When the 12 Gospels are read in church. “God will not accept your Easter cakes”: what is better not to do on Maundy Thursday
READING THE TWELVE GOSPELS ON MONTH THURSDAY
About reading the twelve Gospels on the evening of Maundy Thursday
General scheme of the service of Matins of Good Friday.
Book materials used:
“Services of Holy Week”, “Prayer book for Great Lent”, “Collection of church hymns with their translation into Russian” and “Lenten Spring...”.
Translation of antiphons and some hymns taken from the website
According to the Church Charter, the Consequence of the Holy Passion should begin at 8 pm on Maundy Thursday. In its liturgical form it is Good Friday Matins with twelve Gospel readings, between which antiphons are sung and read and a sequence of Matins is located. The content of the Gospels and the following are devoted to the farewell conversation of Jesus Christ with His disciples at the Last Supper, His betrayal by Judas, His trial by the high priests and Pilate, His crucifixion and partly burial. In time, these events relate to the night from Thursday to Friday and from the day of Good Friday to its evening.
After the sixth psalm, the troparion “When the Glory of the Disciple” and the small litany, the worshipers light candles and, as it were, enter the deep darkness of the Gethsemane night that now envelops the world. The reading of the twelve Gospels begins. This is a very ancient rite. In the Jerusalem Church in the first centuries of Christianity, the Gospel was read all night in those places where the Lord taught His disciples before suffering - on the Mount of Olives, where he was taken into custody - in Gethsemane, where he was crucified - on Golgotha. At night, moving from one eternally memorable place to another, illuminating the rocky path with lamps, believers walked in the footsteps of the Lord with prayer.
The twelve Gospels are composed of four evangelists. In the intervals between readings, it is customary to sing 15 antiphons, complementing and explaining the course of the Gospel events. Believers are called by the Church to relive with Christ the events of those terrible hours when the Savior prayed to His Father until He sweated blood... and was not heard, that is, did not receive what He wanted as a Man - to avoid suffering. He concluded His prayer with an expression of complete devotion to the will of the Father: “but not as I want, but as You want...” Again listening to the words of the Gospel, believers become, as it were, accomplices in the events described in the Gospels. The Lord's suffering is experienced and becomes part of personal spiritual experience. It is in empathy with Christ that the meaning of the antiphons of this service lies. Their text was probably compiled in the 5th century. But even earlier, in the 2nd century, the earliest surviving monument of Christian liturgical poetry was performed - the poem “On Easter” by St. Melito of Sardinia. Its text formed the basis of antiphons that were sung for 15 centuries, first in Byzantium, then in Rus'.
According to the Church Charter, the Consequence of the Holy Passion should begin at 8 pm. In its liturgical form, this is the Matins of Good Friday with twelve Gospel readings, between which antiphons are sung or read and the sequence of Matins is located. The content of the Gospels and the following are devoted to the farewell conversation of Jesus Christ with His disciples at the Last Supper, His betrayal by Judas, His trial by the high priests and Pilate, His crucifixion and partly burial. In time, these events relate to the night from Thursday to Friday and from the day of Good Friday to its evening.
After the blessing of the priest, the usual beginning of Matins, the Six Psalms, a short, intense litany with the usual exclamation: As it behooves You... the 8th Alleluia is sung, with verses pronounced by the deacon or priest:
Out of the night my spirit is awakened to You, O God, before light are Your commandments on earth.
You who live on earth will learn the truth.
People will accept envy unpunished.
Do evil to them, Lord, do evil to the glorious ones of the earth.
After each verse the following is sung: Alleluia (three times)
According to Alleluia, the troparion is sung three times in the same voice:
When the glory of the disciple is enlightened at the thought of the supper, then the evil Judas, sickened by the love of money, becomes darkened, and betrays You, the Righteous Judge, to the lawless judges. See, the steward of the estate, who used strangulation for these sake! Flee the unsatiated soul, such a daring Teacher. O God of all, O Lord, glory to Thee.
During the singing of Alleluia... and the troparion, the royal doors open; The Holy Gospel is brought to the middle of the church in the presentation of candles and is placed on a lectern. The rector censes the Holy Gospel, the altar, the iconostasis, the entire temple and those praying.
At the end of the singing of the troparion, a small litany:
Packs and packs...and the exclamation of the priest:
For Yours is the power, and Yours is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Chorus:Amen.
The believers in the church hold candles in their hands, which they light while reading the Gospels.
The priest or deacon says:And we pray to the Lord God to be worthy of hearing the Holy Gospel.
Chorus:Lord have mercy(three times).
Deacon:Wisdom, forgive me, let us hear the reading of the Holy Gospel.
Priest:Peace to all.
Chorus:And to your spirit.
Priest:Reading from John the Holy Gospel.
Chorus:Glory to Thee, Lord, glory to Thee.
Deacon:Let's remember.
This is how the reading of each Gospel is preceded. The Church Rules say that the first passionate Gospel is read by the rector, and when reading subsequent ones, the priests alternate in reading one after another. During the reading, the bell is struck as many times as the Gospel is read in order: when reading the first Gospel - once, the second a, the third - three times, etc. At the end of the reading of the Twelfth Gospel there is a peal.
First Gospel of John (XIII, 31 – XVIII, 1) – This is the farewell conversation of the Lord with His disciples.
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It ends, like all others, with the chant: Glory to Your long-suffering, O Lord.
Following this, antiphons are sung.
Antiphon 1st, ch. 8
The princes of mankind gathered together against the Lord and against His Christ.
You have laid the word of crime on Me. Lord, Lord, do not forsake me.
Let us present our pure feelings to Christ, and as His friends, let us devour our souls for His sake, and not be oppressed by the cares of this world like Judas, but in our cages let us cry out: Our Father, who is in heaven, deliver us from the evil one!
Glory…
Theotokos:
You gave birth to the Virgin, Unartificed, and the Virgin remained, Mother Without a Bride, to the Mother of God Mary: pray to Christ our God to save us.
Antiphon 2, ch. 6
When Judas the lawless scribe said: What do you want to give me, and I will deliver Him to you? Among those conferring, you yourself stood invisibly conferred; Knower of the heart, have mercy on our souls.
We will serve the mercy of God, like Mary at the supper, and we will not acquire the love of money, like Judas; May we always be with Christ our God.
Glory…
Theotokos:
Whom you gave birth to, O Virgin, inexpressibly, I will take out as a Lover of Mankind, do not cease praying, so that all those who come running to You will be saved from troubles.
Antiphon 3rd, ch. 2
Lazarev, for the sake of the uprising, Lord, I call You the children of the Jews, Lover of mankind. The lawless Judas did not want to understand.
At Thy supper, O Christ God, Thou didst say to Thy disciples: only one of you will betray Me. The lawless Judas did not want to understand.
John asked: Lord, betray Thee, who is? You showed him with bread. The lawless Judas did not want to understand.
With thirty pieces of silver, O Lord, and with a flattering kiss, I ask Judaea to kill Thee. The lawless Judas did not want to understand.
In Your mind, O Christ God, You commanded Your disciples: do this as you see. The lawless Judas did not want to understand.
Watch and pray, so that you do not fall into misfortune, as You said to Your disciple, Christ our God. The lawless Judas did not want to understand.
Glory…
Theotokos:
Save Thy servants from troubles, Mother of God, for we all, according to God, resort to Thee, as to an unbreakable wall and intercession.
After the small litany and exclamation, the sedalen is sung, ch. 7:
At the supper the disciples fed, and knew the pretense of tradition; at it you denounced Judas, who was therefore uncorrected; let everyone know that you have given yourself up to your will, so that you snatch away the world from the alien: Long-suffering, glory to You.
Second Gospel of John (XVIII, 1–28) – about the capture of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, about the interrogation of the high priest, about the denial of Peter.
