Holy Week/ Symbols
What is the third anchor of this lesson?
The Cross in the Church
Where are the Pascha prayers prayed during Holy Week, and why?
The Pascha prayers are prayed outside the altar (in the nave - between the chorus of deacons and the back of the church) because the Lord Jesus suffered and was crucified at Golgotha, outside the city of Jerusalem
What event is commemorated on Palm Sunday, and what did the children cry out?
Palm Sunday commemorates the Lord Jesus Christ's triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The children cried out: "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" (Matthew 21:9)
What addition is made to the second verse of "Thine is the Power..."
"The Lord is my strength and my praise, and He has become my salvation" is added to the second verse
What is Bright Saturday also called, what does it mean, and what event does it commemorate?
Bright Saturday is also called Apocalypse Night (Abu Ghalamsees), a Greek word meaning "Revelation" or "Announcement." It commemorates the Lord Jesus Christ descending into Hades and bringing out the souls of all the righteous of the Old Testament who had died in hope
How many days does Holy Week cover, and what is it also called?
Holy Week covers 7 days and is also called Holy Passion Week or Pascha Week
What tune are the hymns during Holy Week chanted in, and what are the five daytime hours prayed?
The hymns are chanted in the sorrowful tune (hazayni). The five daytime hours are: The First Hour, the Third Hour, the Sixth Hour, the Ninth Hour, and the Eleventh Hour
What happened on Monday of Holy Week regarding the fig tree and the Temple?
Jesus went out from Bethany to the Temple in Jerusalem. On the way, they passed by the fig tree that Christ had cursed and found it withered. He spent the whole day teaching in the Temple—it was the last day the Lord Jesus entered the temple before the Crucifixion
What does the Prayer of the First Hour (6:00 a.m.) focus on, and what does the Prayer of the Third Hour (9:00 a.m.) focus on?
The First Hour focuses on the trials of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Third Hour focuses on issuing the order to crucify the Lord Jesus Christ; He was handed over to be scourged
What happens on Bright Saturday regarding the hymns, and what is one of the most important readings of this night?
The hymns are chanted half in the sorrowful (hazayni) tune and half in the annual joyful tune. One of the most important readings of this night is the entire Book of Revelation
What are the four changes to the Church's appearance during Holy Week (colors, vestments, altar curtain, and icons)?
(1) The whole Church is covered in black including the lectern and pillars, (2) The altar curtain changes from red to black with either a Cross or icon of the crucified Christ, (3) The priests wear purple or black vestments, (4) An icon of the Lord Jesus is placed in the middle of the church depicting Him praying in Gethsemane, crowned with thorns, or hanging on the Cross
What additional hour is added on Great Friday, what event does it commemorate, and what happens to the deacons' vestments?
The Twelfth Hour is added, which commemorates when our Lord Jesus Christ was taken down from the Cross to be wrapped and buried. The deacons vest in their tonias and badrasheens in black or dark blue as a sign of sorrow
What significant event happened on Tuesday of Holy Week regarding Judas, and what hymn is chanted?
Judas began to consult with the chief priests and the Pharisees about handing over the Lord Jesus to them. The hymn "Pekethronos" - "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom" (Psalm 45:6) is chanted
What happens during the Sixth Hour (12:00 p.m.) regarding the darkness and the lights, and what prayer does the Church pray?
In the first Gospel of the sixth hour, we read: "Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land" (Matthew 27:45). At this moment, the lights and candles are put out. The Church prays the prayer of "The Confession of the Thief," reminding us of what the right-hand thief did on the Cross
What color is the church decorated with on Resurrection Sunday, what tune are the hymns chanted in, and how long does this last?
The whole church is decorated with white. The hymns are chanted in the joyful (farayhi) tune, and this remains for 50 days (the Holy Fifty Days), rejoicing in the salvation completed on the Cross
What is the significance of the Church being covered in black, and what changes happen to the sanctuary during Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday?
The black color symbolizes mourning for the suffering and death of our Lord Jesus Christ. During Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of Holy Week, the sanctuary is closed and no Divine Liturgies are celebrated
List all six components of the Pascha prayer structure in order.
