Holy and
Great Thursday
Holy Thursday Commemorations
Along
with the commemoration of the Lord's washing of
the disciples' feet, the agony in the garden of Gethsemane, and
the betrayal of Christ by Judas, the Church commemorates the
institution of the Eucharist, on Great and Holy Thursday. At the
Mystical Supper in the Upper Room Jesus gave a dramatically new meaning
to the food and drink of the sacred meal. He identified
Himself with the bread and wine: "Take, eat; this is my Body. Drink of
it all of you; for this is my Blood of the New Covenant" (Matthew
26:26-28).
Food had always sustained the earthly existence of everyone, but in the Eucharist the Lord gave us a distinctively unique human food - bread and wine - that by the power of the Holy Spirit, has become our gift of life. Consecrated and sanctified, the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ. This change is not physical but mystical and sacramental. While the qualities of the bread and wine remain, we partake of the true Body and Blood of Christ. In the eucharistic meal God enters into such a communion of life that He feeds humanity with His own being, while still remaining distinct. In the words of St. Maximos the Confessor, Christ, "transmits to us divine life, making Himself eatable." The Author of life shatters the limitations of our createdness. Christ acts so that "we might become sharers of divine nature" (2 Peter 1:4).
From the moment Christ instituted this Mystery, the Eucharist
became the center of the Church's life, and her
most profound prayer. The Eucharist is both the source and the summit of
our life in Christ. It is in the Eucharist that the
Church is changed from a mere
human community into the Body of Christ, the Temple of the Holy Spirit,
and the People of God. The Eucharist is the pre-eminent sacrament, as it
completes all the others and recapitulates the entire economy of
salvation. Through the Eucharist our new life in Christ is renewed and
increased. The Eucharist imparts life and the life it gives is the life
of God.
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Thursday May 2, 2013 / April 19, 2013
Passion Week: Great Thursday.
Great Lent. By Monastic Charter: Food without Oil
Venerable John of the Ancient Caves in Palestine (8th c.).
New Hieromartyr Victor, bishop of Glazov (1934).
New Hieromartyr Demetrius priest (1942).
St. Matrona the Blind of Moscow (1952).
Martyrs Christopher, Theonas, and Antoninus in Nicomedia (303).
Hieromartyr Paphnutius of Jerusalem.St. George the Confessor, bishop of Antioch in Pisidia (813-820).
St. Tryphon, patriarch of Constantinople (933).
Venerable Nicephorus, abbot of Katabad.
Venerable Symeon the Barefoot of Philotheou Monastery, Mt. Athos.
Finding ofthe relics (1621) of Venerable Joachim, abbot of Opochka (Pskov) (1515).
Venerable Joasaph (Bolotov) of Alaska.
Hieromartyr Alphege, archbishop of Canterbury (1012) (Celtic & British).
New Martyr Agathangelus of Esphigmenou Monastery, Mt. Athos (1819) (Greek).
Martyrs Theodore, his mother Philippa and two soldiers, Socrates and Dionysius at Perge in Pamphylia (2nd c.).
You can read the life of the saint in green, by click on the name.
Passion Week: Great Thursday.
Great Lent. By Monastic Charter: Food without Oil
Venerable John of the Ancient Caves in Palestine (8th c.).
New Hieromartyr Victor, bishop of Glazov (1934).
New Hieromartyr Demetrius priest (1942).
St. Matrona the Blind of Moscow (1952).
Martyrs Christopher, Theonas, and Antoninus in Nicomedia (303).
Hieromartyr Paphnutius of Jerusalem.St. George the Confessor, bishop of Antioch in Pisidia (813-820).
St. Tryphon, patriarch of Constantinople (933).
Venerable Nicephorus, abbot of Katabad.
Venerable Symeon the Barefoot of Philotheou Monastery, Mt. Athos.
Finding ofthe relics (1621) of Venerable Joachim, abbot of Opochka (Pskov) (1515).
Venerable Joasaph (Bolotov) of Alaska.
Hieromartyr Alphege, archbishop of Canterbury (1012) (Celtic & British).
New Martyr Agathangelus of Esphigmenou Monastery, Mt. Athos (1819) (Greek).
Martyrs Theodore, his mother Philippa and two soldiers, Socrates and Dionysius at Perge in Pamphylia (2nd c.).
You can read the life of the saint in green, by click on the name.
THANK YOU, to all of you who have been able to contribute towards the support of the monastery. These difficult times of economic hardship have impacted the monastery, and those of you who have been able to donate, have been our lifeline. May God bless you for your generosity, and kindness.
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Abbot Tryphon
Donations can be made directly to the monastery through PayPal, or you may send donations to:
All-Merciful Saviour Monastery
PO Box 2420
Vashon Island, WA 98070-2420 USA
The Scripture Readings
Click on the scripture books in order to read:Luke 22:1-39 (Bridegroom Matins Gospel)
1 Corinthians 11:23-32
Matthew 26:2-20
John 13:3-17
Matthew 26:21-39
Luke 22:43-45
Matthew 26:40-27:2
John 13:1-11 (At the Washing of the Feet, Gospel)
John 13:12-17 (After the Washing of the Feet, Gospel)
I invite my readers to listen to my
Ancient Faith Radio podcasts.
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