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The entry of Jesus into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week.
The entry of Jesus into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week.
For the 1958 novel of the same name by Louis Aragon, see La Semaine Sainte. La Semaine Sainte is an Historical novel by French writer Louis Aragon published in 1958

Holy Week (Latin: Hebdomada Sancta or Maior Hebdomada, "Greater Week") in Christianity is the last week before Easter. Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings Easter ( Greek: Πάσχα Pascha or Pasxa) is the most important religious feast in the Christian Liturgical year. It includes the religious holidays of Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday) and Good Friday, and lasts from Palm Sunday (or in the East, Lazarus Saturday) until but not including Easter Sunday, as Easter Sunday is the first day of the new season of The Great Fifty Days. Palm Sunday is a Christian Moveable feast which always falls on the Sunday before Easter. In the Christian Liturgical calendar, Maundy Thursday (also known as Holy Thursday) is the feast or holy day falling on the Thursday before Easter Good Friday, also called Holy Friday or Great Friday, is the Friday preceding Easter Sunday ("Pascha" Lazarus Saturday, in the Eastern Orthodox Church and those Eastern Catholic Churches which follow the Byzantine Rite, is the day before Palm Sunday Easter ( Greek: Πάσχα Pascha or Pasxa) is the most important religious feast in the Christian Liturgical year. The Pentecostarion ( Greek: Πεντηκοστάριον Pentekostárion; Slavonic: Цвѣтнаѧ Трїωдь Tsvyetnaya Triod' It commemorates the last week of the earthly life of Jesus Christ culminating in his crucifixion on Good Friday and his resurrection on Easter Sunday. Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE)

Contents

History

Holy Week in the Christian year is the week immediately preceding Easter. The liturgical year, also known as the Christian year, consists of the cycle of liturgical seasons in Christian churches which determines when The earliest allusion to the custom of marking this week as a whole with special observances is to be found in the Apostolical Constitutions (v. 18, 19), dating from the latter half of the 3rd century. In this text, abstinence from wine and flesh is commanded for all the days, while for the Friday and Saturday an absolute fast is commanded. Dionysius Alexandrinus in his canonical epistle (AD 260), refers to the six fasting days implying that the observance of them had already become an established usage in his time.

There is some doubt about the genuineness of an ordinance attributed to Constantine, in which abstinence from public business was enforced for the seven days immediately preceding Easter Sunday, and also for the seven which followed it; the Codex Theodosianus, however, is explicit in ordering that all actions at law should cease, and the doors of all courts of law be closed during those fifteen days (1. Easter ( Greek: Πάσχα Pascha or Pasxa) is the most important religious feast in the Christian Liturgical year. ii. tit. viii. ). Of the particular days of the "great week" the earliest to emerge into special prominence was naturally Good Friday. Next came the Sabbatum Magnum ("Great Sabbath", i. e. , Holy Saturday or Easter Eve) with its vigil, which in the early church was associated with an expectation that the second advent would occur on an Easter Sunday. Holy Saturday ( Latin: Sabbatum Sanctum) is the day after Good Friday. The Easter Vigil, also called the Paschal Vigil or the Great Vigil of Easter, is a service held in many Christian churches as the first official celebration Early Christianity is commonly defined as the Christianity of the three centuries between the Crucifixion of Jesus ( c In Christianity, the Second Coming is the anticipated return of Jesus Christ from Heaven to earth an event that will fulfill aspects of Messianic

There are other texts that refer to the traditions of the Early Church, most notably The Pilgrimage of Etheria (also known as The Pilgrimage of Egeria) which details the complete observance of Holy Week in the early church.

Holy Week in Eastern Christianity

In Eastern Orthodox Churches and Eastern Catholic Churches, Holy Week is referred to as "Great and Holy Week". The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world This article refers to Eastern Churches in full communion with the Holy See Orthros (Matins) services for each day are held on the preceding evening. Thus, the Matins service of Great Monday is sung on Palm Sunday evening, and so on. This permits more of the faithful to attend, and shows that during Holy Week the times are out of joint—Matins ends up being served in the evening, and in some places Vespers is served in the morning.

Fasting during Great and Holy Week is very strict. Fasting is primarily the act of willingly abstaining from some or all Food, Drink, or both for a period of time Dairy products and meat products are strictly forbidden. On most days, no alcoholic beverages are permitted and no oil is used in the cooking. Friday and Saturday are observed as strict fast days, meaning that nothing should be eaten on those days. However, fasting is always adjusted to the needs of the individual, and those who are very young, ill or elderly are not expected to fast as strictly. Those who are able to, may receive the blessing of their spiritual father to observe an even stricter fast, whereby they eat only two meals that week: one on Wednesday night and one after Divine Liturgy on Thursday. The title confessor is used in the Christian Church in several ways The Divine Liturgy is the common term for the Eucharistic service of the Byzantine tradition of Christian liturgy.

The services of Sunday through Tuesday evenings are often called "Bridegroom Prayer", because of their theme of Christ as the Bridegroom of the Church, a theme expressed in the troparion that is solemnly chanted during them. A troparion ( Greek: τροπάριον plural troparia, τροπάρια Church Slavonic: тропа́рь tropar) in Byzantine On these days, an icon of the "Bridegroom" is placed on an analogion in the center of the temple, portraying Jesus wearing the purple robe of mockery and crowned with a crown of thorns (see Instruments of the Passion). An icon (from Greek εἰκών eikōn, "image" is a religious work of art most commonly a painting from Eastern Christianity. An Analogion (Άναλόγιον is a Lectern or slanted stand on which Icons, the Gospel Book or are placed for veneration by the faithful in the A temple (from the Latin word Templum) is a structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities such as prayer and sacrifice or analogous rites A robe is a loose-fitting outer garment. A robe is distinguished from a Cape or Cloak by the fact that it usually has Sleeves The English In Christianity the Crown of Thorns, one of the instruments of the Passion, was the woven chaplet of thorn branches worn by Jesus before his Crucifixion This article describes the Christian Passion For other meanings see Passion.

