The Service of the Twelve Gospels is a Lenten service held on the evening of Holy Thursday.
The reading of the Passion Gospels has some peculiarities: it is preceded and accompanied by singing corresponding to their content: “Glory to your long-suffering, Lord,” announced by the gospel, listened to by believers with lit candles.
On the evening of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday Matins, or the service of the 12 Gospels, as this service is usually called, is celebrated. This entire service is dedicated to the reverent remembrance of saving suffering and death on the cross God-man. Every hour of this day there is a new deed of the Savior, and the echo of these deeds is heard in every word of the service. In him The Church reveals to believers the full picture of the Lord’s suffering, starting from the bloody sweat in the Garden of Gethsemane to the Calvary crucifixion. Taking us mentally through past centuries, the Church, as it were, brings us to the very foot of the cross of Christ and makes us reverent spectators of all the torment of the Savior.
Its content is the gospel of the suffering and death of the Savior, selected from all the evangelists and divided into twelve readings, according to the number of hours of the night, which indicates that believers should spend the whole night listening to the Gospels, like the apostles who accompanied the Lord to the Garden of Gethsemane.
Believers listen to the Gospel stories with lighted candles in their hands, and after each reading through the mouths of the singers they thank the Lord with the words: “Glory to Your long-suffering, Lord!” After each reading of the Gospel, the bell is struck accordingly.
Before showing Christ bloodied, naked, crucified and buried, the Holy Church shows us the image of the God-man in all His greatness and beauty. Believers must know Who is being sacrificed, Who will endure “spitting, and beating, and strangulation, and the cross, and death”: Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him... (John 13:31). To comprehend the depth of Christ’s humiliation, one must understand, as far as this is possible for a mortal man, His height and His Divinity.
Cross of Christ
First Gospel of the Holy Passion- there is therefore, as it were, a verbal icon of God the Word, reclining on the “Easter of the crucifixion” and ready to die. Seeing the immeasurable humiliation of her Lord and Savior, the Church at the same time beholds His glory. Already the first Gospel begins with the words of the Savior about His glorification: Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. This glory, like a kind of light-like cloud, envelops the exalted Cross now standing before us. Like once Mount Sinai and the ancient tabernacle, it surrounds Golgotha. And the stronger the sorrow that the gospel story tells about, the stronger the glorification of Christ sounds in hymns.
The essence of God is love, therefore she is glorified even in the suffering of the Savior. The glory of love is its sacrifice. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. Christ lays down His life for His friends and calls them: You are My friends (John 15:14). The Lord brought people complete knowledge. The fullness of the Divine living in Him bodily through the unity of those who love in Him reveals knowledge about the most important and valuable thing - about God. Loving friend friends in Christ receive a revelation of the essence of God. For, abiding in Christ's love, they thereby abide in the Trinitarian Godhead. He who loves Me will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make our abode with him (John 14:23). With the coming of the Father, the Holy Spirit is sent down, who proceeds from the Father and bears witness to the Son (cf. John 15:26).
However, it is impossible to love when you are alone. That's why the image of God is reflected in human society- in the Church of Christ. The chants call us to common prayer and to the general glorification of the Lord in order to receive together “the burning Easter, sacred in us”: “Let us hear all the faithful, convening with high preaching, the uncreated and natural wisdom of God, crying out: taste and understand, like Christ, cry out: gloriously Christ our God be glorified." “Christ established the world, Heavenly and Divine Bread. Come, lovers of Christ, with mortal lips and pure hearts, let us faithfully celebrate Easter, which is celebrated in us.”
So, the unity of God is reflected in the unity of the Church, and vice versa. Jesus Christ prays about this in His hierarchal prayer: That they may all be one: as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be one in Us; and the world also has faith, because You sent Me. And I have given the glory to Me, I have given it to them, that they may be one, as We are one. I am in them, and You are in Me: that they may be perfect in one, and that the world may understand that You sent Me and loved them as You loved Me (John 17:21-23). What meaning does the Church give to the reading of this Gospel? This text leads us to recognize the internal connection of the teaching about the personality of Christ as the God-man, about the Church as the body of the God-man and about the nature of the Divinity as the consubstantial (omousia) of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In addition, the above prayer is a prayer for salvation, for to abide in the Father and the Son means to be saved.
Emphasizing the importance readable Gospels and the entire service Holy Week, church hymns encourage us to be especially attentive and focused, leaving at least for a while the cares of everyday life: “Let us present our pure feelings to Christ, and as His friends, we will devour our souls for His sake, and we will not be oppressed by the cares of this world like Judas, but in our cages we will cry out. : Our Father in heaven, deliver us from the evil one.”
Having prompted us to pay special attention, the Holy Church again in her hymns glorifies the wife who anointed the Lord with chrism, and cites as an example the betrayal of the wicked money-lover Judas, reminding us that the root of all evil is the love of money(1 Tim. 6:10): “Let us serve the mercy of God, like Mary at the supper, and let us not acquire the love of money, like Judas: that we may always be with Christ our God. With thirty pieces of silver, Lord, and with a flattering kiss, I ask the Jews to kill Thee. But the lawless Judas did not want to understand.”
In the following antiphons, the lesson of humility is again heard, the washing of the Savior’s feet is again recalled: “In Your washing, Christ God, You commanded Your disciples: do this as you see. But the lawless Judas did not want to understand.” Further, the need to stay awake is again spoken of: “Watch and pray, so that you do not fall into misfortune, as you said to your disciple, Christ our God. But the lawless Judas did not want to understand,” since the next Gospel will read about the treacherous taking of the Savior into custody. The topic of spiritual wakefulness is very important. Directly these words of the Savior are addressed to His disciples, but through them - to all Christians.
Since Peter turned out to be too bold in his words, as well as the other disciples, Christ exposes their instability as people who spoke rashly, and especially turns his speech to Peter, saying that it will be difficult to remain faithful to the Lord for those who could not stay awake for even one hour . But, having denounced him, he again calms them down, because they dozed off not out of inattention to Him, but out of weakness. And if we see our weakness, we will pray so as not to fall into temptation. All Christians are called to this constant spiritual vigilance; without this constant carrying of our Cross there can be no salvation, for through many sorrows we must enter the Kingdom of God (Acts 14:22). That’s why we hear again: “Having laid down thirty pieces of silver, the price of the One Who was Priced, He was valued by the children of Israel. Watch and pray, so that you do not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak: for this reason, watch” (TP. L. 439).
But it's getting closer reading of the second Passion Gospel, which tells about the taking into custody of the Savior. The solemn procession of ancient Christians spending Holy Week in the Holy Land was at that moment approaching the Garden of Gethsemane, where the betrayal took place. Therefore, in order to remind those praying that the Lord suffers for our sake and that everything happened according to God’s ineffable Providence, the Holy Church sings: “At the supper the disciples fed, and knew the pretense of tradition; at it you exposed Judas, for you knew that this was uncorrected: know that Although you have given yourself over to everyone by your will, you may snatch the world away from the alien: long-suffering, glory to You.”
Having thus prepared those praying for a correct understanding of what is being read, the Church brings to our attention the second Passion Gospel, which speaks of the capture of the Savior by the soldiers of the high priest under the leadership of Judas the traitor, the denial of Peter, the strangulation of Jesus in the courtyard of Caiaphas and His imprisonment in the praetorium of Pontius Pilate.
The antiphons following the reading of the Gospel again dwell on the fall of Judas: “Today Judas leaves the Teacher, and accepts the devil, is blinded by the passion of the love of money, the darkened Light falls away: how can you see, Selling the luminary for thirty pieces of silver; but to us the One who suffered for peace has risen. Let us cry out to the Unman: you who have suffered and have compassion, O Lord, glory to Thee.” It is obvious that it is no coincidence that so much attention is paid to the vice of the love of money and the act of Judas. The Holy Fathers speak very decisively on this matter. “Whoever began to serve mammon has already abandoned serving Christ.”
