Orthodox Christians celebrate Holy Week (week) of Lent

In the Old Church Slavonic language the word “passion” means “suffering”. Makes you think, doesn’t it?..
On Great Wednesday, Judas made an agreement with the Pharisees that he would betray Christ to them for 30 pieces of silver. In the house of Simon, where the Lord was staying at that time, one relative, having washed Christ’s feet with tears and anointed His head with precious myrrh, seemed to prepare Him for burial, thus predicting His imminent fate.

On Maundy Thursday we remember four events – the Last Supper, Christ’s washing of the disciples’ feet, His Prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane and the arrest following the denunciation of Judas.

At the Last Supper of Christ with the Apostles, He established the sacrament of the Eucharist, that is, Communion.
The Lord gathered the 12 apostles for a meal, washed their feet, setting an example of brotherly love and humility, and they sat down at the table together. He broke the bread and gave each a piece with the words: “This is My body, which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me” (Gospel of Luke). From that moment the sacrament of Communion began – following all, we all receive communion.

The Lord talked for a long time with the disciples, revealing to them the secret of betrayal and his death on the Cross. And then, when they fell asleep, the Savior, knowing regarding his impending suffering, prayed fervently in the Garden of Gethsemane, begging the Father, if possible, to carry this cup past Him…

On Maundy Thursday, the morning liturgy, with the remembrance of the Last Supper, is long, and the rite of washing the feet is performed. And at the evening service the 12 Gospels of the Holy Passion of Christ are read.

In fact, as we know, there are four canonical Gospels – that is, 12 passages from the four Gospels are read, which tell regarding the last hours of the Savior’s earthly life, starting with His farewell conversation with the disciples following the Last Supper and ending with burial. At Vespers, the priests light 12 candles, and all the believers in the temple also stand with lit candles. According to custom, these candles should be brought home, making the sign of the cross on the doorposts and keeping them until Easter.

And, of course, Maundy Thursday is dedicated to the cleansing of everything and everyone – soul, body, home. On this day, it is customary to clean the house, wash, and clean the yard. Everyone sits down to a common meal, so on Thursday there is a relaxation of fasting.

From Holy Thursday until Easter, all services in churches are dedicated to the memories of the earthly suffering of the Savior. Great or Good Friday is the most mournful day not only of Lent, but of the whole year.

On this day, the Shroud, in which the body of the Lord was wrapped during burial, is brought to the middle of each temple. At 4 p.m., funeral services begin everywhere. With the Shroud they go around the temples in a procession of the Cross. Fasting on this day is the strictest.

The morning of Holy Saturday is dedicated to the memory of Christ’s stay in the tomb and descent into hell. And from 12 o’clock preparations for Easter, the Holy Resurrection of Christ, begin. At this time, in every Riga church, Easter food is blessed, which the housewives prepared the day before – Easter cakes, Easter cakes, eggs.