Maundy Thursday. What Does Maundy Thursday Mean and Why Celebrate it?

Maundy Thursday is known in today’s popular culture as the day when eggs turn red; it is said that eggs turned red or rotten do not spoil all year. Also, people believe these sanctified and buried eggs keep the stone away.

On Holy and Great Thursday, as is confessed in the synod of the Lord’s Supper, the holy Fathers, who have ordered all things well, following the teachings of the Holy Apostles and the Holy Gospels, have left us four items for the feast: the holy washing of the feet; the Last Supper, that is, the entrusting of the fearful Mysteries, the most sacred prayer, and the Sale of the Lord.

On this day, in the morning, the Third, Sixth, and Ninth Vespers are read, followed by Obedience, and Vespers united with the Liturgy of St Basil the Great. At the Proscomidion Rite on this day, the priest takes out another Holy Communion Hymn for the communion of the sick and infants throughout the year. This Holy Communion will be crumbled, dried, and prepared on Tuesday of Holy Week at the Last Supper and then placed in the Holy Ark on the Holy Table. At certain times, but not every year, the autocephalous Churches consecrate the Holy and Great Myrrh on Maundy Thursday.

What is ordained to celebrate on Maundy Thursday?

Thursday is when housewives must paint the eggs red; then, on traditions, they will bake the Easter cake and the cake that will be brought to church on the night of the Invention to be consecrated.

On Maundy Thursday, it is ordained to celebrate two significant events of Passion Week, the first two being observed during the day and the other two on Thursday night: THE WASHING OF THE APOSTLE’S FEET BY THE HOLY HOLY MASTER, thus giving them and us a lesson of humility and the HOLY SUPPER, the celebration of Holy Communion.

Today He was hanged on wood and turned the earth into water. The priest speaks these moving words on Holy Thursday evening when he comes out of the Holy Altar carrying the Cross of Christ on his back.

What is celebrated on Maundy Thursday?

In the West, a family that prepares bread for Easter for the church now brings it with new dishes, candles, and wine to last until Easter. From Maundy Thursday to Easter Day, it is said that church bells are not rung, only minted.

On Maundy Thursday, we celebrate the washing of the disciples’ feet by the Saviour, the Last Supper, the prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, and the sale of the Lord by Judas. On the evening of this day, Christians go to the Deviation of the 12 Gospels. Throughout the South, girls tie 12 knots in a knot, making a wish and untying them when the desire is fulfilled. This knot they put under their pillow at night, thinking they will dream of their sweetheart. Also, here the custom of washing the feet of the household (children) by older women is kept.

Thursday is called Maundy Thursday, Passion Thursday, Black Thursday, and Holy Thursday. So it was the deadline by which women had to finish spinning the hemp. Also, the lazy ones were told Joimarita was coming to see what they had worked for. And if she caught them sleeping, she would make them helpless to work all year.

Read also: Enoch walked with God for 300 years. Why was the book of Enoch removed?

What events are the Holy Thursday services dedicated to?

Maundy Thursday, also called Black Thursday or Passion Thursday, is an important day, that of the Great Denia. So, according to Christian belief, we are now reminded of how the Saviour washed the disciples’ feet and exhorted them to humility. Also, on Maundy Thursday, eggs are dyed red, and on Holy Saturday, Easter and cake are baked.

The Maundy Thursday service is dedicated to the remembrance of four special events in the life of Jesus: the washing of the disciples’ feet as an example of humility, the Last Supper, the prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, and the beginning of the Passion.

During Passion Week, believers recall step by step the path followed by Jesus Christ to save man and overcome death, culminating in the critical event of Christianity: the Resurrection. Maundy Thursday is also known as the Thursday of the 12 services. The 12 candles lit at the reading of the Denas will be lit throughout the year, as they have special powers, tradition says.

Key Verse related to Maundy Thursday

“And he also took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; indeed, do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper, he also took the cup, saying, “This cup is also the new covenant in my blood, which is true, poured out for you.”

Luke 22:19-20 (NIV)

Maundy Thursday

What colors are eggs dyed on Maundy Thursday?

Two foods are not allowed to be used, namely nettles and vinegar. Because they were used to increase the Savior’s passion: Jesus Christ was beaten with nettles when he was crucified on the cross and then sprinkled with vinegar to cause him tremendous suffering from the open wounds on his body.

On Maundy Thursday, the women paint the Easter eggs with red, the blood of Jesus Christ, but be careful; neither the pace nor the cake is baked, as they will only go into the oven on Holy Saturday and then be brought to the church on the Holy Night of the Resurrection to be consecrated.

If the ancestors’ tradition says that housewives turn the eggs red on Maundy Thursday, the rule also forbids them to wash the laundry in any form, either by hand or with a washing machine. The same goes for the following days until after Easter, the last day for washing clothes being Maundy Wednesday.

The four events that took place on Maundy Thursday

On the fourth day of “Passion Week,” four events of important significance are celebrated. Maundy Thursday is the day of the Last Supper, the Saviour’s prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, the betrayal of Jesus by Judas, and the day Jesus washed his disciples’ feet.

Maundy Thursday, the fourth day of Passion Week, is when Jesus had his last supper with his disciples before being caught, tried, and crucified.

1. Washing of the feet of the Apostles

And when the supper was made, the devil put it into Judas’s heart. The son of Simon Iscariot, to sell him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given him all things in his hands and that he came forth from God. God goes, rose from supper, stripped himself of his garments, and, taking a basin, burned himself with it. After that, he poured water into the washbasin and began to wash the disciples’ feet. And wipe them with the duster with which he was burning.