That is why this topic arises again and again: “Today Judas feigns piety, and his talents are alienated, this disciple becomes a traitor: flattery covers up in ordinary kisses, and he prefers the Master to love, it is senseless to work for the love of money, a teacher who was a teacher of a lawless congregation; But we who have the salvation of Christ, let us glorify him.”
In contrast to the act of Judas, Christ’s faithful followers are called to virtues that are opposite to his sinful illness: “Let us acquire brotherly love as brethren in Christ, and not as an unmerciful hedgehog towards our neighbors: lest we be condemned as an unmerciful servant, for the sake of penalties, and like Judas, having repented, we take advantage of nothing.” "
Turning the Savior's speech to His disciples, the Holy Church in the following antiphons again encourages and strengthens the followers of Christ in this difficult time; But we, separated from the events described in the Gospel for centuries, are moved to patience and perseverance in temptations: “Today the Creator of heaven and earth said to His disciple: The hour is approaching, and Judas will betray Me, so that no one will deny Me, seeing Me on the cross in the midst of two thiefs.” : For I suffer as a man, and I will save as a Lover of Mankind, those who believe in Me... Lord, having come to free passion, You cried out to Your disciple: Even if you were not able to watch with Me for a single hour, since you promised to die for My sake; See how Judas is not sleeping, but is trying to betray Me to the lawless. Arise, pray, so that no one will deny Me, in vain I am on the cross, long-suffering, glory to You.”
The third Passion Gospel is read, telling about how the Savior in the courtyard of the high priest Caiaphas Himself testifies of Himself as the Son of God and accepts being strangled and spat on for this testimony. The renunciation of the Apostle Peter and his repentance are also depicted here. The antiphons that follow the Gospel emphasize that the Divine Sufferer endures these torments voluntarily - for the sake of the salvation of His creation: “When you ate the lawless, while you endured, you cried out to the Lord: if you also smite the Shepherd, and scatter twelve sheep, my disciples, you can imagine greater things than twelve legions.” angels. But I will endure long, that what My prophets have revealed to you, unknown and secret, may be fulfilled: Lord, glory to Thee.”
The seventh antiphon says about the Apostle Peter: “Peter denied three times what was spoken to him in his mind, but bring to You tears of repentance: God, cleanse me and save me.” Here we briefly talk about events that have a very deep, enduring moral significance. Obsessed with fear, Peter forgot about his promises to the Teacher and submitted to human weakness. But there is also a higher meaning in this event: Peter is convicted of a servant, that is, of human weakness, this little slave. The rooster means the word of Jesus, which does not allow us to sleep. The awakened Peter came out of the bishop's courtyard, that is, from a state of blinded mind, and began to cry. While he was in the courtyard of the blinded mind, he did not cry because he had no feeling; but as soon as he came out of it, he came to his senses.
The topic of repentance is very important, and in the hymns of Holy Week it is revealed as clearly as nowhere else. According to the holy fathers, if even the evil Judas could fall before the Cross of Christ and bring sincere repentance for betrayal, he would hear from the most pure lips of the Lord: “Your sins are forgiven.” However, “lawless Judas did not want to understand” God’s mercy. He did not turn, like the Apostle Peter, to the good and merciful Lord. The traitor came to the Pharisees, but did not find sympathy from them. Throwing them pieces of silver, he went and hanged himself - a terrible end!
What lesson can be learned Orthodox Christian from the denial of the Apostle Peter? Many probably asked the question: how could he renounce the Savior? And how do we renounce every minute in word and deed?.. Love of sin keeps us from following Christ and makes our dead soul who does not know Christ.
In the eighth antiphon, the stiff-necked Jews are reproached for not recognizing in Christ their Messiah and Lawgiver: “Cry out the iniquity that you hear from our Savior; shall not lay down the law, and the prophetic teaching; How could you think of betraying Pilate, who is from God, God the Word, and the deliverer of our souls.” Those to whom the Law and the Prophets were given, those who saw so many miracles, did not recognize their Savior and their Messiah: “Let those who continually enjoy the cry of Thy gifts be crucified, and let the evildoer instead of the benefactor be accepted to the benefactor, the murderers of the righteous: but Christ art thou who was silent, enduring their severity, to suffer even though they save us, as a Lover of Mankind.”
Coming reading time of the fourth Passion Gospel. It describes the dialogue between the Savior and Pilate, the scourging of the Lord, His clothing with a crown of thorns and scarlet robe, the mad cries of the crowd: “Crucify, crucify Him!” and handing Him over to be crucified. Once again, already at the threshold of death, He testifies of Himself as the Truth, to which unbelieving skepticism in the person of Pilate replies: “What is truth?” - and betrays Christ to torture and abuse.
What is striking in this Gospel passage is the cry of the crowd, thirsting for the death of their Creator: “Let those who continually enjoy the cry of Thy gifts be crucified, and let the evildoer be accepted instead of the benefactor, the murderers of the righteous.” The Lord performed so many miracles throughout the history of the Israeli people, and the majority of these people did not accept Him: “This says the Lord to the Jews: My people, what have I done to you? or why do you feel cold; I enlightened your blind, cleansed your lepers, raised your living husband on his bed. My people, what have I done to you, and what will you repay Me; for manna gall: for water tsets: for the hedgehog love Me, nail Me to the cross!..”
And if only he had not accepted... His blood be on us and on our children (Matthew 27:25)... What scary words!.. And with what insane frivolity the people pronounce them. The Blood of the Righteous One, which he took upon himself, burned the cities with fire, delivered the Israelites into the hands of enemies and finally scattered them over the face of the earth... But we accept this same Blood in the Sacrament of Holy Communion, for us it is the source of immortality and Eternal Life... But His Blood will be on us and on our children for condemnation and destruction, if even after we have been renewed by this most holy Blood we continue to commit the same sins.
But then, in the midst of terrible sorrow, the words of church hymn are heard put into the mouth of the Savior: “To those who cannot endure anything else, I will call on My tongues, and they will glorify Me with the Father and the Spirit: and I will give them eternal life.” This speaks of the Holy Church of Christ, which will also be gathered from sheep that are not of this fold. But you too must be brought to Me, and My voice will be heard, and there will be one flock and one Shepherd (John 10:16).
The next, tenth and eleventh, antiphons mention the formidable natural phenomena accompanying the suffering of Christ. If people turn out to be insensitive, then inanimate nature cannot help but sympathize with his Creator: “Dress yourself in light like a robe, standing naked in judgment, and on your cheeks receive the emphasis from the hands that created them: but lawless people nailed the Lord of glory on the cross: then the veil of the church was torn, the sun darkened, unable to bear the sight of God vexed, He who trembles in every way, Let us worship Him.
Below is the earth as if it shook, below is the stone as if it became gray, admonishing the Jews, below is the church veil, below is the resurrection of the dead. But grant them, Lord, according to their deeds, for they have learned from You in vain.
Today the church veil for exposing the lawless is torn, and the sun hides its rays, the Lord is being crucified in vain.”
Fifth Passion Gospel tells about the death of the traitor Judas, about the interrogation of the Lord in the praetorium of Pilate and about His condemnation to death. The thirteenth antiphon speaks of the robber-murderer Barabbas, whom the maddened crowd preferred to the Savior: “The assembly of the Jews asked Pilate to crucify You, O Lord: for You did not find guilt in You, who freed Barabbas, and You righteously condemned the sin that inherited the foul murder.” And again the Church reminds us that the Savior suffers for us: “For Him all are terrified and tremble, and every tongue sings of Christ the power of God and God's wisdom, the priests hit the cheek, and gave Him bile: and if you will suffer all, save us from our iniquities with Your Blood, as a Lover of Mankind.”