Towards the end of the Tuesday evening Bridegroom service, the Hymn of Kassiani is sung. This article concerns the Byzantine hymnographer For the plant Cinnamomum aromaticum, see Cassia. The hymn, (written in the 9th century by Kassiani the Nun) tells of the woman who washed Christ's feet in the house of Simon the Pharisee. A hymn is a type of Song, usually religious specifically written for the purpose of praise adoration or Prayer, and typically addressed to a deity/deities This article concerns the Byzantine hymnographer For the plant Cinnamomum aromaticum, see Cassia. Simon the Leper is a Biblical figure mentioned by the Gospels according to Matthew (266-13 and Mark (143-9 (Luke 7:36-50) Much of the hymn is written from the perspective of the sinful woman:

O Lord, the woman who had fallen into many sins, sensing Your Divinity, takes upon herself the duty of a myrrh-bearer. With lamentations she brings you myrrh in anticipation of your entombment. "Woe to me!" she cries, "for me night has become a frenzy of licentiousness, a dark and moonless love of sin. Receive the fountain of my tears, O You who gathers into clouds the waters of the sea. Incline unto me, unto the sighings of my heart, O You who bowed the heavens by your ineffable condescension. I will wash your immaculate feet with kisses and dry them again with the tresses of my hair; those very feet at whose sound Eve hid herself from in fear when she heard You walking in Paradise in the twilight of the day. As for the multitude of my sins and the depths of Your judgments, who can search them out, O Savior of souls, my Savior? Do not disdain me Your handmaiden, O You who are boundless in mercy. "

The Byzantine musical composition expresses the poetry so strongly that it leaves many people in a state of prayerful tears. The Hymn can last upwards of 25 minutes and is liturgically and musically a highpoint of the entire year. In many places in Greece, the Bridegroom Matins service of Great Tuesday is popular with sex workers and those engaged in prostitution, who may not often be seen in church at other times of the year. A sex worker is a person who works in the Sex industry. Sex workers may be employed as prostitutes strippers go-go dancers burlesque performers escorts dominatrices Prostitution is the act of performing Sexual activity in exchange for Money. They come in great numbers, in order to hear the Hymn of Kassiani, as the hymn is traditionally associated with the woman fallen in many sins.

On Great and Holy Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is celebrated, at which the faithful may receive Holy Communion from the reserved Holy Mysteries. The Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, informally Presanctified Liturgy, is an Eastern Christian liturgical service for the distribution of communion The Eucharist, also called Holy Communion or Lord's Supper and other names is a Christian Sacrament by which in a common interpretation those In Christian practice during the Liturgy of the Eucharist the elements of Bread and Wine become the Body and Blood The term sacred mysteries generally denotes the area of Supernatural phenomena associated with a Divinity or a religious ideology. This service combines Vespers with a Communion Service. Vespers is the evening Prayer service in the Roman Catholic, Eastern (Byzantine Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox, liturgies of the Each of these services has a reading from the Gospel which sets forth the theme for the day.

In many churches, especially Greek Orthodox, a service of Anointing (Holy Unction) is held on Wednesday evening. To anoint is to pour or smear with perfumed oil milk water melted butter or other substances a process employed ritually by many religions and races

Orthodox icon of Christ washing the feet of the Apostles (16th century, Pskov school of iconography).
Orthodox icon of Christ washing the feet of the Apostles (16th century, Pskov school of iconography). An icon (from Greek εἰκών eikōn, "image" is a religious work of art most commonly a painting from Eastern Christianity. Pskov (Псков ancient Russian spelling Пльсковъ Pleskov) in Latvian Pleskava, in Estonian Pihkva, is an ancient city located in Iconography is the branch of Art history which studies the identification description and the interpretation of the content of images

Divine Liturgy of the Last Supper is held on the morning of Great and Holy Thursday. The Divine Liturgy is the common term for the Eucharistic service of the Byzantine tradition of Christian liturgy. In the Christian Gospels the Last Supper (also called the Lord's Supper or Mystical Supper) was the last meal Jesus shared with his Matins of Great and Holy Friday, with its Twelve Gospel Readings, is held on the evening of Holy Thursday; Vespers of Holy Friday (Vespers of the Unnailing) is held in the morning or afternoon of Holy Friday. The Descent from the Cross ( Greek: Αποκαθελωσις Apokathelosis) or Deposition, is the scene as depicted in art from the Gospel account of The figure of Christ is taken down from the Cross, and a richly-embroidered icon on the cloth called the epitaphios representing Christ laid in a "Tomb" decorated with flowers. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Sanctum Sepulchrum also called the Church of the Resurrection, ( Greek: Ναός της Αναστάσεως Naos tis Anastaseos Matins of Great and Holy Saturday is held on the evening of Holy Friday; the tomb is sprinkled with rose petals and rose water, and then carried in a candlelit procession, while a set of hymns called "The Lamentations" is being sung. thumb|right|250px|Rose water Rose water or rose syrup (گلاب Golâb, Gül suyu ماء ورد Māʾ ward, Urdu: گلاب رس

