Great Week

SOTIRIOS A. VLAVIANOS

Great Week (or Holy Week) is the most important part of the liturgical year for the Eastern Churches. It belongs to the move­able liturgical cycle and follows the Holy and Great Lenten period, beginning with Palm Sunday and ending on Great Saturday evening before the Divine Liturgy of the Resurrection (Pascha). It includes prolonged services, which are rich in litur­gical material and symbolism. Every day a special event is commemorated: Joseph the all-beautiful and the cursing of the barren fig-tree (Great Monday), the wise and foolish virgins of the parable (Great Tuesday), the anointing of Jesus by the sinful woman (Great Wednesday), the Last Supper and the institution of the Eucharist (Great Thursday), the crucifixion (Great Friday), and the burial and the appearance of the resurrected Christ to the myrrh­bearing women (Great Saturday). A strict fast is observed throughout Great Week and xerophagy (eating dry or uncooked food, such as fruit and nuts) is practiced during the last three days. Many Orthodox, especially monastics, would not eat at all on Great Friday, others only after the afternoon service.

SEE ALSO: Fasting; Pentekostarion; Resurrec­tion; Triodion

REFERENCES AND SUGGESTED READINGS

Calivas, A. (1992) Great Week and Pascha in the Greek Orthodox Church. Brookline, MA: Holy Cross Orthodox Press.

Schmemann, A. (1961) Holy Week: A Liturgical Explanation for the Days of Holy Week. Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press. Webrew, H. (1997) Orthodox Lent Holy Week and Easter: Liturgical Texts and Commentary. Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press.