Holy Week

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Holy Week (Latin: Hebdomada Sancta) in Christianity is the last week of Lent. It includes the religious holidays of Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday) and Good Friday, and lasts from Palm Sunday until but not including Easter Sunday, as Easter Sunday is the first day of the new season of The Great Fifty Days. It commemorates the last week of the life of Jesus Christ culminating in his crucifixion on Good Friday and his resurrection on Easter Sunday.

[edit] History

Holy Week in the Christian year is the week immediately preceding Easter. The earliest allusion to the custom of marking this week as a whole with special observances is to be found in the Apostolical Constitutions (v. 18, 19), dating from the latter half of the 3rd century A.D. In this text, abstinence from wine and flesh is commanded for all the days, while for the Friday and Saturday an absolute fast is commanded. Dionysius Alexandrinus in his canonical epistle (260 A.D.), refers to the six fasting days implying that the observance of them had already become an established usage in his time.

There is some doubt about the genuineness of an ordinance attributed to Constantine, in which abstinence from public business was enforced for the seven days immediately preceding Easter Sunday, and also for the seven which followed it; the Codex Theodosianus, however, is explicit in ordering that all actions at law should cease, and the doors of all courts of law be closed during those fifteen days (1. ii. tit. viii.). Of the particular days of the "great week" the earliest to emerge into special prominence was naturally Good Friday. Next came the Sabbatum Magnum (Holy Saturday or Easter Eve) with its vigil, which in the early church was associated with an expectation that the second advent would occur on an Easter Sunday. Encyclopedia Britannica, entry "Holy Week."

There are other texts that refer to the traditions of the Early Church, most notably The Pilgrimage of Etheria (also known as The Pilgrimage of Egeria) which details the complete observance of Holy Week in the early church.

[edit] Holy Week in Eastern Christianity

[edit] The Byzantine Rite

b;ach b;ach b;ach], during Holy Week, Orthros (Matins) services for each day are held during the preceding evening. Thus, the Matins service of Monday is sung on Palm Sunday evening, and so on. (The services of Sunday through Tuesday evenings are often called Bridegroom Matins, because of their theme of Christ-as-Bridegroom.) Towards the end of the Tuesday evening Bridegroom service, the Hymn of Kassiani is sung. The Hymn, (written in the 9th century by Kassiani the nun) tells of the woman who washed Christ's feet in the house of Simon the Pharisee. (Luke 7:36-50) Much of the hymn is written from the perspective of the sinful woman:

O Lord, the woman who had fallen into many sins, sensing Your Divinity, takes upon herself the duty of a myrrh-bearer. With lamentations she brings you myrrh in anticipation of your entombment. "Woe to me!" she cries, "for me night has become a frenzy of licentiousness, a dark and moonless love of sin. Receive the fountain of my tears, O You who gathers into clouds the waters of the sea. Incline unto me, unto the sighings of my heart, O You who bowed the heavens by your ineffable condescension. I will wash your immaculate feet with kisses and dry them again with the tresses of my hair; those very feet at whose sound Eve hid herself from in fear when she heard You walking in Paradise in the twilight of the day. As for the multitude of my sins and the depths of Your judgments, who can search them out, O Savior of souls, my Savior? Do not disdain me Your handmaiden, O You who are boundless in mercy."

The Byzantine musical composition expresses the poetry so strongly that it leaves many people in a state of prayerful tears. The Hymn can last upwards of 25 minutes and is liturgically and musically a highpoint of the entire year. In many places in Greece, the Bridegroom Matins service of Great Tuesday is popular with sex workers and those engaged in prostitution, who may not often be seen in church at other times of the year. They come in great numbers, in order to hear the Hymn of Kassiani, as the hymn is traditionally associated with the woman fallen in many sins.

In many churches, especially Greek Orthodox, a service of Anointing (Holy Unction) is held on Wednesday evening.

Divine Liturgy of the Last Supper is held on the morning of Holy Thursday. Matins of Holy Friday, with its Twelve Gospel Readings, is held on the evening of Holy Thursday; Vespers of Holy Friday (Vespers of the Unnailing) is held in the morning or afternoon of Holy Friday. The figure of Christ is taken down from the Cross, and a richly-embroidered icon on the cloth called the "epitaphios" representing Christ laid in a "tomb" decorated with flowers. Matins of Holy Saturday is held on the evening of Holy Friday; the tomb is sprinkled with rose petals and rose water, and then carried in a candlelit procession, while a set of hymns called "The Lamentations" is being sung.

Divine Liturgy is held Saturday morning. This is the "Proti Anastasi" (First Resurrection) service, with a change from dark vestments to light ones.