Vespers joined to the Divine Liturgy is served on Great and Holy Saturday morning. Vespers is the evening Prayer service in the Roman Catholic, Eastern (Byzantine Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox, liturgies of the The Divine Liturgy is the common term for the Eucharistic service of the Byzantine tradition of Christian liturgy. This is the Proti Anastasi (First Resurrection) service, with Just before the reading of the Gospel, the hangings and vestments and changed from dark lenten colors to white. An antependium (Latin "to hang before" pl antependia) more commonly known as a hanging, or when speaking specifically of the hanging Vestments are liturgical garments and articles associated primarily with the Christian religions especially the Latin Rite and other Roman Catholics

On Saturday night, the service begins in darkness with the chanting of the Midnight Office. The Midnight Office ( Greek: Μεσονύκτικον, Mesonýtikon; Slavonic: Полуношница, Polúnoshnitsa; Afterwards, all remain in silence and darkness until the stroke of midnight. Then, the priest lights a single candle from the eternal flame on the altar (which is never extinguished). An eternal flame is a flame or torch that burns constantly The flame that burned constantly at Delphi, was an archaic feature "alien to the ordinary Greek temple" The light is spread from person to person until everyone holds a lighted candle. Then a procession takes place circling around the outside of the church, recreating the journey of the Myrrh Bearers as they journeyed to the tomb of Jesus on the first Easter morning. The term Myrrhbearers ( Greek: Μυροφόραι Myrophorae; Slavonic: Жены́-мѷроно́сицы mironosiţe refers to the women who came The procession stops in front of the closed doors of the church. The opening of these doors symbolized the "rolling away of the stone" from the tomb by the angel, and all enter the church joyfully singing the Troparion of Pascha. A troparion ( Greek: τροπάριον plural troparia, τροπάρια Church Slavonic: тропа́рь tropar) in Byzantine Easter ( Greek: Πάσχα Pascha or Pasxa) is the most important religious feast in the Christian Liturgical year. Paschal Orthros begins with an Ektenia (litany) and the chanting of the Paschal Canon. Ektenia (from ἐκτένεια ekténeia; literally "diligence" often called simply Litany, is a prayerful petition in the Eastern Orthodox A canon is a structured Hymn used in a number of Eastern Orthodox services One of the highpoints is the sharing of the paschal kiss and the reading of the Hieratikon (Catechetical Homily of John Chrysostom) by the priest. The Paschal greeting is an Easter custom among Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Christians as well as among several The Paschal homily or sermon (also known in Greek as Hieratikon or as the Catechetical Homily) of St John Chrysostom is read aloud A catechism (ˈkætəkɪzəm κατηχισμός is a summary or exposition of Doctrine, traditionally used in Christian religious teaching from New Testament A homily is a commentary that follows a reading of scripture In the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion, and in the Eastern Orthodox Church This article refers to the Christian saint For other uses of the name see Chrysostomos. The Divine Liturgy follows, and every Orthodox Christian is encouraged to confess and receive Holy Communion on this holiest day of the year. The confession of one's Sins is a religious practice important to many faiths e The Eucharist, also called Holy Communion or Lord's Supper and other names is a Christian Sacrament by which in a common interpretation those A breakfast usually follows, sometimes lasting till dawn. Breakfast is the first meal of the day The word derives from the idea of break ing the '''fast''' of sleep Slavs bring Easter baskets filled with eggs, meat, butter, and cheese -- foods from which the faithful have abstained during Great Lent -- to be blessed by the priest which are then taken back home to be shared by family and friends with joy. Great Lent, or the Great Fast, is the most important Fasting season in the Church year in Eastern Christianity, which prepares Christians

On the afternoon of Easter Day, a joyful service called "Agape Vespers" is celebrated During this service the Great Prokeimenon is chanted and a lesson from the Gospel (John 20:19-25) is read in as many different languages as possible, accompanied by the joyful ringing of bells. In the liturgical practice of the Orthodox Church, a Prokeimenon ( Greek Προκειμενον plural prokeimena; sometimes prokimenon / It may be combined with an Easter egg hunt or other activities for children. Egg hunt is a Game during which Decorated eggs real hard-boiled ones or artificial filled with or made of Chocolate Candies, of various sizes

Holy Week in the Western Church

Palm Sunday (Passion Sunday)

Main article: Palm Sunday

Before most celebrations of Mass this day, the priest blesses palm leaves (or other branches of plants, for example olive branches) and then a Gospel account is read of how Jesus rode into Jerusalem humbly on a donkey, reminiscent of a Davidic victory procession, and how people placed palms on the ground in front of him. Arecaceae or Palmae (also known by the name Palmaceae, which is taxonomically invalid or commonly palm tree) the palm family is a family of Flowering The donkey or ass, Equus asinus, is a member of the Equidae or horse family and an odd-toed ungulate. This is followed by a procession or solemn entrance into the church, with the participants holding the blessed branches in their hands.

Monday to Wednesday

The days between Palm Sunday and Maundy Thursday are known as Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday and Holy Wednesday (sometimes called Spy Wednesday). In Christianity, Holy Wednesday (also called Spy Wednesday, and in the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches Holy and Great Wednesday The Gospels of these days recount events not all of which occurred on the corresponding days between Jesus' entry into Jerusalem and his Last Supper. In the Christian Gospels the Last Supper (also called the Lord's Supper or Mystical Supper) was the last meal Jesus shared with his For instance, the Monday Gospel tells of the Anointing of Bethany (John 12:1-9), which occurred before the Palm Sunday event described in John 12:12-19. To anoint is to pour or smear with perfumed oil milk water melted butter or other substances a process employed ritually by many religions and races Bethany most commonly refers to the village of Bethany (Jerusalem.

