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Holy Week:Holy Thursday

Morning (Matins and Divine Liturgy)

Holy Thursday marks the institution of Holy Communion, which Christ distributed to His 12 apostles at the Last Supper.

During the Passover Meal, Christ broke and distributed unleavened bread and passed the wine.  He told the Apostles that this was His Body and Blood of the New Covenant.  Humankind could now participate in the Kingdom of God.

At Matins, we hear:

"O thou who hast prepared Thy mystic table, and didst this day give drink from the cup of immortality to Thy Holy disciples in the sacred Upper Chamber, we beseech Thee, have mercy."

In the Evening

The service of the Washing of the Feet takes place in memory of the Lord's example on Holy Thursday.  Jesus took a towel and girded Himself and began washing His disciples' feet, setting an example of humility and love for the earliest members of the Church. 

The Service ends with the reading of John 13:12-14:

"For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you."

At Night

On Great Thursday, an all-night vigil is kept in memory of the last sleepless night of our Lord on earth.  This service is called Khavaroom (darkness).

Before He was arrested, Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane and endured in solitude the agony of His impending death.

Six sets of laments are chanted, each followed by a Gospel reading depicting Christ's betrayal, imprisonment, torture, trial, sentence, and crucifixion.

Twelve lit candles, 11 white and 1 black (representing Judas), are extinguished in pairs.  The crucifixion hymn (Daradzyal) relates:

"From hand to hand and foot to foot stretched across wood upon wood the bitter fruit (of Crucifixion) transfers life into death between two unrighteous ones.

"Here was the naked figure of the lawgiver, whom the blind (unbelievers) could not see, except for one of the thieves."

Holy Thursday Services Selected Scripture Readings
Holy Thursday