Suddenly, amid the sorrow and greatness of this day, a weak human cry is heard. This is the cry of the thief, crucified at the right hand of Christ and comprehending the Divinity of the God-Man crucified with him and compassionate with him. “The thief uttered a small voice on the cross, you gained great faith, you were saved in a single moment, and the first gates of heaven opened below, who accepted repentance, Lord, glory to You.”
Like a heartfelt sigh from the whole world, the Church takes it up, and in the hearts of its faithful it grows into a whole song about the prudent thief, sung three times before the 9th Gospel: “The prudent thief, in one hour you have made heaven worthy, and enlighten me with the tree of the cross, and save me."
The words of the last antiphon are imbued with special power: “Today the King like the angels, like the angels, hangs on a tree; he dresses himself in false scarlet, covering the sky with clouds; the strangulation was accepted, like the freed Adam in the Jordan; The Church Bridegroom is nailed down with nails; a copy of the Son of the Virgin. We worship Christ with Your passion; We worship Christ with Your passion; We worship Your passion, Christ, show us Your glorious resurrection.” And here, among the sufferings darkening the consciousness, like a thin ray of light, a mention appears of what all this suffering is for: “show us your glorious resurrection!”
Having thus strengthened those praying, the Church offers reading of the sixth Passion Gospel, which talks about the crucifixion itself. In the hymns that follow this Gospel and immediately precede it, the saving meaning of the suffering of the God-Man is revealed: “Your cross, O Lord, is life and intercession for your people, and in hope we sing to you of our crucified God, have mercy on us.”
In the hymns one can hear: “Thou hast redeemed us from the legal oath, with Thy venerable Blood, having been nailed to the cross, and pierced with a spear, Thou hast extinguished immortality as a man, Our Savior, glory to Thee.” The Lord redeemed us, did everything for our salvation, but this salvation can only be found in Church of Christ. Therefore, immediately after reading the Gospel story about the crucifixion, we hear comforting words about the Church, filling the whole world with Divine grace: “Thy life-giving ribs, like a fountain flowing from Eden, Thy Church, O Christ, like a verbal one, waters paradise, from here dividing like into the beginning, into the four Gospels, watering the world, making the creation joyful, and faithfully teaching the tongues to worship Your Kingdom.” Only in the Church, as in the ark of salvation, can one find peace and salvation from eternal death.
But peace and salvation can only be obtained by following Christ: “Thou hast been crucified for my sake, that thou hast pierced my ribs, that thou hast emptied the drops of life: thou hast been nailed with nails, that by the depth of Thy passions we assure the height of Thy power , I call Ty: Life-giving Christ, glory to the Savior Cross and Thy passion.” Only those who fulfill the gospel commandment are saved: If anyone wants to follow Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and come after Me.(Matt. 16:24).
What else can be added, what else can be usefully extracted from the proposed chants? “Thou hast torn to pieces our handwriting on the cross, O Lord, and having been counted among the dead, Thou hast bound the tormentor there, delivering all from the bonds of death by Thy resurrection, by which we have been enlightened, O Lord of mankind, and we cry unto Thee: remember us also, O Saviour, in Thy Kingdom.”
Seventh and Eighth Passion Gospels repeat the events of the Savior's crucifixion, supplementing them with some details. After the eighth Gospel, the three-canticle of Cosmas of Maium is read, which, in particular, again speaks of the disciples of Christ. The eighth song of this three-song contains an important idea that to those who are stronger, a stronger temptation is sent: “From the disciples of all times now, shake off the sleep that thou hast said, O Christ, and watch in prayer, lest ye enter into adversity, and especially Simone: the strongest temptation. Understand Me Peter: He will bless all creation, glorifying Him forever.”
We are further reminded that you can never rely on yourself, since only with the help of God can we do something good: “You have not experienced all the depth of Divine wisdom and reason, but you have not comprehended the abyss of My destinies as a human being, the Lord speaks. Do not boast in your poor flesh, for you have denied Me three times, Whom He will bless all creation, glorifying Him forever.” Moreover, Peter was afraid not of the soldiers, but of the maids: “You deny to Simone Peter that you will quickly do as you have said, and one young woman will come to You and frighten You, the Lord has spoken. The mountaineer shed tears, and found Me both merciful and blessed by all creation, glorifying Him forever.”
The Exapostilary of the Trisong, sung just before the reading of the ninth Gospel, depicts the prudent thief who came to the knowledge of the Truth at the eleventh hour. This teaches a lesson that it is never too late to repent and come to Christ the Savior: “The prudent thief, in one hour you have made heaven worthy, and enlighten me with the tree of the cross, and save me.” Jesus receives everyone, giving the same denarius to those workers who came around the eleventh hour. Amen, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise (Luke 23:43).
The last Passion Gospel has been read, the Lord has been laid in the tomb, Christ’s disciples have dispersed... The continuation of the holy and saving Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ ends, and with lighted candles Christians leave the church, grieving from what they have experienced, but in the depths of their souls already expecting the Resurrection.
Passion Gospels:
- John 13:31-18:1 (The Savior’s farewell conversation with his disciples and His high priestly prayer for them).
- John 18:1-28. (The capture of the Savior in the Garden of Gethsemane and His suffering at the hands of the High Priest Anna).
- Matthew 26:57-75. (The Savior’s suffering at the hands of the high priest Caiaphas and the denial of Peter).
- John 18:28-40,19:1-16. (The Lord's suffering at Pilate's trial).
- Matthew 27:3-32. (The despair of Judas, the new suffering of the Lord under Pilate and His condemnation to crucifixion).
- Mark 15:16-32. (Leading the Lord to Golgotha and His Passion on the Cross).
- Matthew 27:34-54. (Continuation of the story of the Lord’s suffering on the cross, the miraculous signs that accompanied His death).
- Luke 23:32-49. (Prayer of the Savior on the Cross for enemies and repentance of a prudent thief).
- John 19:25-37. (The Savior’s words from the cross to the Mother of God and the Apostle John and repetition of the legend about His death and perforation).
- Mark 15:43-47. (Removal of the Lord's body from the Cross).
- John 19:38-42. (Participation of Nicodemus and Joseph in the burial of the Savior).
- Matthew 27:62-66. (Attaching guards to the tomb of the Savior and sealing the tomb).
The ninth Passion Gospel is read, which speaks of the Savior’s dying concerns about His Mother and His death. The Lord, hanging on the cross, adopts His Mother as a son to His beloved disciple. “This was a response to Her boundless sorrow, the spectacle of which was one of the sharpest thorns of the Savior’s martyr’s crown.”
And now - “it is finished.” The Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, hanging on the cross, gave up his ghost. “My cloaks fell on the wounds, but I did not turn away My face from the spitting, I stood before Pilate’s judgment, and endured the cross for the salvation of the world.” The work of redemption of the human race through His suffering on the cross was completed, in everything in accordance with the Old Testament prophecies and foreshadowings. Even inanimate nature could not remain indifferent to the death of its Creator. In the midst of the darkness, a strong underground rumble was heard, and the earth began to shake: “All creation, changing with fear, beholding Thee hanging on the cross of Christ: the sun was darkened, and the foundations of the earth shook, all to the compassion of the Creator of all. You endured the will of us for our sake, O Lord, glory to Thee.”
The menacing natural phenomena have ceased. Golgotha is empty. They began to spread throughout the city terrible rumors that the earthquake damaged the temple, and the veil separating the Holy of Holies from the Sanctuary was torn from top to bottom. This event marked the end Old Testament and the establishment of a new relationship between man and God.