The Chrism Mass, whose texts the Roman Missal now gives under Holy Thursday, may be brought forward to one of these days, to facilitate participation by as many as possible of the clergy of the diocese together with the bishop. Chrism (Greek word literally meaning "an anointing" also called "Myrrh" ( Myron) "Holy Oil" or "Consecrated Oil" is a Consecrated The Roman Missal ((Missale Romanum is the liturgical book that contains the texts and rubrics for the celebration of the Mass in the Roman Rite This Mass was not included in editions of the Roman Missal before the time of Pope Pius XII. In this Mass the bishop blesses separate oils for the sick (used in Anointing of the Sick) for catechumens (used in Baptism) and chrism (used in Baptism, but especially in Confirmation and Holy Orders, as well as in rites such as the blessing of an altar and a church). Anointing of the Sick is distinguished from other forms of religious Anointing or "unction" (an older term with the same meaning in that it is intended as its name In Ecclesiology, a catechumen (ˌkætəˈkjuːmən from Latin catechumenus, Greek κατηχουμενος, instructed is one receiving instruction In Christianity, baptism ( Greek, "immersing" "performing Ablutions " is the ritual act with the use of water by which one is admitted Chrism (Greek word literally meaning "an anointing" also called "Myrrh" ( Myron) "Holy Oil" or "Consecrated Oil" is a Consecrated Confirmation is a Rite of initiation in many Christian Churches normally in the form of Laying on of hands and/or Anointing for In general religious use ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is set apart as Clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies

Tenebrae

When the principal services of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil were celebrated in the morning, the office of Matins and Lauds of each day was celebrated on the evening of the preceding day in the service known as Tenebrae. Matins (also known as Orthros or Oútrenya in Eastern Churches) is the early morning or night Prayer service in the Roman Catholic Lauds is one of the two "major hours" in the Roman Catholic Liturgy of the Hours.

Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday)

Main article: Maundy Thursday

Good Friday

Main article: Good Friday
Liturgy of the Word
Prostration of the celebrant before the altar. An altar is any structure upon which Sacrifices or other offerings are made for religious purposes or some other sacred place where ceremonies take place
The readings from Isaiah 53 (about the Suffering Servant) and the Epistle to the Hebrews are read. The Book of Isaiah ( Hebrew: Sefer Y'sha'yah ספר ישעיה is a book of the Bible traditionally attributed to the Prophet Isaiah, who lived Isaiah 53, taken from the Book of Isaiah, is the last of the four Songs of the Suffering Servant, and tells the story of " The Suffering Servant The Epistle to the Hebrews (abbr Heb for Citations is one of the books in the New Testament.
The Passion narrative of the Gospel of John is sung or read, often divided between more than one singer or reader. The Gospel of John (literally According to John; Greek, Κατὰ Ἰωάννην Kata Iōannēn) is the fourth Gospel in the canon
General Intercessions: The congregation pray for the Church, the Pope, the Jews, non-Christians, unbelievers and others.
Veneration of the Cross: A crucifix is solemnly unveiled before the congregation. A crucifix (from Latin cruci fixus meaning "(one fixed to a cross" is a cross with a representation of Jesus ' body or corpus The people venerate it on their knees. During this part, the "Reproaches" are often sung.
Communion service: Hosts consecrated at the Mass of the previous day are distributed to the people.

Holy Saturday

Main article: Holy Saturday

Easter Vigil

Main article: Easter Vigil
  1. The book of Genesis 1:1-2:2 The Creation
  2. The book of Genesis 22:1-18 Abraham’s sacrifice
  3. The book of Exodus 14:15-15:1 People of Israel leaving the slavery of Egypt
  4. The book of the prophet Isaiah 54:5-14 God speaking to the miserable, oppressed people of Israel
  5. The book of the prophet Isaiah 55:1-11 God’s covenant with Israel. (God’s magnificent promise)
  6. The book of the prophet Baruch 3:9-15,32-4:4 Wisdom of God
  7. The book of the prophet Ezekiel 36:16-28 God’s promises to Ezekiel. (all was fulfilled in Jesus Christ)

After the last Old Testament Reading, the church lights are switched on, the altar candles lit, and the hymn Gloria in Excelsis is solemnly intoned. " Gloria in excelsis Deo " ( Latin for "Glory to God in the highest" is the title and beginning of a hymn known also as the Greater Doxology The church bells are rung during this hymn.

Easter Sunday

Main article: Easter

Holy Week in Spain

Spain is renowned in the world for its Holy Week traditions. Seville, Malaga, and San Fernado in Cadiz see the most glamorous celebrations, while those of Castille-Leon see the more sombre and solemn events. Seville ( Spanish: Sevilla, see also different names) is the artistic cultural and financial capital of southern Spain.

A common feature in Spain is the almost general usage of the "nazareno" or penitential robe for some of the participants in the Processions. This garment consists in a tunic, a hood with conical tip ( "capirote") used to conceal the face of the wearer, and sometimes a cloak. The exact colors and forms of these robes depend on the particular procession. The robes were widely used in the medieval period for penitents, who could demonstrate their penance while still masking their identity. (These robes intentionally served as the basis for the traditional uniform for members of the Ku Klux Klan in the United States, ironically a very anti-Catholic organization. Origins of the Ku Klux Klan The origins of the use of the costume are unclear The United States of America —commonly referred to as the ) These "Nazarenos" carry processional candles or rough hewn wooden crosses, may walk the city streets barefoot, and, in some places may carry shackles and chains on their feet as penance. In some areas, sections of the participant wear dress freely inspired in the uniforms of the Roman Legion[3]. For other uses see Legion The Roman Legion (from Latin legio "military levy Conscription,"

Seville, Spain

A large paso paraded during Holy Week
A large paso paraded during Holy Week
Main article: Holy Week in Seville

