Easter week by day (Holy Week): chronology of Easter

Published 04/01/2017

How was the Passion or Easter week of Christ and why is it called that? Holy Week reminds us of the events that occurred during the week leading up to the crucifixion of Christ. Translated from the Slavic church language, the word “passion” has a completely different meaning than it does now. Then this word meant torment and suffering. This is why Holy Week got its name. We remember the suffering of Christ, which lasted all this week before His resurrection. This is a time for sadness and mourning.

We want to tell you passages from the Bible day by day, in chronological order, telling how the Holy, or Easter, week of Jesus Christ went. The week that influenced the salvation of the entire world. Prepare your hearts for the great holiday of Easter! Christ is risen! Truly risen!

Read these lines from the Bible. Think about what Jesus did for all mankind. Think about what you personally think about the action of Jesus Christ. How does His action affect you personally? At the end of the article you will find a table with parallel passages from different Gospels about this event.

Holy Week 2022: when does it begin and end?

The last week of Lent in the calendar of Orthodox believers is marked in a special way. This time, following Palm Week, is given the name Holy Week. It includes six passionate days. Great Week begins on the Monday following Palm Sunday and ends on the Saturday before Easter Sunday.

Christians use several names that can be used to refer to Holy Week. Sometimes it is called holy week, for some this time is the Great Week, others say that the time is coming for the great week of Lent. The dates of the week are moving because they depend on the date of the celebration of the Great Feast.

In 2022, the week before Easter (Holy Week) starts on April 18, and on the eve of Passion Sunday, and on Saturday, April 23, it will end.

All days of the week have special meaning for Orthodox Christians.

The sacred meaning of fasting

Fasting is one of the main church customs. This is a time when believers consciously, voluntarily abstain from certain animal products and certain other foods. Through this abstinence people express their obedience and respect to God and the church.

Of course, the central place in the year is occupied by Lent, which is both the longest and the strictest (especially if we talk about the last days of Holy Week, when food is actually prohibited).

But what is the point of fasting? Why does it occupy a special place in the life of every Christian who strives to keep the commandments of God and the instructions of the church? Interestingly, Christ also fasted, for a full 40 days and 40 nights, after which he experienced an incredibly strong feeling of hunger and “was hungry,” as it is written in the Bible.

It is known that after fasting, a very difficult event awaited the Savior - he had to undergo three tests from the evil spirit, which were incredibly insidious. However, Christ managed to resist, including because he had already tested his spiritual strength while abstaining from food.

Thus, by fasting, a person undergoes his own test, and thanks to this, his spiritual strength increases many times over.

Abstinence is always a voluntary act. And in a broad sense, fasting can be associated with temporarily depriving oneself of any pleasure - TV, intimacy, parties, etc. And such self-control really leads to successful results.

For example, we have to deny ourselves a lot while studying or working. Sometimes you have to endure hardships in union with loved ones, but the trials you go through together only bring you closer. And in general, are there victories without a fight?

And another striking example is a diet to keep the body healthy and beautiful. Yes, a person can deny himself nothing, eat sweets, fried meat, pies and any other dishes that are truly incredibly tasty.

But what's the downside? Loss of external attractiveness, excessive stress on the stomach with corresponding consequences.

Of course, a diet is not a fast, but there are certainly similarities between them: in both cases, a person voluntarily pacifies his natural need. But the goals are different - the diet is designed to maintain beautiful shape, as well as to improve the health of the body.

Fasting is service to the Lord. Both goals are wonderful and undeniably motivating. They just differ from each other in essence.

As for Lent, at this time believers want to show their special respect to the Savior, as if to share his suffering (especially in the last week before Easter).

After all, how can you feel the pain of another person? Everyone can understand suffering. But only he will be able to feel for his loved one who sincerely shares his problems with him.

Holy Week: what is it, its meaning in Orthodoxy

Let's figure out what weeks are and what their essence is. In the Slavic tradition, this was the name for the seven-day cycle or week. In the dictionary this word is designated as obsolete and means 7 days. Believers come to churches to remember what happened these days many years ago.

The chronology of events preceding the main church holiday was as follows: first, the Last Supper took place, then the Savior of human souls was betrayed by one of his disciples, after which the trial took place. These days, the laity also remember the history of the terrible crucifixion of Christ and his burial. Every person who prays praises the Lord God for the fact that he was ready to die for the salvation of sinful human souls. People in their prayers ask for help and forgiveness of their sins.

Each day of Holy Week is called Great. The epithet Passionate can also be used (usually it is used to refer to Friday).

