Holy Thursday is a day rich in theological significance, commemorating the institution of the Holy Eucharist, Christ’s Washing of the Feet, the Blessing of the Holy Antimension, the Blessing of the Holy Myron, and the preparation of the table for the Plaschanytsia. The services for the day are deeply reflective, guiding the faithful through Christ’s sacrifice and humility.
The day begins with Vespers, transitioning into the Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great, which focuses on the Eucharist and Christ’s Passion.
The Anaphora (Eucharistic Prayer) in the Liturgy of Saint Basil recalls Christ’s institution of the Eucharist and emphasizes His sacrifice for the salvation of humanity.
The Holy Eucharist is celebrated, and the faithful receive Christ’s Body and Blood in remembrance of the Last Supper.
After the Liturgy of Saint Basil, the Holy Myron (Chrism) is blessed. This sacred oil is used in the sacrament of Chrismation (Confirmation), anointing the faithful and symbolizing the Holy Spirit.
The Blessing of the Holy Myron is an important liturgical act, consecrating the oil for use in future Chrismationservices. This ritual emphasizes the presence of the Holy Spirit in the Church and in the lives of the faithful.
After the Blessing of the Holy Myron, the Holy Antimension is blessed by the priest or bishop. The Antimension is a sacred cloth that depicts Christ’s burial and is used on the altar during the Divine Liturgy.
The Holy Antimension symbolizes Christ’s death and resurrection and is essential for the celebration of the Eucharist. It is signed by the bishop and is a symbol of the apostolic authority of the local church.
After the Blessing of the Holy Antimension, the Washing of the Feet takes place. This act commemorates Christ’s humble gesture of washing His disciples’ feet at the Last Supper (John 13:1-17).
The priest or bishop washes the feet of twelve men, representing the twelve apostles, teaching the faithful the importance of humility and service to others. It reflects Christ’s command that whoever wants to be great must serve others.
Later in the evening, Matins is celebrated, during which the Twelve Gospel Readings are chanted. These readings, taken from the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, recount Christ’s agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, His betrayal, trial, crucifixion, and death.
The day concludes with Matins, during which the Twelve Gospel Readings are recited. These readings recount the events of Christ’s Passion, including His arrest, trial, crucifixion, and death. The Twelve Gospel Readings are drawn from the four Gospels and are traditionally sung in a solemn manner. These readings are often chanted or read in parts, and they serve as a spiritual preparation for the coming events of Good Friday.
The Twelve Gospel Readings are:
Matthew 26:36-75 — The agony in the Garden of Gethsemane and Peter’s denial.
Mark 14:32-72 — The betrayal, arrest, and denial of Peter.
Luke 22:39-71 — The trial before the Sanhedrin.
John 13:31-38 — Jesus’ new commandment to love one another.
John 13:39-14:31 — Jesus’ teachings on the coming of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 27:1-31 — Jesus before Pilate, the trial, and the mocking of Christ.
Mark 15:1-20 — The crucifixion of Jesus.
Luke 23:1-25 — Pilate’s condemnation and the crowd’s cries for Jesus’ death.
John 19:17-30 — The crucifixion and Jesus’ final words.
Matthew 27:32-56 — The crucifixion and the death of Jesus.
Mark 15:21-41 — The crucifixion and the moment of Jesus’ death.
Luke 23:26-49 — The crucifixion, Jesus’ last words, and the centurion’s declaration of faith.
The Twelve Gospel Readings serve as a way of preparing the faithful for the solemn observances of Good Friday, where Christ’s sacrifice will be remembered in a more poignant and sorrowful manner.
After the services conclude, the table for the Plaschanytsia (Holy Shroud) is prepared. This is an important act of reverence in anticipation of Good Friday.
The table is set up and decorated with flowers, creating a solemn and beautiful place for the Holy Shroud to be placed on Good Friday. The Plaschanytsia represents Christ’s body after His death and will be placed on the table for the faithful to venerate.