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GOSPEL 2. From John, conceived 58. At that time, Jesus and His disciples went out to the half-stream of Kedrsk, where there was a helicopter city, and He and His disciples were seen. Knowing that Judas gave His place: as if Jesus had gathered in multitudes with His disciples. Judas received the spirit, and from the bishops and Pharisees the servants came there with luminaries and lamps and weapons. Jesus, knowing all that was to come, said to them: Whom are you looking for? She answered Him: Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus said to them: I am. And Judas, who betrayed Him, stood with them. Yes, as I said to them, I am, I walked back and fell to the ground. Then Jesus asked them: Who are you looking for? They decided: Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus answered: Rebuked you, for I am. If you seek Me, leave them alone. Let the word be fulfilled that he said: Because you gave them to me, you did not destroy anyone through them. Simon Peter, having a knife, take it out and strike the bishop's servant, and cut off his right ear: and the name of the servant is Malchus. Jesus Petrovi said: stick the knife into the scissors. The Father will give me the cup; shall not the Imam drink from it? Spira and the captain of a thousand, and the servants of the Jews, brought Jesus, and bound Him. And he led Him to Anna first: For Caiaphas’s father-in-law, who was the bishop of that year. Caiaphas gave advice to the Jews, saying that no one man should die for the people. Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus; the bishop did not know that disciple, and they went with Jesus into the courtyard of the bishops. Peter stood outside at the door. The disciple of that one whom the bishop knew went out, and spoke to the door, and brought Peter in. The verb of the servant of the door of Petrovi: food and are you a disciple of this Man? The verb is: none. The slaves and servants stood and warmed themselves as if it were winter, and Peter stood and warmed himself with them. The bishop asked Jesus about His disciples and about His teaching. Jesus answered him: I did not hesitate in speaking to the world: I always taught to the congregation, and in the church, where the Jews are always silent: and I did not say anything. Why are you asking Me? Ask those who have heard what the verbs say to them: These are the things that they know, even as they said. I said this to Him, one of the coming servants, hit Jesus on the cheek, saying: Is this what you answered to the bishops? Jesus answered him: If you speak evil, bear witness to evil: if it is good that you beat Me? His ambassador, Anna, is associated with the bishop Caiaphas. Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Deciding to him: Are you His disciple and food? He rejected it and said: no. There is only one verb from the servant of the bishops, the little guy, whose ear Peter cut off: didn’t I see you in the helicopter city with Him? Again, Peter rejected himself, and cried out abiye petel. Having brought Jesus from Caiaphas to the praetor, it was early morning: neither should they go into the praetor, lest they be defiled, but let them eat the Passover. |
Antiphon 4th, ch. 5
Today Judas leaves the Teacher and accepts the devil, is blinded by the passion of love of money, and the darkened light falls away. How can you see the luminary selling for thirty pieces of silver? But to us has risen the One who suffered for the world, to the Unmanly we cry out: You who suffered and were compassionate by man, Lord, glory to Thee.
Today Judas feigns piety and alienates his talents, this disciple becomes a traitor; in ordinary kissing flattery covers, and prefers the Lord to love, it is senseless to work for the love of money, the teacher of the former congregation of the lawless; We, having the salvation of Christ, will glorify Him.
Voice 1. 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 as Judas, who repented, use nothing.
Glory…
Theotokos:
The glorious One spoke of You everywhere, as if You gave birth in the flesh of all to the Creator, Mary the Mother of God, All-Singing and Unartificed.
Antiphon 5th, ch. 6
The Teacher’s disciple agreed on the price and sold the Lord for thirty pieces of silver, betraying Him to death as a wicked man with a flattering kiss.
Today the Creator of heaven and earth spoke to His disciples: The hour has come, and Judas has come to betray Me; Yes, no one will deny Me, in vain I was on the Cross in the midst of two thiefs, for I suffer as a man, and as a Lover of Mankind I will save those who believe in Me.
Glory…
Theotokos:
Ineffably in the last, conceived and gave birth to Your Creator, pray to Him for the salvation of our souls.
Antiphon 6th, ch. 7
Today Judas is vigilant to betray the Lord, the Eternal Savior of the world, who fed the multitude with bread from five. Today the lawless one is rejected by the Teacher, having been a disciple, betrayed to the Master, sold in silver, having filled the man with manna.
Today I have nailed to the Cross the Lord of the Jews, who cut off the sea with a rod and led them into the desert. Today, with a copy of His rib, He wounded them with wounds for the sake of Egypt; and gave them bile to drink, and manna for their food.
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, why did you promise 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 reject Me, in vain I was on the Cross. Long-suffering, glory to You.
Glory…
Theotokos:
Rejoice, Mother of God, who didst contain the uncontainable in heaven in Thy womb. Rejoice, O Virgin, preaching of the prophets, Who brought Emmanuel to us; Rejoice, Mother of Christ God.
After the small litany and the exclamation of the priest, the sedalen, chapter 7, is sung:
What kind of image have you, Judas, made a traitor to the Savior? Separate food from the face of the apostle? Does food give healing? Having eaten food with them, will I take you away from the meal? Having washed the food of others, do you despise yours? You were not mindful of the great blessings! And your ungrateful character is exposed. The same immeasurable patience and great mercy are preached.
Third Gospel of Matthew (XXVI, 57–75) – about the trial of the Lord by Caiaphas, about the decision of the Sanhedrin to put Christ to death, about the denial of Peter.
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GOSPEL 3 Matthew beginning 109 During this time, the soldiers led Jesus to Caiaphas the bishop, where the scribes and elders had gathered. Peter walked along Him from afar, to the bishop's courtyard: and he went inside, sitting with the servants, to see his death. The bishop and the elders and the whole congregation sought false testimony against Jesus, that they might kill Him. And I did not find it: and I did not find it with many false witnesses who came near. Then two false witnesses came forward and said: “This is what I say: I can destroy the church of God and in three days build it up.” And the bishop stood up and said to Him: Do you answer that these things testify against You? Jesus is silent. And the bishop answered and said to Him: I adjure Thee by the Living God, that Thou mayest say to us, Are Thou the Christ the Son of God? Jesus said to him: you speak. Again, I say to you: from here on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming on the clouds of heaven. Then the bishop tore his robe to pieces, saying: Because it is a blasphemy of the verb, why do we still require witnesses? Behold now you hear His blasphemy. What do you think? They answered and decided: he is guilty of death. Then you spit on His face, and did dirty tricks on Him, and struck you on the cheek, saying: prophets for us, O Christ: who is it that strikes Thee? Peter sat outside in the courtyard, and one servant girl came to him, saying, “You too are with Jesus of Galilee.” He denied himself before everyone, saying: “I don’t know what you are saying.” When I went out to the gate, another saw him, and said to them: “He too is with Jesus of Nazareth.” And again I denied with an oath that I did not know the Man. Little by little those standing up came and said to the Petrovs: “Truly you too are from them, for your conversation makes you manifest.” Then they began to grumble and swear that they didn’t know the Man. And shout out abiye petel. And Peter will remember the word of Jesus, which was spoken to him, because first he would not even cry out, having denied Me three times: and he went out, weeping bitterly. |
Antiphon 7th, ch. 8
To those who ate the lawless, while you endured, you cried out to yourselves, O Lord: if you had slain the Shepherd and scattered twelve sheep, My disciples, you can imagine greater things than twelve legions of angels. But I will endure long, that what My prophets have revealed to you may be fulfilled, unknown and secret: Lord, glory to Thee.
Three times Peter rejected what was spoken to him in his mind, but bring to You tears of repentance: God, cleanse me and save me.
Glory…
Theotokos:
Like the gate of salvation and the red paradise, and the light of the ever-present clouds, let us all sing to the present Holy Virgin, saying to her, rejoice.
Antiphon 8th, ch. 2
Howl, O iniquities, what do you hear from our Savior? Do you not lay down the law and the prophetic teaching? How could you think of betraying Pilate, who is from God, the God of the Word and the Deliverer of our souls?
May He be crucified, crying out to those who ever enjoy Your gifts, and may the evildoer, instead of the Benefactor, be accepted by the Shah, the murderers of the righteous; You were silent, Christ, enduring their severity, although you suffered and saved us, as a Lover of Mankind.
Glory…
Theotokos:
As imams do not have boldness for our many sins, You, who were born of You, pray to the Virgin Mother of God: much more can the prayer of the Mother do for the mercy of the Lord. Do not despise the prayers of sinners, O All-Pure One, for He is merciful and able to save, and is willing to suffer for us.
Antiphon 9th, ch. 3
Having set the price of Zenenago at thirty pieces of silver, He was valued by the children of Israel. Watch and pray, so that you do not enter into temptation; the spirit is vigorous, but the flesh is weak; For this reason, watch out.
Dasha eats My bile, and feeds My thirst; But you, Lord, raise me up, and I will repay them.
Glory…
Theotokos:
With all our tongues we sing of Thee, O Pure Mother of God, for Thou didst give birth to Christ our God, who freed men from the oath by Thee.
(We, called from the nations, sing praise to You, pure Mother of God, for You gave birth to Christ our God, who through You freed people from the curse.)