All the severity of Lent occurs during this time. The strictest prohibitions occur on Good Friday. In addition to the week, fasting includes the Holy Pentecost. The color of the vestments of church ministers these days is only black.

Harsh parables

The parables that Jesus speaks on Passion Day are direct, targeted and quite harsh. This is a parable about two sons, one of whom promised his father to go to the vineyard - and did not go. This is also the parable of the cruel winegrowers who killed the servants and the son of their master. This is a phrase quoted from Scripture about a stone that became the head of the corner, although it was rejected by the builders. The old parables - about the merciful father who forgave the prodigal son, about the workers of the eleventh hour - are left behind. Now is the time when Jesus wants to call everyone who is still able to hear His call.

Holy Week by day

Orthodox believers in a special way honor the significance of each day that falls during the holy week. There is a set of rules and traditions that guide them in everyday life and by which they learn what can and cannot be done at this time.

Holy Monday of Holy Week

While attending church services on this day, believers remember the upcoming trials that were prepared for the Savior. In their souls they accompany his every step, delve into every word he utters. Everyone is ready to renounce carnal pleasures in order to have the right to honor the Lord God in their thoughts.

On the first day they remember the withered fig tree, which for believers is a kind of symbol of humility, faith and sincere prayer, without which a person is spiritually dead before the Almighty. On this day, the Savior told an edifying parable, which told about the owner of a vineyard in which a fig tree was planted. The plant did not bloom for several years in a row, and then the owner ordered the winegrower to cut it down. But he refused, saying that he would fertilize the ground with manure, dig the ground around and wait for flowering next year.

According to church scripture, each person resembles a fig tree that is planted in God's garden. God is looking for valuable fruits, but, not finding them, he commands to expel the person from earthly life. And the winegrower living nearby and keeping an eye on him can spare the sinner. Who this winegrower is is up to everyone to decide. Perhaps this is a guardian angel, or perhaps the man himself.

Icon of the barren fig tree

Prayers

What prayers to read at home:

O Great Savior, you were able to dry up the impassable seas with your word and lead the Israelites through them. Let us sing to you, let us rejoice in your strength. Amen. Before you, any strength weakens, the fire ceases to burn with a bright flame, a song is heard from everywhere that glorifies your good deeds. Oh, Lord, save and preserve.

What not to do on this day

• Starting from Monday and until the end of the holy week, it was impossible to have fun, laugh loudly and have fun.
• It was considered a sin to quarrel with someone you knew and remember past grievances.

What can you eat

Believers not only refuse meat and other animal products on this day (as a sign of the continuation of Lent), but also try to adhere to dry eating. The diet should not include boiled food. It is also recommended to avoid consuming oil.

Maundy Tuesday

This day reminds Orthodox believers of the events associated with the return of the Savior to the holy city of Jerusalem from Bethany. He told his followers various parables: about his second coming, which would not take place soon, about talents and about ten virgins.

The elders listening to Jesus asked him provocative questions. They had one desire: to arrest him, but they could not do this, because they were afraid that the people surrounding Christ would rebel in indignation. Ordinary people sincerely admired him and listened carefully to his stories, trying to remember every word.

Icon of the parable of the 10 virgins

Prayers read during Holy Week

Because of the laziness and indiscriminateness of my soul, I lost the road to virtues and became like foolish virgins. Do not let me, Lord, completely doubt and lose the road leading to you and eternal life. Restore your spiritual strength and let us enter your temple together with the holy virgins, where joyful voices are heard from everywhere: “Glory to our Lord!”

Do's and don'ts

• On Tuesday, Christians remember the great deeds of the Savior accomplished on this day. They reflect on the conversations that Jesus gave to the people. It is recommended to gather with your family and read the Gospel. One should perform only pious deeds that do not discredit anyone's name.
• During the day you can clean and clear the house of everything unnecessary.
• Singing and dancing are prohibited, and drinking alcoholic beverages is prohibited. Remembering old grievances is a sin.

What can you eat

Strict dietary restrictions should be followed. Bread and flower honey are allowed; you should adhere to a dry diet without adding oil.

Great Wednesday

Wednesday is considered a special day that leaves its mark on the entire Orthodox year. On this day, it is customary to remember two main events.

On the one hand, it is associated with the betrayal of Judas. And on the other hand, the central figure that adorned the Great Wednesday is the sinner who came to the Savior and washed his feet with church peace. They say that Judas is supposedly opposed to her: she gives Christ everything she has, and Judas, by betraying him, destroys his earthly incarnation.

