| Holy week Day by Day. Holy Thursday: The Last Supper Two events shape the Liturgy of Great and Holy Thursday: the Last Supper of Christ with His disciples, and the betrayal of Judas. The meaning of both lies in love. THURSDAY: The Last Supper Two events shape the Liturgy of Great and Holy Thursday: the Last Supper of Christ with His disciples, and the betrayal of Judas. The meaning of both lies in love. The Last Supper is the ultimate revelation of God’s redeeming love for man, of love as the very essence of salvation. The betrayal of Judas, on the other hand, reveals that sin, death, and self-destruction are also due to love; due to deviated and distorted love, love directed at that which does not deserve love (i.e. sin). Here is the mystery of this unique day, and its Liturgy, where light and darkness, joy and sorrow are so strangely mixed, challenges us with the choice on which depends the eternal destiny of each one of us. “Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour was come… having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end…” (John 13:1). To understand the meaning of the Last Supper we must see it as the very end of the great movement of Divine Love which began with the creation of the world and is now ready to become complete in the death and Resurrection of Christ. God is Love (1 John 4:8). And the first gift of Love was life. The meaning of life was Communion. To be alive man was to eat and to drink, to partake of the world. The world was thus Divine love made food, made Body of man. And being alive, i.e. partaking of the world, man was to be in Communion with God, to have God as the meaning, the substance and the end of his life. Communion with the God-given world was indeed communion with God. Man received his food from God and, making it his body and his life, he offered the whole world to God, transformed it into life in God and with God. The love of God gave life to man, the love of man for God transformed this life into communion with God. This was paradise. Life in it was, indeed, eucharistic. Through man and his love for God the whole creation was to be sanctified and transformed into one all-embracing sacrament of Divine Presence and man was the priest of this sacrament. |
| Holy Week in Hymns. Great and Holy Thursday. The Last Supper (with audio) The services of Passion Week are a musical feast for the ears and the soul. Russian liturgical tradition is rich in special melodies for certain hymns of this most important week of the liturgical year, and if the services are also sung by a good choir, they are that much more memorable. The Sretensky Monastery in Moscow is fortunate to have a world famous male choir singing at all of these beautiful services. We would like to share some highlights of this singing with our English language readers, and have therefore provided the English texts to match the hymns. While Church Slavonic is the consistent language used in Russian and other Slavic services, our English texts vary by translation. We have chosen to provide texts (excluding the Old Testament readings, which were taken from the Septuagint) from the classic Lenten Triodion translated by Mother Mary and Archbishop Kallistos Ware, which was re-printed by St. Tikhon’s Seminary Press. Some of these MP3 files come from compact disc recordings of the Sretensky Monastery Choir , while others are live recordings from the actual services of previous years. Holy and Great Thursday. The Mystical (Last) Supper. Early 14th c. Fresco in Vatopedi Monastery, Mt. Athos. On Holy Thursday we recall the Mystical Supper of the Lord, also called the “Last Supper”—the first service of the Eucharist. On Thursday morning, the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great is served as a “Vesperal Liturgy”, which means that the Eucharistic portion follows the Old Testament readings of Vespers. This kind of Liturgy is reserved for the major feasts of the Lord, but on Holy Thursday we are additionally reminded of Judas’ betrayal at the Last Supper in the upper room, as he dipped his bread into the wine and gave his Master a kiss. This is to instruct us that we must flee Judas’s example and cleanse our conscience through the sacrament of confession before daring to receive Communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ. |
| On the Thursday before Easter, called Holy or Maundy Thursday, four events are remembered: the Last Supper, the Foot-Washing of the Apostles by Jesus, the prayer of Christ in Gethsemane, and the Arrest of Jesus. Each of these events can be found in icons, and especially on church walls as part of the iconostasis, but the 15th Century Russian icon here groups the four events together. The Last Supper Also called the Mystical Supper, it was in the Upper Room sharing the Passover meal with the Twelve that Jesus gave a radically new meaning to the food and drink of the sacred meal. He identified Himself with the bread and wine: “Take, eat; this is my Body. Drink of it all of you; for this is my Blood of the New Covenant” (Matthew 26:26-28). Christians have come to understand that this was the institution of the Eucharist: whereby earthly food – bread and wine – becomes our gift of life, the Body and Blood of Christ. Scenes of the Mystical Supper usually depict the event in a straight-forward manner, as described in the Gospels: the Twelve are seated around the table; John rests on Jesus’ bosom; and Judas dips his hand in the dish, revealing him to be Christ’s traitor. The Foot-Washing of the Apostles After the meal, Christ washed the feet of the Apostles. Where the Mystical Supper revealed His divine Son-ship and authority, offering Himself as Communion and life. By washing the feet of His disciples, He manifested His perfect love and revealed His profound humility. Again, the scene of the foot-washing is depicted as described by the Gospels. When Peter, shown being the first to have his feet washed, objected to His Lord’s humility, Jesus replied that if He did not wash His feet then Peter had no communion with Him. Peter retorted: “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head,” and this is how he is shown in icons of the scene, hand raised to his head. In the four-part icon at the top of this post, there is an interesting detail: the Apostle John appears to be pointing an accusatory finger towards Judas, who betrayed Christ. Prayer in Gethsemane |