After the litanies and exclamation - sedalen, ch. 8:
O how is Judas sometimes Your disciple, taught to betray You, a flattering candlelighter, a slanderer and an unrighteous man? Shed, the priest said: What are you giving me and will I hand over to you Onago, who has ruined the law and desecrated the Sabbath? Long-suffering Lord, glory to You.
Fourth Gospel of John (XVIII, 28; XIX, 1–16) – interrogation by Pilate, demand to release Barrabas instead of Christ, although Pilate is trying to prove His innocence. The scourging of Christ and Pilate's agreement to give the Lord to the people for crucifixion.
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GOSPEL 4. From John, conceived 59-60. At that time, Jesus was led from Caiaphas to the praetor: it was morning: and they did not go into the praetor, lest they be defiled, but let them eat the Passover. Pilate went out to them and said: What speech do you bring against this Man? She answered and decided to him: If this had not been a villain, they would not have handed Him over to you. Pilate said to them: Capture Him, and judge Him according to your law. The Jews decided to him: we are not worthy of killing anyone. May the word of Jesus come true, as it was spoken, signifying the death by which you wish to die. Below, Pilate came to the praetor, and shouted to Jesus, and said to Him: Art thou the King of the Jews? Jesus answered him: Are you saying this about yourself, or are you talking about Me? Pilate answered: Am I food for the Jews? Your family and the bishop gave You over to me, what have you done? Jesus answered: My kingdom is not of this world. Even if My kingdom were of this world, My servants would have fought, lest I be betrayed by the Jews: but now My kingdom is not from here. Pilate said to Him: Art Thou a King? Jesus answered: You say that I am the King. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, that I may testify to the truth, and everyone who is of the truth will listen to My voice. Pilate said to Him: What is truth? And he said this again to the Jews, and said to them: I find not a single guilt in Him. Now there is a custom for you, so that I will release one thing to you at Passover: do you want, then, that I will release to you the King of the Jews? Then they all cried out again, saying: not this one, but Barabbas: behold, Barabbas is a robber. Then Pilate watered Jesus, and beat Him. And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns, placing it on His head, and clothed Him in a scarlet robe, and said: Hail, King of the Jews! And beat Him on His cheeks. Then Pilate went out again, and said to them: Behold, I bring Him out to you, so that you may understand that in Him I find not a single guilt. Jesus went out, wearing a crown of thorns and a scarlet robe. And the verb to them: This is the Man. When the bishop and servants saw Him, they cried out saying: crucify, crucify Him. Pilate said to them: Capture Him and crucify Him, for I find no guilt in Him. The Jews answered him: We are imams of the law, and according to our law we must die, because we have created for ourselves the Son of God. When Pilate heard this word, he was even more afraid. And he went into the praetor again, and the verb of Jesus: Where are you from? Jesus will not give him an answer. Pilate said to Him: “Are you not speaking to me?” Do you not think that the imam has the power to crucify you, and the imam has the power to let you go? Jesus answered: Do not have any power over Me, unless it were given from above: for this reason, having given Me over to you, you have this sin. For this reason Pilate sought to let Him go. But I cried out to the Jews, saying: If you let this go, bring it to Caesar's friend. Everyone who creates a king for himself opposes Caesar. Pilate, having heard this word, brought Jesus out, and sat down at the court, in the place we say Liphostroton, in Hebrew Gabbath. It was five o'clock, and it was the sixth hour: and the Jews said: Behold your King. They cried out: take him, crucify him. Pilate said to them: Shall I crucify your king? The bishop answered: not the imams of the king, only of Caesar. Then he handed Him over to them, so that He might be crucified. |
Antiphon 10th, ch. 6
Dress yourself in light, like a robe, standing naked in judgment, and receive the emphasis on your cheek from the hands that created them; Lawless people nailed the Lord of Glory to the Cross; Then the curtain of the church is torn, the sun is darker, unable to bear the sight of God, and everyone trembles at Him. Let us bow to him.
The rejected disciple, the thief, cry out: remember me, O Lord, in Thy Kingdom.
Glory…
Theotokos:
Die the world, deigned by the Virgin, O Lord, to wear flesh as slaves, so that we may praise you according to You, O Lover of Mankind.
Antiphon 11th, ch. 6
For the good that You did, O Christ, to the Jewish race, crucified You, condemned You, and gave You blood and gall to drink. But grant them, O Lord, according to their deeds, for they have not misunderstood Your condescension.
You were not content with betrayal, O Christ, gave birth to Jewry, but shook your heads, bringing blasphemy and abuse. But grant them, O Lord, according to their deeds, for they have not misled Your judgment.
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, O Lord, according to their deeds, for they have learned from You in vain.
Glory…
Theotokos:
God incarnate in the knowledge of You, the Virgin Mother of God, the One Pure, the One Blessed: with this we unceasingly glorify Thee.
Antiphon 12th, ch. 8
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 up your husband who was on his bed.
My people, what have I done to you, and what will you repay Me? For manna there is bile; otset for water; For loving Me, you nailed Me to the Cross. To those who do not tolerate 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.
Today the church veil for exposing the lawless is torn, and the sun hides its rays, the Lord is being crucified in vain.
The women of the law of Israel, the Jew and the Pharisee, the face of the apostle cries out to you: behold the Temple that you destroyed, behold the Lamb that you crucified and delivered to the tomb; but by His power He rose again. Do not be flattered, O Jew; He is the one who saved in the sea and nourished in the desert; That is the Belly, and the Light, and the World.
Glory…
Theotokos:
Rejoice, gate of the King of Glory, which the Most High One has passed through and left sealed again, for the salvation of our souls.
Litany, exclamation and sedalene, ch. 8:
When you appeared before Caiaphas, O God, and surrendered to Pilate, O Judge, the heavenly powers were shaken by fear. When you ascended onto the tree in the midst of two robbers, you were imputed with the lawless, sinless, for saving a man; Gentle Lord, glory to You.
Fifth Gospel (XXVII, 3–32) – about the suicide of Judas, about the trial of Pilate and his “washing of his hands”, the bullying of soldiers, the path to Golgotha.
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GOSPEL 5 From Matthew, conceived 111-112 At that time, when Judas saw Jesus betrayed, having condemned Him, he repented and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the bishop and the elder, saying: “You have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They decided: what should we eat? You will see. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the church, departed, and hanged himself. The bishop accepted the pieces of silver, deciding: it is unworthy to put them in a corvan: for there is a price for blood. The council created, buying with them the village of the poor, for a strange burial. That village was called the same, the Village of Krove, to this day. Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, who said, was fulfilled: and he received thirty pieces of silver for the price of the One who was prized by the children of Israel: And I gave the poor in the village, as the Lord had told me. Jesus stood before the hegemon, and the hegemon asked Him, saying: Art thou the King of the Jews? Jesus said to him: You speak. And when Nan said to the bishop and elders, you answered nothing. Then Pilate said to Him: Do you not hear how many people testify against You? And he did not answer him in a single verb: as if he was greatly amazed at the hegemon. On every holiday, it is customary for the hegemon to release one bond to the people whom he wants. The name is then deliberately associated with the verb Barabbas. And to those assembled, Pilate said to them: Whom do you want I will release to you from both, Barabbas, or Jesus, the so-called Christ? You know that you betrayed Him out of envy. And when he sat at the judgment, his wife sent him to him, saying: It is nothing to you, and to that Righteous One: for you have suffered much this day in a dream for His sake. The bishop and elders told the people to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The hegemon answered and said to them: Whom do you want from both of us will I release to you? They decided: Barabbas. Pilate said to them: What shall I do to Jesus, the spoken Christ? All I said to him was: let him be crucified. The hegemon said: have you done some evil? They cried out too much, saying: let them drink away. Having seen Pilate, as if he succeeds in nothing, but what happens more than rumors, taking water, washing his hands before the people, saying: I am innocent of the blood of this Righteous One, you will see. And all the people answered and decided: His blood be on us and on our children. Then release Barabbas to them; having beaten Jesus, you handed him over to them, so that they might kill Him. Then the warriors of the hegemon received Jesus at the trial, having gathered Nan the whole multitude of warriors. And he took Him off and clothed Him with a scarlet robe. And he plaited a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and a reed on His right hand: and bowing down on one knee before Him, I cursed Him, saying: Hail, King of the Jews. And Nan spat, took the cane, and beat him on His head. And when she mocked Him, she took off the scarlet robe from Him, and clothed Him in His garments: and led Him to be crucified. Outgoing, he found a man from Cyrene, named Simon: and therefore he decided to bear His Cross. |
Antiphon 13th, ch. 6
The Jewish assembly asked Pilate to crucify You, O Lord; For you did not find guilt in You, who freed Barabbas, and You, the Righteous One, condemned You, who inherited the sin of the foul murder. But grant them, O Lord, their reward, for they have learned from You in vain.
