The Passion Week's Rite:
During this week, the Holy Church concentrates on one
subject: The Lord Christ's suffering. For this reason, the
Psalm readings and the Canonical Hours which cover various
subjects relating to the Lord Jesus Christ including His birth,
His ministry, His Resurrection, Ascension and sitting on the
Father's right hand and His Second Coming in His Glory, are
replaced by a special hymn chosen by the Church especially for
the Pascha Week in which we address the Lord suffering for us
saying:
E "Thine is the Power, the Glory, the Blessing and the
Honour, forever Amen, Emmanuel our
God and King "
E"Thine is the Power, the Glory, the Blessing and the
Honour, forever Amen, Our Lord
Jesus Christ",
E"Thine is the Power, the Glory, the Blessing and the
Honour, forever Amen ..." adding to it .. "Our Good
8
Saviour" from Wednesday night, as the plot to betray the Lord
Christ was the practical step towards salvation.
This prayer, is repeated ten times every day.; five during
daytime and five at night, ie. during the following hours: First,
Third, Sixth, Ninth and Eleventh.
In each of these prayers, we turn to our God and Saviour in
His passions and say, "we know who You are, for "Thine is
the Power, Glory, Blessing and Honour, forever Amen."
With this prayer, we follow the Lord Christ step by step along
the incidents of this week that preceded the crucifixion. What
then are these incidents? And how does the Church act during
this week?
How did The Suffering Start?
On Palm Sunday, the Lord Jesus Christ went to Jerusalem
where He was gloriously received as a King: The people praised
and cheered Him with palms, spreading their robes under His
feet, and the whole city was in turmoil (Matt. 21:10). This
annoyed the chief priests and the elders of the people: scribes,
Pharisees and Sadducees.
They envied Him for the great love people felt for Him, so they
started thinking of a way to get rid of Him! They were more
upset when He entered the temple and expelled all who were
buying and selling. They then asked Him, "By what authority
are You doing these things?" (Matt.21:23). Since then they
decided to kill Him, telling one another "Look, the world has
gone after Him," (John. 12:19).
9
The chiefs' desire to kill the Lord Christ was due to their
envy, but the puzzling thing is the change in the
multitude's attitude; they received Him like a King, then
shouted to Pilate, "Crucify Him, crucify Him! " (Luke.
23:21).
When the crowds cheered Jesus, they looked at Him as an
earthly King, "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the
LORD! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David" (Mark
11:9-10). But the Lord Jesus refused a Kingdom on earth, as
His is a Heavenly Spiritual one. The plot to get rid of the
Nazarene was then a natural reaction from the Chiefs who lost
hope in the long awaited kingdom!!
The church considers the end of Palm Sunday Mass the
beginning of the Passion Week, as the plot to kill the Lord
Jesus Christ started to develop since then.
During this week the Church's Icons, Pillars and Lectern and
sometimes even the walls are all covered with black cloth,
creating an atmosphere of mourning. It makes everyone feel
that he is sharing in the Lord's sufferings, as said by St. Paul,
"that I may know Him and the power of His Resurrection and
the fellowship of His sufferings". (Phil. 3:10).
General Prayer For the Departed:
Through the Passion Week, the Church is preoccupied with the
Lord's sufferings only, there is no raising of incense even for
funerals, but replaced by the Pascha prayers and readings.
10
For this reason, a general prayer for the departed is held
after Palm Sunday Mass, for the souls of those who pass
away during the Holy Pascha. The priest prays on some
water for this purpose, and not for blessing the palms as some
may think.
During these prayers we have to confess our sins to the Lord in
true repentance, as we never know when our life will end...
After this funeral mass and the dismissing of the congregation,
prayers are carried forth outside the camp.
Outside the Camp:
Under the Law of the Old Testament, sin offering was to be
burnt outside the camp (Lev. 4:12,21), so it would not. defile
the camp with the congregation's sins.
Thus the Lord Christ who took away the sins of the whole
world, suffered outside the Holy City. They considered Him a
sinner, sent Him outside the Camp and crucified Him. St. Paul
explained, and referred to this matter by saying:
"Let us go forth therefore to Him outside the camp, bearing
His reproach." (Heb. 13:13).
The Holy Church follows the Lord's steps during the Pascha
Week and goes with Him outside the camp, closing the veil.
The Church also leaves the first Chancel, the Chancel of Saints,
and moves the Lectern to the second Chancel to pray away
11
from the Altar, outside the Sanctuary and the camp, bearing His
reproach and saying:
"Thine is the Power, the Glory, the Blessing and the Honour,
forever Amen... "
With this hymn, we follow the Lord Jesus Christ in His passion,
step by step, contemplating on every word we say to Him in His
Passion...
