Photo: cirota.ru
Orthodox Christians celebrate May 2 Maundy Thursday, the day of memories of the Last Supper, at which Jesus instituted the sacrament of the main Christian — Communion.
On Holy Thursday liturgy in the Church remembers all the events of the Last Supper — the last Passover meal, which is shared with the apostles of the Lord in his earthly life, recalls the betrayal of Judas, one of the 12 disciples of Christ the Savior and self-effacement.
Thursday morning, the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill of liturgy at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior and the foot-washing rite — the example of Christ, who washed the feet of his disciples at the Last Supper as a sign of deep humility, one of the main qualities of a Christian. It is reported by Interfax.
In memory of this event, many evangelical bishops on Holy Thursday is also washed the feet of 12 priests and parishioners, but the practice is not compulsory and universal and depends on the personal choice of each bishop. For example, Patriarch Alexy II when he was not committed in the primate Holy Thursday rite of washing the feet, while his predecessor, Patriarch Pimen kept this tradition, as well as the Metropolitan of Leningrad and Novgorod, Nicodemus, the spiritual master of the current Patriarch Kirill.
The Church prescribes that day all believers who do not have any obstacles to this, be sure to take communion during the service.
Since Holy Thursday, during the three days, all the church services will be devoted to the remembrance of earthly suffering of Jesus Christ. Thursday evening will be read in churches 12 «passionate» Gospels narrate in detail the last hours of the Savior\’s earthly life, beginning with his farewell meeting with students and ending position of the grave.
In addition, the liturgy on Holy Thursday chrism is consecrated. This is due to the ancient tradition of making Easter or Holy Saturday sacrament of baptism when the Holy Thursday was a day of preparation.
The faithful mistress Thursday afternoon start preparations for the Easter table — bake cakes and decorate Easter eggs.