Orthodox Church celebrates Great Wednesday of Holy Week

A fresco in San Gimignano – Judas betrays Jesus

The Orthodox Church celebrates Great Wednesday – the third day of Holy Week, preceding the Easter celebration. This day is dedicated to the remembrance of two key Gospel events: the anointing of Christ with perfume in the house of Simon the leper and the subsequent betrayal by Judas.

Gospel events

According to the Gospel, in the house of Simon the leper, a woman (whom church tradition identifies as Mary, the sister of Lazarus) anointed the head and feet of the Savior with precious perfume, thereby preparing Him for burial.

It was then that Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve apostles who was the treasurer, was outraged by such a "waste" of expensive perfume. He claimed that the perfume could have been sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor. However, the evangelist notes that he said this not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief and had the money box, from which he took for himself.

After this event, Judas went to the chief priests and conspired with them, agreeing to betray Christ for thirty pieces of silver.

Liturgical features

In the service of Great Wednesday, touching hymns about sin and repentance are sung. A special place is taken by the troparion "Behold, the Bridegroom comes at midnight," reminding the faithful of the need for spiritual vigilance and readiness to meet the Lord.

Fathers of the Church on Great Wednesday

Saint John Chrysostom, in his interpretations, emphasizes the contrast between Judas's betrayal and the devotion of the woman who anointed Christ: "She sacrifices all her possessions for Christ, while Judas sells the Savior Himself."

Venerable Ephrem the Syrian speaks of Great Wednesday as a day of special repentance: "On this day let us weep for our sins, like the sinful woman who washed the Lord's feet with tears, so that we too may hear: your sins are forgiven."

Saint Gregory the Theologian calls for seeing in the events of Great Wednesday a warning: "Do you see how high Judas's position was, and how low he fell because of his love of money? Fear this passion, which makes a person capable of betrayal."

In contemporary church practice, Great Wednesday is the last day before Easter when the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is celebrated.

Great Wednesday reminds Christians of the necessity of vigilance, repentance, and fidelity to Christ, especially in times of trial.

Earlier, the UOJ recalled what events took place during Holy Week.

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