| Accept The site uses cookies to help show you the most up-to-date information. By continuing to use the site, you consent to the use of your Metadata and cookies. Cookie policy The Orthodox Understanding of the Eucharist Presentation by Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk at the International Eucharistic Congress (Budapest, September 6, 2021). The Catholics and the Orthodox are not united in the Eucharist, but they are united in the conviction that in the Eucharistic bread and wine after their consecration we have not just symbolic presence of Christ, but his full and real presence. We believe that the bread and wine of the Eucharist are the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Eucharistic celebration is not only a commemoration of the Last Supper, but also its actualization for each believer who participates in it. And the celebrant does not act in the Eucharist on his own behalf. It is on behalf of Jesus Christ himself that he pronounces the words originally uttered by Christ at his Last Supper. And it is Christ himself who administers the sacrament for his followers, not a priest or a bishop. All this is most vividly depicted in Orthodox iconography, in particular, in the iconographic type known as the Communion of the Apostles. In it we see Jesus Christ who gives his body and blood to his disciples, including, notably, St Paul, who was not a participant in the historical Last Supper. His very presence testifies to the symbolic character of the whole composition. It is meant to present not only the Last Supper but the Eucharist, in which the entire body of the Church participates. The Orthodox Church strongly believes that the Eucharistic celebration—we call it the Divine Liturgy—is an all-embracing service which transcends both space and time. It unites the heavenly realm with the earthly realm, the living with the dead, angels with humans, saints with sinners. I suppose many of you have had a chance to visit ancient Byzantine churches in whose walls you could see frescoes or mosaics. Very often figures of the saints are arranged in rows, one row below another. You might see prophets in the highest row, below them the apostles, then the martyrs, then the holy bishops and monks. But there are no figures in the bottom row. The idea is, in fact, that this row is reserved for those who are present in the church, that is, for the parishioners. Together with the saints they participate in the heavenly mystery of the holy Eucharist. |
| Скачать epub pdf Last Supper E.L. 19 June 1966 When the Lord instituted at the Last Supper that mystery of our faith which we call the Holy Liturgy or the Eucharist, He gathered round Himself His Disciples, both those who were later to be faithful even unto death, and also the one who was already prepared to betray his Master. And He confronted him together with the others, with the extraordinary love of God, because to be admitted to a man's table means that he, our host, consider us to be his equals, his companions in the old sense of this word, those who are untitled to break the bread with him, to share with him the substance of life. Equals in the love of God, equals of God through His love to us, this is one of the aspects of this extraordinary event which we call the Last Supper. But we have given it also another name, we call it the Eucharist, from a Greek word which means simultaneously «gift» and «thanksgiving»; indeed we can see that communion to the Body and Blood of Christ is the greatest gift which the Lord can grant us: companionship and equality, becoming the co-workers of God, and through the incredible, unfathomable action and power of the Spirit, because this bread is no longer bread only and this wine is no longer only wine, but have truly become the body and the blood of the Giver, we become incipiently and increasingly partakers of the divine nature, Gods by adoption, Gods by participation, so that together with the One Who is the Incarnate Son of God, we became the total revelation of man as well as the total revelation of God's presence, the total Christ of whom St Ignatius of Antioche spoke; and beyond this, higher, deeper even than this, in this community of nature and of life with the only begotten Son of God in the words of St Irenaeus of Lyon, we become truly with regard to God Himself the only Begotten Son. This is the gift, but where is the thanksgiving? What can we bring to the Lord? Bread and wine, they belong to Him; our own lives? Are we not His? He has called us out of naught, He has brought us into being, He has endowed us with all that we are and all that we possess, what then can we give which is really ours? St Maxim the Confessor says that God can do all things, save one: He cannot compel the smallest of his creatures to love Him, because love is supreme freedom; this is the only gift which we can bring to God: the gift of a trusting heart... |
