The New Pascha: Holy Thursday and the Mystical Supper
Double Supper: it has the Law's Pascha, The new Pascha also, the Lord's Blood and Body. -Synaxarion for Holy Thursday Mystical Supper Icon Holy Thursday is crucial to understanding the narrative of Holy Week. Holy Thursday tells us the story of the events that directly preceded the Passion. But it is not simply a prologue to Holy Friday; the events of Holy Thursday are of such great spiritual significance that the whole sacramental practice of the Church cannot be understood without understanding Holy Thursday. The Synaxarion that is read at the Orthros service on the evening of Holy Wednesday tells us that Holy Thursday is dedicated primarily to four events: Jesus washing the disciples' feet before the Mystical Supper The Mystical Supper itself Jesus' prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane The betrayal of Jesus by Judas The Gospel reading that is read at the Vesperal Presanctified Liturgy on Holy Thursday morning shows us all four of these events,...