† HOLY AND GREAT THURSDAY April 19/May 2 ns 2024 • THE MYSTICAL SUPPER • Holy Hieromartyr Paphnoútios • Fast day • KEYNOTES

Today is 

 HOLY AND GREAT THURSDAY

April 19/May 2 ns 2024

FAST DAY

THE MYSTICAL SUPPER

Holy Hieromartyr Paphnoútios

Holy Hieromartyr Paphnoútios of Jerusalem was a bishop. He underwent many sufferings from the pagans and was tortured by fire, wild beasts, and finally was beheaded by the sword.

Some suggest that the hieromartyr Paphnoútios was an Egyptian bishop and suffered together with many other Egyptians, exiled to the Palestinian mines during the persecution by Diocletian (284-305).

The myrrh-streaming relics of the hieromartyr were glorified by miracles. The Canon in his honor was composed during the Iconoclast period (before 842). In the final Ode is a petition for the hieromartyr to put an end to the heresy disrupting the Church.

GREAT THURSDAY MORNING

during the Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil, we commemorate our Savior's establishment of Holy Communion during the Mystical Supper wherein He proclaims that the bread and wine become His Body and Blood given to us for Eternal Life. We are also reminded of the betrayal by Judas Iscariot and Christ's vigil in the Garden of Gethsemane.

GREAT THURSDAY EVENING 

retells the entire story of Christ's Passion through the reading of the twelve Gospel lessons. After the fifth Gospel reading, the Crucifixion is re-enacted when the priest carries the Crucifix in procession and places It in the center of the Church for veneration.  The following Antiphon is chanted.

Today is suspended upon the Tree, He who suspended the earth over the waters. x3

A crown of thorns crowns Him, who is the King of the angels.

He is wrapped in the purple robe of mockery, who wraps the heavens with clouds.

He receives smiting, who freed Adam in the Jordan.

He is transfixed with nails, Who is the Son of the Virgin.

We worship Thy passion, O Christ. x3

Show us also Thy glorious Resurrection!

Photo: Where they laid Him

Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Jerusalem

1962

GREAT FRIDAY AFTERNOON

commemorates the supreme sacrifice of Christ on the Cross. The priest unnails Christ from the Crucifix, wraps His Body in white linen, and places It on the altar symbolizing His burial by Joseph of Arimathea. 

GREAT FRIDAY EVENING 

includes the Hymn of the Lamentations which are chanted to reflect our sorrow, to proclaim Christ's descent to Hades, and to herald His expected Resurrection. 

GREAT SATURDAY MORNING

commemorates the Blessed Sabbath as a day of waiting and strict fasting. The Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil is celebrated as we anticipate Christ's victory over death in Hades and His Glorious Resurrection. 

GREAT SATURDAY EVENING

we sing the Paschal Orthros service. As midnight approaches, in a darkened church, we begin the Resurrection service. 

KEYNOTES

The following events are remembered; the washing of the disciples’ feet, the Holy Eucharist at the Mystical Supper, the betrayal of Christ by Judas and the Crucifixion of our Lord. We are reminded of these events in the reading of the 12 Gospels and during which the Procession with the Cross occurs with the chanting of the troparion, "Today is suspended upon a tree, He Who suspended the earth over the waters.." 

We commemorate the suffering of Christ; the mockery, the crown of thorns, the scourging, the nails, the thirst, the vinegar and gall, the confession of the thief. We process with the Epitaphion (rectangular material on which is painted or embroidered the body of Christ laid out for burial) from the Bema (Altar) to the center of the church where it is placed on the Koubouklion (a stand) and venerated by the faithful. Then begin the Enkomia (Praises) which are sung before the Epitaphion. It should be noted that the Koubouklion, in which is placed the Epitaphion, does NOT represent the tomb of Christ but the place where he was laid to be anointed. The flowers that decorate the Koubouklion represent the spices brought by the Myrrh-bearing women.  At the end of the Praises we carry the Epitaphion in procession outside and around the church (weather permitting) while singing "Holy God...". On this day we abstain completely from food (with the exception of those who are pregnant or nursing, the aged and the sick).

The next morning we serve Vespers with the Divine Liturgy of Pascha, after which we all gather in the Narthex to softly sing "Christ is risen...". Following Liturgy and Artoklasia (Blessing of Loaves) we partake of wine, loaves and fruit. Although this service was previously held late in the day and after which the faithful remained in the church, it is now celebrated in the morning and we return to the church and begin the reading the Apostolos (the Acts of the Apostles), when applicable, until close to midnight and the lights of the church are extinguished. All wait for the priest to come out from the Bema with the Paschal candle, which symbolizes the light of the risen Christ, and we begin the Resurrection Service and Divine Liturgy.