All are terrified and trembling, and every tongue sings, Christ, the Power of God and Divine Wisdom, the priests hit Him on the cheek and gave Him bile; and through all the suffering you will, at least save us from our iniquities with Your Blood, as a Lover of Mankind.
Glory…
Theotokos:
The Mother of God, who gave birth to a word more than a word, Her Creator; Pray to him to save our souls.
Antiphon 14th, ch. 8
Lord, Who accepted the robber companion, who defiled his hand in blood, and consider us with him, as Good and Lover of Mankind.
The thief let out a small voice on the cross, gained great faith, was saved in a single moment and was the first to open the gates of heaven below; Whoever accepted repentance, Lord, glory to You.
Glory…
Theotokos:
Rejoice, you who received the joy of the world as an angel. Rejoice, Thou who gave birth to Thy Creator and Lord. Rejoice, thou vouchsafed to be the Mother of God.
Antiphon 15th, ch. 6
Today he hangs on a tree, like the one who hung the earth on the waters; The King of Angels is crowned with a crown of thorns; he dresses himself in false scarlet, covering the sky with clouds; The strangulation is accepted, Who freed Adam in the Jordan; The Church Bridegroom is nailed with nails; a copy of the Son of the Virgin. We worship Your Passion, Christ. We worship Your Passion, Christ. We worship Your Passion, Christ. Show us also Your glorious Resurrection.
We do not celebrate as Jews, for our Passover was devoured by Christ for us: but let us cleanse ourselves from all filth and pray to Him purely: Arise, Lord, save us, as a Lover of mankind.
Thy Cross, O Lord, is the life and intercession of Thy people, and with hope we sing to Thee of our crucified God: have mercy on us.
Glory…
Theotokos:
Seeing You hanging, O Christ, Who gave birth to You crying out: what strange hedgehog Do I see a mystery, My Son? How is it that you are erected on the tree of your dying flesh, the Giver of Life?
After the litany and exclamation, the sedalen of chapter 4 is sung, which usually sounds differently, not “to the voice,” and only this melody, inherent in familiar words, ascends in the silent church:
Sixth Gospel of Mark (XV, 16–31). It is about soldiers who tried their best to mock the Lord, about the procession to Golgotha and the crucifixion.
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GOSPEL 6 From Mark, conceived 67-68 During this time, the soldiers led Jesus into the courtyard of the praetor, and summoned the entire army. And she clothed Him with hair, and placed on Him a crown of thorns. And she began to kiss Him (and say): Hail, King of the Jews. And I beat His head with a reed, and I threw spit on Him: and I bowed my knees and worshiped Him. And when she had mocked Him, she stripped Him off, and clothed Him in His garments: and they brought Him out, that they might punish Him. And he touched a certain Simon Cyrene, who was passing by, coming from the village, Father Alexandrov and Rufus, so that he might take up His Cross. And they brought Him to Golgotha, a place called the Execution Place. And I let Him drink the wine, but He is not accepted. And they crucified Him, dividing His garments, casting lots for them as to who would take what. The third hour came, and he crucified Him. And the writing of His guilt was written: King of the Jews. And two thieves were crucified with Him: one on His right hand, and one on His left side. And the Scripture was fulfilled, which says: And with the wicked shall I be imputed. And those who pass by blaspheme Him, nodding their heads and saying: Wow, you destroy the church, and in three days you build it up: save yourself, and come down from the Cross. Likewise, the bishop swears at each other with the scribes, saying: “He saved others, but can’t he save himself?” May Christ the King of Israel descend now from the Cross, so that we may see and have faith in Him. |
The singing of the antiphons ended. The Beatitudes are sung with stichera:
In Your Kingdom, remember us, O Lord, when You come to Your Kingdom.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for to them is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Blessed are those who cry, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
By the tree Adam was driven out of paradise, and by the tree of the godfather the thief moved into paradise. O you have tasted the commandment of the One who rejected the Creator, but we have crucified You, the confession of God who is hidden. Remember us too, O Savior, in Your Kingdom.
Blesseds of mercy, for there will be mercy.
To the Law of the Creator from the disciple he bought iniquity and, as a lawbreaker, presented Him to Pilate in judgment, calling: crucify him, who gave Mannod in this desert. We, who imitated the righteous thief, call by faith: remember us too, O Savior, in Thy Kingdom.
Blessed are those who are pure in heart, for they will see God.
The council of God-killers, the lawless language of the Jews, frantically called to Pilate, saying: crucify the innocent Christ, but rather release Barabbas to us. We speak to Him the prudent voice of the thief: remember us, O Savior, in Thy Kingdom.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for these shall be called sons of God.
Your life-giving ribs, like a fountain flowing from Eden, Your Church, O Christ, like a verbal one, waters paradise, from here dividing into the beginning, into the four Gospels, watering the world, creating joyful creatures and faithfully teaching tongues to worship Your Kingdom.
Blessed is the expulsion of truth for the sake of them, for those are the Kingdom of Heaven.
You were crucified for my sake, so that you may leave me alone; You were pierced in the ribs, and you drained drops of life; Thou art nailed with nails, and through the depth of Thy Passion we assure the height of Thy power, I call Thee: Life-Giving Christ, glory to the Cross, Savior, and Thy Passion.
Blessed are you when they revile you, and mistreat you, and say all sorts of evil things about you lying to Me for my sake.
We crucify You, Christ, all creation, seeing, trembling, the foundations of the earth trembling with the fear of Your power, the lights hiding, and the church veil torn, the mountains trembling, and the stones being gray, and the faithful thief calling with us, O Savior, who is remembered in Your Kingdom.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is abundant in heaven.
Thou hast torn to pieces our handwriting on the Cross, O Lord, and, being counted among the dead, Thou hast bound the tormentor there, delivering us 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 Savior, in Thy Kingdom.
Glory: The Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all one in wisdom, faithfully, let us praise worthily, the Unit of the Divine, in the Three Hypostases, unmerged, abiding, simple, indivisible and unapproachable, through whom we are delivered from fiery torment.
And now.
Theotokos:
Thy Mother, Christ, who gave birth to Thee without seed, and was truly a Virgin, and remained incorruptible at the Nativity, We bring this to You in prayer, O Master of Much Mercy, always granting forgiveness of sins to those who call: remember us, O Savior, in Thy Kingdom.
After the small litany the prokeimenon is sung:
Dividing My garments for myself and casting lots for My clothing.
Poem:God, My God, consider Me, where have you forsaken Me?
Seventh Gospel of Matthew (XXVII, 33–54) - O last minutes on the cross and death of the Lord.
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GOSPEL 7 From Matthew, conception 113 At that time, the soldiers came to the place called Golgotha, which is the place of Kranie, and gave Jesus drink and gall mixed with gall: and he tasted without wanting to drink. And He crucified Him, dividing His garments, casting lots: and the one who sat guarded Him sat. And placing His indictment on the top of His head, it was written: This is Jesus the King of the Jews. Then two thieves were crucified with Him, one on the right hand and one on the left. Those who pass by blaspheme Him, shaking their heads. And saying: destroy the church, and build in three days, save yourself: if you are the Son of God, come down from the Cross. In the same way, the bishop, quarreling with the scribes and elders and Pharisees, said: He saved others, but cannot save himself? If there is a King of Israel, let him now come down from the Cross, and we believe in Him. I put my trust in God: let him deliver him now, if he will: for he said, for I am the Son of God. Likewise, the thief crucified with Him was reproached by Him. From the sixth hour there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a great voice, saying: Or, Or, lima sabachthani? Is it My God, My God, who hast Thou forsaken Me? And when Netzi heard it from those who stood by, he said, “For this one speaks of Elijah.” And the abiye flowed from them, and received the lip, having fulfilled the task, and stuck it on the reed, soldering Him. The rest said: leave, so that we may see if Elijah comes to save Him. Jesus then cried out with a great voice and gave up the ghost. And behold, the curtain of the church was torn in two, from the highest to the lowest: and the earth shook, and the stone was disintegrated. And the graves were opened, and many bodies of the departed saints arose. And He came out of the tomb after His resurrection, went into the holy city, and appeared to many. The centurion and those with him who were watching Jesus, seeing the coward and being, were greatly afraid, saying: Truly this is the Son of God. |
The 50th Psalm is read.