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Service of the 12 Gospels.Bishop Alexander (Mileant)
In the evening of the same day, Good Friday Matins, or the service of the 12 Gospels, as this service is usually called, is celebrated. This entire service is dedicated to the reverent remembrance of the saving suffering and death on the cross of the God-Man. Every hour of this day there is a new deed of the Savior, and the echo of these deeds is heard in every word of the service. In it, the Church reveals to believers the full picture of the Lord’s suffering, starting from the bloody sweat in the Garden of Gethsemane to the Calvary crucifixion. Taking us mentally through past centuries, the Church, as it were, brings us to the very foot of the cross of Christ and makes us reverent spectators of all the torment of the Savior. Believers listen to the Gospel stories with lighted candles in their hands, and after each reading through the mouths of the singers they thank the Lord with the words: “Glory to Your long-suffering, Lord!” After each reading of the Gospel, the bell is struck accordingly.
Passion Gospels:
1) John 13:31-18:1 (The Savior’s farewell conversation with his disciples and His prayer at the Last Supper).
2) John 18:1-28 (The taking of the Savior into custody in the Garden of Gethsemane and His suffering before the high priest Annas).
3) Matthew 26:57-75 (The Savior’s suffering at the hands of the high priest Caiaphas and Peter’s denial).
4) John 18:28-40, 19:1-16 (The Lord’s suffering at Pilate’s trial).
5) Matthew 27:3-32 (Despair of Judas, new suffering of the Lord under Pilate and condemnation to crucifixion).
6) Mark 15:16-32 (The Lord’s Path to Calvary and His Passion on the Cross).
7) Matthew 27:34-54 (About the Lord’s suffering on the cross; the miraculous signs that accompanied His death).
Luke 23:23-49 (The Savior’s prayer for his enemies and the repentance of the prudent thief).
9) John 19:25-37 (Words of the Savior from the cross to the Mother of God and the Apostle John, death and perforation of the rib).
10) Mark 15:43-47 (The Descent of the Lord's Body from the Cross).
11) 19:38-42 (Nicodemus and Joseph bury Christ).
12) Matthew 27:62-66 (Putting guards at the tomb of the Savior).
Between the Gospels they sing antiphons, who express indignation at the betrayal of Judas, the lawlessness of the Jewish leaders and the spiritual blindness of the crowd. “What reason made you, Judas, a traitor to the Savior? - it says here. - Did He excommunicate you from the apostolic presence? Or did he deprive you of the gift of healing? Or, while celebrating the Supper with the others, he did not allow you to join the meal? Or did he wash the feet of others and despise yours? Oh, how many blessings have you, ungrateful one, been rewarded with.” And then, as if on behalf of the Lord, the choir addresses the ancient Jews: “My people, what have I done to you or how have I offended you? He opened the sight of your blind, you cleansed your lepers, you raised a man from his bed. My people, what did I do to you and what did you repay Me: for manna - gall, for water [in the desert] - vinegar, instead of loving Me, you nailed Me to the cross; I will not tolerate you any longer, I will call My peoples, and they will glorify Me with the Father and the Spirit, and I will give them eternal life.”
After the sixth Gospel and the reading of the “blessed” with troparia follows canon three-song, transmitting in compressed form last hours the stay of the Savior with the apostles, the denial of Peter and the torment of the Lord and the thrice luminary is sung. We present here the irmos of this canon.
Song one:
To You, the Morning One, who has immutably exhausted mercy for Yourself, and who has bowed down to the passions, the Word of God, grant peace to those who have fallen, O Lover of Mankind.
Canto Eight:
The Divine Fathers denounced the pillar of malice; On Christ, the reeling lawless congregation advises in vain, the belly of the One who holds the length is taught to kill. All creation will bless him, glorifying him forever.
Song Nine:
We magnify Thee, the most honorable Cherub and the most glorious without comparison, the Seraphim, who gave birth to God the Word without corruption.
After the canon the choir sings touching eszapostilarium , in which the repentance of the robber is recalled.
You have vouchsafed the prudent thief in one hour to heaven, O Lord, and enlighten me with the tree of the cross and save me.
For Anythingbreath stichera:
Each of His most pure flesh endured dishonor for our sake; the head is thorns, the face is spitting, the jaws are strangled, the lips are bile and vinegar dissolved in the father, the ear is wicked blasphemy, the shoulder is beating, and the hand is a cane, the whole body is stretched on the cross, the limbs are nails and the ribs are a copy.
Before the end of the service (empty) the choir sings the troparion: Thou hast redeemed us from the legal oath (Thou hast delivered us from the curses of the [Old Testament] law) with Thy honest blood, having been nailed to the cross and pierced with a spear; Thou hast exuded immortality into man, O our Savior, glory to Thee.
There is an ancient custom after the last Gospel not to extinguish your candle, but to bring it home burning and with its flame make small crosses at the top of each door of the house (to keep the house from all evil, Ex. 12:22). The same candle is used to light the lamp in front of the icons.
Good Friday
On Good Friday, the very day of the Savior’s death, as a sign of special sorrow, the Liturgy is not celebrated. Instead, the Royal Clock is served, which is completely dedicated to the events of this day.
About three o'clock after lunch it takes place Vespers with take-out shrouds(image of the Savior taken from the cross). At the beginning of Vespers, after Psalm 103, the stichera on “The Lord cried:” are sung.
All creation, changed by fear, beheld You hanging on the cross, Christ: the sun was darkened, and the foundations of the earth shook. All to the compassion of the Creator of everything. You suffered for our sake, Lord, glory to You.
During the entrance with the censer, the choir sings:
The terrible and glorious mystery is now being seen in action: the Intangible is held; fits in Resolving Adam from the oath; Test the hearts and the bellies are tested unrighteously; he shuts himself up in prison, like the one who shuts the abyss; Pilate will stand, He will stand in awe of the heavenly powers; the Creator is strangled by the hand of creation; the tree is condemned to judge the living and the dead; The Destroyer of Hell lies in the coffin.
After entering, three proverbs are read. The first of them tells about the revelation of the glory of God to the prophet Moses (Ex. 33:11-23). Moses, who prayed for the sinful Jewish people, served as a type of the worldwide Intercessor of Calvary, Jesus Christ. The second proverb tells how God blessed Job for his patient endurance of suffering (Job 42:12-16). Job served as a prototype of the innocent Divine Sufferer Jesus Christ, who returned to people the blessing of the Heavenly Father. The third proverb contains Isaiah's prophecy about the redemptive suffering of the Savior (Is. 53:1-12).
The Apostle's reading speaks of the Divine Wisdom revealed in the Cross of the Lord (1 Cor. 1:18-2:2). The Gospel reading, composed of several Gospels, tells in sequential order about the events in connection with the crucifixion and death of the Lord Jesus Christ. After the litanies, the choir sings verses. During the last stichera below, the priest censes the shroud lying on the throne three times.
To you, clothed with light like a robe, Joseph fell from the tree with Nicodemus, and Vadev was dead, naked, unburied, let us accept the compassionate cry, sobbing with the words: Alas for me, Sweetest Jesus, His sun hanging in the smallness on the cross, having seen it was covered with darkness, and the earth shook with fear , and the church curtain was torn; but behold, now I see You, for my sake death has risen by will. How will I bury Thee, my God, or what kind of shroud will I wrap around Thee? With which hand will I touch Your incorruptible body; or cue songs I will sing to Your exodus, O Generous One; I magnify Your passion, I sing songs and Your burial with the Resurrection, calling: Lord, glory to You.
After “Now You Let Go” and “Our Father,” the clergy carry out the shroud from the altar, thereby symbolizing the burial of the Savior. They lift the shroud from the throne and carry it through the northern gate to the middle of the temple. The servants go ahead with candles, the deacon with a censer, and the worshipers meet the shroud with lighted candles in their hands. The shroud is placed on a special “tomb” standing in the middle of the temple and decorated with white flowers. At this time, the choir sings the funeral troparion in a special chant:
“The noble (noble) Joseph took down Your Most Pure Body from the tree, wrapped it in a clean shroud, and covered it with odors (fragrances) in a new tomb.”
