of Easter. In the Church calendar, this is a time of the strictest fasting and deepest prayer.

The Events of Holy Week by Day

Great Monday commemorates Jesus cursing the barren fig tree, which symbolizes a soul devoid of spiritual fruit. On this day, Christ entered the Jerusalem temple and drove out the merchants, saying: “My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.” The chief priests and Pharisees sought to seize Jesus but feared the people.

Great Tuesday is the day of parables and discourses with the disciples and the people. Christ told the parables of the ten virgins, the talents, and the wicked vinedressers. The Pharisees tried to trap Him in His words, but He exposed their hypocrisy. On this day, Jesus prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the world.

Great Wednesday recalls the event when a sinful woman anointed Jesus’ feet with costly myrrh. The chief priests, scribes, and elders conspired to kill Christ. Judas Iscariot agreed to betray Him to the high priests for thirty pieces of silver.

Great Thursday is the day the Sacrament of the Eucharist (Communion) was instituted. At the Last Supper, Christ broke bread and gave the cup of wine to His disciples, saying: “This is My Body… This is My Blood…” On the same day, Jesus washed His disciples’ feet, setting an example of humility. After the supper, Christ prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, where He was betrayed by Judas and arrested.

Great Friday is the most sorrowful day of the Church year. Jesus was brought before Pontius Pilate, who sentenced Him to crucifixion. Christ was scourged and crowned with thorns. He carried His cross to Golgotha, where He was crucified between two thieves. Around three o’clock in the afternoon, Jesus gave up His spirit with the words: “It is finished! Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” At the moment of His death, there was an earthquake, and the veil of the temple was torn in two.

Great Saturday is the day when Christ’s body lay in the tomb. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus obtained permission from Pilate to take down the body, wrapped it in a shroud with spices, and laid it in a new tomb hewn in the rock. A guard was stationed at the tomb, and a stone was rolled in front of it.

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