Holy Monday and Holy Tuesday
The first three days of Holy Week remind us of Christ's last
instructions with his disciples. These teachings are remembered in the
celebration of the Great Compline, Matins, Hours, and Liturgy during these
days. The Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts celebrated these days includes
readings from Exodus, Job, and Matthew. The Matins services of the evenings of
Palm Sunday, Holy Monday, and Holy Tuesday, anticipating the events of the next
day, share a common theme. These Bridegroom Services are derived from the
Parable of the Ten Virgins, which calls for preparedness at the Second Coming,
for the "thief comes in the middle of the night." (Matt. 26:1-13)
Holy Wednesday
Within the past two centuries, Byzantine practice has developed to
include the mystery of Holy Unction, which is celebrated on Holy Wednesday,
commemorating Christ's anointing with myrrh.
The services appointed by the Typikon for the evening of Holy Wednesday
recall that on this day Judas betrayed Christ, which led to the tradition from
Apostolic times of fasting on Wednesday throughout the year. It also focuses on
the Mystical Supper, which is celebrated in the liturgy of the following day.
Holy Thursday
Holy Thursday begins with the celebration of vespers and the Divine
Liturgy of St. Basil, in representation of the earthly presence of Christ
realized at the Last Supper. In the evening, anticipating the Matins of Friday
morning, the Holy Passion service of the reading of the Twelve Gospels is
conducted. In these readings Christ's last instructions to his disciples are
presented, as well as the prophecy of the drama of the Cross, Christ's prayer,
and his new commandment.
The twelve readings are:
John 13:31-18:1
John 18:1-29
Matthew 26:57-75
John 18:28–19:16
Matthew 27:3-32
Mark 15:16-32
Matthew 27:33-54
Luke 23:32-49
John 19:19-37
Mark 15:43-47
John 19:38-42
Matthew 27:62-66
Holy Friday
Great and Holy Friday begins with reading of the Royal Hours leading up
to Vespers of Friday afternoon, at which time the removal of the Body of Christ
from the Cross is commemorated. The priest removes the Body of Christ, the
Epitaphios, from the Cross, wraps it in a white cloth and carries it into the
altar.
In an evening service, called the Lamentations at the Tomb, the priest
carries the Epitaphios, the painted or embroidered cloth representation of
Christ, from the altar around the church before placing it in the Sepulcher, a
bier symbolizing the Tomb of Christ. This procession, with the faithful carrying
lighted candles, represents Christ's descent into Hades.
Holy Saturday
Great and Holy Saturday Vespers and a Divine Liturgy of St. Basil are
served, marked with readings of Psalms and Resurrection hymns that tell of
Christ's descent into Hades, celebrated as the "First Resurrection"
of Adam and the conquering of Death. It is appointed by the typikon to be
celebrated in the afternoon, though it is served in the morning in many places.
This service comes from the ancient liturgical tradition of the Church
of Constantinople and was its primary Paschal service. The hymn "Arise O
God" from the Psalms was the original primary Paschal hymn before
"Christ is risen" came to take its place. Its place as the ancient
Constantinopolitan Paschal celebration is what gives the service such a bright
and resurrectional character.
SOURCE: http://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Week
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