Autocephaly recognized by some autocephalous Churches de jure :
99-473: Forty Days or 40 Days may refer to: Christianity [ edit ] Great Lent § The Great Forty Days Forty days in the desert , the Temptation of Christ Books [ edit ] The Forty Days of Musa Dagh (German: Die vierzig Tage des Musa Dagh ), a 1933 novel by Franz Werfel Music [ edit ] 40 Days , an album by
198-699: A Lovefeast on Good Friday as they receive Holy Communion on Maundy Thursday . Communicants of the Moravian Church practice the Good Friday tradition of cleaning gravestones in Moravian cemeteries . Holy Saturday is the day between the crucifixion of Jesus and his resurrection. As the Sabbath day , the Gospel accounts all note that Jesus was hurriedly buried in a cave tomb after his crucifixion, with
297-630: A choir inside the open doors of the church sings the Miserere by Manoel Dias de Oliveria, while the black box is brought inside the church, and people come in to kiss the human-sized figure of Christ. Processions on Tuesday and Wednesday stop at different chapels at each of which a large painting portrays episodes of the Way of the Cross and a related hymn is sung at each. On Thursday morning the Chrism Mass
396-794: A church). The Mass of the Lord's Supper commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus with his Twelve Apostles , "the institution of the Eucharist , the institution of the priesthood , and the commandment of brotherly love that Jesus gave after washing the feet of his disciples." All the bells of the church , including altar bells, may be rung during the Gloria in Excelsis Deo of the Mass (the Gloria
495-619: A few feast days, and fish is permitted on Palm Sunday as well as the Annunciation when it falls before Palm Sunday, and caviar is permitted on Lazarus Saturday , meat and dairy are prohibited entirely until the fast is broken on Easter . Additionally, Eastern Orthodox Christians traditionally abstain from sexual relations during Lent. Besides the additional liturgical celebrations described below, Christians are expected to pay closer attention to and increase their private prayer. According to Byzantine Rite theology , when asceticism
594-813: A harmony of the Gospel stories, responding to the actions in hymns, prayers and litanies, beginning on the eve of Palm Sunday and culminating in the Easter Morning or Easter Sunrise service begun by the Moravians in 1732. Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday, complete: Palm and Passion Sunday (Latin Dominica in Palmis de Passione Domini ). Traditionally, Palm Sunday commemorates the Triumphal entry into Jerusalem described in all four canonical gospels . As described in these accounts, Christ's entry into Jerusalem
693-536: A place for Jesus in the heart ("I must abide at thy house"), overcoming gossip ("And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner"), repentance and almsgiving ("And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold"), forgiveness and reconciliation ("And Jesus said unto him, This day
792-530: A portion of them (their canon at Matins, and their stichera from "Lord I Have Cried" at Vespers) is chanted at Compline . In addition to the added readings from Scripture, spiritual books by the Church Fathers are recommended during the Fast. One book commonly read during Great Lent, particularly by monastics , is The Ladder of Divine Ascent , which was written in about the 7th century by St. John of
891-588: A practice also kept in other denominations. In the Catholic Church, on this day the private celebration of Mass is forbidden. Thus, apart from the Chrism Mass for the blessing of the Holy Oils that the diocesan bishop may celebrate on the morning of Holy Thursday , but also on some other day close to Easter, the only Mass on this day is the evening Mass of the Lord's Supper , which inaugurates
990-684: A quarter of the Akathist to the Theotokos . On the fifth Saturday, known as the Saturday of the Akathist, everywhere, the entire Akathist is sung at Matins. In “The Typikon Decoded”, Archbishop Job Getcha offers this comparison of the commemorations associated with the Sundays of Great Lent in the “Ancient Triodion”. These more ancient commemorations are retained in the hymnography still in use for
1089-614: A song by Streetlight Manifesto from Somewhere in the Between , 2007 Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Forty Days . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Forty_Days&oldid=1255489293 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Articles containing German-language text Short description
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#17327719948731188-425: A spirit of idleness, despondency, ambition and idle-talking, give me not. But rather, a spirit of chastity, humble-mindedness, patience and charity, bestow upon me Thy servant. Yea, my king and Lord, grant me to see my own failings and refrain from judging others: For blessed art Thou unto ages of ages. Amen. The public reading of Scripture is increased during Great Lent. The Psalter ( Book of Psalms ), which