Eighth Gospel of Luke (XXIII, 32–49) – also about the crucifixion. The evangelists, mostly repeating themselves, supplement the general picture of what happened with individual details.
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GOSPEL 8 From Luke, beginning 111 During this time, a leader was with Jesus and two other villains were killed with Him. And when she arrived at the place called Skull, she crucified Him, and the villain, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Jesus said: Father, let them go, for they do not know what they are doing. Dividing His garments, the cast of lots. And people stand and see. And the princes cursed with them, saying: He has saved others, and may He also save Himself, if He is the chosen Christ of God. The soldiers also swore at Him as they approached, and the reverence came to Him. And the verb: if you are the King of the Jews, save yourself. And the writing was written over Him by the Greeks, and the Romans, and the Jews: This is the King of the Jews. One of the accused evildoers blasphemed Him, saying: If You are the Christ, save Yourself and ours. The other answered and rebuked him, saying: Do you not fear God, for you are condemned to the same thing? And we, then, have accepted the truth, which is worthy of our deeds: This one has not done a single evil. And Jesus said: remember me, Lord, when you come to the Kingdom of Si. And Jesus said to him: Amen, I say to you, today you will be with Me in paradise. The hour was nearly six, and darkness was over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun grew darker, and the veil of the church was rent in the middle. And Jesus cried out with a great voice, saying: Father, in Thy hand I commend My spirit: and these words came forth. When the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying: Truly this man was righteous. And all the people who came to this shame, seeing it happen, beating their hearts, returned. I stood, and everyone knew Him from afar, and the wives who followed Him from Galilee, seeing these. |
After the eighth Gospel, a three-canticle is sung - a canon of three songs, compiled by the Monk Cosmas of Maium, conveying in a condensed form the last hours of the Savior’s stay with the apostles, the denial of Peter and the torment of the Lord.
Three Songs on Great Friday
Song 5.
Irmos. From the morning I cry to you, Word of God, who humbled himself through mercy (his own) immutably and dispassionately bowed down to suffering: grant peace to me, the fallen, Lover of mankind.
Having washed their feet and been cleansed by the communion of the divine sacrament, your servants, O Christ, have now come with you from Zion to the great Mount of Olives, praising you, O Lover of Mankind (Matthew 26:30).
Look, friends, you said, do not be horrified; for now the hour has come for me to be taken (and) killed by the hands of the wicked; you will all be scattered, leaving me, (but) I will gather you - to preach about me the Lover of Mankind (Matthew 24:6, 26:45; John 17:32).
Canto 8th.
Irmos. The idol of godless wickedness was put to shame by the pious youths; and the assembly of the lawless, raging against Christ, is plotting in vain, intending to kill the One who holds life in (his) hand, whom all creation blesses, glorifying forever.
From your leaders, you said to Christ’s disciples, shake off sleep now, and stay awake in prayer, so that you do not fall into temptation, especially you, Simon; for the strongest (comprehends) a greater temptation; Know me, Peter, whom all creation blesses, glorifying forever (Matthew 26:40–41; Luke 21:31).
I will never utter shameful words from my lips, Lord; I will die with you, as (the disciple) grateful, even though everyone rejects (you), exclaimed Peter; not flesh and blood, but your Father revealed you to me, whom all creation blesses, glorifying forever (Matthew 16:17, 26:33, 53).
You have not explored the entire depth of divine wisdom and knowledge, and you have not comprehended the abyss of my destinies, O man, said the Lord; therefore, being flesh, do not be arrogant; for you will deny me three times, whom all creation blesses, glorifying forever (Rom. 11:33; Matt. 26:34).
You deny this, Simon Peter, but you will soon be convinced of what is said, and even one maid will approach you and will frighten you, said the Lord: but you will weep bitterly and I will be merciful to you, whom all creation blesses, glorifying forever (Matthew 26:7 –75).
Song 9.
Irmos. More honorable than the Cherubim and more glorious than the Seraphim, without corruption, who gave birth to God the Word, the true Mother of God, we magnify you.
A destructive host of God-haters (and) a host of treacherous God-killers surrounded you, Christ, and as an unrighteous man they dragged the Creator of all, whom we magnify (John 18:3
Ninth Gospel of John (XIX, 25–37). In it we hear about the Lord’s adoption of His Mother’s beloved disciple and about the final word of the Lord: “It is finished.”
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GOSPEL 9 From John, conception 61 During this time, His Mother, and His Mother’s sister, Mary of Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene stood at the Cross of Jesus. Jesus, seeing the Mother and the disciple standing, whom He loved, said to His Mother: Woman, behold Your son. Then the verb to the student: Behold your mother. And from that hour the disciple was drunk in his own home. Therefore, knowing Jesus, as if everything had already been accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, he said: I thirst. The vessel standing there was full; they filled the lip of the mouth, and stood on the reed, and came to His mouth. When Jesus was received, he said: It is finished. And bow your head, give up your spirit. But the Jews, who had no heels, may not leave their bodies on the cross on the Sabbath: for that Sabbath day is great, praying to Pilate that their legs may be broken and taken away. The soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and the other who was crucified with Him. She came to Jesus, as if she had seen Him already dead, without breaking His legs. But one soldier pierced His side with a copy, and out came blood and water. And he who has seen bears witness, and his testimony is true: and this is the message that it speaks the truth, that you may have faith. For this to happen, that the Scripture might be fulfilled: a bone shall not be broken by Him. And again another Scripture says: they will look at Nan, who gave birth to Him. |
Poems of praise:
My firstborn son Israel has created two and the wicked one: forsake me the fountain of living waters, and make for myself a broken treasure; They crucified me on the tree, but ask for Barabbas and release him. The sky was horrified about this, and the sun’s rays were hidden; But you, Israel, were not put to shame, but you put Me to death. Leave it to them, Holy Father, for they do not know what you have done.
Every ud of Thy holy flesh endured dishonor for us: thorns, head; face, spitting; jaws, strangulations; mouth, taste of dissolved bile in the mouth; ushesa, evil blasphemy; splashes, beats; and hand, cane; the entire body of extension on the Cross; member, nail; and ribs, copy. Who suffered for us and freed us from passions, who descended to us through love for mankind and exalted us, O All-Powerful Savior, have mercy on us.
I crucify myself, O Christ, all creation, seeing and trembling, the foundations of the earth trembling with the fear of Your power; I will ascend to you this day, the Jewish race is destroyed, the church veil is torn in two, and the dead are resurrected from the graves; The centurion, seeing the miracle, was horrified. Your Mother is coming, crying, weeping motherly: why can I not weep and beat My womb, seeing You naked, as if condemned, hanging on a tree? Crucified and buried and risen from the dead, O Lord, glory to Thee.
Glory:
I took off My robe and clothed Me in a scarlet robe, placing a crown of thorns on My head and placing a reed in My right hand, that I might break them like vessels of the poor.
And now:
I put My cloaks on my wounds, but I did not turn My face away from the spitting, I appeared before Pilate’s judgment and endured the Cross for the salvation of the world.
Tenth Gospel of Mark (XV, 43–47 ) . Here is about the request of Joseph of Arimathea, who asked Pilate for permission to take the Lord down from the cross and bury him, which had to be done very quickly, since Saturday was coming, when doing such a thing was strictly forbidden.
The Great Doxology is not sung on this day - it is read. And after the litany they begin:
Eleventh Gospel of John (XIX, 38–42). The apostle describes the same moment, adding only some details.
Stichera are sung on the poem:
All creation was changed by fear, beholding Thee hanging on the Cross, Christ: the sun was darkened, and the foundations of the earth shook, all to the compassion of the Creator of all things. You who endured the will of us for our sake, O Lord, glory to Thee.
Poem:Dividing My garments for myself and casting lots for My clothing.
Do people learn wickedness and lawlessness in vain? Have you condemned everyone to death to death? It is a great miracle that the Creator of the world surrenders into the hands of the wicked, and the Lover of Mankind rises up on the tree, even as he frees the prisoners in hell, calling: Long-suffering Lord, glory to Thee.
Poem:Dasha gave me my bile to eat and my thirst to drink.