“The angel appeared to the myrrh-bearing women at the tomb crying out: peace to the dead the essence is decent, but Christ appears alien to corruption” (they anoint the dead with fragrant ointments, but Christ is completely inaccessible to corruption).
After burning the shroud, everyone kneels and kisses the image of the wounds on the Savior’s body, thanking Him for his endless love and patience. At this time, the priest reads the canon “Lamentation of the Virgin Mary.” The Holy Shroud is left in the middle of the temple for three incomplete days, recalling the three-day stay of the body of Christ in the tomb. From this time, the bells stop ringing until the start of the Easter service in order to maintain reverent silence while the Body of the Savior rests in the tomb. On this day, the Church prescribes complete abstinence from food.
In the evening of this day it is served Matins of Holy Saturday with the rite of burial of the Savior and procession around the temple. At the beginning of the service, during the singing of the troparion “Blessed Joseph,” the believers light candles, and the clergy from the altar go to the shroud and burn incense on the shroud and the entire temple. The burial ceremony takes place in the middle of the temple. The singers sing verses from Psalm 119, and the next priest reads the troparion after each verse. The troparion of the burial order reveals the spiritual essence of the redemptive feat of the God-man, remembers the sorrow of the Most Pure Mother of God and professes faith in the Savior of mankind. The rite of singing the 118th Psalm with funeral troparions is divided into three parts, called articles. Small litanies are inserted between the articles.
After the third part, anticipating the upcoming resurrection of the Savior, the choir sings “The Council of Angels was surprised...”- a chant that is sung at all-night vigils on Sunday.
The choir sings the irmos of the canon "By a wave of the sea,” which depict the horror of all creation at the sight of the Creator in the tomb. This canon constitutes one of the most perfect creations of church-Christian poetry. At the end of the brochure there is a Russian translation of this canon. Ninth Irmos “Don’t cry for me, Mati” ends the funeral hymn.
At the end Great Doxology the shroud, while singing “Holy God,” accompanied by lamps, banners - and with the burning of incense, rises from the tomb and reverently, with rare strikes of the bell, is carried around the temple in memory of the burial of Jesus Christ. At the same time, the descent of Jesus Christ into hell and the victory of Christ over hell and death are also depicted here: With His Suffering and Death, the Savior again opened the doors of heaven for us, and the shroud, after being brought into the temple, is brought to the Royal Doors. After the exclamation of the priest “forgive wisdom” (forgive - stand simply, straight), the singers sing the troparion “Blessed Joseph,” and the shroud is placed again on the tomb in the middle of the temple. Before the shroud, the proverb, the Apostle and the Gospel are read. The proverb contains Ezekiel's prophetic vision of quickening dry bones (Ezek. 37:1-14). The apostolic reading calls for celebrating Easter “not with the old leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened leaven of purity and truth” (1 Cor. 5:6-8; 3:13-14). The short Gospel speaks of putting seals on the Savior’s tomb and assigning guards (Matt. 27:62-66).
On Thursday evening, Great Heel Matins is celebrated with the reading of the 12 Gospels of the Holy Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1) (Holy Gospel of John 13:1-38)
1. Before the Feast of Passover, Jesus, knowing that His hour had come to pass from this world to the Father, showed by deed that, having loved His who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
2. And during the supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Simon Iscariot to betray Him,
3. Jesus, knowing that the Father has given all things into His hands, and that He came from God and is going to God,
4. got up from supper and took off outerwear and, taking a towel, girded himself.
5. Then he poured water into the washbasin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel with which he was girded.
6. He approaches Simon Peter, and he says to Him: Lord! Should you wash my feet?
7. Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not know now, but you will understand later.”
8. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him: If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.
9. Simon Peter says to Him: Lord! not only my feet, but also my hands and head.
10. Jesus says to him: He who has been washed only needs to wash his feet, because he is all clean; and you are clean, but not all.
11. For He knew His betrayer, therefore He said: You are not all pure.
12. When he had washed their feet and put on his clothes, he lay down again and said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you?”
13. You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you speak correctly, for I am exactly that.
14. So, if I, the Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, then you should also wash one another’s feet.
15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do the same as I have done to you.
16. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, and a messenger is not greater than the one who sent him.
17. If you know this, blessed are you when you do it.
18. I’m not talking about all of you; I know whom I chose. But let the Scripture be fulfilled: He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.
19. Now I tell you before it comes to pass, so that when it comes to pass, you may believe that it is I.
20. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives him whom I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.
21 Having said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.”
22. Then the disciples looked around at each other, wondering who He was talking about.
23 Now one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at Jesus’ breast.
24. Simon Peter made a sign to him and asked who it was that he was talking about.
25. He fell to the chest of Jesus and said to Him: Lord! who is this?
26. Jesus answered: he to whom I dip a piece of bread and give it. And, having dipped the piece, he gave it to Judas Simon Iscariot.
27. And after this piece Satan entered into him. Then Jesus said to him, “Whatever you are doing, do it quickly.”
28. But none of those reclining understood why He told him this.
29. And since Judas had a box, some thought that Jesus was saying to him: buy what we need for the holiday, or to give something to the poor.
30. Having accepted the piece, he immediately went out; and it was night.
31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him.”
32. If God was glorified in Him, then God will glorify Him in Himself, and will soon glorify Him.
33. Children! I won't be with you for long. You will seek Me, and just as I told the Jews that where I go you cannot come, so I tell you now.
34. Commandment I give you a new one to you, may you love one another; just as I have loved you, let you also love one another.
35. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.
36. Simon Peter said to Him: Lord! where are you going? Jesus answered him: Where I am going, you cannot follow Me now, but later you will follow Me.
37. Peter said to Him: Lord! Why can’t I follow You now? I will lay down my soul for You.
38. Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for Me?” Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow until you have denied Me three times.
2) (Holy Gospel of John 18:1-28)
1. Having said this, Jesus went out with His disciples beyond the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, into which He and His disciples entered.
2. And Judas, His betrayer, also knew this place, because Jesus often gathered there with His disciples.
3. So Judas, having taken a detachment of soldiers and ministers from the chief priests and Pharisees, comes there with lanterns and torches and weapons.
4. Jesus, knowing everything that would happen to Him, went out and said to them, “Whom are you looking for?”
5. They answered: Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus said to them: It is I. And Judas, His betrayer, stood with them.
6. And when he said to them, “It is I,” they retreated back and fell to the ground.
7. He asked them again: Who are you looking for? They said: Jesus of Nazareth.
8. Jesus answered: I told you that it was I; So, if you are looking for Me, leave them, let them go, -
9. That the word He spoke might be fulfilled: “Of those whom You gave Me, I have not destroyed any.”
10. Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it, and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.
11 But Jesus said to Peter, Sheathe your sword; Shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?
12 Then the soldiers and the captain and the officers of the Jews took Jesus and bound him,
13. And they took Him first to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.
14. It was Caiaphas who gave advice to the Jews that it was better for one man to die for the people.
15. Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus; This disciple was known to the high priest and entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest.
16. And Peter stood outside the doors. Then another disciple, who was known to the high priest, came out and spoke to the doorkeeper and brought Peter in.
17. Then the servant servant said to Peter: “Are you not one of this man’s disciples?” He said no.
18. Meanwhile, the slaves and servants, having lit a fire, because it was cold, stood and warmed themselves. Peter also stood with them and warmed himself.
19. The high priest asked Jesus about His disciples and about His teaching.
20. Jesus answered him: I have spoken openly to the world; I always taught in the synagogue and in the temple, where Jews always meet, and I did not say anything secretly.
21. Why are you asking Me? ask those who heard what I said to them; behold, they know that I have spoken.
22. When He had said this, one of the servants who was standing close struck Jesus on the cheek, saying, “Is this the answer you give to the high priest?”
23. Jesus answered him: If I have said something bad, show me what is bad; What if it’s good that you beat Me?
24. Annas sent Him bound to the high priest Caiaphas.
25. Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Then they said to him, “Aren’t you also one of His disciples?” He denied and said: no.