The flower decorations signify the beauty and reverence with which the faithful approach the tomb of Christ. It prepares the space for the veneration of the Holy Shroud on Good Friday, symbolizing Christ’s death and entombment.
Vespers combined with the Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great: The day begins with this sacred liturgy, commemorating Christ’s institution of the Eucharist and His sacrifice.
The Blessing of the Holy Myron: Holy Myron (Chrism) is consecrated for the sacrament of Chrismation, symbolizing the Holy Spirit and empowering the faithful.
The Blessing of the Holy Antimension: The sacred cloth representing Christ’s burial, which is used for celebrating the Eucharist.
The Washing of the Feet: A symbolic act of humility and service, where the priest or bishop washes the feet of twelve men, reflecting Christ’s love and service to His disciples.
Twelve Gospel Readings: The recitation of Gospel passages recounting Christ’s Passion, preparing the faithful for Good Friday.
Preparation of the Table for the Plaschanytsia: After the services, the table is set up and decorated with flowers for the Holy Shroud that will be placed on Good Friday.
Holy Thursday is a solemn and beautiful day in the liturgical life of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. Through the Eucharist, the Washing of the Feet, the Blessing of the Holy Myron, and the Twelve Gospel Readings, the faithful enter deeply into the mystery of Christ’s sacrifice. The preparation of the table for the Plaschanytsia symbolizes a final act of reverence before Good Friday, where the Church commemorates Christ’s death and prepares for the hope of His Resurrection at Pascha.
The term “Maundy Thursday” comes from the Latin word “mandatum,” which means “commandment”. This refers to the command that Jesus gave to His disciples at the Last Supper to love one another as He had loved them. The name “Maundy Thursday” is particularly used in the Western Christian tradition, especially in the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, and Methodist churches, to refer to the Thursday of Holy Week, which commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus with His disciples.
The term “Maundy” comes directly from the Latin word “mandatum”, which is part of the phrase “Mandatum novum do vobis ut diligatis invicem sicut dilexi vos”, which means “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:34). This commandment, which Jesus gave to His disciples during the Last Supper, is seen as central to Christian ethics and is the foundation for the observance of Maundy Thursday.
The tradition of referring to this day as “Maundy Thursday” is primarily observed in the Western Church and dates back to at least the Middle Ages, when the term “mandatum” was used to describe the washing of feet, a practice that is still part of the Holy Thursday observance in many traditions.
Roman Catholic Church: The term “Maundy Thursday” is used to describe the Holy Thursday liturgy, which commemorates the institution of the Eucharist, Jesus’ washing of the disciples’ feet, and His commandment to love one another.
Anglican Church: The Church of England and other Anglican traditions commonly use “Maundy Thursday” to refer to the liturgical observance of Holy Thursday. The term “Maundy” also has a connection to the tradition of Maundy Money, where the British monarch distributes alms to the poor on this day as an act of charity, which is also tied to Jesus’ teachings about love and service.
Lutheran Church: Like in the Roman Catholic and Anglican traditions, Lutherans also refer to the day as Maundy Thursday in connection with Christ’s commandment and the Last Supper.
Methodist Church: The Methodist tradition uses the term “Maundy Thursday” as well, though in some communities, the term Holy Thursday might be more common.
In Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic churches, including the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, the term “Maundy Thursday” is not typically used. Instead, Holy Thursday (or Great Thursday) is the preferred term to describe the commemoration of the Last Supper and the institution of the Eucharist. The focus in these traditions is more on the sacramental significance of the Eucharist and the passion of Christ.
In summary, “Maundy Thursday” is a term derived from the Latin word “mandatum” (commandment) and is used primarily in Western Christian traditions to refer to Holy Thursday. It highlights the command of Christ to love one another, which He gave during the Last Supper. It is used in churches such as the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, and Methodist traditions, but not in Eastern Christian traditions.