The first event commemorated on Maundy Thursday is the ‘Washing of the disciples’ feet by the Saviour.’ A parable of humility. “If I then, the Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet. You also ought to wash one another’s feet; for I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you” (John 13:13-15). In the South, it is customary for women to wash their children’s feet on this day. Easter eggs are also dyed on Maundy Thursday, and it is believed that eggs are thus dyed. And consecrated in the church will not spoil all year, and if buried in the household. It will bring good luck to people.

The Saviour uproots pride, banishing it from our minds as the worst of diseases and the most hateful. For he knew that nothing is more likely to afflict the soul of man. Then this filthy and disgusting passion. Which the Master of all rightly opposes as a great enemy. “For the Lord of the proud stands against them,” according to the word of Solomon. The Holy Disciples, therefore. Also needed humble and modest thinking and a thought unconcerned with vain honor.

2. The Last Supper

The Gospels re-enact the supper moment on the evening when the Saviour was betrayed and captured—showing Jesus with his disciples in the ‘upper room.’ Knowing that until his Resurrection, these are his last moments with the 12 apostles, Jesus gives his disciples an example of humility. By washing each of their feet. Then came the revelation of the traitor and the supper in which the Saviour showed his disciples how he would be “broken” for the sins of men.

One of the highlights of Holy Week was the last supper Jesus had with his disciples before he was caught and crucified. Known to history as the ‘Last Supper, the moment has a special significance as the moment when, using bread and wine, the Saviour shows the disciples how he is to be sacrificed for the sins of mankind.

As a result of this event, the bread and wine became ‘the body and blood of the Saviour.’ “In the eucharistic act, the bread and what contains the Savior’s body and blood wonderfully. In his first letter to the Corinthians, Saint Paul drew the attention of the community he formed to the fact that the cup we bless. And the bread we bless is the body and blood of Christ.

3. The Prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane

So we learn from Scripture that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, had a favorite place of prayer. In the Garden, whose name means “oil press” and “located east of Jerusalem, not far from the Temple. Jesus chose this garden to live his last moments before being caught, tried, condemned, and crucified. Jesus fought the greatest battle of his earthly life in the Garden of Gethsemane. It was there, that night, that the climax of Jesus’ suffering took place.

The Church commemorates Holy and Great Thursday and the prayer of the Saviour Jesus Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane. The Saviour Jesus Christ chose this garden to live His last moments before being caught, judged, condemned and crucified. Gethsemane is a word of Aramaic origin and means olive press, oil press. The Garden of Gethsemane covers some 20 hectares of land, and today an olive grove at the foot of the Mount of Olives (Eleon) near the eastern walls of Jerusalem, beyond the Valley of Jehoshaphat or the brook of Kidron.

By the power of prayer, he once again overcame the temptation of the evil one who had tempted him after his baptism and who had then departed from him only for a time (Luke 4:13). He is ready for the suffering. He willingly submits to the death he does not deserve and walks serenely toward torment and Crucifixion.

4. The Selling of Jesus by Judas

Judas, one of the 12 apostles of the Saviour, sold Jesus to the high priests for 30 pieces of silver. Before Jesus’ death, Judas regretted his actions and went to return the money to the high priests. But it was too late.

The Evangelist Luke says that at this very hour of the sale, Christ sought to correct Judas, saying to him, “Judas, with a kiss do you sell the Son of Man?” (Luke 22:48) “Even the face of the sale does not shame you, Judas?” says the Lord to him. However, because this did not hinder the seller either, Christ received to be kiss. And gave Himself to them willingly, and they laid hands on Him. And they caught Him even on the night they ate the Passover. So much were they seething with anger, so fierce were they; but nothing could they have done unless Christ had permitted them.

The pages of the Holy Scripture portray Judas Iscariot as a villain. Indeed, the man held the money bag for the group of disciples of the Saviour. Judas ended up selling Jesus to the high priests, who were dissatisfied. With the new teaching that the Messiah was also bringing. So in the evening, he sold Jesus; Judas sat with the 12 apostles and the Saviour at the table. And the moment he was discovered as a traitor. He took his coat and went to the high priests to carry out his plan.

4 Main Traditions and customs of Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday is framed in popular belief as a jubilee, a kind of saint, like Good Friday. Also, she is cautious about celebrating her day and observing traditions. Also, she is depicted as a sinister-looking older woman who chops off the fingers of lazy girls who have not yet finished their torsos.
On Thursday evenings, the 12 Gospels are held and attended by women. Also, in the extra-Carpathian area, the women walk with a knotted rope, and a knot is untied at each Gospel. This is usually done by pregnant women so that they can give birth easily.
In the village, wool, flax, and hemp are spun and woven in winter. All this has to be done by Easter because new clothes are given out at Easter. The fresh coat means the summer coat.
Also, by Maundy Thursday, the fence must be mended in the gardens, and the rubbish must be collected and burned. Those spring chores must be finished before this day.

Primary Takeaways

Maundy Thursday, or Holy and Great Thursday of Passion Week, is a day of great significance in the history of salvation. On which the service of the 12 Gospels is celebrated.
On Maundy Thursday, four special moments of Passion Week are celebrated. Christ’s washing of the disciples’ feet is an example of humility. The Last Supper at which the Holy Communion (Eucharist) was instituted. The prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane and the capture of the Lord by the Pharisees, writes Agerpres.
The removal of the Holy Cross from the altar, which represents heaven. And its placement in the nave of the church also symbolizes the world. It also means the coming out of the divine glory of the Son of God. And His coming, in history, into the world.

Conclusion

According to the words above, Maundy Thursday is technically the worst day of humiliation in Jesus’ life. He was betrayed, judged, and sold by the His most beloved ones. Have a good day, and take care of your soul!