26. One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the one whose ear Peter cut off, said: Didn’t I see you with Him in the garden?
27. Peter denied again; and immediately the rooster crowed.
28. They took Jesus from Caiaphas to the praetorium. It was morning; and they did not enter the praetorium, so as not to be defiled, but so that they could eat the Passover.
3) (Holy Gospel of Matthew 26:57-75)
57. And those who took Jesus took Him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and elders were assembled.
58. Peter followed Him at a distance, to the courtyard of the high priest; and going inside, he sat down with the servants to see the end.
59. The chief priests and elders and the whole Sanhedrin sought false testimony against Jesus in order to put Him to death,
60. and were not found; and, although many false witnesses came, they were not found. But finally two false witnesses came
61. And they said: He said: I can destroy the temple of God and build it in three days.
62. And the high priest stood up and said to Him: Why don’t you answer? What do they testify against You?
63. Jesus was silent. And the high priest said to Him: I adjure You by the living God, tell us, Are You the Christ, the Son of God?
64. Jesus says to him: You said; I even say to you: from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven.
65. Then the high priest tore his clothes and said: He is blaspheming! What more need do we need witnesses? Behold, now you have heard His blasphemy!
66. what do you think? They answered and said: He is guilty of death.
67. Then they spat in His face and buffeted Him; others struck Him on the cheeks
68. And they said: Prophesy to us, O Christ, who struck You?
69. Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a certain maid came to him and said, “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.”
70. But he denied it before everyone, saying, “I don’t know what you are saying.”
71. And as he went out of the gate, another saw him, and said to those who were there, “This one also was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
72. And he again denied with an oath that he did not know this Man.
73. A little later those standing there came and said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for your speech also convicts you.”
74. Then he began to swear and swear that he did not know this Man. And suddenly the rooster crowed.
75. And Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken to him: Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times. And going out, he wept bitterly.
4) (Holy Gospel of John 18:28-40)
28. They took Jesus from Caiaphas to the praetorium. It was morning; and they did not enter the praetorium, so as not to be defiled, but so that they could eat the Passover.
29. Pilate came out to them and said, “What do you accuse this man of?”
30. They answered him: If He had not been an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him to you.
31. Pilate said to them: Take Him, and judge Him according to your law. The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,”
32. That the word of Jesus might be fulfilled, which He spoke, indicating by what kind of death He would die.
33. Then Pilate again entered the praetorium, and called Jesus, and said to Him: Are you the King of the Jews?
34. Jesus answered him, “Are you saying this of your own accord, or have others told you about Me?”
35. Pilate answered: Am I a Jew? Your people and the chief priests delivered You up to me; what did you do?
36. Jesus answered: My kingdom is not of this world; If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would fight for Me, so that I would not be betrayed to the Jews; but now my kingdom is not from here.
37. Pilate said to Him: So are You a King? Jesus answered: You say that I am a King. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I came into the world, to testify to the truth; everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.
38. Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And having said this, he again went out to the Jews and said to them: I find no guilt in Him.
39. You have a custom that I give you one for Easter; Do you want me to release the King of the Jews to you?
40. Then they all shouted again, saying, “Not Him, but Barabbas.” Barabbas was a robber.
5) (Holy Gospel of Matthew 27:3-32)
3. Then Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He was condemned, and, repenting, returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
4. saying: I have sinned by betraying innocent blood. They said to him: What is that to us? take a look yourself.
5. And throwing away the pieces of silver in the temple, he went out, went and hanged himself.
6. The high priests, taking the pieces of silver, said: It is not permissible to put them in the church treasury, because this is the price of blood.
7. Having taken counsel, they bought a potter's land with them for the burial of strangers;
8. Therefore that land is called “the land of blood” to this day.
9. Then was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet Jeremiah, who says: And they took thirty pieces of silver, the price of the One who was valued, whom the children of Israel valued,
10 And they gave them for the potter's land, as the Lord said to me.
11. Jesus stood before the governor. And the ruler asked Him: Are you the King of the Jews? Jesus said to him: You speak.
12 And when the chief priests and elders accused Him, He answered nothing.
13. Then Pilate said to Him: Do you not hear how many testify against You?
14. And he did not answer a single word, so that the ruler was greatly amazed.
15. On the holiday of Easter, the ruler had the custom of releasing to the people one prisoner whom they wanted.
16. At that time they had a famous prisoner called Barabbas;
17 So, when they were gathered, Pilate said to them: whom do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus, who is called Christ?
18. For he knew that they had betrayed Him out of envy.
19. While he was sitting in the judgment seat, his wife sent him to say: Do not do anything to the Righteous One, because today in a dream I suffered a lot for Him.
20. But the chief priests and elders stirred up the people to ask Barabbas and to destroy Jesus.
21. Then the governor asked them: Which of the two do you want me to release to you? They said: Barabbas.
22. Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do to Jesus, who is called Christ? Everyone tells him: let him be crucified.
23. The ruler said: What evil has He done? But they shouted even more loudly: let him be crucified.
24. Pilate, seeing that nothing helped, but the confusion was increasing, took water and washed his hands before the people, and said: I am innocent of the blood of this Righteous One; look you.
25 And all the people answered and said, His blood be on us and on our children.
26. Then he released Barabbas to them, and beat Jesus and handed him over to be crucified.
27. Then the soldiers of the governor, taking Jesus to the praetorium, gathered the whole regiment against Him
28. And having undressed Him, they put purple robe on Him;
29. And having woven a crown of thorns, they placed it on His head and gave it to Him right hand cane; and, kneeling before Him, they mocked Him, saying: Hail, King of the Jews!
30. And they spat on Him and, taking a reed, beat Him on the head.
31. And when they had mocked Him, they took off His scarlet robe, and clothed Him with His own garments, and led Him away to be crucified.
32. As they went out, they met a certain Cyrene man named Simon; this one was forced to bear His cross.
6) (Holy Gospel of Mark 15:16-32)
16. And the soldiers took Him inside the courtyard, that is, to the praetorium, and gathered the whole regiment,
17. And they clothed Him in scarlet, and plaited a crown of thorns, and laid it on Him;
18. And they began to greet Him: Hail, King of the Jews!
19. And they beat Him on the head with a reed, and spat on Him, and kneeling down they bowed down to Him.
20. When they had mocked Him, they took off His scarlet robe, clothed Him in His own garments, and led Him out to crucify Him.
21. And they forced a certain Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, who was coming from the field, to carry His cross.
22. And they brought Him to the place of Golgotha, which means: Place of Execution.
23. And they gave Him wine and myrrh to drink; but He did not accept.
24. Those who crucified Him divided His garments, casting lots as to who should take what.
25. It was the third hour, and they crucified Him.
26. And the inscription of His guilt was: King of the Jews.
27. Two thieves were crucified with Him, one on the right and the other on left side His.
28. And the word of the Scripture was fulfilled: He was numbered among the evildoers.
29. Those passing by cursed Him, nodding their heads and saying: Eh! destroying the temple, and building in three days!
30. Save Yourself and come down from the cross.
31. Likewise, the high priests and the scribes mocked each other and said to each other, “He saved others, but he cannot save himself.”
32. Let Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, so that we may see and believe. And those crucified with Him reviled Him.
7) (Holy Gospel of Matthew 27:34-54)
34. They gave Him vinegar mixed with gall to drink; and, having tasted it, did not want to drink.
35. And those who crucified Him divided His garments, casting lots;
36. And they sat and watched Him there;
37. And they placed an inscription over His head, signifying His guilt: This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.
38. Then two thieves were crucified with Him: one right side, and the other on the left.
39. Those who passed by cursed Him, shaking their heads.
40. and saying: He who destroys the temple and in three days He who builds it up! save yourself; if you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.