Icon “Betrayal of the Apostle”

Prayers

How to pray correctly on Wednesday:

“May your name be glorified, O Great Lord, give truth to the soul, teach sincere faith, come and inhabit our dreams, accompany us everywhere, cleanse us from filth, give us salvation. Amen".

“Great Lord God, immortal Savior, grant us your verbal service, cleanse our souls, have mercy on us. I pray three times and bow down three times.”

“Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.” Three times, and three bows.

What you can eat, what you can and cannot do

• It is allowed to do simple housework, but monotonous and painstaking tasks should be avoided.
• Indulging in fun is strictly prohibited.
• There are no weddings on this day. Any celebrations are postponed to other dates.
• Quarreling and swearing is a great sin.

You should not eat any products containing animal fats.

You can eat lean bread, raw vegetables and fruits, honey, nuts. You are allowed to drink water in any quantity.

Maundy Thursday (Thursday)

A very significant day for all Orthodox believers. On Thursday, we should remember the events that occurred at the Last Supper, which occurred before the arrest of Christ. The faith of the people was shaken because traitors appeared among the people who were able to doubt the speeches of the Savior. They expected some radical actions from him, they thought that he would act as a revolutionary, capable of resisting the existing government.

Christ gathered his faithful disciples at the supper. He poured them red wine and broke off some bread. He said that the bread symbolizes the body that will suffer for them, and the wine represents the shed blood. The name of Judas was indirectly named, and the suffering of Christ was predicted.

Icon "Last Supper"

Prayers

“May your holy name be glorified in heaven and on earth, O Lord! Don't let anyone with bad thoughts tell your true secrets. Lock up your foul-mouthed lips with the strictest lock. Give pleasure to the light emanating from you. Give strength to your sons and daughters to live a righteous life. Fill their souls with happiness. Amen".

Do's and Don'ts

The whole day should be devoted to cleansing the body, soul and everything around. Thursday should be spent in worries and affairs. In addition, you need to pray and praise the name of the Lord God.

It is strictly forbidden to drink alcoholic beverages, commit adultery, swear with swear words, or have fun get-togethers. You can't lend money either. This is a bad omen - by borrowing money, you can lose your happiness.

Orthodox Christians are encouraged to take communion. It is allowed to put out the dough and bake Easter cakes and paint eggs on Thursday.

What can you eat

Bread whose dough is made without butter and eggs. Food must be without heat treatment. Allowed: vegetables, fruits, honey, dried fruits, nuts.

Great Friday (Good Friday)

On this day, Christ the Savior was condemned to death. On Good Friday, the martyrdom of Jesus at the crucifixion and the burial of his body are remembered. Christians do not hold liturgy on Good Friday because it is believed that the Lord himself sacrificed himself on this day. The symbol of this day is the Cross; it is installed in the most prominent place in churches.

Good Friday icon

Prayers

How to pray on Friday:

“Savior of human souls, revered by all of us, save each of us and have mercy. We ask you to take care to avoid burning in a terrible fire. Bless our parents, I pray for them with all sincerity. Help us pass through purgatory and become a guide for our souls until they find peace.”

Do's and Don'ts

• On this day, it is prohibited to engage in any work other than baking Easter cakes and painting eggs.
• You can't plant a garden. If you ignore this prohibition, the harvest will still fail.
• There are times when work cannot be put off. Then it needs to be done. But, while working, following, remember the Savior in your thoughts and think about the grave torment of his body.
• On Friday you cannot be angry with your neighbors, quarrel with people and use foul language. For all the good things that happen around you, you need to thank and say thank you.

What can you eat

Friday is the strictest day with many restrictions. If your health allows, then on Great Friday you should only drink water. Dry eating is allowed, all other products are prohibited.

Holy Saturday

Saturday is considered the final day of Passion Week. It is a preparation for the Great Holiday. On this day they remember the Savior crucified on the cross and think about his buried body.

Holy Saturday icon

Prayers

What words are pronounced:

“Because of great injustice, the sky trembles and the earth’s surface trembles. The one who became the Savior of the souls of our sinners was placed in a cramped coffin. Bless us, O Lord, forgive us for all our earthly sins. And we will sing thy name and glorify thy deeds throughout all ages.”

What you can and cannot do. How to spend this day

• You need to take Easter cakes and eggs to the church for lighting.
• You can’t work and indulge in sad thoughts.
• There is no need to sort things out with someone. It is important to be able to restrain your passions and not give in to temptation.
• The day should be spent in humility.