1287-982: Is chanted or recited. Tenebrae liturgies are celebrated by some parishes of the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church , the Polish National Catholic Church , the Lutheran Churches , the Moravian Church , the Anglican Communion , the Methodist Churches , and Western Rite Orthodoxy within the Eastern Orthodox Church . Maundy Thursday (also known as Holy Thursday) commemorates the Last Supper , where Christ lays out
1386-533: Is celebrated, with a blessing of the oils. Good Friday afternoon ceremonies are followed by the week's main spectacle of the Taking Down from the Cross in front of the cathedral followed by the Funeral Procession of Our Dead Lord. The drama shows Christ being taken from the cross and placed in a coffin, which is then taken around to the accompaniment of the "Song of Veronica". On Saturday morning
1485-446: Is customary to have a blessing of palm leaves or other branches, for example olive branches. The blessing ceremony includes the reading of a Gospel account of Jesus humbly riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, reminiscent of a Davidic victory procession, and people placing palm and other branches on the ground before him. Immediately following this great time of celebration over the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem, he begins his journey to
1584-426: Is defined as not consuming food until evening (at sundown). The Lenten supper that is eaten after the fast is broken in the evening must not include certain foods. Foods most commonly abstained from are meat , fish , eggs , dairy products , wine , and oil. According to some traditions, only olive oil is abstained from; in others, all vegetable oils . While wine and oil are permitted on Saturdays, Sundays, and
1683-568: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Great Lent#The Great Forty Days Autocephaly and canonicity recognized by Constantinople and 3 other autocephalous Churches: Spiritual independence recognized by Georgian Orthodox Church: Semi-Autonomous: Great Lent , or the Great Fast ( Greek : Μεγάλη Τεσσαρακοστή, Megali Tessarakosti or Μεγάλη Νηστεία, Megali Nisteia , meaning "Great 40 Days", and "Great Fast", respectively),
1782-692: Is followed by a psalm or canticle (such as Exodus 15:1–18 and a prayer relating what has been read to the Mystery of Christ. After the Old Testament readings conclude, the Gloria in excelsis Deo , which has been suspended during Lent, is intoned and bells are rung. A reading from the Epistle to the Romans is proclaimed. The Alleluia is sung for the first time since the beginning of Lent. The Gospel of
1881-529: Is gone. The lamp or candle usually situated next to the tabernacle denoting the presence of Christ is blown out. In the Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist, and Presbyterian traditions, the Easter Vigil, one of the longest and most solemn of liturgical liturgies, lasts up to three or four hours, consists of four parts: The Liturgy begins after sundown on Holy Saturday as the crowd gathers inside
1980-413: Is increased, prayer must be increased also. The Church Fathers have referred to fasting without prayer as "the fast of the demons" since the demons do not eat according to their incorporeal nature, but neither do they pray. Great Lent is unique in that, liturgically, the weeks do not run from Sunday to Saturday, but rather begin on Monday and end on Sunday, and most weeks are named for the lesson from
2079-743: Is moved to the nearest Saturday (excluding the Saturday of the Akathist), and in other churches, it is celebrated on the day of the feast itself. When some other important feast occurs on a weekday, such as the First and Second Finding of the Head of John the Baptist (February 24), the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste (March 9), etc., it is usually combined with the Lenten service, and wine and oil are allowed at
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#17327719948732178-570: Is named for the Gospel theme of the Sunday which concludes it. In the Slavic tradition, with the addition of Zacchaeus Sunday, some regard the pre-Lenten period as lasting four weeks, but there are no liturgical indications that the week following the fifth Sunday before Lent (whether preceded by Zacchaeus Sunday or otherwise) is in any way Lenten, because Zacchaeus Sunday falls outside the Triodion ,
2277-438: Is no feast day or special observance on that day. Since the season of Great Lent is moveable, beginning on different dates from year to year, accommodation must be made for various feast days on the fixed calendar ( Menaion ) which occur during the season. When these feasts fall on a weekday of Great Lent, the normal Lenten aspect of the services is lessened to celebrate the solemnity. The most important of these fixed feasts