Seville arguably holds some of the most elaborate processions for Holy Week. Holy Week in Seville ( Semana Santa en Sevilla) is one of the most important traditional events of the city. Seville ( Spanish: Sevilla, see also different names) is the artistic cultural and financial capital of southern Spain. A tradition that dates from Counterreformation times, or even earlier. The Counter-Reformation (also Catholic Reformation denotes the period of Catholic revival from the pontificate of Pope Pius IV in 1560 to the close of the The "Semana Santa en Sevilla" is notable for featuring the procession of "pasos", lifelike wood sculptures of individual scenes of the events that happened between Jesus' entry in Jerusalem and his burial, or images of the Virgin Mary showing restained grief for the torture and killing of her son. Holy Week in Seville ( Semana Santa en Sevilla) is one of the most important traditional events of the city. A Paso [[Spanish language|Spanish] > "Pace" or "Step"] is an elaborate float made for religious parades Jerusalem (יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, he-Latn Yerushaláyim; Arabic: ar القُدس, ar-Latn al-Quds) is the Some of the images are of great antiquity and artistic masterworks. These "pasos" (which usually weigh over a metric tonne) are physically carried on the neck of costaleros (literally "sack men", for its distinctive -and functional- headdress). The "costaleros" (from 24 to 48) are hidden inside the platform of the "paso", so it seems to walk alone. Historically dock workers were hired to carry the "pasos". From 1973 onward, that task has been universally taken over by the members of the confraternities who organize each procession.

The "pasos" are set up and maintained by hermandades and cofradías, religious brotherhoods, confraternities or sodalities, which precede the "pasos" (up to 3) dressed in penitential robes. Some of the processions are near 3000 persons each. In Seville, but for some officials, "costaleros", acolytes and a few other exceptions every participant must wear penitential robes and be hooded. This article is about religious acolytes For other uses see Acolyte (disambiguation. A brass band may accompany the group, playing funereal religious hymns or "marchas" written for the occasion. Some processions are silent with no musical accompaniment. As each procession leaves its home church, called a salida, as well at its return (the entrada) and along the march route there are special extemporaneous songs offered by individuals in the crowd or a balcony. This songs are generically called saetas (arrows).

A total of 58 processions (as of 2007) occur during the week, from Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday morning. Palm Sunday is a Christian Moveable feast which always falls on the Sunday before Easter. Easter ( Greek: Πάσχα Pascha or Pasxa) is the most important religious feast in the Christian Liturgical year. On Maundy Thursday there are two sets of processions. In the Christian Liturgical calendar, Maundy Thursday (also known as Holy Thursday) is the feast or holy day falling on the Thursday before Easter One group occurs during the afternoon and evening. The second set begins near midnight and continues until early afternoon on Good Friday. Good Friday, also called Holy Friday or Great Friday, is the Friday preceding Easter Sunday ("Pascha" The most famous processions occur this night (the madrugá), including Jesus del Gran Poder, Esperanza - Macarena, and Esperanza - Triana.

Málaga, Spain

Holy Week processions mark the main religious celebrations in Spain but none as the processions of Málaga. Holy Week in Malaga are famous countrywide. Processions start on Palm Sunday and continue until Easter Sunday with the most dramatic and solemn on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Images from the Passion on huge ornate "tronos" (floats or thrones) some with more than 5. 000 kilos carried by more than 250 members shape the processions that go for the streets with penitents dressed in long purple robes, often with pointed hats, followed by women in black carrying candles. Drums and trumpets play solemn music and occasionally someone spontaneously sings a mournful saeta dedicated to the floats as it makes its way slowly round the streets.

León, Spain

Holy Week processions in León are also very popular, with more than 15,000 papones (penitents) on the streets. History León was founded in the 1st century BC by the Roman legion Legio VI ''Victrix''. Processions begin on "Viernes de Dolores" (the Friday in the week before Holy Week) until Easter Sunday. The most solemn and famous procession is the "Procesion de los Pasos" also known as the "Procesion del Encuentro"(Procession of the Meeting). During this marathonian procession, which lasts nine hours, about 4,000 penitents carry 13 "pasos" around all the city. The most solemn moment is El Encuentro (The Meeting) when the pasos representing Saint John and La Dolorosa face one to the other and are "bailados" (penitents move the paso like Saint John and La Dolorosa were dancing). Via Dolorosa ( Latin for "Way of Grief" or "Way of Suffering" is a street in the Old City of Jerusalem.

Also famous is a secular procession, called Entierro de San Genarín (Burial of Saint Genarín). In 1929 on Maundy Thursday night a poor alcoholic person, called Genaro Blanco was run over by the first rubbish truck in León. History León was founded in the 1st century BC by the Roman legion Legio VI ''Victrix''. The procession consists of a march through the city with Orujo at the head of the procession to the front of the city walls where the man was supposedly run over and then cheese, a bottle of Orujo and two oranges are left at the spot. Orujo as liquour distilled from wine grapes ("Augardente" Orujo is a liquor obtained from the distillation of the Pomace (solid remains

Other Holy Week Cities in Spain

All of these cities, including those above, have been declared of international tourist interest.

Linares, Spain

Linares' Holy Week is always declared of National touristic band interest since 1998. Processions start on Palm Sunday and they end at Easter Sunday. The most important procession in Linares is "Procesión del Nazareno" that occurs in the night from Holy Thrursday to Good Friday and crosses our sin city during ten hours with the company of miles of "penitentes"

The greatest "paso" in Holy Week corresponds to procession of "Last Supper of Christ and his 12 Apostles" and conmemorates this supper and the institution of the Eucharist. This group of scultures is considered the masterpiece of a great Spanish scultor called Victor de los Ríos.

Linares' Holy Week is famous for a type of Holy Week bands, called "Bandas de Cabecera", that are created and put in scene in this city.

