Pascha Passover

It is a particular week for prayer (as mentioned in the didascalia) It also recommend fasting till sunset. They also used to fast good Friday as well as Saturday together

The church call it the Paschal week which mean Passover; referring to the Passover of the red sea by the Israelites and the Passover of the angel away from their homes sparing the first born of their household. The sign of the blood on the doorposts and lintel was the reason of their protection that made the angel Passover.

The early church used to celebrate it separate from the 40 days fasting, until the time of Demetrious elkaram (vine dresser) the 12 th pope. On Palm Sunday the prayer starts to take a different tune and arrangements. First we will see the arrangements and rituals that take place in this week, then will touch on some of the unique readings of that week.

The tune change into the paschal week tune which some time called the sad tune. Palm Sunday; there is NO special prayers for the palm tree branches blessings. The general funeral: it takes place after the palm Sunday mass, and since the church is concentrating on the death of the lord and his passion, all believers are to concentrate on these prayers

The church –as a result- does not allow incense offering even on the dead except on Thursday and Saturday and no funerals are allowed. The church is occupied only by the passion of Christ. This is why this general funeral was arranged. So if any one dies, he just attends the Paschal prayers and they read the readings of funeral without incense and without the reposed prayer (oshia of the reposed)

The Bascha prayers Paradise was closed on our face and was opened by the death of our Lord, He trampled death and open the door of paradise for us. And because Jesus suffered outside Jerusalem. Heb. 13:12-13 “Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach”.

Because of this reason, prayers move to the second half of the church The sanctuaries veil (or doors) is closed and are all covered with black as a participation in the passions. No masses are done Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Similar to keeping the lamb of Passover from the 10 th to the 14 th day of the month.

Exodus 12 Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, “This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you. Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: ‘On the tenth of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household. And if the household is too small for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next to his house take it according to the number of the persons; according to each man’s need you shall make your count for the lamb. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats. Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight

The day is counted from sunset to sunset. The day is divided into 5 hours of night and 5 of the day. They are 1 st hour, 3 rd, 6 th, 9 th, and 11 th. There is 6 hours difference between our timing and this timing for example the 3 rd hour of Pascha corresponds to 9 o’clock. These prayers starts by the 9 th hour of Palm Sunday.

Matthew gospel is read (all) on Tuesday. Mark is read on Wednesday. Luke on Thursday. John on the night of Saturday (i.e. Friday night according to our time)

Prayers of Pascha Starts with the prophecies Then singing “thine is the power and the glory…” 12 times to replace the psalms of the hours (agpeya). We pray this hymn instead of the psalms because psalms contain a lot of prophecies on Jesus incarnation, his life, his raiseruction.. The origin of this hymn comes from heaven itself and from our lord Jesus himself

Thine is the power etc Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing. (rev 5:12)

Matthew 6:13 ”...But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen” 11 th hour of Tuesday they add …My lord Jesus Christ my good savior. It is added here because at the end of the gospel of this hour the Lord had determined his crucifixion timing (Matt.26:2 You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”

A part of a psalm is chosen and is tuned by the sad tune (Adrreeb). Starting by a psalm of David (Psalmos to David” Same tune is used for the introduction of the gospel. “ke eperto’

Then it is translated to Arabic and or English. Then they read the commentary (Tarah) which is preceded by its hymns that has a special tune and then they finish with the closing hymn. It finished by the morning prayer or the night prayer according to the time The day prayer has prostration. Then they finish by the closing hymn.

Part II EVENTS OF THE WEEK

MONDAY On the road from Bethany: The cursing of the fruitless fig tree a symbol of the Jewish nation that has the glory from outside only. They had the temple the commandments, the traditions, offerings….etc but no fruit. This apply to every one that involve only in the outside forms of worship without fruit.

Monday Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and He lodged there. Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” immediately the fig tree withered away Matt 21:17-20.

St John Chrysostom said, the fig tree with its wide leaved represent the wide way (versus the narrow road): He said: “The Lord came from heaven seeking people life, yet He found the road wide and full of sin, so He cursed that road…and a tree of life grew instead of that tree…the tree of the cross which was irrigated by the water and blood that came out of his pierced side”

Tuesday night (Monday evening by our time) Some Pharisees came to warn him from Herod who wanted to kill him and asked Him to leave the city. But He stayed to complete His mission. His teaching about the narrow road, the importance of readiness and watchfulness. He also rebuked Jerusalem the killer of the prophets

Tuesday Jesus talks to His disciples about faith in relation to the fig tree. He argues with the Pharisees concerning His authority from above. In the temple He speaks with lots of parables On their way out the evening; the disciples show Him the buildings of the temple.

Matt (3 rd hr) “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’

Math 24:2 (3 rd hour) Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down

He tells them about the destruction of the temple About the destruction of Jerusalem and About the signs of the second coming In the evening time which is the Wednesday night according to Jewish time. He teaches in parables The wedding of the king’s son, the parable of the vine and vine dresser, the parable of the virgins.. He leaves to Bethany saying to them your house will be left desolate to you This night the Jews negotiate with Judas how to hand Him to them.

Wednesday (day time) Jesus retreated to Bethany. Matt 26:3-16 the pouring of the perfume on Jesus. And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table….. For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial.

Wednesday (day time) Judas goes to bargain for the price (9 th hr) Matt. 26:14 “Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver

Thursday 2 points 1 st ; the readings 2 nd the actual events. 1 st ; Many of the readings concentrate on Christ's divinity. “I lay down My life that I may take it again.” “I and My Father are one.” (1 st hr and 9 th hr”) from john 10

The actual events 2 major events in the life of the church 1 the Eucharist after supper 2 nd the washing of feet. The 1 st hr starts they pray the creed till was incarnate and became man……yes we believe in the Holy Spirit. Then sing “Fai etaf enf..” The lakan Then the mass without reconciliation prayer or the commemoration of the saints or the reposed oshia.

Thursday night (our time) till death on the cross Hour by hour

1 after mid night (7 th hr of the night) The passion prayer at gethsemanes. Judas arrival with soldiers Arresting Christ and taking Him to the house of the high priest.

2 after midnight 3 after midnight (9 th hr of the night) First trial in front of Hannann in presence of Caiaphas. The trial in front of Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin (unusual meeting).

5 O’clock in the morning 5:30 am The verdict of the Sanhedrin Taking Him to Pilate for the 1 st time. In front of Herod 1 st flogging and mocking at Herod

6:30 am (middle of the 1 st hr of the day) 7 am 9 am (the 3 rd hr through the 6 hr) The verdict from Pilate 2 nd mocking of the soldiers (the king) Beginning of the crucifixion (Mk 15:25) Rejecting the vinegar.

12 noon (six hr) 12 to 3 pm (sixth to ninth hr) 3PM (ninth hr) The beginning of death to enter the body. Darkness on earth (matt 27;45, Mk 15:33, Lk 23:44) “It is finished!”

And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. On the 12 th hour they bring Him down to burry him so He may burry our sins.

Sat in the tomb and finally on Sunday morning while it was still dark He rose from the dead so He can give us LIFE ETERNAL