2376-517: Is no public reading of the Epistles or Gospels . This is because the readings are particular to the divine liturgy, which is not celebrated on weekdays of Great Lent. There are, however, Epistles and Gospels appointed for each Saturday and Sunday. During the Great Fast, the church also increases its prayer for the dead , not only reminding the believer of his own mortality, and thus increasing
2475-672: Is normally read through once a week, is read through twice each week for the six weeks prior to Holy Week. Readings from the Old Testament are also increased, with the Books of Genesis , Proverbs and Isaiah being read through almost in their entirety at the Sixth Hour and Vespers . During Cheesefare Week, the readings at these services are taken from Joel and Zechariah , while during Holy Week they are from Exodus , Ezekiel and Job . Uniquely, on weekdays of Great Lent there
2574-539: Is not exclusively for the "professional" religious, but for each layperson as well, according to their strength. As such, Great Lent is a sacred Institute of the Church to serve the individual believer in participating as a member of the Mystical Body of Christ . It provides each person an annual opportunity for self-examination and improving the standards of faith and morals in their Christian life. The deep intent of
2673-453: Is not for the sake of fasting. Rather, these are means by which and for which the individual believer prepares himself to reach for, accept and attain the calling of their Savior. Therefore, the significance of Great Lent is highly appraised, not only by the monks who gradually increased the length of time of the Lent, but also by the lay people themselves. The Eastern Orthodox lenten rules are
2772-523: Is not traditionally sung on Sundays in Lent). The bells then fall silent and the organ and other musical instruments may be used only to support the singing until the Gloria at the Easter Vigil . The Roman Missal recommends that, if considered pastorally appropriate, the priest should, immediately after the homily, celebrate the rite of washing the feet of customarily twelve men, recalling the number of
2871-635: Is often called an " altar of repose ". In some places, notably the Philippines and Malta, Catholics will travel from church to church praying at each church's altar of repose in a practice called "Visita Iglesia" or Seven Churches Visitation . In Lutheran, Anglican and Methodist churches, the altar has black paraments or the altar cloths are removed altogether. At the conclusion of the Maundy Thursday liturgy in Lutheran Churches,
2970-565: Is practiced, both liturgically in the public worship of the church and individually. One difference between Eastern Christianity and Western Christianity is the calculation of the date of Easter (see Computus ). Most years, the Eastern Pascha falls after the Western Easter, and it may be as much as five weeks later; occasionally, the two dates coincide. Like Western Lent, Great Lent itself lasts for forty days, but in contrast to
3069-597: Is reduced." In some countries, such as Malta, Philippines, Italy, and Spain processions with statues representing the Passion of Christ are held. In some parishes of the Anglican Church, Catholic Church, Lutheran Church, and Methodist Church, the " Three Hours Devotion " is observed. This traditionally consists of a series of sermons, interspersed with singing, one on each of the Seven Last Words from
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3168-451: Is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham"), and the reason for the Passion and Resurrection ("For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost"). Holy Week Holy Week ( Koinē Greek : Ἁγία καὶ Μεγάλη Ἑβδομάς , romanized: Hagía kaì Megálē Hebdomás , lit. 'Holy and Great Week') is the most sacred week in
3267-468: Is the Great Feast of the Annunciation (March 25), which is considered to be so important that it is never moved, even if it should fall on the Sunday of Pascha itself, a rare and special occurrence which is known as Kyrio-Pascha . The fast is also lessened, and the faithful are allowed to eat fish, unless it is Good Friday or Holy Saturday. Whereas on other weekdays of Great Lent, no celebration of
3366-469: Is the most important fasting season of the church year within many denominations of Eastern Christianity . It is intended to prepare Christians for the greatest feast of the church year, Pascha (Easter). Great Lent shares its origins with the Lent of Western Christianity and has many similarities with it. There are some differences in the timing of Lent, besides calculating the date of Easter and how it
3465-474: Is the season of repentance; let us begin it joyfully, O brethren..." ( Matins , Second Canon , Ode 8, Monday of Maslenitsa ). The making of prostrations during the services increases as well. The one prayer that typifies the Lenten services is the Prayer of Saint Ephrem , which is said at each service on weekdays, accompanied by full prostrations . One translation of it reads: O Lord and master of my life!