Saturday night at midnight, the service begins in darkness. A single candle is lighted by the priest, from a light on the altar which is never extinguished. The light spreads from person to person until everyone holds a lighted candle. The Divine Liturgy follows. A reception or party usually follows, sometimes lasting till dawn. Slavs bring Easter baskets filled with eggs, meat, butter, and cheese -- foods from which the faithful have abstained during Lent -- to be blessed.

Agape Vespers, during which Gospel is read in as many different languages as possible, is usually held on Easter Day. It is often combined with an Easter egg hunt and other activities for children.

[edit] Holy Week in the Western Church

[edit] Palm Sunday (Passion Sunday)

Main article: Palm Sunday

Beginning of Holy Week.
Remembrance of the entrance of the Messiah into Jerusalem.
Mass includes a reading of the Passion–narrative of Jesus’ capture, sufferings and death.
Church celebrates Christ’s entrance into Jerusalem to accomplish his paschal mystery, when according to the Gospels Jesus rode into Jerusalem humbly on a donkey, reminisce of a Davidic victory procession and people placed palms on the ground in front of him.
On this day, a procession with palm leaves (or other branches of plants, for example olive branches) takes place in many parishes and the branches are blessed by the priest.

[edit] Between Sunday and Thursday

The days between Palm Sunday and Maundy Thursday are known as Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday and Holy Wednesday. During these days, various important events took place according to the gospels, such as Jesus's conversations with disciples and Jewish religious leaders, and Judas's preparation to betray Jesus. As in the Orthodox churches, some of these events are commemorated in many countries.

[edit] Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday)

Main article: Maundy Thursday

The day commemorates the Last Supper of Christ and his 12 Apostles and the institution of the Eucharist.
During the Gloria, all the bells of the church are rung. They then remain silent until the Easter Vigil ("the bells have flown to Rome").
On Maundy Thursday, the celebrant often celebrates the rite of the washing of the feet, where the feet of people (most often, of twelve men) are washed.
On Maundy Thursday during the day, bishops celebrate the Chrism Mass, where they bless the oils for Confirmation, the Anointing of the Sick and the Catechumens. (The Chrism Mass can be relegated on another day on Holy Week, however.)
The hosts not distributed in Communion on Maundy Thursday are reserved and distributed on Good Friday, when no Mass is celebrated.
After the Mass, the Blessed Sacrament is carried in procession to an "altar of repose". Then all altars except that one are stripped.

[edit] Good Friday

Main article: Good Friday

The Church mourns for Christ’s death, reverences the Cross, and marvels at His life for his obedience till death.
There is no Mass; the Eucharist is not consecrated. Communion takes place with the hosts left over from Holy Thursday.
The church remains stripped on this day of ornate objects, including the altar cloth and candles, as a sign of respect.
Holy water fonts are emptied.
On this day, the stations of the Cross are often prayed either in the church or outside.
Celebration of the liturgy of the Lord’s Passion occurs in the afternoon.
The priest wears red (or, according to earlier custom, black). If a Bishop presides or helps to preside, he wears a simplex mitre.
Liturgy:

The liturgy consists of three parts in the Roman Rite: the Liturgy of the Word, the Veneration of the Cross, and Holy Communion.

Prostration of the celebrant before the altar.

The readings from Isaiah 53 (about the Suffering Servant) and the Epistle to the Hebrews are read.

The Passion narrative of the Gospel of John is sung, often with divided roles.

General Intercessions: The congregation pray for the Church, the Pope, the Jews, non-Christians, unbelievers and others.

Veneration of the Cross: A crucifix is solemnly unveiled before the congregation. The people venerate it on their knees. During this part, the "Reproaches" are often sung.

Communion service: The Communion of the previous day is distributed among the people.

Even if music is used in the Liturgy, it is not used to open and close the Liturgy, nor is there a formal recessional (closing procession).
In some countries, a monstrance with the Blessed Sacrament is placed in a Holy Sepulchre and covered with a veil. There the people may adore it and wake at the "tomb of Christ".

[edit] Holy Saturday

(Also known as Black Saturday.)

A day of silence and prayer which commemorates the dead Christ in the tomb. No Mass is celebrated. In cases of the danger of death, Eucharistic Hosts remaining from the Liturgies of the two previous days are used as viaticum.
The Tabernacle is left empty and open. The lamp or candle usually situated next to the Tabernacle denoting the Presence of Christ is put out, and the Eucharist is kept elsewhere, usually the sacristy, with a lamp or candle burning before it.

