“THE HOUSE OF GOD AND THE CHURCH SERVICES”, 2

§ 116. Peculiarities of the Services of Great Thursday. On the Great Thursday services we commemorate the washing of the Apostles’ feet, the Mystical Supper, the Prayer of Jesus Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, and His seizure by the soldiers. The services consist of Little Compline, Mattins and the Liturgy. At Mattins, after the Six Psalms, we chant the Alleluia and this troparion:

“When the glorious Disciples were enlightened at the washing of the feet, then Judas the ungodly one was stricken and darkened with the love of silver. And unto the lawless judges did he deliver Thee, the righteous Judge. O thou lover of money, behold thou him who for the sake thereof did hang himself; flee from that insatiable soul that dared such things against the Master. O Thou Who art good unto all, Lord, glory be to Thee.”

The Mattins Gospel tells us of Jesus Christ’s Mystical Supper (Luke 22:1-39). The canon begins with the words: “The Red Sea was parted by a blow from Moses’ staff.” The whole is compunctionate in tone and of the highest poetical excellence, and it explains, on the one hand, the redeeming and grace-granting significance of the Mystical Supper for us, and, on the other hand, it reveals the touching unity between, and the farewell speech of, the the Lord Jesus Christ with His Disciples.

On Great Thursday, we celebrate the Liturgy of St Basil the Great joined to Vespers. The way that the services are joined is something like that in the Presanctified Liturgy, except that, after “O Joyous Light” we sing the Trisagion [actually we have Old Testament readings first - transl.], and then read an Apostle and Gospel, before continuing with the Liturgy of St Basil as usual. The Gospel lection read at this Liturgy is composed of extracts from those Gospels which relate the Mystical Supper, the washing of the feet, and the Prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. In place of the usual Cherubic Hymn, we chant a verse which the faithful recite whenever they are preparing for Holy Communion. It is used again later in place of “Fill my mouth with Thy praise.” It runs:

“Of Thy Mystic Supper, O Son of God, receive me today as a communicant; for I will not speak of the Mystery to Thine enemies; nor will I give Thee a kiss as did Judas; but like the thief do I confess Thee: Remember me, O Lord, in Thy Kingdom.”

And in place of the usual hymn to the Mother of God, “It is Truly Meet,” we chant the ninth irmos of the canon:

“Come, ye faithful, let us raise our minds on high and enjoy the Master’s hospitality and the table of immortal life in the upper room; and let us hear the exalted teaching of the Word, Whom we magnify.”

…to be continued with “The services of Great Friday.”