The secrets and rituals of Maundy Thursday and the celebration of Holy Saturday and Easter

Today, Egyptian churches celebrate the end of Holy Week, which precedes Easter, also known as Maundy Thursday. President Sisi sent a delegate to the Armenian Orthodox community to congratulate them on the occasion of this holiday.

Churches across the Republic were filled since the early morning hours with Copts who attended the Maundy Thursday Mass, which is considered the first Mass of Holy Week. This Mass celebrates the establishment of the sacrament of the Eucharist (communion), as well as the surrender and arrest of Christ. This Thursday is considered the last day of the Holy Week that precedes the Holy Week. Easter Holiday.

Secrets and rituals of Maundy Thursday It includes important religious events, most notably the last supper of Jesus Christ with his disciples before his arrest. It represents the beginning of the New Testament represented by the holy disciples. This occasion also represents the moment in which Christ settled the debts of all humanity from the time of Adam until the end of time.

Maundy Thursday comes as an integral part of the events of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. It is a small holiday that carries within it symbols of holiness and salvation, and therefore it is considered an essential part of the religious rituals of churches.

In addition to special religious rituals, including the Mass prayer and the washing of the feet of priests and monks, which is also known as “Holy Thursday,” and precedes Good Friday, which is considered the climax of religious events in churches.

Washing the feet is part of the ritual at the end of Holy Week Within the framework of Maundy Thursday prayers, Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of Mark, washed the feet of bishops and monks in the Miraculous Monastery of Marmina in King Mariout, west of Alexandria. Pope Tawadros presided over the Maundy Thursday prayers and Mass on Maundy Thursday in the monastery itself, which is considered part of the Holy Week rituals.

The event witnessed the participation of Bishop Cyril of Ava Mina, bishop and head of the monastery, the monastic fathers and priests, in addition to a limited presence of monastery workers and monastic seekers, as the monastery decided to suspend visits during Holy Week.

During the foot-washing ritual, the bishops wash the feet of the priests, and after that the priests wash the feet of the deacons and believers in all churches, and this is considered a practical application of what was approved by Jesus Christ.

Maundy Thursday prayers Thursday prayers include praying part of the Pascha early in the morning, and the Saa’i prayers in the manner of the Pascha, which is prayed three times a day, with the Laqan prayer and the sprinkling of water on the feet in remembrance of the washing of the disciples’ feet at the hands of Jesus Christ. The bishops wash the priests’ feet in what is known as the “ritual washing.” Feet,” after which the priests wash the feet of the deacons and believers in all churches, and this is considered a practical application of the ritual established by Jesus Christ.

The Loqan prayer is considered part of the prayers associated with Maundy Thursday, and the word “Laqan” is a Greek name that refers to the vessel that is used for washing, and it means “vessel” and there were examples of it in ancient churches in Egypt, such as a stone or marble bowl installed in the floor of the church. Now the water is placed in a regular container and the priest prays over it.

The Loqan prayer is also held on holidays related to water, such as the Feast of the Epiphany or the “Divine Apparition,” to remind the church of the baptism of Jesus Christ, and in the Maundy Thursday Mass the Loqan is held to remind us of the humility of Christ who washed the feet of his disciples, and the same ritual is also held on the Feast of the Apostles, because the apostles likened Through Christ in service.

The Last Supper of Christ Maundy Thursday was famous for the dinner that brought together Jesus Christ and his disciples, and it was called the last because it was the last dinner that brought them together before his surrender to the Jews, his trial, and his crucifixion. During this meeting, he left his disciples a commandment to love each other as he loved them, and established a covenant to establish the sacrament of Communion that Christians rely on until today. Which is considered one of the sacred secrets in the Orthodox Church.

On this day, Christ presented his body and blood to his disciples, saying to them, “Take, eat, this is my body.” He presented to them a cup containing grape oil, saying, “Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the new covenant, shed for many for the remission of sins.” .

Jesus Christ showed his love for his disciples by washing their feet at the Last Supper, which highlights humility and the importance of serving others and equality among human beings. He urged his disciples to be humble, by saying: “The servant is not greater than his master, nor is the messenger greater than the one who sent him,” and he encouraged them to practically apply this. Guidance.

The Great Friday Tomorrow, Friday, the Church ends Holy Week of 2024, which began on Saturday and extends until the celebration of Good Friday , the last day of this week. On this day, the Church holds prayers that last for approximately 12 hours, and Copts fast for up to 18 hours. Cut off from food and drink.

Pope Tawadros II is scheduled to lead Good Friday prayers, the last day of Holy Week, in the church, and the bishops and bishops will participate in these prayers. The church allowed Copts to participate in prayer in the St. Mark’s Cathedral in Abbasiya, for those with personal invitations, with no exceptions for entry.

The date of celebrating Holy Saturday The Egyptian churches, whether Orthodox, Evangelical, Catholic, or Episcopal, celebrate the glorious Feast of Resurrection for the year 2024 on Sunday, May 5. This feast is considered one of the most prominent major feasts in the Church, as it is preceded by a celebration of Holy Saturday, which is the day immediately preceding the feast.

The Church celebrates Holy Saturday on the evening of Good Friday, where the night of Abu Galceses is held and prayers are performed with the Al-Farihi melody until Saturday morning. Christians gather on Holy Saturday in the Church of the Resurrection, where they prepare to light the 33 candles, a symbol of the age of Jesus Christ on earth, and this day falls on This year is May 4th.

The heads of the Egyptian churches are expected to preside over the Easter celebrations and masses on Holy Saturday, as Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of Mark, will preside over the 2024 Easter Mass on Saturday evening in the Cathedral of Saint Mark, in the presence of the bishops, bishops and all members of the church.

Rituals to celebrate Easter 2024 Resurrection is considered one of the most important Christian holidays, as it symbolizes the resurrection of Jesus from the grave, according to the New Testament narrative, and this celebration forms the basis of Christianity, as Copts during the period of Great Lent abstain from eating poultry, meat, and fish, in line with the fast of Jesus Christ, who fasted for 40 days. Day and night.

The Easter rituals are characterized by special melodies that express the celebration of the Resurrection, and the masses include a representation of the Resurrection of Christ. Next Saturday night, when the clock strikes midnight, the Copts will turn on the lights in the churches, thus ending their 55-day fast and beginning the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Thus, we have learned about everything related to the rituals of Maundy Thursday and its celebration, while learning about everything related to the Christian celebrations of Holy Saturday and Easter.