What can you eat

Restrictions remain. You can eat fruits and vegetables in any form, eat lean bread, drink water, eat nuts and honey.

Good Friday

The day of Good Friday itself begins early in the morning with the service of the Royal Hours. The Gospels of the Passion of the Lord are read again. In the middle of the day (usually around two o'clock in the afternoon) Vespers is performed with the Removal of the Shroud. If you are working, you may find it convenient to walk to the nearest temple during your lunch break.

By the way, there is no lunch on this day, as well as breakfast - the day is strictly fast.

• Hymns of Good Friday. Let us bury the Lord...
• Good Friday: Christ died on the cross
• Holy Fathers About the Great Heel
• Canon on the Crucifixion of the Lord and on the lamentation of the Most Holy Theotokos, read at the Shroud
• Holy days on Mount Athos: Good Friday and Easter in the Vatopedi Monastery

How to spend Holy Week. Customs

During Holy Week, it is recommended to visit churches. There the human soul finds peace, it is as close as possible to the Lord. Remembered during the days of Passion Week, the sufferings of Christ cleanse the soul and free it from sins. It is necessary to introduce into the morning and evening the rule of saying prayer words addressed to the Lord God.

It is no coincidence that the week is called holy. Despite the fact that you can do housework until Thursday inclusive, it is important to ensure that everyday life does not take over everyone’s thoughts. Every day it is worth remembering the great suffering of Christ, the torment he went through to save the souls of sinners.

Withered fig tree

The tension of Jesus is evident in all His words and actions on Passion Day. It is reflected in parables - and even in miracles. While going to Jerusalem, He became hungry and, seeing a fig tree in the distance, approached it for the fruit. But there were no figs on the tree. The Gospel specifically clarifies that the time for collecting figs has not yet come, which means that if the fig tree bore fruit, then it would simply have to bear fruit! Jesus curses the fig tree and it dries up.

The apostles are surprised at this as if they had not witnessed the resurrection of Lazarus and the healing of hundreds of sick people. Their childlike, innocent spontaneity and openness to every miracle of Jesus cannot but evoke warm feelings. And Jesus removes the tragic aftertaste from the situation by speaking about the power of prayer in faith.

Only there will be no fruit from that fig tree forever.

What to eat on Holy Week

Table of what you can eat by day:

Prophecy of thirty denarii

Jesus repeats to His disciples many times: “Search the Scriptures, for through them you think you have eternal life; and they testify of Me” (John 5:39) And, of course, the disciples read...

“And it will be destroyed in that day, and then the poor of the sheep who wait for Me will know that this is the word of the Lord.

And I will say to them: if it pleases you, then give Me My wages; if not, don’t give it; and they will weigh out thirty pieces of silver as payment to Me.

And the Lord said to me: throw them into the church storehouse - the high price at which they valued Me! And I took thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the Lord for the potter” (Zechariah 11:11-13).

On that day, Judas went to name exactly the price that he had probably seen more than once in the text of Scripture. And it was not just that he returned to the house of the Lord to throw them at the feet of the high priest.

Signs

For a long time, Orthodox people have believed in omens. Which of them are the most significant:

1. If you plant a plant on Monday, you will have a rich harvest in the summer.
2. It will rain on Tuesday - there will be a lot of mushrooms in July. Sunny weather means wheat will grow.
3. If you prepare special soap on Wednesday by Thursday, you will be healthy all year. In order for the soap to be useful, it was taken out to the doorstep and left there until the next morning.
4. If you wash yourself on Thursday from a silver ladle or bowl, you will preserve your youth and beauty for a long time.
5. Whatever the weather is like outside on Friday, that’s how it will be throughout the spring.
6. If you visit the temple on Saturday, your life will be happy.
7. The dream for Holy Week is considered prophetic. There is such an interpretation: if evil prevails in a dream, then you should be careful in life. Perhaps trouble awaits the person. A deceased relative in a dream reminds you that the time has come to remember him with a kind word.

Various signs were associated with the birth of a person and his death. It was believed that the souls of those who died during Holy Week would help their loved ones and become their guardian angels. Although there is an opinion that if a person dies at this time, it does not mean anything. It’s just that the date of death coincides with the great days. If the baby was born on the eve of Easter Sunday, then he will grow up cheerful, happy and resourceful.