41. Likewise the chief priests, with the scribes and elders and Pharisees, mockingly said:
42. He saved others, but he cannot save himself; if He is the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him;
43. trusted in God; Let him deliver Him now, if He pleases Him. For He said: I am the Son of God.
44. Also the thieves who were crucified with Him reviled Him.
45. From the sixth hour there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour;
46. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice: Either, Or! Lama Savakhthani? that is: My God, My God! Why have you forsaken me?
47. Some of those standing there, hearing this, said, “He is calling Elijah.”
48. And immediately one of them ran, took a sponge, filled it with vinegar, and putting it on a reed, gave Him to drink;
49. And others said, “Wait, let’s see if Elijah will come to save Him.”
50. Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and gave up the ghost.
51. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom; and the earth shook; and the stones dissipated;
52. And the tombs were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were resurrected
53. And coming out of the tombs after His resurrection, they entered the holy city and appeared to many.
54. The centurion and those who were with him guarding Jesus, seeing the earthquake and everything that happened, were greatly afraid and said: Truly this was the Son of God.
8) (Holy Gospel of Luke 23:23-49)
23.But they continued with great shouting to demand that He be crucified; and the cry prevailed over them and the chief priests.
24. And Pilate decided to be at their request,
25.And he released to them the man who had been imprisoned for rebellion and murder, whom they asked for; and he gave Jesus over to their will.
26. And when they led Him away, they captured one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the field, and laid a cross on him to carry after Jesus.
27. And a great multitude of people and women followed Him, weeping and lamenting for Him.
28.Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem!” do not weep for Me, but weep for yourself and for your children,
29. For the days are coming in which they will say: Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that have not given birth, and the breasts that have not nursed!
30.Then they will begin to say to the mountains: fall on us! and the hills: cover us!
31. For if they do this to a green tree, what will happen to a dry tree?
32. They led two evildoers with Him to death.
33.And when they came to the place called Skull, there they crucified Him and the evildoers, one on the right and the other on the left.
34. Jesus said: Father! forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. And they divided His garments by casting lots.
35.And the people stood and watched. The leaders also mocked them, saying: He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ, God's chosen one.
36.The soldiers also mocked Him, coming up and offering Him vinegar
37. And saying: if You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself.
38. And there was an inscription over Him, written in Greek, Roman and Hebrew words: This is the King of the Jews.
39. One of the hanged villains slandered Him and said: if You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.
40. The other, on the contrary, calmed him down and said: Or are you not afraid of God, when you yourself are condemned to the same thing?
41.And we are condemned justly, because we accepted what was worthy of our deeds, but He did nothing bad.
42.And he said to Jesus: Remember me, Lord, when you come into your kingdom!
43.And Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
44. Now it was about the sixth hour of the day, and darkness fell over all the land until the ninth hour:
45.And the sun was darkened, and the curtain of the temple was torn in the middle.
46.Jesus cried out with a loud voice and said: Father! I commit My spirit into Your hands. And having said this, he gave up the ghost.
47. The centurion, seeing what was happening, glorified God and said: Truly this man was a righteous man.
48. And all the people who had gathered to see this spectacle, seeing what was happening, returned, beating their chests.
49. And all those who knew Him, and the women who followed Him from Galilee, stood afar off and beheld this.
9)John 19:25-37
25. Standing at the cross of Jesus were His Mother and His Mother’s sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.
26. Jesus, seeing the Mother and the disciple standing there, whom he loved, said to His Mother: Je’no! Behold, Your son.
27.Then he says to the disciple: Behold, your Mother! And from that time on, this disciple took Her to himself.
28.After this Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst.”
29.There stood a vessel full of vinegar. The soldiers filled a sponge with vinegar and put it on hyssop and brought it to His lips.
30.When Jesus tasted the vinegar, he said, “It is done!” And, bowing his head, he gave up his spirit.
31. But since it was Friday, the Jews, in order not to leave the bodies on the cross on Saturday - for that Saturday was a great day - asked Pilate to break their legs and take them off.
32. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who was crucified with Him.
33. But when they came to Jesus, when they saw Him already dead, they did not break His legs,
34. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out.
35.And he who saw it bore witness, and his testimony is true; he knows that he speaks the truth so that you may believe.
36. For this happened, that the Scripture might be fulfilled: Let not His bone be broken.
37. Also in another place the Scripture says: They will look at Him whom they have pierced.
10) Mark 15:43-47 (The Descent of the Lord's Body from the Cross)
43. Joseph came from Arimathea, a famous member of the council, who himself expected the Kingdom of God, dared to enter Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus.
44.Pilate was surprised that He had already died, and, calling the centurion, asked him how long ago had He died?
45.And having learned from the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.
46. He bought a shroud and took Him off, wrapped him in the shroud, and laid Him in a tomb that was hewn out of the rock, and rolled the stone to the door of the tomb.
47. Mary Magdalene and Mary of Joseph looked where they laid Him.
11) John 19:38-42 (Nicodemus and Joseph burying Christ).
38.After this, Joseph of Arimathea, a disciple of Jesus, but secretly out of fear from the Jews, asked Pilate to remove the body of Jesus; and Pilate allowed it. He went and took down the body of Jesus.
39. Nicodemus, who had previously come to Jesus at night, also came and brought a composition of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred liters.
40. So they took the body of Jesus and wrapped it in linens with spices, as the Jews are wont to bury.
41. In the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had yet been laid.
42.They laid Jesus there for the sake of the Friday of Judea, because the tomb was close.
12) Matthew 27:62-66 (Putting guards at the tomb of the Savior).
62. On the next day, which followed Friday, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered to Pilate
63.And they said: Master! We remembered that the deceiver, while still alive, said: after three days I will rise again;
64. Therefore command that the tomb be guarded until the third day, so that His disciples, coming at night, do not steal Him and say to the people: He has risen from the dead; and the last deception will be worse than the first.
65Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go and protect it as best you can.
66They went and set a guard at the tomb and put a seal on the stone.
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The last week before Easter is called Holy Week, and each day is called Great Week. These days the Church remembers and worries latest events from the life of Christ to the crucifixion. Special meaning among them is Maundy Thursday. At the Liturgy on this day, the establishment of the Sacrament of the Eucharist is remembered, and in the evening the so-called “Passionate Gospels” are read. What does this day look like in the light? Holy Scripture? How do modern Christians conduct it? Is it necessary to bring a lighted candle from the temple and draw a cross on it with smoke from its flame? front door? Where did the “tradition” of cleaning, washing and doing laundry on this day come from? Read on for answers to these questions.
What does the Gospel say about the events of Maundy Thursday?
All four evangelists testify to last days life of Christ. The taking into custody and crucifixion were preceded by Easter, which Christ celebrated with his disciples.
Preparation for Passover and washing of feet
Jesus asked Peter and John to go to Jerusalem and prepare the Passover meal. The apostles, according to the word of the teacher, met a man with a jug of water and turned to him: The teacher ordered to celebrate Easter in your house. In the evening, at this place, in the so-called Zion Upper Room, Jesus Himself came with the rest of the disciples.
Before eating the holiday meal, also known as last supper, Jesus set an example of amazing humility.
This was not the first time that the disciples began to measure grace by human standards, that is, they began to ask Christ who deserves to be honored more. The Good Teacher, the Son of God, who became Man for the salvation of everyone, washed his feet To my students.
What is the point of this action? Jesus showed that the Kingdom of Heaven is a reverse kingdom. In it, the one who belittles himself becomes superior to everyone. And even the Son of God accepts humiliation and death on the cross. This custom of washing feet has survived to this day: in cathedrals and some monasteries, representatives of the highest clergy perform a special rite.