(1) Prophecies, (2) Pascha Praise, (3) Psalm and Gospel, (4) Exposition, (5) Litanies, (6) Concluding prayer and the Blessing
What two major events are commemorated on Covenant Thursday, and what is the Prayer of the Lakkan?
Covenant Thursday commemorates (1) The Washing of the Feet (Lakkan) and (2) the establishment of the Eucharist. The Prayer of the Lakkan is the Washing of the Feet prayer, reminding us that Jesus girded Himself with a towel and washed the disciples' feet (John 13:4-5)
What happens during the Ninth Hour (3:00 p.m.) regarding the lights, and what two beautiful hymns are chanted during this hour?
The lights of the church and the candles are lit because our joy begins with the precious salvation we have been granted. Two hymns chanted are: (1) "Fai Etafenf" - "This is He who offered Himself as an acceptable sacrifice upon the Cross" and (2) "O Monogenees" - "O Only-Begotten Son"
What does the Priest do with the icon of the burial on Great Friday, and what do the two candlesticks and the triangular ribbon represent?
The Priest takes the icon of the burial, places spices and ointments on it, and wraps it in a white cloth. The triangular ribbon symbolizes the seal with which the tomb of the Lord Jesus was sealed. The two candlesticks (one on the right and one on the left) represent the two angels who were inside the tomb
An icon of the Lord Jesus is placed in the middle of the church during Holy Week. What three scenes might this icon depict?
The icon might depict Jesus either (1) praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, or (2) crowned with thorns, or (3) hanging on the Cross
What happens to the sanctuary during Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of Holy Week, and what happens if someone dies during Holy Week?
No Divine Liturgies are celebrated on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday; the sanctuary is closed. If someone dies during Holy Week, funeral prayers are not held for them because the Church is consumed with the passions of Our Lord. Instead, the departed person attends one of the Pascha hour prayers
Name all five differences in the Liturgy of Covenant Thursday compared to a typical Liturgy, and explain why each is different.
(1) Abouna chooses the Lamb without praying the Agpeya first; (2) Abouna does not pray the Prayer of Reconciliation because reconciliation had not yet been completed before the Crucifixion; (3) The people do not exchange the holy kiss in remembrance of Judas' kiss; (4) The Commemoration of the Saints is not said; (5) "Through the intercessions..." is not said because the saints did not enter Paradise until after the redemption
Describe in detail what happens during the Eleventh Hour (5:00 p.m.) and the Twelfth Hour (6:00 p.m.) on Great Friday.
The Eleventh Hour focuses on when the Centurion pierced our Good Savior in His side with a spear, and when the Body was taken down from the Cross. The Twelfth Hour focuses on when Christ was wrapped and buried in the tomb. At this time: (1) The door of the sanctuary is opened and the icon of the Crucifixion is placed in front of the altar, (2) The priests and deacons change to red/white vestments, (3) The candles are lit, (4) We pray "Kyrie eleison" 400 times with prostrations facing all four directions, (5) A procession is made with the icon, (6) The Priest takes the burial icon, places spices on it, and wraps it in a white cloth with a triangular ribbon symbolizing the seal of the tomb
Explain the complete progression from the Sixth Hour to the Twelfth Hour on Great Friday, including what happens with the lights, vestments, sanctuary, and mood of the Church.
Sixth Hour (12:00 p.m.): Jesus is lifted on the Cross; darkness covers the land; lights and candles are put out
Ninth Hour (3:00 p.m.): Jesus delivers His Spirit; the sentence of death is lifted; lights and candles are lit again as joy begins
Eleventh Hour (5:00 p.m.): Jesus' side is pierced; His Body is taken down from the Cross
Twelfth Hour (6:00 p.m.): Jesus is wrapped and buried; the sanctuary door is opened; the icon of the Crucifixion is placed before the altar; priests and deacons change from black/blue to red/white vestments of joy; the deacons return to the Chorus; we pray "Kyrie eleison" 400 times with prostrations; a procession is made with the icon; the burial icon is wrapped with spices and a white cloth
The progression shows the transition from deep sorrow (darkness, black vestments, closed sanctuary) to the beginning of joy (lights lit, red/white vestments, open sanctuary) as salvation is completed.