| Father Frans van der Lucht Fr. Christian Chessel The slaughter of the Catholic priest Father Jacques Hamel (aged 84) yesterday reminds me of the martyrdom of one of the great fathers of the Church, Polycarp of Smyrna in the year 154, who was martyred at the age of 86. Yes, what caused me to compare the two events was the similar ages of the two martyrs. Likewise, his French nationality reminds me of the martyrdom of a friend of mine, Father Christian Chessel , an engineer in his thirties who was sent to Algeria by the White Fathers to work at a social center and was killed by one of the extremist Islamist groups along with three companions in 1994. There is an account of the martyrdom of Saint Polycarp written by an eyewitness from among the believers in Smyrna in which the writer of the account compares Polycarp’s martyrdom to Christ’s passion and crucifixion, saying “It was Friday and the hour for the supper had drawn near… He could have fled… but he did not want to. Rather, he said, ‘may God’s will be done. " ” Father Jacques Hamel was at the Lord’s Supper (the Mass), his last supper and no doubt the last thing he said before being slaughtered was “may the Lord’s will be done.” But is it true that it is the Lord’s will that the servant of His temple be slaughtered? The Lord’s will is that man may live, not that he die. Death is alien to human nature and everything that is alien is not of God. It is not necessary, then, that the Lord’s will be achieved in human time. St. Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna After seizing Polycarp and leading him to the place where he would be executed, one of his persecutors asked him to renounce his faith and curse Christ. He responded with a deep sigh, gesturing to the crowds and looking to heaven, “I have spent eighty-six years in the service of Christ and He has never hurt me. So how can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?” Jacque Hamel, who spent eighty-four years in the service of Christ, after the model of Polycarp, would not renounce Christ after those long years. He would not hand Him over to be crucified, but rather went to be crucified with Him. |
| The usual service on Wednesday evening of Holy Week is the Holy Unction. It replaces in parish practice the Matins service for the Last Supper. However, this year our Bishop has asked us to pray this Matins service. I speculate that one of the reasons it is normally replaced by Holy Unction is that the hymns for this Matins service are extremely sad. The themes of the service are Christ’s humility in the washing of the Disciple’s feet, including Judas’; the Last Supper, in which Judas also partook; Christ’s prayer in the garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus sweat great drops of blood; and the actual betrayal of Christ by a kiss. The hymn of the Bridegroom is now replaced with a contemplation of Judas’ betrayal with a warning to each of us, for we are all tempted by the love of money. This hymn is chanted three times at the beginning of the service and once more at the end. While your glorious Disciples were being illumined at the evening washing of their feet, Judas of evil worship was stricken and darkened with the love of silver. And he delivered and surrendered to the lawless judges you, the righteous Judge. Wherefore, O lover of wealth behold him who for its sake did hang himself, and flee from that greedy soul that ventured such things against the Master. O you whose goodness pervades all, glory to you. Similarly, other hymns chanted this evening contemplate unblinkingly the horror of Judas’ betrayal. The following example is terrifying in its use of contrasts to contemplate that betrayal. The law-transgressing Judas, O Lord, who dipped his hand with you in the plate at supper, has put forth his hands with iniquity to take silver; and he who calculated the price of the myrrh did not shrink from selling you, O priceless One. And he who put forth his feet for the Master to wash, deceitfully kissed him to deliver him to the law-breakers. Truly he has been cast away with his thirty pieces of silver without beholding your third-day resurrection. We remember also how both on the way to Jerusalem (according to John’s account) and even at the Last Supper itself (according to Luke’s account), the disciples are still arguing about who will be first and leader among them. Therefore, the hymns for this service remind us that one of the reasons why Jesus washed the disciples’s feet, even Judas’, was to teach them the way of humility, which is the heavenly way. |
| The glorious disciples were illumined at the Supper during the washing of the feet, but ungodly Judas was darkened by the disease of avarice, and he delivered Thee, the righteous Judge, to lawless judges. See, O lover of money, how for money ’ s sake he hanged himself. Flee from the greed which made him dare to do such things against his Master. O Lord, who art good towards all men, glory to Thee. Troparion Filling Thy cup of salvation with joy, O loving Lord, Thou hast made Thy disciples drink from it. For Thou offerest Thyself in sacrifice, crying: “Drink My Blood, and ye shall be firmly established in the faith.” Canticle three of the canon Humbling Thyself in Thy compassion, Thou hast washed the feet of Thy disciples, teaching them to take the path which as God Thou yielded then to the divine command, and earnestly entreated Thee that we may be granted Thy great mercy. Sessional hymn The