[edit] Easter Vigil

Main article: Easter Vigil

Takes place during the night, either on the eve of Easter or early in the morning on Easter Sunday.
The Gospel reminds us to have our lamps ready, to be like men waiting for the Lord’s return so that when He arrives He will find us wide awake and will seat us at His table.
Night vigil is arranged in four parts:
- A brief service of light;
- Liturgy of the word;
- Liturgy of baptism;
- Liturgy of the Eucharist.
The priest wears white.
Part I: Service of light:
- All lights of the church are put out.
- A fire is prepared outside the Church
- One of the ministers carry the Easter Candle.
- The priest greets the people then the fire is blessed.
- After the prayer, the Easter candle is lighted from the new fire.
Procession:
- The priest takes up the candle and sings: “Christ our light” and the people answer: “Thanks be to God”.
- All enter the Church and the priest takes up the candle for the second time and sings: “Christ our light” and the people answer: “Thanks be to God”.
- When the priest arrives at the altar he takes up the candle for the third time and sings: “Christ our light” and the people answer: “Thanks be to God”.
- Then all lights in the Church are put on.
Easter Proclamation (Exsultet)
Part II : Liturgy of the word
- Nine Readings are provided, seven from the Old Testament and two from the New Testament. (the epistle and gospel)
- After the Easter Proclamation, the candles are put aside and all sit down. Before the readings begin, the priest speaks about Easter.
- The readings follow from:

The book of Genesis 1:1-2:2 The Creation
The book of Genesis 22:1-18 Abraham’s sacrifice
The book of Exodus 14:15-15:1 People of Israel leaving the slavery of Egypt
The book of the prophet Isaiah 54:5-14 God speaking to the miserable, oppressed people of Israel
The book of the prophet Isaiah 55:1-11 God’s covenant with Israel. (God’s magnificent promise)
The book of the prophet Baruch 3:9-15,32-4:4 Wisdom of God
The book of the prophet Ezekiel 36:16-28 God’s promises to Ezekiel. (all was fulfilled in Jesus Christ)
Epistle: The letter of Paul to the Romans 6:3-11
Lessons on the death and resurrection of Christ
Alleluia
Gospel
Year A: holy gospel according to Matthew 28:1-10 (Women finding and witnessing to the empty tomb) / Year B: holy gospel according to Mark 16:1-8 (Women are frightened by the empty tomb and the angel’s message about resurrection) / Year C: holy gospel according to Luke 24:1-12 (Women see the empty tomb and are told by angels of the Resurrection)

Part III: Liturgy of Baptism
- A vessel of water is placed in the sanctuary
- Candidates for Baptism (catechumens) - if present - are presented.
Litany
- The Litany is sung. The procession begins: Easter Candle first, followed by the candidates then the priest and ministers.
Blessing of Water
- The priest blesses the baptismal water and prays. The candle is then taken out of the water and people sing the acclamation. Then the baptismal rites proceed (if catechumens are present, they are baptized.
Renewal of Baptismal Promises
- After the rite of baptism, all present renew their baptismal profession of faith.
- The priest sprinkles the people with water while the people sing.
- The profession of faith is omitted and proceeds to the Liturgy of the Eucharist
Liturgy of the Eucharist

[edit] Easter Sunday

Main article: Easter Sunday

The Feast of the Resurrection.
The Church’s greatest feast

[edit] Holy Week in Spain

Spain is the most famous country in the world for its Holy Week traditions. Seville and Malaga see the most glamorous celebrations, while those of Castille-Leon see the more sombre and sollemn events.

[edit] Seville, Spain

Seville arguably holds the most elaborate processions for Holy Week anywhere in the world. A tradition that dates from medieval times which has spread to other cities in Andalusia, the "Semana Santa en Sevilla" is notable for featuring the procession of "pasos", lifelike wood sculptures of individual scenes of the events that happened between Jesus' arrest and his burial, or images of the Virgin Mary showing grief for the torture and killing of her son. These pasos are physically carried in the shoulders of costaleros (literally "sack men", usually bodybuilder types who are used to carrying extreme weights), and can weigh up to five metric tonnes. Historically stevedores from the ports were hired to carry the pasos. In recent decades that task has been universally taken over by the members of the confraternities who organize each procession. The pasos are set up and maintained by hermandades and cofradías, religious brotherhoods, confraternities or sodalities, that are common to a specific area of the city, whose precede the paso dressed in Roman military costumes or penitential robes. Those members who wish to do so wear these penitential robes with conical hats, or "capirotes", used to conceal the face of the wearer. The robes were widely used in the medieval period for penitents, who could demonstrate their penance while still masking their identity. (These robes intentionally served as the basis for the traditional uniform for members of the Ku Klux Klan in the United States, ironically a very anti-Catholic organisation.) These "Nazarenos" carry processional candles or rough hewn wooden crosses, may walk the city streets barefoot, and may carry shackles and chains in their feet as penance. A brass band may accompany the group, playing funereal religious hymns or "marchas" written for the occasion. Some processions are silent with no musical accompaniment. As each procession leaves its home church, called a salida, there are special extemporaneous songs offered by the crowd. Similarly upon return to the home church, called the entrada, similar songs are offered. These and songs offered extemporaneously along the route of march are generically called saetas (arrows). A total of some 52 processions occur during the week, divided evenly from Holy Monday through Good Friday morning. On Maundy Thursday there are two sets of processions. One group occurs during the late morning, afternoon and evening. The second set begins near midnight and continues until early afternoon on Good Friday. The very most famous processions occur on the Thursday to Friday overnight, including Jesus del Gran Poder, Esperanza - Macarena, and Esperanza - Triana.