3564-595: Is two days before Ash Wednesday. Fasting continues throughout the following week, known as Passion Week or Holy Week , and does not end until after the Paschal Vigil early in the morning of Pascha (Easter Sunday). The purpose of Great Lent is to prepare the faithful to not only commemorate, but to enter into the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus . The totality of the Byzantine Rite life centers around
3663-555: Is widely observed as a fast day . A Handbook for the Discipline of Lent recommends the Lutheran guideline to "fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday with only one simple meal during the day, usually without meat". Western Catholic Church practice is to have only one full meal with, if needed, two small snacks that together do not make a full meal. The Anglican Communion defines fasting more generically as: "The amount of food eaten
3762-755: The Gospel which will be read at the Divine Liturgy on its concluding Sunday. This is to illustrate that the entire season is anticipatory, leading up to the greatest Sunday of all: Pascha. During the Great Fast, a special service book is used, known as the Lenten Triodion , which contains the Lenten texts for the Daily Office (Canonical Hours) and Liturgies. The Triodion begins during the Pre-Lenten period to supplement or replace portions of
3861-591: The Great Feasts and emphasize the theme of resurrection. Many television channels air films related to Holy Week, such as The Ten Commandments , The Greatest Story Ever Told and The Jesus Film . Holy Week in the liturgical year is the week immediately before Easter. The earliest allusion to the custom of marking this week as a whole with special observances is to be found in the Apostolical Constitutions (v. 18, 19), dating from
3960-529: The Paschal Vigil , at which time it is replaced by the Pentecostarion , which begins by replacing the normal services entirely (during Bright Week ) and gradually diminishes until the normal services resume following the Afterfeast of Pentecost . On the weekdays of Great Lent, the full Divine Liturgy is not celebrated, because the joy of the Eucharist (literally "Thanksgiving") is contrary to
4059-519: The Sabbatum Magnum ("Great Sabbath", i.e., Holy Saturday or Easter Eve) with its vigil , which in the early church was associated with an expectation that the second advent would occur on an Easter Day. Other writings that refer to related traditions of the early Church include, most notably, The Pilgrimage of Etheria (also known as The Pilgrimage of Egeria ), which details the whole observance of Holy Week at that time. Today, in
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4158-685: The Western Christian Church , among Lutherans, Anglicans, Methodists, Presbyterians and Catholics, the liturgies used for Holy Week are nearly identical. In the Episcopal Church, the main U.S. branch of the Anglican Communion, the 1979 Book of Common Prayer identifies Holy Week--comprising Palm Sunday (Sunday of the Passion) through Holy Saturday--as a separate season after Lent, rather than as part of it; but
4257-421: The liturgical book which governs the pre-Lenten period and Lent itself. In the Slavic liturgical traditions, Zacchaeus Sunday occurs on the fifth Sunday before the beginning of Great Lent (which starts on a Monday). Though there are no materials provided in the Lenten Triodion for this day, it is the very first day that is affected by the date of the upcoming Pascha (all the preceding days having been affected by
4356-485: The liturgical year in Christianity . For all Christian traditions, it is a moveable observance . In Eastern Christianity , which also calls it Great Week , it is the week following Great Lent and Lazarus Saturday , starting on the evening of Palm Sunday and concluding on the evening of Great Saturday . In Western Christianity , Holy Week is the sixth and last week of Lent , beginning with Palm Sunday and concluding on Holy Saturday . Holy Week begins with
4455-460: The "lectern and pulpit are [also] left bare until Easter to symbolize the humiliation and barrenness of the cross." Methodist custom holds that apart from depictions of the Stations of the Cross , other images (such as the altar cross) continue the Lenten habitude of being veiled. In the Catholic Church, the altars of the church (except the one used as the altar of repose) are later stripped quite bare and, as much as possible, crosses are removed from
4554-424: The Cross , together with an introduction and a conclusion. Another pious exercise carried out on Good Friday is that of the Stations of the Cross , either within the church or outside. The celebration at the Colosseum with participation by the pope has become a traditional event. The Novena to the Divine Mercy begins on that day and lasts until the Saturday before the Feast of Mercy . Moravians hold
4653-402: The Deposit. The figure of Our Lord of the Stations, representing the blood-stained Jesus carrying the cross, is brought from the church in a large black box and displayed in the main square. Then it is solemnly taken to the church following a band and a procession of people. Outside the church, a sermon is delivered on the Easter story of Jesus Christ's death and resurrection. After the sermon,
4752-408: The Divine Liturgy is permitted, there is a Liturgy (usually the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom ) celebrated on Annunciation—even if it falls on Good Friday . When the feast day of the patron saint of the parish church or monastery falls on a weekday of Great Lent, there is no liturgy (other than the Presanctified), but fish is allowed at the meal. In some churches the feast of a patron saint