traitor takes the Bread in his hands, but stretches them out secretly to receive the price of Him who fashioned man with His own hands. For Judas, slave and deceiver, still repented not. Let us all drew near in fear to the mystical table, and with pure souls let us receive the Bread; let us remain at the Master ’ s side, that we may see how He washes the feet of the disciples and wipes the with a towel; and let us do as we have seen, subjecting ourselves to each other and washing one another ’ s feet. For such is the commandment that Christ Himself gave to His disciples; but Judas, slave and deceiver, paid no heed. Kontakion and Ikos Icon of the Last Supper About the Icon: The Last Supper Christ is the central figure. St. John the Beloved (Evangelist, Theologian) is the figure seated to the right of Christ. Judas Iscariot the Betrayer is depicted leaning over the table and dipping into the dish (Matthew 26:20-25). Icon of the washing of the feet About the Icon: The Washing of the Disciples Feet Christ is pictured on the left side of the Icon, washing the feet of a disciple in a basin. Saint Peter, the chief disciple, is depicted seated, asking Christ to wash " not only my feet, but my hands and my head also. " (John 13:9). The other disciples are pictured loosening their sandals. |
| The Mystical (Last) Supper O n the fifth day after the Lord’s entrance into Jerusalem , which, according to our reckoning, was Thursday (on Friday evening, the first day of unleavened bread, they sacrificed the Passover lamb) , the disciples came to Jesus saying, " Where will you have us prepare the Passover for you to eat? " Jesus Christ said to them, " Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him and, wherever he enters, say to the householder, ‘The Teacher says where is My guest room, where I am to eat the Passover with My disciples?’ And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready. There, prepare for us. " He sent two of His disciples, Peter and John. They went and found it as He had told them, and they prepared the Passover. That evening, Jesus Christ knowing that He would be betrayed that night came with His twelve apostles to the prepared upper room. When they were seated at the table, Jesus Christ said, " I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you I shall not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God . " Then, He rose, laid aside His garments, and girded Himself with a towel. He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. When He had washed their feet, and taken His garments, and resumed His place, He said to them, " Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet; for I have given you an example that you also The Washing of the Disciples’ Feet should do as I have done to you. " By this example, the Lord demonstrated not only His love for His disciples but also taught them humility, that is, not to consider it beneath oneself to serve someone even though he may be of lesser status. After eating the Old Testament Jewish Passover, Jesus Christ established on this evening the sacrament of Holy Communion. Therefore, the occasion is called in the Orthodox Church the " Mystical Supper. " |
| 1500-year-old Christian manuscript discovered at Manchester library Manchester, the UK, September 18, 2014 Staff members of the John Rylands Library of the University of Manchester have announced the discover of a Greek papyrus text written in the 6th century, which gives an account of the Last Supper and first Christians, reports Calam1 news portal with the reference to the Aleteia Catholic agency. At a press conference held on Thursday, September 4, the prominent historian and textual critic Dr. Roberta Mazza (a research fellow of the recently founded John Rylands Research Institute) reported her latest discovery. While working at the John Rylands Library, containing thousands of unpublished early Christian manuscripts, the researcher discovered a scrap of papyrus on which she managed to make out the words “manna” and “Gospel bread”. The document, received into the library’s stock in as early as 1901, dates back to the 6th century. The researcher also discerned the text of a prayer, engraved on the ancient papyrus, which is a compilation of the Gospel text that describes the Last Supper and fragments of several psalms: “Fear you all who rule over the earth. Know you nations and peoples that Christ is our God. For He spoke and they came to being, He commanded and they were created; He put everything under our feet and delivered us from the wish of our enemies. Our God prepared a sacred table in the desert for the people and gave manna of the new covenant to eat, the Lord’s immortal Body and the Blood of Christ poured for us in remission of sins.” Dr Mazza has also disclosed details of the analysis of the discovered manuscript to the audience. “The spectral and other methods of the papyrus exploration enabled us to define it as a palimpsest (a manuscript or piece of writing material on which the original writing has been effaced to make room for later writing but of which traces remain). On the back of the text there is a scraped receipt for a payment of the grain tax in the Egyptian city of el-Ashmunein,” relates Dr. Mazza. “The author may have been Egyptian and knew both the Greek language and the Gospel’s text pretty well; however, numerous minor errors and inversions enable us to suppose that he did not copy ones of its “canonical”, established versions, but either compiled it himself or reproduced it roughly, from memory.” |
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