[edit] Málaga, Spain

Holy Week processions mark the main religious celebrations in Spain but none as the processions of Málaga. Holy Week in Malaga are famous countrywide. Processions start on Palm Sunday and continue until Easter Sunday with the most dramatic and solemn on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Images from the Passion on huge ornate "tronos" (floats or thrones) some with more than 5.000 kilos carried by more than 250 members shape the processions that go for the streets with penitents dressed in long purple robes, often with pointed hats, followed by women in black carrying candles. Drums and trumpets play solemn music and occasionally someone spontaneously sings a mournful saeta dedicated to the floats it makes its way slowly round the streets.

[edit] León, Spain

Holy Week processions in León are also very popular, with more than 15,000 papones (penitents) on the streets. Processions begin on "Viernes de Dolores" (the Friday in the week before Holy Week) until Easter Sunday. The most solemn and famous procession is the "Procesion de los Pasos" also known as the "Procesion del Encuentro"(Proccesion of the Meeting). During this marathonian procession, which lasts nine hours, about 4,000 penitents carry 13 "pasos" around all the city. The most solemn moment is El Encuentro (The Meeting) when the pasos representing Saint John and La Dolorosa face one to the other and are "bailados" (penitents move the paso like Saint John and La Dolorosa were dancing).

Also famous is a secular proccession, called Entierro de San Genarín (Burial of Saint Genarín). In 1929 on Maundy Thursday night a poor alcoholic person, called Genaro Blanco was run over by the first rubbish truck in León. The procession consists of a march through the city with Orujo (an alcoholic drink) at the head of the procession to the front of the city walls where the man was supposedly run over and then cheese, a bottle of Orujo and two oranges are left at the spot.

[edit] Other Holy Week Cities in Spain

All of these cities, including those above, have been declared of international tourist interest.

[edit] Castile and Leon

[edit] Castile-La Mancha

Toledo [1]

[edit] Holy Week in the Philippines

In this largely Roman Catholic nation, Holy Week, known as Semana Santa, is treated as one of the most important religious festivals of the entire year. At Mass on Palm Sunday, Catholics carry "palaspas" or palm fronds to be blessed by the priest. Many Filipinos bring home the palaspas after the Mass and place these above their front doors or windows, believing that doing so can ward off evil spirits. Holy Monday marks the beginning of the Pabasa (literally, reading) or the Pasyon, the marathon chanting of the story of Jesus' life, passion, and death, which continues day and night, for as long as two straight days. A popular Holy Thursday tradition is the Bisita Iglesia (Church Visit), which involves visiting a Church or several Churches at which the faithful would pray the Stations of the Cross. The last Mass before Easter, also celebrated on Holy Thursday, usually including a reenactment of the Washing of the Feet of the Apostles; this Mass is followed by the procession of the Blessed Sacrament before it is taken to the Altar of Repose. Good Friday, a public holiday in the Philippines, is commemorated with street processions, the Way of the Cross, the commemoraton of Jesus' Seven last words (Siete Palabras) and a Passion play called the Sinakulo. In some communities (most famously in the province of Pampanga), the processions include devotees who self-flagellate and sometimes even have themselves nailed to crosses as expressions of penance or in fulfillment of a panata (vow accomplished in thanksgiving or exchange for a granted request or prayer). After three o'clock in the afternoon of Good Friday (the time at which Jesus is traditionally believed to have died), noise is discouraged, bathing is proscribed and the faithful are urged to keep a solemn and prayerful disposition through Black Saturday. Easter morning is marked with joyous celebration, the first being the dawn Salubong, wherein large statues of Jesus and Mary are brought in procession together to meet, imagining the first reunion of Jesus and his mother Mary after Jesus' Resurrection. This is followed by the joyous Easter Mass. Throughout the week, serious television shows are shown on channels, especially films with a religious theme. During the Easter Triduum, usually a public holiday, some television stations even postpone broadcast altogether until Black Saturday and establishments shut down operations until the said day in observance of this solemn occasion.