Passion Week
April 23, 2021
Passion Week is the last week of Lent; Holy Church customized the Holy week for all the Christians whom shall be liberated from sin and for our redemption. Whilst, Laities at Church are expected to bow down pleading and in remembrance of all the agony that Our Lord Jesus Christ sacrificed for our salvation. All faithful begin prostration on Monday to commemorate Lord Jesus‘ prayer and frequent bowing down in the dawn of Thursday, as He said, “He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” Consequent to this, Christians are also expected to pray much to commemorate Lord Jesus‘extensive prayers at Gethsemane before He was captured. (Matthew 26: 39)
Holy Monday (Anointing of Jesus) – It is the day Lord Jesus Christ preached in the temple after He cleansed it from sellers around. He was also praised by local children. This is also the day that He cursed the fig tree. (Matthew 21:12–22)
Holy Tuesday (Predictions of Jesus)– This is the day that Lord Jesus was challenged by the Pharisees and Sadducees about issues related with marriage in heaven, paying taxes to Caesar, and the source of His authority. (Matthew 21:23-23:39, Mark 11:27-12:44, Luke 20:1-21:4)
It is the same day He explained about donation exemplifying the widow’s donation and He was approached by a number of God-fearing people. It is also the day Lord Jesus spoke His eight “afflictions” against the Pharisees and the evening on which He delivered the Olivet Discourse (Mark 12, Matthew 23:13-26, 24-25; Mark 13, John 12:20–36, Luke 21:5–36)
Holy Wednesday (Spy Wednesday/Betrayal of Jesus by Judas)
Holy Wednesday is also called Spy Wednesday. It is the day in remembrance of Judas, who spied Lord Jesus for capitulating for Roman soldiers. In the Holy Gospel Judas’ name appears in the four Gospels 18 times and the 9 times he is identified as a traitor, the one who betrays Jesus. And 9 times he is identified as a disciple, one of the twelve, one of the chosen. Thus, Holy Wednesday is referred in his name.
Maundy Thursday:- As this is the Holy day that our Lord Jesus washed the feet of the Apostles, we commemorate it through the Liturgy service through which the Priest washes the feet of the faithful saying the prayer of thanksgiving. (John 13:1-20)
Moreover, in Ethiopia, Christians, prepare ‘Gulban’ with split beans and wheat in celebrating the day. The food is prepared in exemplary to the Israelites consuming unleavened bread during their Exodus from Egyptian bondage. Since the children of Israel left Egypt hastily, they did not have time for the bread to rise, so it was made on that very first Passover without leaven.
Gulban is said to be eaten in order to mourn for Lord Jesus. This is in keeping the Ethiopian custom of preparing a type of food made of split beans called ‘Nefro’ in memorializing the death of beloved ones.
Good Friday: Good Friday is the day when faithful sorely remember the Passion of Lord Jesus to redeem humankind. Christians attend the solemn church service in their respective parishes for their prostration.
All the symbols, images and instruments used in the passion of the savior are publicly exhibited covered in black curtain in the church. Priests who lead the ritual wear black vestments. All sacred objects including the altar are also covered with a black cloth in remembrance of the dark centuries of Adam’s alienation from God. The Priests spray scent in the Church not with incense but with myrrh symbolizing the death of Lord Jesus.
Saint Ephraim brought incense for He is God, gold for He is King and myrrh for the death He receives´ Men and women go to church to prostrate themselves, staying there from early morning until 5-6 p.m. being the hour of the death of Lord Jesus Christ.
Priests and elders neither eat bread nor drink water throughout these three days, remaining in the Holy Churches singing and praying, solemn fasting is known as “Akfelot.” Apostles nor ate or drink until they knew of the resurrection of the Lord and so does all in the name of Christians.
Holy Saturday: The seventh day of the Passion Week-Saturday is known as ‘kidame’ Su‘ur” in Amharic to mean ‘unobserved’ for unlike other Saturdays of the year, it became a fasting day. It is also known to be ‘Green Saturday’ for on this day the ‘Sedge’ is given to the people as the symbol of good news.
On Passion Week,absolution to people who die during this week is prohibited. Hence, they may simply be buried and given absolution after Passion Week. But, according to the canon of the church, absolution is also given in advance on the previous Sunday, the Palm Sunday in case any one dies in week of passion.
Besides, no baptisms or celebrations of Saints’ days are carried out during this week, nor do Priests give blessings to the believers;We are prohibited to kiss the Holy Cross during the week of Passion. Greetings amongst Christians is also inhibited as a remembrance of Judas’s betrayal of Lord after he kissed Him.
The Priests start blessing their children by the cross at the dawn of Friday when, according to the preaching of Holy Church, Lord Jesus liberated Adam who was imprisoned by Devil in Hell. Passion week is a time for Christians in the church commemorate the suffering and damnation of the 5500 years and so we shall all embrace it in seek and redemption of our soul.