Passion Week is the last, seventh week of Lent, which precedes Easter. Orthodox believers spend this week (from Holy Monday to Holy Saturday) in strict fasting, prayer and repentance. In churches, the last earthly days of the Lord Jesus Christ are remembered during services - his betrayal, arrest and suffering on the cross. This week is called Passion Week, because in Old Slavonic the word passion means suffering and pain.
On Holy Monday, the Church remembers Joseph from the Old Testament, who was sold by his brothers for 20 pieces of silver. Later, he was saved and he ruled Egypt. In addition to the memory of Joseph, the sufferer from the Old Testament, the service on this day is also dedicated to the cursed fig tree, which the Savior condemned because of its barrenness (Mt 21:17-22; Mk 11:19-26).
On Holy Tuesday, the service is dedicated to the Gospel story of the ten virgins. This story teaches Christians to always be ready, like the five wise virgins, to welcome Christ and to greet Him not only with chastity, but also with good deeds. In addition to this story, two others are read: the story of the talents and the Last Judgment.
On Holy Wednesday, the Judas’ betrayal is commemorated. On this day, in memory of the woman who poured myrrh on the feet of Jesus Christ, one of the seven holy mysteries called the consecration of oil, is performed in churches. During the holy mystery of the consecration of oil, believers are anointed with consecrated oil as a medicine for physical and spiritual health.
On Holy Thursday, the service commemorates the washing of the Apostles' feet by the Savior, the Last Supper, that is, the institution of the Holy Mystery of the Eucharist and surrender of the Lord Jesus Christ into the hands of sinners. While mourning the beginning of the Lord's Passion, the Church at the same time mystically rejoices at the institution of the Holy Eucharist - the mystery of the Body and Blood of Christ, the mystery of Holy Communion. From the words spoken: "Do this in remembrance of me..." (Luke 22:19; 1 Cor 11:24), to this day, the Holy Eucharist is served on all Orthodox altars until the Lord comes again.
There is no Liturgy on Good Friday. It is the most sorrowful day for Christians because Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross. At the time of the death of the Son of God, the earth shook and the sun darkened. The curtain in Jerusalem's temple was torn in two. Even the enemies exclaimed in fear: “Truly this was the Son of God.” Instead of the bells that had fallen silent the previous evening, the sound of “klepalo” could be heard in the churches until Sunday. In the evening, the shroud (a decorated cloth depicting the stripping and laying of Jesus in the tomb) is taken out and a funeral service is served.
On Holy Saturday, the last day of Great Lent, Matins is actually the funeral service of Christ, which is also served in some places during the previous night. Christ, as the Orthodox Church teaches, lies in the tomb, while his soul is in Hades. In the early afternoon, as part of Vespers, the Holy Liturgy of St. Basil the Great is served. On the afternoon of Holy Saturday, a miracle has been happening in the Jerusalem Church of the Holy Sepulcher for centuries – the appearance of the “holy fire.” In the temple, where all the candles and lamps are extinguished, a fire is miraculously lit, which the Patriarch of Jerusalem receives and then passes on to the people.
Translated by: Bojana Srbljak
