Great and Holy Thursday

Of Thy Mystical Supper, O Son of God accept me today as a communicant for I will not speak of thy mysteries to Thine enemies neither will I give Thee a kiss as did Judas but like the thief will I confess Thee; Remember me O Lord when you come into Your kingdom! Remember me, O Master when you come into Your kingdom! Remember me, O Holy One when You come into Your kingdom!

"Come, let us all sing the praises of Him who was crucified for us, For Mary said when she beheld Him upon the tree: Though You do endure the cross, You are my Son and my God!"

+ Kontakion, Great and Holy Thursday, Tone 8

"Behold, the Bridegroom Comes"

Great and Holy Thursday Matins and washing of the feet, Archbishop Ambrose at St. Petersburg Theological Academy

Original, full video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZ0fN1VPJtM

From this day on, mainly guard your heart in the most careful way for Him alone, and do not let anything worldly, corruptible, or any passion take possession of you.

☦️ St John of Kronstadt

Holy Thursday celebrates four events:
[1] The washing of the disciples' feet
[2] The institution of the Mystery of the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper,
[3] The agony of Christ in the garden of Gethsemane
[4] The betrayal of Christ by Judas.

The Holy Chrism is traditionally blessed during the Liturgy on this day.

“When the glorious disciples were enlightened at the washing of their feet before the supper, then the impious Judas was darkened, ailing with avarice and to the lawless judges he betrays You, the righteous Judge. Behold, O lover of money, this man who because of money hanged himself. Flee from the greedy soul which dared such things against the Master. O Lord, who is good towards all men, glory to You!”

"Cry out to God, Who has the strength to save you. Do not bother with elegant and clever words. Just speak humbly, beginning with, 'Have mercy on me, for I am weak.'" +St John Climacus

Video: one of the most the ancient Christian hymns: "O Gladsome Light" (Φῶς Ἱλαρόν), with images from Holy Friday vespers

O Gladsome Light of the holy glory of the immortal, heavenly, holy, blessed Father,
O Jesus Christ: Having come to the setting of the sun,
having beheld the evening light,
we praise the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit: God.
Meet it is for Thee at all times to be hymned with reverent voices,
O Son of God, Giver of life.
Wherefore, the world doth glorify Thee.

Valaam Monastery Choir, from the album, "Taste of the Fountain of Immortality"

CONTEST FOR EASTER JOY: TIPS FROM FR. ANDREY

Dear Friends, during Holy Week we stay focused on Christ and His suffering. At the same time, we are anticipating the coming Feast of feasts and the Triumph of all triumphs — the Great and Holy Pascha of the Lord.

Sometimes temptations come during Easter. Archimandrite Sophrony (Sakharov), who was recently canonised, used to say: “Weeping about ourselves and our sins during Lent is more or less in our nature, but overcoming this sin-infected nature, conquering our ego and rejoicing is much more difficult.”

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"...Now since you are celebrating the holy Pascha, you should know, brethren, what the Pascha is. Pascha means the crossing-over, and so the Festival is called by this name. For it was on this day that the Children of Israel crossed over out of Egypt, and the Son of God crossed over from this world to His Father. What gain is it to celebrate unless you imitate Him Whom you worship; that is, unless you cross over from Egypt, that is, from the darkness of evildoing to the light of virtue, from the love of this world to the love of your heavenly home?"

+St Ambrose of Milan, "The Sunday of the Resurrection"

Great and Holy Friday

Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!” Then the governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried out all the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified!” When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.” And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children.” Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified. ✝ Matt 27:22-26

Icon: 6th c. Miniature from the Rossano Gospels. Rosano museum, Italy.

✝ Great and Holy Friday ✝

Now when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him. When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed. And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb. ✝ Matt. 27:58-61

"As the priest reads the Gospel, 'and taking the body, Joseph wrapped it in a white cloth,' he removes the Body of Christ from the Cross, wraps it in a white cloth and takes it to the altar. The priest then chants a mourning hymn: 'When Joseph of Arimathea took Thee, the life of all, down from the Tree dead, he buried Thee with myrrh and fine linen . . . rejoicing. Glory to Thy humiliation, O Master, who clothest Thyself with light as it were with a garment.' The priest then carries the cloth on which the Body of Christ is painted or embroidered around the church before placing it inside the Sepulcher, a carved bier which symbolizes the Tomb of Christ. We are reminded that during Christ's entombment He descends into Hades to free the dead of the ages before His Resurrection." https://www.goarch.org/-/great-and-holy-friday

The Holy Fire service at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is live at https://t.me/tass_live?livestream