4851-407: The Easter Vigil liturgically belongs to Easter Sunday. On Holy Saturday, the Church waits at the Lord's tomb, in prayer and fasting, meditating on his Passion and Death and on his Descent into Hell and awaiting his Resurrection. The Church abstains from the Sacrifice of the Mass, with the sacred table left bare, until after the solemn Vigil, that is, the anticipation by night of the Resurrection, when
4950-418: The Easter Vigil, is the great feast day and apogee of the Christian liturgical year: on this day the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is celebrated. It is the first day of the new season of the Great Fifty Days, or Eastertide , which runs from Easter Day to Pentecost Sunday. The Resurrection of Christ on Easter Day is the main reason why Christians keep every Sunday as the primary day of religious observance. In
5049-408: The Eastertide, remaining in the sanctuary of the Church or near the lectern, and is kept in the baptistry throughout the liturgical year so that in the celebrations of baptisms the candles of the baptized may be lit from the candle. The candles of those present are lit from the Paschal candle. As this symbolic "light of Christ" spreads throughout those gathered, the darkness is decreased. A deacon, or
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#17327719948735148-417: The Ladder when he was the Hegumen (Abbot) of Saint Catherine's Monastery on Mount Sinai . The Ladder is usually read in the trapeza (refectory) during meals, but it may alternatively be read during the Little Hours on weekdays so that everyone can hear. Many of the laity also read The Ladder privately during Great Lent. The theme of The Ladder is not Great Lent itself, but rather it deals with
5247-458: The Passion, either as a self-guided time of reflection and veneration or as a procession of statues or images of the stations. The evening liturgical celebration on Holy Thursday begins the first of three days in the Easter Triduum, which continues in an atmosphere of liturgical mourning throughout the next day, in spite of the name "Good" given in English to the day. For Catholic, Methodist, Lutheran, Reformed and Anglican Christians, Good Friday
5346-402: The Resurrection then follows, together with the Responsorial psalmody . After the conclusion of the Liturgy of the Word, the water of the baptismal font is blessed and any catechumens or candidates for full communion are initiated into the church, by baptism or confirmation . After the celebration of these sacraments of initiation, the congregation renews their baptismal vows and receive
5445-417: The Resurrection. Great Lent is intended to be a "workshop" where the character of the believer is spiritually uplifted and strengthened; where their life is rededicated to the principles and ideals of the Gospel; where fasting and prayer culminate in deep conviction of life; where apathy and disinterest turn into vigorous activities of faith and good works. Lent is not for the sake of Lent itself, as fasting
5544-408: The Roman Catholic Church, plenary indulgence is granted once a day by the 1999 Enchiridion Indulgentiarum , in the following cases: Cities famous for their Holy Week processions include: Holy Week has developed into one of Brazil's main symbols of community identity, more specifically in the southern town of Campanha. The Campanha Holy Week begins on the Monday evening with the Procession of
5643-463: The Triodion can be divided into three sections: (1) the Pre-Lenten period, (2) the Great Forty Days, and (3) Holy Week. Before the forty days of Great Lent commence, there is a three-week Pre-Lenten season, to prepare the faithful for the spiritual work they are to accomplish during the Great Fast. During this period many of the themes which will be developed in the liturgical texts of the forty days are introduced. Each week runs from Monday to Sunday and
5742-449: The Wailin' Jennys, 2004 "40 Days", a song by Blessthefall from Awakening , 2011 "Forty Days", a 1959 song by Ronnie Hawkins and the cover of " Thirty Days " by Chuck Berry, 1955 " Forty Days and Forty Nights ", a song by Muddy Waters, 1956 " Forty Days and Nights ", a song by the Rankin Family, 1996 "40 Days", a song by Slowdive from Souvlaki , 1993 "40 Days", an instrumental song by Dave Brubeck , 1965 "Forty Days",
5841-437: The West, Sundays are included in the count while Holy Week is not. Great Lent officially begins on Clean Monday , seven weeks before Pascha ( Ash Wednesday is not observed in Eastern Christianity), and runs for 40 continuous days, concluding with the Presanctified Liturgy on Friday of the Sixth Week. The next day is called Lazarus Saturday , the day before Palm Sunday . Thus, in case the Easter dates coincide, Clean Monday
5940-457: The altar candles. Then the deacon or a cantor chants the Exultet , also called the "Easter Proclamation". After that, the people extinguish their candles and sit down for the Liturgy of the Word. The Liturgy of the Word includes nine readings, seven (or at least three) from the Old Testament , followed by two from the New (an Epistle and a Gospel). The reading of the crossing of the Red Sea (Ex 14) must never be omitted. Each Old Testament reading
6039-411: The apostles. In the Catholic Church, Lutheran Churches of Evangelical Catholic churchmanship, and in Anglican churches of an Anglo-Catholic churchmanship, a sufficient number of hosts are consecrated for use also in the Good Friday liturgy, and at the conclusion the Blessed Sacrament is carried in procession to a place of reposition away from the main body of the church, which, if it involves an altar,