"Bandas de Cabecera" are composed for about one hundred of "penitentes" with diverse musical instrument (formed by wind instrument and percussion). They are situated at the beginning of the procession. They performed adapted famous film soundtracks ("Ben-hur", "Exodus", "Gladiator", "The mission", . . . ) and very famous pieces of classical music ("Aranjuez's Concert" "Aida" "The lake of the swans", . . . ) and even famous modern song ("Going home" by Dire Strait, "Inch Allat" by Adamo, "The sound of silence" by Simon & Garfunkel, . . . ).

Valencian Community

Castile and Leon

Castile-La Mancha

Andalusia

Holy Week in the Philippines

In this predominantly Roman Catholic nation, Holy Week, known as both Semana Santa or Mahal na Araw, is considered as one of the most important religious festivals of the entire year. The Valencian Community ( Valencian and official Comunitat Valenciana; Comunidad Valenciana is an Autonomous community located in central to Monóvar/Monòver ( Valencian: Monòver; Spanish: Monóvar) is a municipality in the ''comarca'' of Vinalopó Castile and León (Castilla y León known formally as the Community of Castile and León is one of the seventeen autonomous communities of Spain. Zamora is a city in Castile and León, Spain, the capital of the province of Zamora. ||-||} is an industrial city and it is a Municipality in north-central Spain, upon the Pisuerga River and within the Ribera del Duero wine-making region Geography The city lies on a mountain by the Tormes River which is crossed by a bridge 150 m long built on 26 arches fifteen of which are of Roman origin, while This article is about the Spanish city For other uses see Avila Ávila de los Caballeros ( Latin: Abila and Óbila Other use Palencia Guatemala. Palencia is a city south of Tierra de Campos, in north-northwest Spain, the capital of Castile-La Mancha ( Spanish "Castilla-La Mancha" is an autonomous community of Spain. Toledo Spain locationpng|thumb|right|200px|Location of Toledo in Spain Tobarra is a district in the province of Albacete in Spain, with a population of 7869 as of 2005 Hellín is a Town and Municipality located in the south of the province of Albacete, in Castile-La Mancha, Spain. Andalusia (Andalucía is an autonomous community of Spain. It is the most populous and the second largest in terms of land area Seville ( Spanish: Sevilla, see also different names) is the artistic cultural and financial capital of southern Spain. Linares is a city located in the Andalusian province of Jaén, Spain. Many superstitions abound regarding this holiest of weeks, such as that wounds inflicted or received on Good Friday take long to heal and that amulets acquired on the said day are especially powerful. The culture of the Philippines reflects the complexity of the History of the Philippines through the blending of cultures of diverse indigenous civilizations with characteristics Good Friday, also called Holy Friday or Great Friday, is the Friday preceding Easter Sunday ("Pascha"

Throughout the week, most establishments either shut down operations until Black Saturday or have later opening and earlier closing times, and (mostly local) television stations either stay off the air and those that sign-on air shows with more solemn or serious content, especially films and programmes with a religious theme. Television ( TV) is a widely used Telecommunication medium for sending ( Broadcasting) and receiving moving Images, either monochromatic An example is the airing of the Seven Last Words on Good Friday live from churches on various local channels and films about the life and death of Jesus. The seven sayings of Jesus on the cross are a traditional collection of seven short phrases uttered by Jesus at his Crucifixion immediately before he died Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) During the Easter Triduum, usually a public holiday, some television stations even interrupt broadcast altogether until Black Saturday in observance of this solemn occasion. Easter Triduum, Holy Triduum, or Paschal Triduum is a term used by some Christian churches particularly the Roman Catholic Church, the This is a list of Holidays in the Philippines. Observed in entire Philippines Local holiday New Year's Day New Year's

Palm Sunday

At Mass on Palm Sunday, Catholics carry palm fronds to be blessed by the priest. Mass is a fundamental concept in Physics, roughly corresponding to the Intuitive idea of how much Matter there is in an object Palm Sunday is a Christian Moveable feast which always falls on the Sunday before Easter. A priest or priestess is a person having the authority or power to administer religious rites in particular rites of sacrifice to and propitiation of a deity or deities Many Filipinos bring them home after the Mass and place them above their front doors or windows, in the belief that doing so can ward off evil spirits and avert lightning. Filipinos or the Filipino people are the citizens of the Philippines. Mass is a fundamental concept in Physics, roughly corresponding to the Intuitive idea of how much Matter there is in an object

Holy Monday to Holy Wednesday

Holy Monday marks the beginning of the Pabasa (literally, "reading") or the Pasyon, the marathon chanting of the poetic prayer-story of Jesus' life, Passion, and death, which continues day and night, for as long as two straight days. In Christianity, Holy Wednesday (also called Spy Wednesday, and in the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches Holy and Great Wednesday Holy Monday or Great and Holy Monday is the Monday of Holy Week, which precedes the commemoration of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus. The pasyon (pasión is a narrative of the Passion Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ woven into a poem with stanzas of five lines and each line having eight Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE)

Holy Thursday

Come Holy Thursday, a popular tradition is "Church Visit", which involves visiting a church or several churches at which the faithful would pray the devotion known as the Stations of the Cross. In the Christian Liturgical calendar, Maundy Thursday (also known as Holy Thursday) is the feast or holy day falling on the Thursday before Easter Stations of the Cross (or Way of the Cross; in Latin, Via Crucis; also called the Via Dolorosa or Way of Sorrows, or simply Celebrated on this day is the last Mass before Easter, usually including a reenactment of the Washing of the Feet of the Apostles; this Mass is followed by the procession of the Blessed Sacrament before it is taken to the Altar of Repose. Easter ( Greek: Πάσχα Pascha or Pasxa) is the most important religious feast in the Christian Liturgical year. Foot washing or washing of feet is a religious Rite observed as an ordinance by several Christian denominations. The Twelve Apostles (Greek apostolos, "someone sent out" e The Blessed Sacrament, or the Body and Blood of Christ, is a devotional name used in the Roman Catholic Church, Old Catholic and Anglican The altar of repose is an Altar in a Roman Catholic or Anglo-Catholic church where the Communion hosts consecrated in the Mass on

