Monday, April 06, 2009
Why Do We Call It Holy Week?
In Forum on Sunday we discussed the history of Holy Week. The group suggested that I share some of that information here with you.
The significance of Easter is intricately linked to the Jewish celebration of Passover. Jesus and his disciples were in Jerusalem to celebrate Passover. Indeed, for several years, Easter was celebrated on the same day as Passover.
It was in 325 at the Council of Nicea (a gathering of church officials) that it was decided that Easter should be celebrated on a Sunday every year, unlike Passover, which can fall on any day of the week. At the Council of Nicea the formula for figuring Easter was developed. Easter would be celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon after March 21st. Easter can be as Early as March 22nd and as late as April 25th. Because it follows a lunar calendar, the date for Easter moves, but it is always on a Sunday.
Ash Wednesday is figured 40 days prior to Easter. The 40 days exclude Sundays, which are always to be celebrated as "little Easters" or recollections of the resurrection. Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent, a time when we prepare our hearts for Easter. Some people choose to give something up during Lent, to remind themselves of Christ's sacrifice and of how vital God is in their lives.
We're not really sure where the word "Easter" comes from. Some suggest that it comes from Eostur, the Norse word for "spring." Others suggest that it is derived from the Anglo-Saxon name for the spring goddess Eastre. In French, Spanish, and Italian the word for Easter is Pascha, which makes the connection to Passover evident.
Much of what we know about early observances of Holy Week comes from the diary of a Spanish woman named Egeria, who wrote in 384 during her visit to Jerusalem during Holy Week. She tells us that
Maundy Thursday often includes an observance of the Last Supper, including footwashing and communion. The word "Maundy" comes from the Latin word mandatum, which is translated "command" or "mandate," a reference to Christ's command to "Do this in remembrance of me."
Good Friday is a time to reread the entire passion story, the story of Christ's suffering and death. This service is sometimes called a Tenebrae service which means "darkness." Candles are extinguished as the story is read, until the sanctuary is in complete darkness.
Some churches celebrate a Silent Saturday, a time to come to the church, sit in silence, and reflect on the significance of Christ's death.
Easter sunrise services have a long history, all the way back to the early church. New converts would be baptized at the stroke of 12 on Easter morning, breaking a fast that they had been keeping since Friday night.
As you walk this week toward Easter Sunday, know that the church has been walking this same path since the resurrection of Jesus. Use this week to recall the significance of Christ's sacrifice for us. Prepare your heart for a wonderful celebration Easter morning!
The significance of Easter is intricately linked to the Jewish celebration of Passover. Jesus and his disciples were in Jerusalem to celebrate Passover. Indeed, for several years, Easter was celebrated on the same day as Passover.
It was in 325 at the Council of Nicea (a gathering of church officials) that it was decided that Easter should be celebrated on a Sunday every year, unlike Passover, which can fall on any day of the week. At the Council of Nicea the formula for figuring Easter was developed. Easter would be celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon after March 21st. Easter can be as Early as March 22nd and as late as April 25th. Because it follows a lunar calendar, the date for Easter moves, but it is always on a Sunday.
Ash Wednesday is figured 40 days prior to Easter. The 40 days exclude Sundays, which are always to be celebrated as "little Easters" or recollections of the resurrection. Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent, a time when we prepare our hearts for Easter. Some people choose to give something up during Lent, to remind themselves of Christ's sacrifice and of how vital God is in their lives.
We're not really sure where the word "Easter" comes from. Some suggest that it comes from Eostur, the Norse word for "spring." Others suggest that it is derived from the Anglo-Saxon name for the spring goddess Eastre. In French, Spanish, and Italian the word for Easter is Pascha, which makes the connection to Passover evident.
Much of what we know about early observances of Holy Week comes from the diary of a Spanish woman named Egeria, who wrote in 384 during her visit to Jerusalem during Holy Week. She tells us that
"Passion/Palm Sunday, or the beginning of Holy Week, is the beginning of Easter Week, or as they call it here, 'The Great Week.' All the people go before the bishop with palms and antiphons, all the time repeating, 'Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.' There are minor services on the next three days, except that on Wednesday the presbyter reads about Judas' plot to betray Jesus, and the 'people groan and lament at this reading.' On Thursday, after everyone has received communion, they all 'conduct the bishop to Gethsemane.' And on Friday, services occur on Golgotha, where fragments of the wood of the cross are adored by all the people, who march past the cross and kiss it."Catholics have always celebrated Ash Wednesday, Lent, and the services of Holy Week. Some Protestants began observing these things after Vatican II in the early 1960's. Vatican II was the Catholic Church's attempt to make faith more accessible to the people. In response, many Protestant churches began to adopt Catholic celebrations (including Advent and Lent) as a way to make their worship more meaningful.
Maundy Thursday often includes an observance of the Last Supper, including footwashing and communion. The word "Maundy" comes from the Latin word mandatum, which is translated "command" or "mandate," a reference to Christ's command to "Do this in remembrance of me."
Good Friday is a time to reread the entire passion story, the story of Christ's suffering and death. This service is sometimes called a Tenebrae service which means "darkness." Candles are extinguished as the story is read, until the sanctuary is in complete darkness.
Some churches celebrate a Silent Saturday, a time to come to the church, sit in silence, and reflect on the significance of Christ's death.
Easter sunrise services have a long history, all the way back to the early church. New converts would be baptized at the stroke of 12 on Easter morning, breaking a fast that they had been keeping since Friday night.
As you walk this week toward Easter Sunday, know that the church has been walking this same path since the resurrection of Jesus. Use this week to recall the significance of Christ's sacrifice for us. Prepare your heart for a wonderful celebration Easter morning!
# posted by thankyoudarlin @ 10:05 AM 
