Holy Week is the week following Palm Sunday, culminating in the Glorious Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday.
Days of Holy Week
Holy Monday commemorates the Creation of Heaven and Earth, the barren fig tree, and the cleansing of the Temple in Jerusalem.
Holy Tuesday commemorates the Flood, Noah's family salvation, the parable of The Ten Maidens, and the Last Judgment.
Holy Wednesday commemorates the Anointment and Betrayal of Christ.
Holy Thursday, also known as Maundy Thursday, commemorates The Last Supper, at which Jesus instituted the sacrament of the Eucharist by giving Holy Communion; it includes the Washing of the Feet.
Holy Friday We commemorate the Crucifixion and Burial of our Lord.
Holy Saturday commemorates the destruction of hell. Easter Vigil celebrates salvation in the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
April 15 – Holy Tuesday
The Parable of Ten Maidens
"Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh". (Matthew 25:1-13)
An excerpt from the exegesis of the parablе
Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, “Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not." (Matthew 25:11-12):
This is the purpose of the parable, which the Lord explains in this way: It will be as with those who said, 'id we not cast out demons in Your name? Did we not perform many miracles in Your name? Did You not teach in our streets?' To them He replied, 'I do not know you.' And it seems to me that what happens here takes on the same form and shape there. Since these people had no works of mercy, they were not worthy of mercy. Or, as we have said, they traded their deeds and labor for the praise of men, even though the Holy Scripture repeatedly calls us to do works of mercy and continually preaches about it:
"For God has scattered the bones of men-pleasers (Psalm 53:5)" and
"Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them”.
However, upon hearing this, they hesitated and did not obey, placing their trust in God's mercy and relying on their deeds, while the [Holy] Scripture knew no such law. Therefore, when they entered that life, they suffered the same consequences as they did here. (H. Tsortsoretsi, "Interpretation of the Gospel of Matthew", S. Echmiadzin, 2010, p. 247)
April 17, Maundy Thursday
Last Supper
Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover?
And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.
And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover.
Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve.
And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?
And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.
The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.
Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said. (Matthew 26:17–25)
And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.
Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; hold him fast.
And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.
And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.
And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest, and smote off his ear.
Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be? (Matthew 26:47–54)
April 18, Holy Friday
The Story of the Burial of Jesus Christ.
When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple:
He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.
And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.
And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre. (Matthew 27:57-61)
One of the traditions of the Armenian Church on Great Friday, in remembrance of the burial of the Crucified Savior in a hewn tomb, is the preparation of a symbolic tomb for the Lord. This tomb is adorned with flowers and branches of evergreen trees and is placed in the church courtyard in front of the Holy Altar from the morning of Great Friday until midday on Holy Saturday. In the Mother Cathedral of Etchmiadzin, the symbolic tomb of Christ is placed in front of the Holy Table of the Descent.
A cross wrapped in white linen is placed in the flower-decorated tomb symbolising the buried Lord Jesus Christ. (Matthew 27:59, Mark 15:46, Luke 23:53, John 19:40),
Two burning candles are placed on the tomb, symbolizing the angels in white garments who announced the Resurrection. After the evening service on Great Friday, in remembrance of the burial of our Lord, the symbolic tomb is solemnly carried out of the church and circled the temple while chanting the hymn "The Giver of All." After this, the symbolic tomb is brought back into the church and placed in the courtyard, where the clergy sing the hymn "To Your Cross, O Christ," and kiss the Holy Cross and the Holy Gospel placed upon the symbolic tomb.
After midday on Holy Saturday, the clergy dismantle the flower-adorned symbolic tomb and distribute flowers and branches to the faithful. The faithful take these home, and the blessed branches of the ash tree, which they keep until the next Great Friday.