12
During this week, the Holy Church concentrates on one
subject: The Lord Christ's suffering. For this reason, the
Psalm readings and the Canonical Hours which cover various
subjects relating to the Lord Jesus Christ including His birth,
His ministry, His Resurrection, Ascension and sitting on the
Father's right hand and His Second Coming in His Glory, are
replaced by a special hymn chosen by the Church especially for
the Pascha Week in which we address the Lord suffering for us
saying:
E "Thine is the Power, the Glory, the Blessing and the
Honour, forever Amen, Emmanuel our
God and King "
E"Thine is the Power, the Glory, the Blessing and the
Honour, forever Amen, Our Lord
Jesus Christ",
E"Thine is the Power, the Glory, the Blessing and the
Honour, forever Amen ..." adding to it .. "Our Good
8
Saviour" from Wednesday night, as the plot to betray the Lord
Christ was the practical step towards salvation.
This prayer, is repeated ten times every day.; five during
daytime and five at night, ie. during the following hours: First,
Third, Sixth, Ninth and Eleventh.
In each of these prayers, we turn to our God and Saviour in
His passions and say, "we know who You are, for "Thine is
the Power, Glory, Blessing and Honour, forever Amen."
With this prayer, we follow the Lord Christ step by step along
the incidents of this week that preceded the crucifixion. What
then are these incidents? And how does the Church act during
this week?
How did The Suffering Start?
On Palm Sunday, the Lord Jesus Christ went to Jerusalem
where He was gloriously received as a King: The people praised
and cheered Him with palms, spreading their robes under His
feet, and the whole city was in turmoil (Matt. 21:10). This
annoyed the chief priests and the elders of the people: scribes,
Pharisees and Sadducees.
They envied Him for the great love people felt for Him, so they
started thinking of a way to get rid of Him! They were more
upset when He entered the temple and expelled all who were
buying and selling. They then asked Him, "By what authority
are You doing these things?" (Matt.21:23). Since then they
decided to kill Him, telling one another "Look, the world has
gone after Him," (John. 12:19).
9
The chiefs' desire to kill the Lord Christ was due to their
envy, but the puzzling thing is the change in the
multitude's attitude; they received Him like a King, then
shouted to Pilate, "Crucify Him, crucify Him! " (Luke.
23:21).
When the crowds cheered Jesus, they looked at Him as an
earthly King, "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the
LORD! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David" (Mark
11:9-10). But the Lord Jesus refused a Kingdom on earth, as
His is a Heavenly Spiritual one. The plot to get rid of the
Nazarene was then a natural reaction from the Chiefs who lost
hope in the long awaited kingdom!!
The church considers the end of Palm Sunday Mass the
beginning of the Passion Week, as the plot to kill the Lord
Jesus Christ started to develop since then.
During this week the Church's Icons, Pillars and Lectern and
sometimes even the walls are all covered with black cloth,
creating an atmosphere of mourning. It makes everyone feel
that he is sharing in the Lord's sufferings, as said by St. Paul,
"that I may know Him and the power of His Resurrection and
the fellowship of His sufferings". (Phil. 3:10).
General Prayer For the Departed:
Through the Passion Week, the Church is preoccupied with the
Lord's sufferings only, there is no raising of incense even for
funerals, but replaced by the Pascha prayers and readings.
10
For this reason, a general prayer for the departed is held
after Palm Sunday Mass, for the souls of those who pass
away during the Holy Pascha. The priest prays on some
water for this purpose, and not for blessing the palms as some
may think.
During these prayers we have to confess our sins to the Lord in
true repentance, as we never know when our life will end...
After this funeral mass and the dismissing of the congregation,
prayers are carried forth outside the camp.
Outside the Camp:
Under the Law of the Old Testament, sin offering was to be
burnt outside the camp (Lev. 4:12,21), so it would not. defile
the camp with the congregation's sins.
Thus the Lord Christ who took away the sins of the whole
world, suffered outside the Holy City. They considered Him a
sinner, sent Him outside the Camp and crucified Him. St. Paul
explained, and referred to this matter by saying:
"Let us go forth therefore to Him outside the camp, bearing
His reproach." (Heb. 13:13).
The Holy Church follows the Lord's steps during the Pascha
Week and goes with Him outside the camp, closing the veil.
The Church also leaves the first Chancel, the Chancel of Saints,
and moves the Lectern to the second Chancel to pray away
11
from the Altar, outside the Sanctuary and the camp, bearing His
reproach and saying:
"Thine is the Power, the Glory, the Blessing and the Honour,
forever Amen... "
With this hymn, we follow the Lord Jesus Christ in His passion,
step by step, contemplating on every word we say to Him in His
Passion...
12
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