Today you see Thee Immaculate Virgin on the Cross, the Word, exalted, weeping with the Mother’s womb, wounded by the heart of the mountaineer, and groaning painfully from the depths of the soul, tearing her face from her hair. Likewise, beating hearts, you cry pitifully: alas for Me, Divine Child, alas for Me, Light of the world, that you have gone from before My sight, Lamb of God? Likewise, hold the armies of the incorporeal in awe, saying: Incomprehensible Lord, glory to Thee.
Poem:God, our King before the ages, wrought salvation in the midst of the earth.
Hanging on the tree, Christ, You, the Creator and God of all, Who without seed gave birth to You, crying out bitterly: My Son, where is the kindness that entered Your face? I cannot bear to see You crucified unrighteously; Strive therefore, arise, for I also see Your three-day Resurrection from the dead.
Glory:
Lord, as You ascended the Cross, fear and trembling attacked creation, and You forbade the earth to swallow up those who crucified You, and You commanded Hell to release the enemies; For the renewal of men, Judge of the living and the dead, you have come through taxes, not death. Lover of humanity, glory to Thee.
And now:
The reed of the sayings of the unrighteous judges is already dipped, Jesus is judged, and condemned to the cross, and the creature suffers, seeing the Lord on the Cross. But by nature of the body, suffer for my sake, Good Lord, glory to Thee.
Twelfth Gospel of Matthew (XXVII, 62–66) – reminds of the decision to place a guard and seal the coffin.
The priest takes the Gospel to the altar. The royal doors are closed.
The service ends with the troparion:
Thou hast redeemed us from the legal oath with Thy honest Blood, having been nailed to the Cross and pierced with a spear, Thou hast exuded immortality as a man, Our Savior, glory to Thee.
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On Maundy Thursday in the evening, or, better to say, on the night of Good Friday, a special service is performed according to the rite of Matins with the reading of the 12 Gospels about the Passion of the Lord, alternating with appropriate chants. The 12 readable Gospels set out the entire story of the Lord’s suffering - from the farewell conversation with the disciples at the Last Supper to the removal from the Cross and burial of the Lord’s Body by Joseph and Nicodemus in the presence of the myrrh-bearing women. Let us consider in more detail the content of this service, which takes us to Golgotha.
Jerusalem. Calvary
Matins begins as usual. After the Six Psalms and the Great Litany, “Alleluia” is sung with sweet singing and the troparion “When the Glory of the Disciple” is sung, as on the eve of Great Wednesday. The temple is filled with candles in hands. At the end of the troparion and the small litany, the Lord’s farewell conversation with His disciples is read in full from the Gospel of John: “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him...” Despite the length of the conversation, it is listened to with unflagging attention and tenderness each time as something new. The author of these lines has the happiness and great joy during his 40-year priesthood to read this conversation of the Savior 37 times, and each time with the same tenderness and consolation. We have given a detailed account of the Lord’s farewell conversation elsewhere in our manuscript, and we will not repeat it. Between the first six Gospels, 15 hymns are sung, called antiphons, with three antiphons between Gospels. After every three antiphons, a small ektenia is pronounced and a sedalene is sung. The first antiphon begins with the words: “The princes of mankind gathered together against the Lord and against His Christ.” “You have laid the word of transgression upon Me, O Lord, Lord, do not forsake Me.” “Let us present our feelings pure to Christ,” the first antiphon says, “and, as friends, let us sacrifice our souls to Him. Let us not, like Judas, be overwhelmed by the cares of life, but from the depths of our hearts let us pray: Our Father, who art in heaven, deliver us from the evil one!”
“Judas hastens to the lawless scribes. - What will you give me and I will hand Him over to you? In the midst of those conferring, stood invisibly the One about whom they were conferring: O Lord, Knower of the heart, have mercy on our souls!”
“Let us serve God with love, like Mary at the supper, and let us not be lovers of money, like Judas: let us always be with Christ our God!”
“After the resurrection of Lazarus, the Jewish children exclaimed: Hosanna to you! But the lawless Judas did not want to understand this.”
“At the Last Supper You predicted to Your disciples: one of you will betray Me. But the lawless Judas did not want to understand this!
“To John’s question: who will betray you? “You pointed out the traitor with bread, but the lawless Judas did not want to understand this!”
“When you washed the disciples’ feet, you commanded them, O Lord: you too do what you see. But the lawless Judas did not want to understand this!
“Watch and pray so as not to fall into temptation,” You told Your disciples, but the lawless Judas did not want to understand this!
The Second Gospel is also read from John: about the capture of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, about His interrogation by the high priest Anna and about Peter’s threefold denial. The opposite psychology of the two apostles is involuntarily contrasted - the gloomy Judas, frozen in his motionless despair, and the repentant, crying, soft and pure-hearted Peter! On further antiphons, touching chants are sung: “Today Judas leaves the Teacher and accepts the devil, is blinded by the love of money, falls away from the light; and how can he see, having sold the Source of Light for thirty pieces of silver? But, having suffered for the world, shine upon us who cry out to You: you who suffered and have compassion for people, glory to You!”
“Today the Creator of heaven and earth said to His disciples: The hour has come, Judas is coming to betray Me. Let no one deny Me, seeing Me on the Cross between two thieves: I suffer as a man and, as a Lover of Mankind, I will save those who believe in Me!”
“Today the Jews are nailing the Lord to the Cross, who cut the sea with a rod and led them into the desert. Today they pierce His side with a spear, who covered Egypt with plagues for their sake. And they gave the bile to the one who had rained down the manna for them to eat.”
“Going into the free Passion, You said to the disciples: if you could not watch with Me for even one hour, then how can you promise to die for Me? Look at Judas, how he does not sleep, trying to betray Me to the lawless. Stand up, pray, let none of you refuse Me, seeing Me on the Cross.”
In the next sedalna the Church sings: “What reason made you, Judas, a traitor? Have you been excommunicated from the apostolic rank? Or were you deprived of the gift of healing? Or, sharing food with others, you were removed from the meal? Or, while washing the feet of others, you were passed over? How many benefits you forget about! In all this, your ungrateful disposition and the Lord’s immeasurable patience are revealed!”
The third Gospel is read from Matthew - about the trial of the Lord by Caiaphas, about the testimony of false witnesses: about the direct question of the high priest: “I adjure You by the living God, tell us, Are you the Christ, the Son of God?” And about the affirmative answer of the Lord; about the indignation of the high priest, and about the unanimous decision of the Sanhedrin to put Christ to death for blasphemy. Mockery of Christ. Peter's denial.
After the third Gospel, the 7th, 8th and 9th antiphons are sung.
Then the fourth Gospel is read - from John: Christ is led from Caiaphas to Pilate, but they enter the Praetorium so as not to be desecrated in view of the upcoming Easter. Pilate came out to them. Interrogation of Christ by Pilate. Pilate does not find any guilt in Him and wants to release Him according to custom for the sake of the Easter holiday. The Jews demand the release not of Christ, but of Barabbas. Pilate subjects Christ to scourging and abuse. In a desecrated form he brings Him out to the Jews. But they demand the death of Christ even more fiercely. After some resistance, Pilate “gave Him over to them to be crucified.”
Antiphons 10, 11 and 12 are sung, their content corresponding to the Gospel read.
“He who dresses himself in Light, like a robe, stands naked in judgment and receives blows on the cheek from the hands He created. The Lord of Glory is nailed to the Cross. The church veil is torn, the sun is darkening, unable to bear the outrage against God, before Whom everything trembles; let us worship Him!”
“For the good You showed to the Jewish race, they condemned You to crucifixion, and gave You gall and vinegar to drink. But reward them, Lord, according to their deeds, because they did not understand Your condescension.”
“Neither the shaking earth, nor the crumbling stones, nor the church veil, nor the resurrection of the dead convinced the Jews. Reward them, Lord, according to their deeds for the evil they have done.”
“This is what the Lord says to the Jews: My people! What have I done to you? Or how did he offend you? I healed your blind, cleansed your lepers, raised up the weak... My people, what have I done to you? And what did you repay Me with? For manna - bile; for water – otset; Instead of loving Me, they nailed Me to the Cross!.. I can’t stand this anymore - I will call My pagans, and they will glorify Me with the Father and the Spirit, and I will give them eternal life.”
