HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DAYS OF HOLY WEEK AND PASCHA

Date

Lazarus Saturday: Jesus raises His friend from the dead.

Mary and Martha plead with the Lord to come quickly to heal their brother Lazarus. Jesus delays his return until Lazarus is dead four days. Martha confesses her belief in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus says: “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live…” Jesus has the power to raise the dead, and raises Lazarus. Jesus is the Resurrection and Life of all people.

Palm Sunday: Jesus Enters Jerusalem as a King!

Jesus enters Jerusalem and is honored as a King. The children greet Jesus waving palms and branches, crying out “Hosanna!” The people shout their praises to Him: “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” In our celebration of the feast, the palms we hold are a sign of our allegiance to Christ.

Holy Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday: Parables of the Bridegroom, Last Judgment and the “End”

God has made us stewards of His world, to serve and care for it. He calls us to bear fruit by using the talents He has given us. Christ will come to judge the world, and He will come at Midnight, at an hour when we least expect Him. He will come as a Bridegroom, to take us, the Church, as His Bride. God calls us to be prepared, for only those who are ready will enter His Kingdom. The Bridegroom Matins.

Holy Thursday: The Supper, Anointing, and Betrayal of Christ

A woman anoints Christ ’s feet with oil, as a sign of love, as well as a preparation for His burial. Jesus’ enemies seek to kill Him and Judas agrees to betray his Master. Jesus shows the disciples how they must serve others, by washing the feet of His own disciples, and shares a Passover meal with them. He blesses bread and a cup of wine, saying “Do this in remembrance of Me.” Jesus teaches the disciples about love, and promises to send them a Comforter, the Holy Spirit, after He is gone. The Mystical Supper

Holy Friday: The Trial and Crucifixion of Christ.

Jesus takes the disciples to a place to pray and tells them that one of them shall betray Him and the others will deny Him and run away. Jesus is arrested and brought before the chief priests and scribes who sentence Him to death for equating Himself with God. He is brought before Pilate, the Roman governor, and then to Herod, to be sentenced to death and killed. Jesus is put to death on a Cross, along with two thieves. Mary, Jesus’ mother, and the women followers who served Him stand by the Cross until the end. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus take Jesus’ body down from the Cross, prepare it for burial and lay Him in a new tomb. The Death & Burial of Christ.

Holy Saturday & Pascha: Descent into Hades & Resurrection

Jesus died in order to give us new life! Through His death on the Cross, Jesus defeated the power of death. Having died as a man, Jesus descended to Hades, the place of death, to destroy death and bring life to those in the tombs. Jesus ’ Life was more powerful than death. At the moment of His death, the earth shook, the tombs were opened and many bodies of the saints were raised. By His Resurrection from the dead, Jesus, who is the Christ-God, gives new life to all who believe in Him and do His will. Although we will die, we know that “death can no longer hold men captive,” for when Christ comes again, all those in the tombs will be raised from the dead. Christ the Lord of all will come to judge the living and the dead, and grant life eternal in the world to come, to all who believe in Him as King and as God. “Christ is Risen! ”

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