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#17327719948736138-409: The ascent of the soul from earth to heaven. That is, from enslavement to the passions to the building up of the virtues and its eventual theosis (union with God), which is the goal of Great Lent. Besides the Ladder , in some monasteries the Paradise of the Holy Fathers by Palladius and the penitential sermons of St. Ephrem the Syrian are read during Matins . Liturgically, the period of
6237-406: The attitude of repentance which predominates on these days. Since it is considered especially important to receive the Holy Mysteries (Holy Communion) during this season, the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts —also called the Liturgy of St. Gregory the Dialogist — may be celebrated on weekdays. This service starts with Vespers during which a portion of the Body and Blood of Christ , which
6336-409: The believer during Great Lent is encapsulated in the words of Saint Paul : "forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" ( Philippians 3:13–14 ). Through spending more time than usual in prayer and meditation on the Holy Scripture and the Holy Traditions of the Church,
6435-513: The believer in Christ becomes through the grace of God more godlike. The emphasis towards this period differs somewhat from Western Christianity- the Eastern focus is less on repentance and more of an attempt to recapture humanity's original state. Observance of Great Lent is characterized by fasting and abstinence from certain foods, intensified private and public prayer, self-examination, confession , personal improvement, repentance and restitution for sins committed, and almsgiving . Fasting
6534-428: The church (or veiled in the pre-Vatican II rite), crucifixes and statues are covered with violet covers during Passiontide, but the crucifix covers can be white instead of violet on Maundy Thursday). Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus and his subsequent death. Commemorations of often solemn and mournful, many denominations use Good Friday to perform the Stations of the Cross , or other commemorations of
6633-464: The commemoration of Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday , marks the betrayal of Jesus on Spy Wednesday ( Holy Wednesday ), climaxing with the commemoration of the Mystical or Last Supper on Maundy Thursday ( Holy Thursday ) and the Passion of Jesus on Good Friday ( Holy Friday ). Holy Week concludes with Christ's rest in death and descent into hell on Holy Saturday . Christians believe that Jesus rested in death from
6732-412: The cross. The blessing is thus followed by a procession or solemn entrance into the church, with the participants holding the blessed branches in their hands. The liturgy includes the solemn reading of the Passion, the narrative of Christ's capture, suffering and death, as recounted in one of the Synoptic Gospels . (In the Tridentine Mass the Passion is always that of St. Matthew.) Before the reform of
6831-435: The date of the upcoming Pascha, the readings of the preceding weeks are either skipped (if Pascha will be early) or repeated (if it will be late) so that the readings for the 32nd Sunday after Pentecost always occur on the Sunday preceding the Week of the Publican and the Pharisee. In the Byzantine ("Greek") liturgical traditions, the Gospel reading for Zacchaeus remains in the normal lectionary cycle and does not always fall on
6930-406: The diocese as possible together with the bishop. This Mass was not included in editions of the Roman Missal before the time of Pope Pius XII. In this Mass, the bishop blesses separate oils for the sick (used in Anointing of the Sick ), for catechumens (used in baptism ) and chrism (used in baptism, confirmation and the Holy Orders , as well as in rites such as the dedication of an altar and
7029-456: The divine liturgy is not celebrated on weekdays, the Typica occupies its place in the canonical hours , whether or not a liturgy is celebrated at vespers. On Saturday and Sunday the Divine Liturgy may be celebrated as usual. On Saturdays, the usual Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom is celebrated; on Sundays the longer Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great is used. The services of the Canonical Hours are much longer during Great Lent and
7128-549: The fifth Sunday before Lent. In fact, it usually falls a few weeks before, and the fifth Sunday before Lent is known as the Sunday of the Canaanite Woman after the story in Matthew 15:21–28 . The Lenten significance of the Gospel account of Zacchaeus is that it introduces the themes of pious zeal (Zacchaeus' climbing up the sycamore tree; Jesus' words: "Zacchaeus, make haste"), restraint (Jesus' words: "come down"), making
7227-595: The house of Simon the Leper , especially the anointing of Jesus by Mary of Bethany , which directly preceded the betrayal of Jesus by Judas to the Sanhedrin. Tenebrae ( Latin for "shadows" or "darkness") is celebrated within Western Christianity during Holy Week, especially on Spy Wednesday . Tenebrae is distinctive for its gradual extinguishing of candles while a series of readings and psalms
7326-464: The intent to finish proper embalming and burial ceremonies on Sunday, after the Sabbath had ended, as the Sabbath day prohibitions would have prevented observant Jews from completing a proper burial. In the Catholic tradition after the Good Friday service, which represents the burial of Jesus, until the Easter Vigil on Saturday night, no mass takes place whatsoever on Holy Saturday. The celebration of
