8/14/2019 16 Holy Thursday

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HolyandGreatThursdayOn

the

evening

of

this

day,

which

was

the

eve

of

the

feast

of

unleavened

bread(thatis,thePassover),ourRedeemersuppedwithHistwelvedisciplesin

the city.Heblessed thebread and thewine, and gave us theMystery of the

DivineEucharist.Hewashedthefeetofthedisciplesasanexampleofhumility.

Hesaidopenly thatoneof themwasabout tobetrayHim,andHepointedout

thebetrayerbyrevealing that itwashethatdippethhishandwithme in the

dish.AndafterJudashadstraightwaygoneforth,JesusgavethedisciplesHis

finalandsublimeinstructions,whicharecontainedintheGospelReadingofthe

HolyPassion(John13:3118:1,knownastheGospeloftheNewTestament).After

this

the

God

man

went

forth

to

the

Mount

of

Olives,

and

there

He

began

to

be

sorrowfulandinanguish.Hewentoffalone,andbendingthekneesHeprayed

fervently.FromHisgreatanguish,Hissweatbecameas itweregreatdropsof

bloodfallingtotheground.AssoonasHehadcompletedthatanguishedprayer,

lo,Judascamewithamultitudeofsoldiersandagreatcrowd;ongreeting the

Teacherguilefullywithakiss,hebetrayedHim.

The LordJesuswas then apprehended and taken prisoner to the high

priestsAnnas andCaiaphas.Thediscipleswere scattered,butPeter,whowas

moreferventthantheothers,followedHimevenintothecourtofthehighpriest,

butintheenddeniedthricethathewasHisdisciple.

Thenour

divine

Teacher

was

brought

before

the

lawless

Sanhedrin

and

was interrogated concerning His disciples and His teaching. The high priest

adjuredHimbeforeGodthatHetellthemwhetherHewastrulytheChrist.And

havingspokenthetruth,Hewasjudgedguiltyofdeath,supposedlyasonewho

hadblasphemed.Thentheyspatinhisface,beatHim,smoteHimwiththepalms

oftheirhands,andmockedHimineveryway,throughoutthewholenightuntil

themorning.

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HolyandGreatThursday

Troparion.PlagalofFourthToneHEN thegloriousdiscipleswereenlightenedat thewashingof the feet,

thenJudas theungodlyonewasstrickenanddarkenedwith the loveof

silver.AnduntothelawlessjudgesdidhedeliverThee,therighteousJudge.O

thouloverofmoney,beholdthouhimthatforthesakethereofdidhanghimself;

fleefromthatinsatiablesoulthatdaredsuchthingsagainsttheMaster.OThou

Whoartgooduntoall,Lord,glorybetoThee.

W

Kontakion.SecondToneAKINGtheBreadintohishands,thebetrayerstretcheththemforthsecretly

and receiveth thepriceofHim that,withHisownhands, fashionedman.

AndJudas,

the

servant

and

deceiver,

remained

incorrigible.

T

Text:TheGreatHorologion1997TheHolyTransfigurationMonasteryBrookline,Massachusetts02445SecondIconcourtesyTheHolyTransfigurationMonasteryBrookline,Massachusetts02445

The Agony in Gethsemane

TheHolyOrthodoxMetropolisofBoston 2