Holy Thursday Commemorates Last Supper in the Greek Orthodox Church

The Last Supper by Valentine de Boulogne (1625-1626). Public Domain

Holy Thursday and the Last Supper is the culmination of the Divine Drama successful the Greek Orthodox Church, arsenic it recalls the past time of Jesus Christ connected earth.

It is the time that Judas Iscariot betrays Jesus and connected which the Last Supper, during which Jesus gathers his Apostles to archer them astir the Mystery of Holy Communion and however to unrecorded their lives ever aft successful humility, takes place.

In the Supper, a important day successful Greek Orthodox Easter, Jesus instituted the sacrament of the Eucharist with the communion of the Apostles.

In the Greek Orthodox Church, Holy Thursday and the Last Supper are dedicated to the remembrance of 4 events that are described successful the Gospels and which occurred soon earlier the Crucifixion.

One of these events is the Last Supper connected Holy Thursday, which is the supper of Jesus Christ with the Twelve Apostles arsenic described successful the Gospels of Matthew (26, 17-30a), Mark, (14, 12-26) and Luke (22: 7-23),

The 2nd of these events is comprised of the washing of the feet of the Twelve Apostles by Jesus Christ, arsenic described successful the Gospels of Matthew (23: 6-12), Luke (22: 24-28), and John (13: 1-20).

Jesus’ supplication to his Father aft the Last Supper connected Holy Thursday and soon earlier his arrest, arsenic described successful the Gospel of John, is the 3rd of the events earlier the Crucifixion  (17: 1-26).

Lastly, the betrayal of Judas which resulted successful the apprehension of Jesus, arsenic described successful the Gospels of Matthew (26, 47-56), Mark (14, 43-50), Luke (22, 47-53) and John (18, 1-11) is the 4th lawsuit earlier the Crucifixion.

The symbolism of the Last Supper

The ritual that Jesus followed astatine the Last Supper connected Holy Thursday is afloat of symbolism. Jesus knew that the hr had travel for Him to permission this satellite and spell to the Father.

Before starting the meal, Christ poured h2o into a vessel and started to lavation his disciples’ feet. Initially, the Apostles complained and refused to let their Lord and Teacher to lavation their feet. Jesus was showing them they should beryllium humble and service their chap men. He said:

“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, person washed your feet, you besides should lavation 1 another’s feet. I person acceptable you an illustration that you should bash arsenic I person done for you. Very genuinely I archer you, nary servant is greater than his master, nor is simply a messenger greater than the 1 who sent him. Now that you cognize these things, you volition beryllium blessed if you bash them,” Jesus said to them.”

The Last Supper is called a enigma not due to the fact that it occurred successful concealed but due to the fact that Christ wanted to uncover to his disciples the enigma of the Holy Communion.

That is wherefore He said to them, “Receive and eat,” offering them breadstuff (His body) and vino (His blood), which successful Greek is:

“Λάβετε φάγετε τοῦτό μου ἐστι τὸ σῶμά… Τοῦτό ἐστι τὸ αἷμά μου τὸ τῆς καινῆς διαθήκης τὸ περὶ πολλῶν ἐκχυνόμενον.”

At the Last Supper, Christ taught by example, showing the worth of humility and self-sacrifice, alternatively than by exhibiting external, miraculous, godly powers.

Judas near the table, carrying retired his program of betrayal. After the Last Supper, Jesus handed implicit the Sacrament of the Eucharist to his disciples and past made the last teaching to His disciples successful the Garden of Gethsemane.

Jesus’ past supplication and arrest

When the disciples left, Jesus remained and prayed to His Father. His supplication revealed the depths of His agony and sorrow. He had to acquisition suffering and larn obedience arsenic humans do.

In the Last Supper connected Holy Thursday, the Son of God assumed the relation of a servant. He lived a genuinely quality existence. Though He was Himself sinless, He allied Himself with the full quality contention and experienced the aforesaid tests and trials.

After His prayer, Judas arrived astatine the Garden, accompanied by Roman soldiers. He pointed to Jesus, and gave him a kiss. Jesus was arrested and taken to High Priests Annas and Caiaphas.

Then Jesus was enactment connected trial. They asked him if helium was Jesus Christ and He replied, “It is arsenic you said”. He was recovered blameworthy and sentenced to death. The way of the Passion past begins from the Garden of Gethsemane to Golgotha ​​and the Crucifixion.

The Last Supper, unattributed c.1230. Public Domain

Time and spot of the Last Supper

Historians estimation that the day of the Crucifixion took spot betwixt 30 and 36 AD. Isaac Newton and Colin Humphreys person ruled retired the years 31, 32, 35, and 36 connected astronomical grounds, leaving April 7, 30 AD and April 3, 33 AD arsenic imaginable Crucifixion dates.

Therefore, Humphreys projected narrowing down the day of the Last Supper arsenic having occurred successful the evening of Wednesday, April 1st, 33 AD.

While religion contented assumes that the Last Supper was held connected the evening before  Crucifixion Day, determination is nary Gospel saying that the repast took spot connected the nighttime earlier Jesus died, oregon Holy Thursday arsenic contented has it.

Greek Holy Thursday traditions

Οn the greeting of Holy Thursday galore believers person Holy Communion. For those who accelerated strictly during Holy Week (without consuming immoderate oils), connected Holy Thursday, they whitethorn partake of Holy Communion.

Parishioners are capable to devour the oils since they are celebrating the contented of the Eucharist from Christ to the Church and grant this time separately.

On Holy Thursday, women dye each the Easter eggs for the family. Traditionally, the eggs are dyed reddish successful bid to symbolize the humor of Christ. The tsoureki, the Greek Easter bread, symbolizes the assemblage of Christ, arsenic successful the Last Supper.

In caller years, eggs with antithetic colors and decorations tin beryllium recovered successful galore households to delight the children.

Even though it is simply a time of mourning for Greek Orthodox Christians, households are filled with the odor of the Easter tsoureki, the peculiar saccharine breadstuff made to beryllium eaten connected Easter Sunday.

The kneading of the tsoureki is of large importance. The loaves are usually round, featuring a red-dyed ovum successful the middle. Depending connected the portion successful which the tsoureki breadstuff is made, it volition incorporate assorted spices and person antithetic shapes.

They besides person antithetic names, depending connected the region. Names specified arsenic koutsounes, kouzounakia, kofinia, kalathakia, doxaria, avgoules, lazarakia among others, but each notation to the aforesaid saccharine loaf.

Smaller tsourekia are besides made for children usually successful the shapes of animals.

Late connected Holy Thursday, women stitchery successful churches crossed the state to decorate the Epitaph and mourn for Jesus.