HOLY WEEK IN EASTERN

ORTHODOX CHURCH
Calugar Darius-Vasile
 INTRODUCTION
• Holy Week is the sanctity of the whole calendar year of the church. The most important
day is the Sunday of Resurrection, also known as Easter. There are 50 important days
before and after Easter. The period before Easter is called the period of the Triodion, when
the Christians strengthen their faith in the Lord. The period after Easter is called the period
of the Penticostarion, dedicated to the spiritual enjoyment of the participants in the deep
belief that Almighty God is our companion everyday.
• Holy Week is very important, since the Christains commemorate the sacrifice that Jesus
did for them, salvating them in the process.
 THE EVENTS OF THE HOLY WEEK
AND BEFORE
• SATURDAY, BEFORE PALM SUNDAY
• Six days before the Passover, a feast was given for Christ in
Bethany of Judea, where Christ had stopped on His way to
Jerusalem. Lazarus, His friend, and his sisters were present.
A short time earlier, Christ had raised Lazarus from the
dead, thereby gaining the respect and faith of the people,
but also the hatred of the fanatics.
• PALM SUNDAY
• This Sunday celebrates the feast of the Entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem. The main road
leading to Jerusalem was covered with palm trees. The multitudes, with palm branches in
their hands, spread their cloaks on the road as a show of respect, crying out, "Hosanna to the
Son of David, blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord.' 
• GREAT HOLY MONDAY
• The day commemorates the moment when Lord cursed and withered the fig tree, wich had
leaves but no fruit, and also the casting out of the corrupt money changers.
• GREAT HOLY TUESDAY
• Jesus and his disciples went to the Mount of Olives, passing the withered fig tree and
explaining to them the importance of faith.
• GREAT HOLY WEDNESDAY
• This day commemorates the woman that demonstrated repentance and warm faith toward our Lord.
• GREAT HOLY THURSDAY
• On this day, the Last Supper took place, in wich Lord establishes the Eucharist for the Apostles and the
church forever. (“Do this in remembrance of Me…”). Later that evening, they went to the Garden of
Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed in agony. He was then arrested by the Sanhedrin, and was taken to
the home of Caiaphas, where the High Priests gathered to begin making their final case against Jesus.
• GOOD FRIDAY
• This day is the most difficult day of the Holy week. In the morning Jesus was judged by Pontius Pilate
and endured the shame of false accusations, condemnation, mockery, beatings and abandonment. Our
Lord was sentenced to crucifixion, the most horrible and disgraceful punishment known at the time.
Before he was led away, he was mocked and tormented one last time, with a crown of thorns and a red
mantle. After, Jesus was crucified on the Mountain Golgotha, and died around 6 p.m. By that time,
Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus took Jesus’ boyd from the cross, wrapped It around with a with
cloth and placed It in a tomb.
• GREAT HOLY SATURDAY
• In this day, Jesus’ body laied in the tomb that was guarded by roman soldiers.
• THE HOLY SUNDAY OF EASTER
• Early, in the Sunday morning, Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Salome, and Mary the mother of James
went to the tomb, only to discover that the stone covering the entrance was rolled away. An Angel
greeted them, saying that Jesus has been resurrected, and to go to tell the news to his disciples. On
this day, our Lord showed himself to Peter the Apostle, the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, and
to all his disciples, except Thomas.
THE END!