On Holy Thursday, we remember the institution of the Eucharist. Judas is also exposed as a “son of vipers” as he betrays the Lord. The lengthy Gospel reading at the Divine Liturgy brings us through the Mystical Supper, the arrest of Jesus, and the denial of Peter. During this service we repeatedly pray that we will not betray Christ with a kiss like Judas, but rather imitate the Good Thief.
Tag: Saint Herman
In this, the third “Bridegroom Service,” we make remembrance of the harlot who anointed Jesus’ feet with expensive ointment, and His rebuke of the greedy Judas, who was obsessed with money. Let us imitate the woman, who poured out fountains of tears and confessed her sins to the Master; let us run from the ways of Judas, who betrayed Christ for the sake of wealth.
This is the second of the “Bridegroom Services.” Holy Tuesday is dedicated to the parable of the ten virgins. Through this parable, we are reminded to imitate the wise virgins, who trimmed their lamps and were prepared for the coming of the Bridegroom, while the foolish virgins wasted their time and the door was shut in their faces. There is still time to repent and change our way of life.
This is the first of the “Bridegroom Services.” Having given up the Feast of Palms, we begin Holy Week with the first of three Bridegroom Matins services, in which we remember Christ as the Groom of His Bride, the Church, as He goes to His saving Passion. On Holy Monday, Christ is compared to the Old Testament patriarch Joseph, who was made to suffer at the hands of his brothers, but was ultimately glorified. The day is also dedicated to Christ’s cursing of the fig tree, which symbolized the fruitless council of the Jews.
On Lazarus Saturday, eight days before Pascha, we celebrate the resurrection of Lazarus the friend of Christ. In this, the Lord gave a sign of His own Resurrection as He demonstrated His power over death.
The Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is a service for the distribution of Holy Communion on the weekdays of Lent. Because Lent is a season of fasting and repentance, and the regular Divine Liturgy has a joyful character not in keeping with these seasonal themes, the more somber Presanctified Liturgy is offered on weekday evenings, or sometimes in the morning.
The Akathist Hymn is a poetic masterpiece written by Saint Romanos the Melodist in the 6th century. The fifth Saturday of Lent is dedicated to this beautiful hymn that describes the incarnation of the Son of God, Jesus Christ.