After the sedal, the Fifth Gospel of Matthew is read - about the suicide of Judas and the subsequent trial by Pilate. Intervention of Pilate's wife. Pilate washes his hands. “His blood be on us and on our children!” Departure to the place of execution. After the Gospel, the last antiphons of the 13th, 14th and 15th are sung. “Christ, God’s Power and God’s Wisdom, before Whom everything is terrified and trembles, and Whom every people sings, the priests strike Him on the cheek and give Him gall. And He is ready to suffer everything in order to save us from our iniquities through His Blood.”
“Lord, You have chosen as Your companion a robber whose hands were stained with blood: accept us also according to Your love for mankind!”
“The thief on the Cross said few words, but he acquired great faith, was saved in an instant, and was the first to open the gates of heaven and enter them: Glory to Thee, who accepted His repentance!”
“Today he hangs on a tree, hanging the earth on the waters. The King of Angels is crowned with thorns, the King is clothed in false scarlet, covering the sky with clouds. He accepts the stranglehold that freed Adam in the Jordan. The church groom is nailed down with nails. The Son of the Virgin is pierced by a spear. We worship Your Passion, Christ! (3 times). Show us also Your glorious Resurrection!” After the small ectenia, the sedalene is sung: “You redeemed us from the curse of the law with Your most pure Blood, nailed to the Cross and pierced by a spear, and granted people immortality! Glory to You, our Savior!”
Then the Sixth Gospel of Mark is read. The soldiers' mockery of Christ in Pilate's courtyard and the procession to Golgotha are described. Along the way, the Cross is placed on an oncoming villager, Simon of Cyrene. At Golgotha, the Lord's vestments are divided among the warriors by lot. They give Him wine to drink “esmirnismeno” - mixed with myrrh. “He’s not nice.” On both sides of Him they crucify two thieves and place above Him the inscription of His guilt: “To the King and the Jews.” Passers-by and priests mock Him: “He saved others, but cannot save himself?” “Come down from the Cross, and we will believe You!”
The singing of the antiphons ended. The Beatitudes are sung with stichera. After the small ektenia, instead of the luminary, the prokeimenon is sung: “I have divided My garments for myself, and cast lots for My clothing.” - "God! My God! wonmi mi! Thou hast forsaken Me!” The feeling of being abandoned by God as a consequence of taking on all the burden original sin weighed heavily on the soul of the Crucified One.
The Seventh Gospel of Matthew is read. It talks about the arrival of the soldiers with Christ at Golgotha and everything else, as in the previous narrative of Ev. Brand. From the 6th hour to the 9th hour darkness covers the earth. At the 9th hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lima sabachthani.” These words were not clear to everyone. One of the soldiers, having soaked a sponge in vinegar, brought it on a reed to the lips of Jesus. Having cried out loudly again, Jesus gives up the ghost. The church curtain is torn, the earth shakes, the stones fall apart. The coffins are opened - many dead are resurrected and appear to many in the city. The centurion and others with him, seeing what was happening, said: “Truly this man was the Son of God!” The 50th Psalm is read, giving some respite from the difficult Golgotha experiences. After the psalm, the Gospel is read again - the eighth, from Luke, again about the crucifixion. Jesus prays: “Father, let them go! They don’t know what they’re doing!” Again, bullying from the people, soldiers and leaders. One of the robbers also takes part in them, but the other robber holds him back and turns to Jesus in prayer, who promises him paradise along with Himself. Meanwhile, darkness covers the earth from the sixth hour to the ninth. At the ninth hour, Jesus cried out loudly: “Father, into Your hands I commend My spirit.” And he died. Seeing what was happening, the centurion standing at the Cross said: “Truly this man was a righteous man.” And all the people who had gathered for the spectacle, seeing what was happening, went home, beating their chests. Everyone who knew Him stood there and looked from afar, including the women who accompanied Him from Galilee.
After the Eighth Gospel, the singing of the Trisong begins (i.e., a canon with a reduced number of songs - instead of nine there are only three), compiled by Cosmos of Maium: “To You this morning, who has immutably poured out mercy for Yourself and who has worshiped impassively to the passions, grant me peace to the Word of God, fallen, Lover of Mankind." “Having washed their feet and been cleansed by the communion of Your Divine Sacrament, Your servants, O Christ, ascend with You from Zion to the great Mount of Olives.” “Look, friends,” You told them, do not be afraid: the hour has come for Me to be taken and killed by the hands of the lawless. You will all scatter and leave Me, but I will gather you so that you will preach about My love for mankind.”
Kondak: “Come, let us glorify the Crucified One for our sake!” Seeing Him on the Cross, Maria said: although You endure crucifixion, You are both the Son and My God!”
And to about s: “Seeing Her Lamb being drawn to the slaughter, Maria, letting down her hair, followed Him with other women, exclaiming: where are you going, Child? Why the haste? Does the second marriage take place in Cana of Galilee? And You rush there to turn water into wine? Should I also go with You? Or wait for you? Say a word to Me, do not silently pass by Me, which You have preserved in purity: for You are both the Son and My God!
Song 8: “The divine youths have denounced the pillar of malice against God: but the reeling, lawless congregation advises in vain against Christ, the belly of the one who holds the hand is taught to kill: With it he will bless all creation, glorifying it forever.”
“Drive away sleepiness from your eyes,” Christ said to the disciples, “do not weaken in prayer, lest you fall into temptation, and especially you, Simone! The stronger the greater the temptation! Understand, Peter, Me, Whom all creation blesses and glorifies forever!”
“I will never say a single bad word to You, Lord! “I will die with You, even if everyone turns away from You,” Peter exclaimed. “It was not flesh and blood, but Your Father who revealed You to me, Whom all creation blesses and glorifies forever.”
“You have not fully experienced the depth of divine wisdom and intelligence and have not comprehended the abyss of My destinies, man,” said the Lord. “Being flesh, do not boast: you will deny Me three times, Whom all creation blesses and glorifies forever.”
Song 9: “The most honorable Cherub and the most glorious without comparison the Seraphim, who without corruption gave birth to God the Word, the real Mother of God we magnify Thee.”
After the three-song, the famous luminary is sung, especially revealing the art and feelings of our church singers and especially touching those praying: “Thou hast vouchsafed the prudent thief in one hour to heaven, O Lord: and enlighten me with the tree of the cross and save me!” Listening to the Three Songs and the Lights, we enter into a special depth of feelings and experiences evoked in us by the service of Holy Week.
Every moment of these experiences resonates deeply in our hearts, but does not give rise to in us either a feeling of horror and fear of the coming wrath of God, or a feeling of expectation of a terrible, merciless execution. On the contrary, our heart, overflowing with deep compassion and love, remains filled with deep peace and joy, plunging into the vast abyss of Divine love and condescension for the human race!
After the luminary, the Ninth Gospel (from John) is read. At the Cross of the Lord stood His Mother, and Mary of Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene, and the beloved disciple John. The Lord entrusts His Mother to John, and John adopts His Mother as son. And from that day John took the Mother of His Lord into his home. Jesus Christ was thirsty. One of the soldiers, soaking a sponge in vinegar and sticking it on a cane, quenched His thirst. Having said: “It is finished,” the Lord gave up his ghost.
Since it was Friday and Saturday was approaching, which coincided with Easter that year, the Jews, not wanting to leave their bodies on the crosses on such a day, asked Pilate for permission to break the crucified legs and remove their bodies from the crosses. Pilate allowed it. The legs of the robbers who were still alive were broken. But Christ, who had already died, was not broken in the legs, but only one of the soldiers struck Him with a spear, and blood and water flowed from the wound. Thus the prophecies were fulfilled: “A bone will not be broken by Him” and “they will look at Him Whom they pierced.”
After the 9th Gospel, psalms of praise are read and stichera of praise are sung: “My firstborn son Israel did two wicked things: He abandoned Me, the fountain of living water, and dug for himself a worthless well. He crucified me on a tree, but he begged Barabbas and let him go! The sky was horrified at this, and the Sun hid its rays, but you, Israel, were not ashamed and put Me to death: forgive them, Holy Father, for they do not know what they are doing.”
Each member of Your most pure Flesh suffered reproach for us: the head is a thorn; face - spitting; cheeks - strangulation; the lips received bile dissolved in vinegar; ears - wicked blasphemies; shoulders - flagellation; hands - cane; the whole body is prostrate on the cross; hands and feet - nails; ribs - copy. You who suffered for us and freed us from passions, who condescended to us in mercy and exalted us, Almighty Lord, have mercy on us!”
