Holy Week

Categories: orthodox-life, hymns, holy-week

Date: 31 March 2010 06:36:17

Seems to be rushing by at a rapid rate.

I attended two of the three Bridegroom Services and was greatly moved and challenged by them. The hymns, Psalms and prayers appointed truly speak to me about the deepest desires within me of knowledge, personal knowledge not just an intellectual knowledge, of the Triune God and a life lived in union with our God, as well as the struggles against sin that weary me.

Each of the three Bridegroom services has a different theme; last night [Holy Wednesday; the service is held on Tuesday evening, the Orthodox Liturgical Day beginning at sunset] the contrast between the sinful woman who anointed Jesus' hair and washed his feet with priceless myrrh and her hair and Judas the betrayer was brought out in hymnody. It is worth remembering, at least I think so, that according to the Orthodox Church the perishing of Judas was not simply that he betrayed the Lord, but refused to believe in the possibility of forgiveness once he betrayed.

One of the delights I find of the Eastern Orthodox services, as well as the little I know of other Eastern churches, such as the Chaldean Church and the Assyrian Church of the East, is the use of comparisons in their hymnody. For example, from last night:

As the sinful woman was offering myrrh,
the disciple was making terms with the lawless.
She found joy pouring out what was precious;
he hastened to sell out the priceless One;
she acknowledged the Master,
he cut himself off from the Master;
she was set free, he fell slave to the enemy.
What unspeakable callousness! How great the repentance!
Grant me this, O Savior who suffered for us, and save us.

Oh, the wretchedness of Judas!
As he watched the sinful woman kissing Your feet,
he cunningly plotted the kiss of betrayal.
As she unbound her tresses, he was bound by his anger,
bearing foul wickedness instead of myrrh.
For reason does not know enough to seek what is best.
Oh, the wretchedness of Judas!
Deliver us from it, O God.

The harlot spread out her hair for You the Master;
Judas spread out his hand toward the wicked:
she to gain pardon, he to gain silver.
And so we cry out to You, sold for our freedom,
Lord, glory to You.

Text from St Barbara Greek Orthodox Church, Orange, Connecticut

The services of Holy Week continue tonight with the The Sacrament of Holy Unction, where, after the service, each of us is anointed by the priest with oil, and, as the article states, with the oil and prayers "the grace of God, which heals infirmities of soul and body, is called down upon each person."

Holy Week is truly a blessed week as we journey to Pascha [the Greek word for the Passover used in reference to Easter], the Feast of Feasts. And as the calendars of West and East coincide this year, it is a joy that with all Christians we make this journey together. A blessed Holy Week to all.