Last supper and feet washing: March 24 is the Holy Thursday

YEREVAN, MARCH 24, ARMENPRESS. March 24 is the Holy Thursday, the day of the Last supper, which is dedicated to the proverb of the ten virgins.

Holy Tuesday has an inherent connection with the previous day. The sacrament of the day implies that by the fruits of our virtues and good deeds we must be spiritually ready for the second coming of Christ, otherwise we shall wither away like the fig tree and shall find the doors of the Heavenly Kingdom closed like the five foolish virgins.

On that day, during the vespers ten children come out to the center of the church symbolizing the ten virgins, holding burning candles in their hands. Among them five are selected as wise. They stand in front of the Altar with burning candles. The other five candles are put out by the clergyman

The Gospel message of the day is: “Watch, for you do not know either the day or the hour in which the Lord comes".

Holy Wednesday, anointment and betrayal:On this day the church commemorates the guilty woman who came to Jesus having very precious ointment and poured it on His head. This symbolized the approaching death of the Lord. The apostles blamed the woman for wasting the ointment: “This ointment might have been sold for very much and given to the poor.” But Jesus said to them: “Why do you trouble the woman? She has performed a good service for me.For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have Me. By pouring this ointment on my body she has prepared me for burial.Truly I tell you, wherever this good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her."This event of anointment was followed by the betrayal of Jesus by Judah.

“Armenpress” reports in the morning on Holy Thursday, the Divine Liturgy is celebrated commemorating the establishment of the Sacrament of Communion during the Last Supper when Jesus took the bread and blessed it and broke it and gave to the disciples and said: “Take, eat, this is My body”. And He took the cup and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.For this is my blood of the new covenant,which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins”.

The main importance of the Divine Liturgy is the sacrifice of Jesus, His Crucifixion for the salvation of mankind and the Sacrament of Communion which is conducted by the blessed bread and wine which are laid on the Holy Altar. These are the Blood and the Body of Jesus which are spiritual food for the faithful. “Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them” (John6:56).

Washing of the feet:In the evening on Holy Thursday, the service of the Washing of the Feet takes place. After the Last Supper Jesus kneeled before His disciples and washed their feet then wiped them with the towel that was tied around His waist (John 13:5). This was an example of modesty and humility as he says: “So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet”. In ancient times it was accepted to wash the feet of the guests and the elder as an expression of respect and homage.

During the service of the Washing of the Feet the bishop or the priest of the church ascends to the Holy Altar together with the children or the servants of the church. It is customary in the Armenian Church that the Catholicos conducts the Washing of the Feet service at the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin.The clergyman blesses the water and the ointment which are put on the Altar with the cross and the Gospel uttering: “May this oil and water be blessed and sanctified”. After the “Saving” prayer the priest takes the towel, kneels and washes the feet of the twelve and anoints them with oil. At the end of the ceremony the Gospel is read mentioning the washing of the feet of the Apostles by Jesus. Jesus washed the feet of the apostles only with water and the use of oil during the service of the Washing of the Feet symbolizes the precious ointment poured by the fallen woman on Jesus. After the service blessed oil is distributed to the faithful for us in their homes. Late in the evening of Holy Thursday the service of Good Friday begins which ends late at night. It is called Khavaroom (darkness) and refers to the sacrament of Holy Friday.