Holy Week, or the Week of the Passion - the last of the life of Jesus Christ, begins today. It is called this way because “passion” is an old Bulgarian word for suffering. According to the Orthodox calendar, every day of this week is Great.
Traditionally, Holy Week is an opportunity for many Christians to reflect on their sins and the sacrifice of the Savior.
On Great Monday, Jesus Christ, entering the Jerusalem Temple, was angered by the crowd that had gathered. The temple for prayers had been turned into a marketplace, and in his anger, the Son of God overturned the tables of the merchants.
On Great Tuesday, Christ spent the day in moral guidance, and according to the church canon, the day is dedicated to humility.
On the day of Holy and Great Wednesday, Judas went to the Jewish leaders and arranged the betrayal of Christ for 30 pieces of silver.
Great Thursday is associated with the Last Supper, when the sacrament of communion was established. After supper, Christ took bread, blessed it, broke it, distributed it to his disciples, and said: “Take, eat, this is my body!”. Then he raised the cup and said: “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins”. After the communion, Christ admitted to his disciples that he would be betrayed. In the evening of Great Thursday, the service of the 12 Gospels is performed.
Good Friday, also known as Holy Friday, is the day on which Jesus Christ was crucified and is dedicated to his suffering. In the morning of Good Friday, the so-called royal hours are served. In the evening, at the shroud with the body of the dead and placed in the tomb of Jesus depicted on it, the so-called Christ's funeral service is performed.
On Holy Saturday, the burial of the Lord Jesus Christ, performed by Joseph and Nicodemus, is commemorated, as well as the descent of the Savior into the kingdom of darkness - hell. When Christ died as a man, his body was placed in the tomb. His soul descended into hell, defeated it and freed the souls imprisoned there. On the third day, the soul and body reunited, and the body resurrected from the dead.
At 11:30 p.m. on Holy Saturday, believers go to the service in the temples, and at midnight the Resurrection of Christ is announced. The greeting for him is Christ is risen (Christos voskrese) and the answer is He is truly risen (Voistinu voskrese).