Prophecy of the Fall of Jerusalem

Scientists suggest that the crucifixion of Christ occurred in 29 or 30 AD. It was then, leaving the Temple on Holy Monday and going to Bethany, that Jesus said to His disciples: “Do you see all this? Truly I say to you, not one stone will be left upon another here; everything will be destroyed." (Matthew 24:2) The prophecy came true after forty years. Forty years full of riots, “wars and rumors of war,” self-proclaimed messiahs and grief. The struggle of the zealots and fanatics with the Roman troops reached such intensity that by 66 AD. the uprising became general, and Emperor Nero gathered an army, which he led to Jerusalem. The Jewish War broke out.

Josephus, thanks to whom we know about the events that took place, was captured and saw the worst thing: how slowly his land perished.

In the year 70, the thirty-year-old commander Titus with the Roman legions appears under the walls of Jerusalem. Through the captive Joseph, he orders the city to surrender and becomes besieged. Forty years after Jesus warned: when it happens, don’t even go home to get clothes—run! Run to the mountains. But not everyone heard and understood these words.

The siege drove the people of Jerusalem crazy. Those who were starving became swollen, as if they had dropsy. They ate dogs that died, they ate their own children. Joseph describes the terrible fate of those who remained in the city and no less terrible - those who risked fleeing during the siege.

Meanwhile, the Roman legions retook the city piece by piece - and soon reached the Temple. Titus did not want to destroy the Temple until the very end, considering it one of the wonders of the world. The Jews did not give up, they were sure: it would not be possible to capture the Temple! And when the Roman soldiers burst into the Holy of Holies, one of them set fire and threw a torch into the golden window... Titus ordered to put out the fire that had flared up... But in vain.

The temple was destroyed.

Jerusalem lay in ruins, the Zealots continued to persist, not giving up, and Titus waved his hand. He ordered to destroy everyone and burn the city. After six months of siege, there was practically no trace left of Jerusalem, which Jesus had looked at from the Mount of Olives just 40 years earlier. The bitter words of Christ were fulfilled: “There will be great disaster on the earth and wrath against this people: they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be carried away into captivity among all nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” (Luke 21:20-24)

Questions and answers

A house that smells like peace

All nights, until Thursday, Jesus and the apostles spend in Bethany, in the house of Lazarus and his sisters. And on Tuesday, Mary brings a pound of backgammon to the house and anoints Jesus’ feet, wiping them with her hair.

“The house was filled with a fragrance” (John 12:3). Supper among friends, the approaching Easter holiday... But all the words of Jesus are about death. All thoughts are about the future. “She has kept it up for the day of my burial” (John 12:7).

Miro has a very persistent, strong odor. Mary's hair will smell for a long time - longer than the life of the Lord as a man.

Burial

For some reason, I remember the same myrrh with which Mary anointed Christ’s feet on Tuesday. The burial was “hurriedly” - they were wrapped in burial shrouds, giving the world such a miracle as the Shroud of Turin, and placed in a cave. Joseph from Arimathea and the Pharisee Nicodemus, who came one night to talk with Jesus.

And the women standing at a distance watching Him being believed.

But He was silent

Both Pilate, to whom the high priests brought the Captive, and Herod, to whom the Roman governor sent Jesus, asked Christ many questions. Herod had long dreamed of meeting Jesus because he wanted to ask him to perform some miracle. And just talking to a person whom everyone considers a prophet is so tempting!

But He was silent. He didn't try to explain. He didn’t justify himself. He did not give a single reason to laugh at His words and aggravate his guilt before God.

He testified against himself

The chief priests were not prepared for Jesus' arrest. The Gospel of Matthew tells how desperately they tried to find any witnesses to accuse Jesus of mortal crime:

“The chief priests and elders and the whole Sanhedrin sought false testimony against Jesus, in order to put Him to death, and found none; and, although many false witnesses came, they were not found. But finally two false witnesses came and said: He said: I can destroy the temple of God and build it in three days. And the high priest stood up and said to Him: Why don’t you answer? What do they testify against You? 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? 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. 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! what do you think? They answered and said, “I am guilty of death” (Matthew 26:59-66).

In order to go to death, Jesus had to testify against Himself. He voluntarily went to execution. At every step, He had to choose death over and over again.

Saturday of rest

In the Orthodox tradition, Saturday is always filled with pre-holiday bustle. The most majestic morning service, the blessing of Easter cakes and eggs, preparations for the night service...

Then it was ancient peace, according to the commandment. Which, of course, did not at all shine with the joy that we enjoy. Silence and grief experienced by all who loved Jesus.

And what a joy it is to know in these Holy Days that everything will end well...

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