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What is this thing we call Holy Week and the special days
within it? What is the history of the annual celebrations
that happen in this leading to Easter? In other words,
though we know that the events that we remember during
Holy Week really happened to Jesus (e.g., the procession
into Jerusalem, the Last Supper, His death on the cross,
His resurrection), when did Christians begin to annually
observe them as we do? And, what is the significance of
our observances today?
Holy Week
As we now practice it, Holy Week is the last week of the
40 day season of Lent and the week preceding Easter. In
Holy Week we focus on the last week of Christ's life,
remembering especially His passion and resurrection. Though
calling this week "Holy Week" is more of a recent innovation,
the annual observance of the festivals within it are of
ancient origin.
Palm/Passion Sunday
Palm Sunday is the commemoration of our Lord's triumphant
entry into Jerusalem five days before His crucifixion.
Scripture records this incident in Matthew 21:1-11,
Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:29-44, and John 12:12-19. This
day takes it's name from the fact that as Jesus approached
Jerusalem on a donkey (in fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9),
the huge crowd that followed carried palm branches as
they praised Him. The people hailed Him as the long
awaited "Son of David," that is, the Messiah.
Though not annually observed at first, by 600-1000 A.D.
Palm Sunday was being given full treatment, especially
by Christians aligned with Rome. This treatment was part
of a growing emphasis at the time to imitate as closely
as possible the last days of Christ's life.
Originally, however, Passion Sunday was held two weeks before
Easter (since the ninth century) and it began the two week
period known as "Passiontide" in which special stress was
placed on Christ's suffering and crucifixion. Actually, the
two week Passiontide is older than Lent, having been observed
since the third century.
Triduum
The most solemn and joyful celebration of the Christian calendar
is the period from Maundy Thursday through Holy Saturday. Worship
services on these days or evenings are traditionally considered
to be parts of an unbroken liturgical event called the Triduum
(Latin for "Great Three Days").
Maundy Thursday
Maundy Thursday (also known as Holy Thursday)
remembers the events in the upper room the night before Jesus
died. These upper room events are described in Matthew 26:20-30,
Mark 14:17-26, Luke 22:14-35, and John 13 - 17. Matthew, Mark,
and Luke focus on the institution of the Lord's Supper and the
eating of the Passover meal. John focuses on the words of Jesus
and His washing of the disciples feet.
The name "maundy" comes from the words of Jesus, "Mandatum novum"
("a new commandment," John 13:34). From the Fourth Century on,
Maundy Thursday, was viewed as the last day of the Lenten fast
and also as the day of reconciliation (i.e., when those
excommunicated could repent and be reconciled to the Church).
Since it was on this night that Jesus instituted the Lord's
Supper, that sacred meal has often been the chief emphasis
of Maundy Thursday. The Lord's Supper is celebrated and
often its meaning is rehearsed. At the end of the service,
the altar is stripped, in preparation for Good Friday. This
symbolizes Christ's being stripped by the Roman soldiers
prior to His crucifixion. In some churches, Psalm 22, a Messianic psalm which
clearly prophesies the Messiah's death, is read while the
altar is stripped.
From ancient times the Church in various places has also
observed a ceremony of footwashing, in memory of our Lord
washing His disciples feet on this night (see John 13). This
liturgy of footwashing came to be called mandatum.
The Pascha - Good Friday, Easter Vigil, and Easter
As we would expect, Christ's crucifixion and resurrection
have been annually observed from the earliest times. Christ's
crucifixion and resurrection are described in detail in Matthew
27-28, Mark 15-16, Luke 23-24, and John 19-21. However, Christ's
crucifixion and resurrection were not celebrated exactly as we
do now. With texts such as John 1:29 and 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 in
mind the first Christians celebrated Christ's crucifixion and
resurrection in one festival, called the Pascha (Greek for
"Passover").
The earliest evidence we possess points to the Pascha as the
first of the annual Christian festivals. In fact, in the Second
Century A.D. a church-wide split of staggering proportions
almost occurred over the correct dating and meaning of the
Pascha. The Christians in Asia Minor, citing the practice of the
apostle John, bishop Polycarp and others, claimed that the Christian
Pascha should be observed on the 14/15 of Nissan (the seventh day
of the week), just as the Old Testament commanded (cf. Exodus 12).
The rest of Christendom, including the bishop of Rome, Irenaeus,
and the bishop of Jerusalem, held that the Pascha should culminate
on the Sunday (since it was the day Jesus rose) after the first full
moon after the vernal equinox. In the end the majority view won out.
In recent years there has been a return in some quarters to a
celebration of the Pascha, one festival celebrated over three days:
Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday.
Good Friday is often observed with a Tenebrae service, one of the
most moving services of the year. Tenebrae is Latin for "shadows"
or "darkness". It includes scripture narratives,
solemn hymns, and at the core of the service is candlelight. There
are as many candles as there are readings and one candle to represent
Christ. As each of the scripture selections are read, including the
last words of Christ during the crucifixion, one of the candles
is extinguished until only the Christ candle remains. Then the Christ
candle is carried out of the sanctuary, to symbolize the death of
Jesus. The service ends with the strepitus, a loud and harsh
noise, to represent the shutting of the tomb.
It is left unfinished because the story isn’t over until Easter
Day. The Tenebrae Service with the recreation of betrayal,
abandonment and agony is one of the most moving services you
will ever attend.
What about the Easter Vigil? Already in the third century A.D.,
Christians practiced a strict fast which ended after sundown on
Saturday evening before Easter. After 313, the Vigil was the
time for catechumens to be baptized. As such it also ushered in
Christ's resurrection following Paul's linking of baptism with
Christ's resurrection (Romans 6:1-5). The theme of light
conquering darkness is also prominent.
Source - Dr. Richard P. Bucher, Pastor, Ev. Trinity Luth. Church
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