Then Jesus and his disciples began to eat. In addition to fulfilling the law and eating Easter food, on Maundy Thursday Jesus actually also established the Sacrament of the Eucharist. He took the bread in his hands, after blessing, he divided it into pieces and gave it to the disciples with the words:
Take, eat; This is My Body, broken for you for the remission of sins
Then Jesus took a cup of wine and also gave it to the apostles:
Drink from it, all of you, this is My Blood of the New Testament, which is shed for you and for many for the remission of sins
Bread and Wine - these are not banal symbols at all. According to the teachings of the Church, every time during the Liturgy, bread and wine are transformed into the Flesh and Blood of Christ. There are many testimonies from both priests and laity who doubted the truth of this sacred rite, but then became witnesses terrible secret. With their spiritual gaze they saw body and blood in the cup. But this is a completely different topic.
Let us return to the events taking place in the Upper Room of Zion. Jesus, who called Himself the bread of life in the Gospel, establishes the Sacrament of the Eucharist. Therefore, the events of Thursday evening are also called the Last Supper. The Son of God says that He gives His Flesh and Blood to save people from sin.
The Betrayal of Judas and the Commandment of Love
And the very next day He will have to endure unbearable bodily torment and bloodshed, including death on the cross. And one of the twelve, Judas Iscariot, will betray Him to certain death.
Judas was a kind of “cashier” among the apostles; he carried a box of money. But at some point, he began to treat his “job” as something other than service. Judas was mentally seduced by money once, twice, three times... Before he knew it, passion took complete possession of him and led him to the high priests. He betrayed him for 30 pieces of silver. And not just a person, but a Teacher, whom the disciples consciously called the Son of God.
Jesus knew what Judas was up to. And it was at the Last Supper that he told the apostles that one of them would betray Him. The students, of course, began to ask: “Isn’t it me?” And only Judas heard the answer: “You.” Then the tempted student received from the good Teacher a piece of bread dipped in salt, with the words: “What are you doing, do it quickly.” After this, Judas left the Zion upper room.
He no longer heard the commandment of love:
I give you a new commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you... And greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life (give up his life) for his friends
It was precisely this step, even death on the cross, that the Son of God took.
Judas did not hear the last teachings of Christ at the Last Supper - to overcome grief, endure suffering and believe in the Son of God, His Father and the Holy Spirit. The prediction about the preaching of Christianity throughout the world, which the apostles would later fulfill, did not apply to him.
Judas did not hear Christ’s grief over the disciples, who would scatter in the last hours of Christ’s life. I didn’t know that Peter would deny the Son of God three times before the rooster crowed.
Judas Iscariot was not a witness to Jesus' prayer to His Father for the apostles. The commandment about faith, love and patience of sorrows no longer applied to him. After all, by his betrayal of Christ, he betrayed himself into the hands of the devil.
Evangelists remember all these events on Thursday. And the Church also especially honors this day.
Features of the Liturgy on Maundy Thursday
In memory of the celebration of the First Eucharist, the Divine Liturgy is necessarily served.
It reads a Gospel passage about the events of that day: the celebration of Easter, the Last Supper and the communion of the apostles, the washing of feet, the betrayal of Judas and the denial of Peter.
Also, the Cherubim is not sung at the Liturgy. It is replaced by a prayer known to many before communion:
Thy secret supper this day, O Son of God, receive me as a partaker, for I will not tell the secret to Thy enemies, neither will I give Thee a kiss like Judas, but like a thief I will confess Thee: remember me, O Lord, in Thy Kingdom
In it, believers ask the Lord to grant them communion, as the disciples once did. Those praying promise not to betray Christ by serving passions, like the money-loving Judas, who betrayed Christ with a kiss in the Garden of Gethsemane. In this prayer, Christians show meekness, humility and hope, like the thief crucified at the right hand of Christ. As you know, the thief repented before his death and asked Jesus to remember him in the Kingdom of Heaven.
If possible, believers try to take communion on this day. Approaching the chalice with the Holy Gifts, they remember the communion of the apostles and the great mercy shown to every person - the opportunity to unite with God in the Sacrament.
Reading the 12 Passionate Gospels
In the evening, churches serve Matins of Good Friday. It reads 12 Gospel passages about the suffering of Christ. Therefore, the service is known by another name - service of the 12 gospels .
Believers hold lighted candles in their hands and in some churches kneel while reading the Holy Scriptures. The priests read the gospel stories about the suffering of Christ. Since in Church Slavonic language sufferings are called passions, it is customary to call the passages read the passionate Gospels.
Believers invisibly witness the prayer of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, the betrayal of Judas and the denial of Peter, the suffering of the high priests Anna and Caiaphas, Pilate's doubts and condemnation to death, the beating of Christ and the road to Golgotha, crucifixion and humiliation from the crucifixion, the repentance of the thief and death.
Before us, the Son of God is pouring out a bloody sweat in prayer for the cup; the guards who came to arrest Jesus heard Him Holy Name, fall to their knees.
Before us, Judas betrays the Son of God with a crafty kiss for 30 pieces of silver, Peter, who denied Christ three times, cries to the crowing of a rooster, the disciples run away so as not to see the Passion of Christ.
In front of us, Jesus is beaten half to death, they spit in His eyes, they shout: “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”, and mockingly say: “Save Yourself and come down from the cross.”
Before us, the Virgin Mary grieves, whom Christ gives to the care of his beloved disciple John, Mary Magdalene and other myrrh-bearing women burst into tears.
The prudent robber repents before us and betrays himself to eternal damnation crucified by left hand from the Son of God.
Before us, a choking Jesus squeezes out the words of prayer for crucifiers and evildoers:
Forgive them, Father, for they do not know what they are doing.
And then he gives his spirit into the hands of the Lord.
Then there will be the removal of Christ from the cross, burial and mourning, and then the joy of the Resurrection. But while reading passion gospels The Church first of all remembers the great sacrificial love Christ to people, the price of which is betrayal, loneliness and crucifixion.
Why carry a lit candle home?
While reading Gospel passages, believers hold lighted candles in their hands; after the end of the service, they do not extinguish them, but go home to draw a cross at the front door with the flame of the “Thursday” or “Passion” candle. It is believed that this cross should protect the home from evil spirits.
But what is it? A pious tradition or another superstition, so beautifully disguised as Orthodoxy?
In the liturgical literature there is no mention of such a tradition of Maundy Thursday, there is no corresponding decree for mandatory execution.
But this custom cannot be called a magical action, because it is performed with faith and prayer.
Some parallels can be drawn with Hebrew Passover . In the book of Exodus it is written that each family had to take a lamb, the meat of which was baked with bitter herbs and unleavened bread and eaten at Passover. And the doorposts were anointed with the blood of this lamb. According to this “mark,” the Angel of the Lord distinguished the families of the Israelites from the Egyptians, in whose houses the “destructive plague” was supposed to take away the eldest sons.
So to this day, Orthodox Christians believe that crosses drawn with “passionate” candles are able to protect their homes from uncleanness. It is difficult to disagree with this, knowing how evil spirits fear the sign of the cross and the pectoral cross.
Is Maundy Thursday a time for cleaning?
But there is another “tradition” associated with Maundy Thursday. This day is also popularly called Maundy Thursday. Speaking modern language, people believed that this was supposedly the perfect day for cleaning. Therefore, on this day everything had to be put away, cleaned, washed, washed. Also, our great-grandmothers believed that on this day it was useful to swim in a living pond to cleanse yourself of diseases.
Where to look for the basis for such an interpretation of Maundy Thursday? There are several options:
- in the Gospel: Christ washed the feet of His disciples;
- in the history of the Church: they used to baptize on Holy Saturday. People have been preparing for this event for about three years. To take care of appearance did not worry them on Friday, when the Church remembers the death of Christ, “candidates for Christians” put themselves in order on Thursday.
There are also versions related to the pagan past of the Slavs. But in modern Orthodox life You can look at such options from a different angle. Maundy Thursday is another reason on the eve of Easter to take care of spiritual purity , confession and communion.
The meaning of this day of Holy Week is also described in this video:
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