Good Friday

Good Friday, a public holiday in the Philippines, is commemorated with solemn street processions, the Way of the Cross, the commemoration of Jesus' Seven last words and a Passion play called the Senakulo. Good Friday, also called Holy Friday or Great Friday, is the Friday preceding Easter Sunday ("Pascha" This is a list of Holidays in the Philippines. Observed in entire Philippines Local holiday New Year's Day New Year's A procession (via Middle English processioun, French procession, derived from Latin processio, itself from procedere, to go forth advance Stations of the Cross (or Way of the Cross; in Latin, Via Crucis; also called the Via Dolorosa or Way of Sorrows, or simply The seven sayings of Jesus on the cross are a traditional collection of seven short phrases uttered by Jesus at his Crucifixion immediately before he died A Passion play is a Dramatic presentation depicting the Passion of Christ: the trial, suffering and Death In some communities (most famously in the province of Pampanga), the processions include devotees who self-flagellate and sometimes even have themselves nailed to crosses as expressions of penance or in fulfillment of a vow accomplished in thanksgiving or exchange for a granted request or prayer. Pampanga is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Flagellation is the act of whipping (Latin flagellum, "whip" the human body The San Pedro Cutud Lenten Rites is a Holy Week re-enactment of Christ’s Passion and Death which takes place in Barangay San Pedro Cutud, After three o'clock in the afternoon of Good Friday (the time at which Jesus is traditionally believed to have died), noise is discouraged, bathing is proscribed and the faithful are urged to keep a solemn and prayerful disposition. Towards late afternoon and evening their is the procession of the dead Christ. The figure of the corpse of Jesus is taken in solemn procession and borne on a decorated hearse, after which it is venerated by the faithful. For the extreme metal band see Hearse (band A hearse is a Funeral Vehicle, a conveyance for the Coffin Some even accord the image with the proper funeral rites such as laying the body in state or, in some instances, by smoking the seated corpse of Jesus over a fire in accordance with local, pre-hispanic funerary customs. Lying in state is a term used to describe the tradition in which a Coffin is placed on view to allow the public at large to pay their respects to the deceased Such a procession may involve a various number of other saints, and tradition dictates that the last image in the line is the Sorrowful Virgin. Our Lady of Sorrows (Latin Beata Maria Virgo Perdolens) the Sorrowful Mother or Mother of Sorrows (Latin Mater Dolorosa) Our Lady

Holy Saturday

Black Saturday, as it is called in the country, is traditionally observed with silence and solemnity. Holy Saturday ( Latin: Sabbatum Sanctum) is the day after Good Friday. Preparations are made for the Easter Vigil to be celebrated that evening. The Easter Vigil, also called the Paschal Vigil or the Great Vigil of Easter, is a service held in many Christian churches as the first official celebration

Easter Sunday

Easter morning is marked with joyous celebration, the first being the dawn ceremony called the Salubong ("meeting"), wherein statues of the Resurrected Christ and the Virgin Mary, along with other saints such as St. Peter and Mary Magdalene, are brought in procession together to meet, imagining the first reunion of Jesus and his mother Mary after the Resurrection. Easter ( Greek: Πάσχα Pascha or Pasxa) is the most important religious feast in the Christian Liturgical year. This article concerns itself with Jesus Christ Christian, Islamic and other religious interpretations of resurrection in general Saint Mary Magdalen or Mary Magdalene is described both in the canonical New Testament and in the New Testament apocrypha, as a devoted This article concerns itself with Jesus Christ Christian, Islamic and other religious interpretations of resurrection in general The statue of the Virgin Mary is veiled in black, showing her state of bereavement. A veil is an article of clothing worn almost exclusively by women that is intended to cover some part of the head or Face. Black is the Color of objects that do not emit or Reflect Light in any part of the Visible spectrum; they absorb all such frequencies of A girl dressed as an angel, positioned on a specially constructed high platform/scaffold or suspended in mid-air, sings the Regina Coeli and then dramatically pulls the veil off of the image, signifying the end of her grieving. An angel is a Spiritual Supernatural being found in many Religions Although the nature of angels and the tasks given to them vary from tradition to tradition The Regina Caeli or Regina Coeli (" Queen of Heaven " in ecclesastical Latin reˈdʒiːna ˈtʃeːli an ancient latin Marian Hymn of the This is followed by pealing bells and fireworks, and the joyous Easter Mass. A church bell is a bell which is rung in a (especially Christian) church either to signify the Hour or the time for worshippers to go to A firework is classified as a low explosive pyrotechnic device used primarily for aesthetic and entertainment purposes

Hereunder are the cities and locales nationwide with famous Holy Week celebrations and observances:

Other countries

Cities famous for their Holy Week processions include:

Holy Week in Protestant churches

Many Protestant churches do not have the special ceremonies that distinguish Holy Week in Orthodox and Catholic churches. Angono is a 1st class urban municipality in the province of Rizal, Philippines and Angono Rizal is Known as "The Art Capital of the Baliwag (officially Baliwag is spelled with letter "w" is a 1st class urban municipality in the province of Bulacan, Philippines Bantayan Island is an island in the Philippines located at the western portion of the northern tip of Cebu Island. This article is about the city For the cathedral see Malolos Cathedral. A procession (via Middle English processioun, French procession, derived from Latin processio, itself from procedere, to go forth advance Marinduque is an Island province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region in Luzon. The City of Meycauayan or Meycauayan is a 2nd class urban city in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. Paete is a 4th-class urban municipality in the province of Laguna, Philippines. Pampanga is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. The San Pedro Cutud Lenten Rites is a Holy Week re-enactment of Christ’s Passion and Death which takes place in Barangay San Pedro Cutud, The City of San Pablo ( Filipino: Lungsod ng San Pablo) a first class city in the province of Laguna, Philippines, Colombia (kəˈlʌmbɪə officially the Republic of Colombia () is a country in northwestern South America. Popayán is a municipality and def is a capital city of the Colombian department of Cauca, with a population of about 215000 people Guatemala (República de Guatemala) is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west the Pacific Ocean to the southwest La Antigua Guatemala (commonly referred to as just Antigua or La Antigua) is a city in the central highlands of Guatemala famous for its well-preserved Guatemala City (in full La Nueva Guatemala de la Asunción; locally known as Guatemala or Guate) is the Capital and largest city of the Honduras in Spanish, República de Honduras) is a democratic republic in Central America. 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Costa Rica, officially the Republic of Costa Rica ( Spanish: Costa Rica or República de Costa Rica,) is a Country in San José ( Spanish: San José; ˌsɑːn hɒˈsɛː is the capital and largest city of Costa Rica, and is at the heart of the sprawling Gran Area Metropolitana Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest Not to be confused with Toronto. Taranto ( Ancient Greek: Tarās; Modern Greek: Tarantas) is a coastal city in Numerous religious traditions most of them inherited from one generation to the next are part of the Paschal celebrations in the Maltese Islands. Birgu ( Città Vittoriosa or Birgu) is a small city in Malta that played a vital role in the Siege of Malta in 1565. Cospicua ( Maltese: Città Cospicua or Bormla) is a double-fortified harbour city on the Mediterranean island of Malta. For the airport near the village Malta International Airport. Mosta (or Il-Mosta) is a town situated in the middle of the island of Malta, to the north-west of Valletta. Naxxar (Naxaro is a village in the central north of Malta, with a population of about 11947 people (Nov 2005 Paola, (or old name Casal Paula) is a town in the south of Malta, with a population of 8856 people (Nov 2005 Qormi or Città Pinto (Ħal Qormi ħal ʔormiis a city in Malta with a population of 16576 (as of November 2005 which makes it the third largest This article is about the Maltese village For the capital city of Morocco, see Rabat. Senglea ( Città Invicta or Senglea) is a fortified City in the east of Malta, mainly in the Grand Harbour area Valletta ( Belt Valletta or Città Umilissima) is the capital city of Malta. See also Żebbuġ Gozo for the small village on the island of Gozo. Zeitun ( Żejtun or Città Beland) is a medium sized town in the south of Malta. Gozo ( Għawdex) is an Island of the Maltese archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea, the island is part of the Southern European Nadur (or In-Nadur) is a village on Gozo Island, Malta. History The word "Nadur" which in Maltese means "lookout" For Rabat on Malta Island see Rabat Malta Victoria or Città Vittoria is the capital of Gozo, an island of the Ix-Xagħra ( English: Caccia) is a village on the island of Gozo ( Malta) Xewkija ( English: Xeuchia) is a village on Gozo Island, Malta. This article is about the village in Gozo For the town on Malta see Ħaż-Żebbuġ. Peru (Perú Piruw Piruw officially the Republic of Peru ( reˈpuβlika del peˈɾu is a country in western South America. Ayacucho ( Ayacuchu in Quechua) is the capital city of Huamanga Province, Ayacucho Region, Peru. ||} Cusco (also spelled Cuzco, and in the local Quechua language as Qusqu 'qos For the Province of the Ancash Region in Peru, see Huaraz Province Huaraz is a city in Peru. Location The city of Tarma is located in the center of the Province of Tarma; 232 kilometers east of the city of Lima, in the mountain ranges of the Andes The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. Iztapalapa is one of the 16 delegaciones (boroughs into which Mexico 's Federal District is divided Venezuela (ˌvɛnəˈzweɪlə) officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Spanish República Bolivariana de Venezuela) is a country on the Estado Miranda is one of the 23 states ( ''estados'') into which Venezuela is divided Tacarigua de Mamporal is a town in the state of Miranda, Venezuela. Guatire is a city in Miranda, Venezuela. In 2006, its population Caracas (kaˈɾakas is the Capital and largest city of Venezuela. Vietnam (ˌviːɛtˈnɑːm Việt Nam) officially Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. However, most Protestants conduct more informal celebrations of Holy Week, usually including sermons about the last week of Christ's life, and possibly some special services on Palm Sunday, Good Friday and or Easter Sunday. Lutherans, Anglicans and other Protestants in the catholic tradition observe Holy Week much as the Roman Catholic Church does. Of Protestant fellowships, perhaps the Holy Week services [Passion Week] of the Moravian Church are the most elaborate, as the Congregation follows the life of Christ through His final week in a harmony of the Gospel stories, responding to the actions in hymns, prayers and litanies. This page is about the Moravian Church globally For information about the church in a particular geographic area use the links at Organisation below

References

  1. ^ Letter of the Congregation for Divine Worship, 14 March 2003
  2. ^ The Easter Sepulchre Ceremony in Durham Abbey; Old Church Lore by William Andrews
  3. ^ See Semana Santa en San Fernando (Spanish Wikipedia)

See also

External links

Dictionary

Holy Week

-proper noun

  1. The week preceding Easter containing Palm Sunday, Spy Wednesday, Holy Thursday and Good Friday.
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