7425-447: The largest crowds of the year. Many Christian cultures have different traditions such as special liturgies or services, floats, sculptures or live reenactments of Christ's life, his arrest and crucifixion (also called the Lord's passion, the Passion of Christ or Passion of Jesus ); the latter are known as Passion Plays , which are often interdenominational productions. In Eastern Rite Churches there are also many means to commemorate
7524-485: The last days of Jesus Christ's life. Among them: On Holy Wednesday, the story of Judas arranging his betrayal of Jesus with the chief priests is remembered; he was a spy among the disciples of Jesus ( Matthew 26:14–25 ). For this reason, the day is sometimes called "Spy Wednesday". (In the Tridentine Mass the Passion according to St. Luke is read instead.) Other events connected with this date include events at
7623-561: The latter half of the 3rd century and 4th century. In this text, abstinence from flesh is commanded for all the days, while for the Friday and Saturday an absolute fast is commanded. Dionysius Alexandrinus in his canonical epistle (AD 260), refers to the 91 fasting days implying that the observance of them had already become an established usage in his time. There is some doubt about the genuineness of an ordinance attributed to Roman Emperor Constantine , in which abstinence from public business
7722-740: The meal. Regardless of the rank of the feast being celebrated, the Lenten hymns contained in the Triodion are never omitted, but are always chanted in their entirety, even on the feast of the Annunciation. On the Saturdays, Sundays, and a number of weekdays during Great Lent, the service materials from the Triodion leave no room for the commemoration of the Saint of the day from the Menaion . In order that their services not be completely forgotten,
7821-602: The model for the Eucharist or Holy Communion. During the meal, Jesus predicted the events that would immediately follow, including his betrayal, the Denial of Peter , and his death and resurrection. The liturgical celebration of the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday marks the beginning of the Paschal Triduum . Catholic and Lutheran parishes traditionally practice the foot washing (Maundy) ceremony on Maundy Thursday ,
7920-400: The monastic rules. These rules exist not as a Pharisaic law, "burdens grievous to be borne" Luke 11:46 , but as an ideal to be striven for; not as an end in themselves, but as a means to the purification of heart, the enlightening of mind, the liberation of soul and body from sin, and the spiritual perfection crowned in the virtue of love towards God and man. In the Byzantine Rite, asceticism
8019-508: The ninth hour (3 pm) on Good Friday until just before dawn on Sunday morning, the day of his resurrection from death , commonly known as Easter Sunday. However, in 1 Peter 3:19, there may be a clue as to a task Jesus performed during this period between death and resurrection: "By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison." This marks the beginning of the season of Eastertide , with its first week being known as Easter Week (Bright Week) . Holy Week liturgies generally attract
8118-694: The normal Mass was celebrated. Churches of many denominations , including the Lutheran, Catholic, Methodist, Anglican, Moravian and Reformed traditions, distribute palm branches to their congregations during their Palm Sunday liturgies. Christians take these palms, which are often blessed by clergy, to their homes where they hang them alongside Christian art (especially crosses and crucifixes ) or keep them in their Bibles or devotionals. The days between Palm Sunday and Maundy Thursday are known as Holy Monday , Holy Tuesday (Fig Tuesday), and Holy Wednesday (Spy Wednesday). There are traditional observances held by liturgical denominations to commemorate events from
8217-686: The parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus as a parallel to the Lazarus of Bethany who falls ill and is raised from the dead after four days in the tomb (John 11:1-45). A difference between the Eastern and Western observances is that while in the West the chanting of Alleluia ceases during Lent , in the East its use is increased. This is because for Christians, fasting should be joyous (cf. Matthew 6:16 ), and
8316-675: The period of three days known as the Easter Triduum , that includes Good Friday (seen as beginning with the liturgy of the preceding evening), Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday up to evening prayer on that day. The Chrism Mass, whose texts the Roman Missal and the rubrics used in Lutheran Churches now give under Maundy Thursday, but before the Paschal Triduum which begins that evening, may be brought forward early in Holy Week, to facilitate participation by as many clergy of
8415-406: The previous Pascha). This day has one sole Pre-Lenten feature: the Gospel reading is always the account of Zacchaeus from Luke 19:1–10 , for which reason this Sunday is referred to as "Zacchaeus Sunday" (though the week before is not called "Zacchaeus week"). This reading actually falls at the end of the lectionary cycle, being assigned to the 32nd Week after Pentecost. However, depending upon
8514-487: The priest if there is no deacon, carries the Paschal Candle at the head of the entrance procession and, at three points, stops and chants the proclamation "The Light of Christ" (until Easter 2011, the official English text was "Christ our Light"), to which the people respond "Thanks be to God". Once the procession concludes with the singing of the third proclamation, the lights throughout the church are lit, except for