“Seeing You crucified, all creation trembled; The foundations of the earth shook from the fear of Your power... The Jewish race perished, the church veil was torn in two, and the dead rose from their graves... The centurion, seeing the miracle, was horrified; and Your Mother, sobbing loudly, exclaimed: “How can I not weep and be tormented at heart, seeing You naked, like a criminal, hanging on the Cross! Crucified, buried and risen from the dead, Lord, glory to You!
After the stichera, the Tenth Gospel of Mark is read: Joseph of Arimathea dared to go to Pilate and ask for the Body of Jesus. Pilate was surprised that He had already died, and, calling the centurion, learned from him that Christ had indeed died and allowed Joseph to take the Body. Joseph bought a shroud, took the Body from the Cross, wrapped Him in the shroud, and placed Him in a new tomb, carved out of stone, in his garden. And he rolled the stone to the door of the tomb. At the same time, Mary Magdalene and Mary of Joseph (i.e., the Mother of God) were present and watched where they laid Him.
The Great Doxology on this day is not sung, but read. After the petitionary ectenia, the Eleventh Gospel, according to John, is read. According to this Gospel, Joseph, the secret disciple of Christ, “for fear of the Jews,” asks Pilate for the Body and Sou. Pilate gives permission to take it. Nicodemus also came and brought with him aromas. They took the Body of Jesus and wrapped it in clothes with aromas, as is customary among the Jews. In that place there was a garden, and in the garden there was a new coffin in which no one had yet been laid. There, for the sake of Jewish Friday, since the tomb was close, they laid Jesus.
After the Gospel, verse stichera are sung: “The whole creation changes with fear, seeing You hanging on the Cross: the sun has darkened, the foundations of the earth have shaken, everything has compassion for the Creator of everything; You who endured everything for us, glory to You!”
“Lord, when You ascended the Cross, fear and trembling gripped all creation; You forbade the earth to swallow up those who crucified You, but you commanded hell to release the prisoners, Judge of the living and the dead, who came to renew people, to give them life and not death - Lover of mankind, glory to You!
“The reed for judgment is already being wetted; Jesus is tried by unrighteous judges and condemned to the Cross; all creation suffers, seeing the Lord on the Cross. But, having accepted our bodily nature and suffering for my sake, good Lord, glory to Thee!”
The Twelfth Gospel according to Matthew is read. “On the morning of the next day, after Friday, the bishops and Pharisees gathered to Pilate and said: we remembered that this deceiver promised to rise on the third day. Order that the tomb be guarded until the third day, so that His disciples, coming at night, do not steal the Body and tell people that He has risen from the dead and the last deception will be worse than the first. Pilate answered: You have a guard - go, guard as best you can. They went, sealed the coffin and set a guard!” After the reading of the Trisagion, the troparion of the day is sung: “You redeemed us from the curse of the law with Your Most Pure Blood, nailed to the Cross and pierced by a spear, and granted people immortality, glory to You!” Then follows the usual end of Matins, without the first hour, which is transferred to the next morning.
The service of the 12 Gospels is of central importance in the worship of the entire Holy Week. It describes and remembers all the amazing events of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday night and Good Friday.
A series of great events pass before us: the Last Supper, the washing of feet, the institution of the Sacrament of Communion, prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, taking into custody and the whole painful night of interrogations, bullying, abuse and beatings inflicted on the Lord, Peter’s denial, condemnation of the Lord to death, confirmation of the sentence Pilate, the procession to Golgotha, the crucifixion and death of the Lord, the burial of His Body in the garden of Joseph of Arimathea, the sealing of the grave and its protection by guards. Liturgical chants almost do not touch the dogmatic meaning of Golgotha, do not give its dogmatic interpretation, but it is clearly felt by the believer and the loving heart. There is no talk of the wrath of God, no fear of the punishing hand of God. One feels only the sacrifice of boundless love for humanity, and, moreover, the love not only of the Suffering Son of God, but also of God the Father who sent this suffering. “God did not send His Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him” (John 3:17). This is what Evnagelia says, this is what the service of Holy Week says, even in its most sorrowful and shocking moments. This is the Orthodox perception of Golgotha.
“My soul, my soul, arise!” Open your eyes and rise from the bed of hell; decide to serve the living God and the truth, as you have hitherto served as an idol of the passions; and everything else is already ready for your salvation. The Gospel is ready to admonish you in all cases of life; the precious garment of Christ's merits is ready to cover your spiritual nakedness; The Body and Blood of the Son of God is ready to satisfy your hunger; The oil and balm are ready to heal your wounds; the almighty grace of the Holy Spirit is ready to strengthen your weak strength; Gogov is the very crown to crown your small deeds. “Rise up, may Christ God have mercy on you.” Do you hear how He speaks with the voice of the Gospel from His heavenly supper: “And there is still room” (Luke 15:22). This is the place for you and me, my soul! Let us hasten to become worthy of it, before midnight comes, before the doors of the palace are shut, and before the oil in the lamp of our life goes out! Amen.
Innokenty, apxep. Kherson
Service with reading of the 12 Gospels of the Holy Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ.
On the evening of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday Matins, or the service of the 12 Gospels, as this service is usually called, is celebrated: it is all dedicated to the reverent remembrance of the saving suffering and death on the cross of Jesus Christ.
The beginning is usual, [after the first litany we do not read prayers];
Come, let us worship our King, God.
Come, let us bow down and prostrate ourselves to the ground before the King Christ, our God.
Come, let us bow down and cast ourselves to the ground before Christ himself, our King and God.
Save, Lord, Your people and bless Your inheritance, granting victories to Orthodox Christians over their opponents and preserving Your people through Your Cross.
Glory:
Having ascended to the Cross voluntarily, Christ God, grant Your mercies to the new people named after You, exult with Your power Your faithful people, giving them victories over the enemies who have Your help - a weapon of peace, an invincible sign of victory.
And now:
Terrible and shameless protection, do not despise, O Good One, our prayers, O all-glorified Mother of God; establish the Orthodox people, save your faithful people and grant them victory from heaven, for you gave birth to God, the only blessed one.
Glory to the Holy One, who has a single essence, which is the beginning of all life, and the indivisible Trinity, every day: now, and always, and in eternity.
The reading of the Six Psalms is being performed(psalms: 3, 37, 62, 87, 102 and 142).;
After the Great Litany [prayer 1; and] Hallelujah with verses, tone 8.
Verse 1: From the night to the dawn, my spirit strives for You, O God, for light is Your commandments on earth.
Verse 2: Learn the truth, you who live on earth.
Verse 3: Jealousy will befall an uneducated people.
Verse 4: Add more disasters to them, O Lord, add more disasters to the glorious ones of the earth.
Troparion, tone 8
When the glorious disciples were enlightened during their washing at the evening, then the wicked Judas, sick with the love of money, became darkened and betrayed You, the Righteous Judge, to the lawless judges. Look, lover of acquisitions, at the strangulation of the one who acquired them because of them! Flee from the insatiable soul that dared to do such a thing against the Teacher! Lord, good to all, glory to You! (3)
Then the small litany, [prayer 9], and the exclamation:
For You are holy, our God, and You rest among the saints, and We ascribe glory to You:
Priest: So that we may be worthy to hear the holy Gospel, we pray to the Lord God.
Choir: Lord have mercy. (3)
Priest: Wisdom! Let us become reverent. Let's hear the Holy Gospel. Peace to all.
Choir: And to your spirit.
Priest: Reading from the Holy Gospel from John.
Choir: Glory to Thee, Lord, glory to Thee.
Priest: We will listen.
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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 experiences the last events from the life of Christ before the crucifixion. Maundy Thursday is of particular importance among them. 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 of Scripture? How do modern Christians conduct it? Is it necessary to bring a lit candle from the temple and draw a cross on the front door with the smoke from its flame? 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 festive meal, also known as the Last Supper, Jesus showed 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 to a 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 the Church Slavonic language suffering is called passion, 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 thief repents before us and gives himself up to eternal torment, crucified according to 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 when reading the passionate 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. So that worries about their appearance would not bother them on Friday, when the Church remembers the death of Christ, “Christian candidates” put themselves in order on Thursday.
There are also versions related to the pagan past of the Slavs. But in modern Orthodox life, such options can be looked at from a different angle. Maundy Thursday is another reason on the eve of Easter to take care of spiritual purity , confession and communion.
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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. He got up from supper, took off His outer clothing 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. A new commandment I give to you, that 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 Him a reed in His right hand; 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 His right and the other on His left.
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 on the 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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