8613-507: The regular services. This replacement begins gradually, initially affecting only the Epistle and Gospel readings, and gradually increases until Holy Week when it entirely replaces all other liturgical material. During the Triduum even the Psalter is eliminated, and all texts are taken exclusively from the Triodion. The Triodion is used until the lights are extinguished before midnight at
8712-454: The rite by Pope Pius XII , the blessing of the palms occurred inside the church within a liturgy that followed the general outline of a Mass, with Collect, Epistle and Gospel, as far as the Sanctus. The palms were then blessed with five prayers, and a procession went out of the church and on its return included a ceremony for the reopening of the doors, which had meanwhile been shut. After this
8811-459: The sense of unworthiness must always be tempered with hope in God's forgiveness. In fact, days which follow the Lenten pattern of services are referred to as "days with Alleluia". This theme of "Lenten joy" is also found in many of the hymns of the Triodion, such as the stichera which begin with the words: "The Lenten Spring has dawned!..." ( Vespers Aposticha , Wednesday of Maslenitsa ) and "Now
8910-670: The spirit of penitence, but also to remind him of his Christian obligation of charity in praying for the departed. A number of Saturdays during Great Lent are Saturdays of the Dead , with many of the hymns of the Daily Office and at the Divine Liturgy dedicated to remembrance of the departed. These Saturdays are: In addition, the Lity , a brief prayer service for the departed, may be served on each weekday of Great Lent, provided there
9009-676: The sprinkling of baptismal water . The general intercessions follow. After the Liturgy of Baptism, the Liturgy of the Eucharist continues as usual. This is the first Mass of Easter Day. During the Eucharist, the newly baptised receive Holy Communion for the first time. According to the rubrics of the Missal , the Easter vigil "ends before the dawn on the Sunday". Easter Day (or Easter Sunday), which immediately follows Holy Week and begins with
9108-521: The structure of the services is different on weekdays. The usual evening small compline is replaced by the much longer service of Great Compline . While in the Russian tradition Great Compline is used on Friday night (though some parts are read rather than sung and some Lenten material is replaced by non-Lenten hymns), in the Greek practice, ordinary Compline is used together with, on the first four weeks,
9207-563: The time comes for paschal joys, the abundance of which overflows to occupy fifty days. Holy Communion may only be given on this day as Viaticum . In some Anglican churches, including the Episcopal Church in the United States , there is provision for a simple liturgy of the word with readings commemorating the burial of Christ. The doors of the empty tabernacle of the main altar are left open, to symbolise that Jesus Christ
9306-555: The unlit church. In the darkness (often in a side chapel of the church building or, preferably, outside the church), a new fire is kindled and blessed by the priest. This new fire symbolizes the light of salvation and hope that God brought into the world through Christ's Resurrection, dispelling the darkness of sin and death. From this fire is lit the Paschal candle , symbolizing the Light of Christ. This Paschal candle will be used throughout
9405-419: The weekdays of Holy Week, like those of Lent, are Days of Special Devotion to be observed by special acts of discipline and self-denial, so the practical effect is the same as if Holy Week were considered part of Lent. In the Moravian Church , the Holy Week services ( Passion Week ) are extensive, as the congregation follows the life of Christ through His final week in daily services dedicated to readings from
9504-530: The “Contemporary” Sundays of St Gregory Palamas, St John of the Ladder, and St Mary of Egypt. On each of these, the troparia of the 1st Canon at Matins reference the more ancient commemoration, the Prodigal Son, Good Samaritan, and the Rich Man and Lazarus respectively. During Palm Week, between the Sunday of St Mary of Egypt and Lazarus Saturday, the 1st Canon at Matins on each weekday references
9603-551: Was reserved the previous Sunday, is brought to the prothesis table . This is followed by a solemn great entrance where the Holy Mysteries are brought to the altar table, and then, skipping the anaphora (eucharistic prayer) , the outline of remainder of the divine liturgy is followed, including holy communion . Most parishes and monasteries celebrate this liturgy only on Wednesdays, Fridays and feast days , but it may be celebrated on any weekday of Great Lent. Because
9702-423: Was enforced for the seven days immediately preceding Easter Day, and also for the seven which followed it. The Codex Theodosianus , however, is explicit in ordering that all actions at law should cease, and the doors of all courts of law be closed during those 15 days (1. ii. tit. viii.). Of the particular days of the "great week" the earliest to emerge into special prominence was naturally Good Friday. Next came
9801-673: Was noted by the crowds present who shouted praises and waved palm branches . In the Roman Rite, before 1955 it was known simply as Palm Sunday, and the preceding Sunday as Passion Sunday. From 1955 to 1971 it was called Second Sunday in Passiontide or Palm Sunday. Among Lutherans and Anglicans, the day is known as the Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday. In many liturgical denominations, to commemorate Christ's entry into Jerusalem to accomplish his paschal mystery , it
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