Today is Maundy Thursday – the most important day of Holy Week. On this day, Christians remember the Last Supper, the prayer of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane and the betrayal of Judas.
The Easter dinner – the last before the crucifixion – begins with a ritual gesture – Christ washes the feet of the apostles with the words “I did not come to be served, but to serve”.
According to the Gospel account, during the supper, Jesus distributed to his disciples bread and wine – his body and blood, thereby establishing the sacrament of communion: “And as they were eating, Jesus took the bread, and after blessing, he broke it, and giving it to the disciples, he said: take, eat – this is My body. And taking the cup and giving thanks, he gave it to them and said: drink from it all of you; for this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Gospel of Matthew, 26:28).
During the Last Supper, Jesus told his disciples that he would be betrayed. At night Christ prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane until the betrayer came and captured him. The Sanhedrin pronounces a death sentence. It was confirmed by the procurator of the Roman province of Judea, Pontius Pilate, who, for fear of causing a riot, did not dare to revoke it, but publicly washed his hands as a sign that he was not guilty of the decision to condemn an innocent to death. On that same evening, which according to Jewish belief is the beginning of the following day (after sunset), Christ was crucified.
On this day, the priests take the cross out of the altar, which symbolizes its carrying by Christ to Calvary. An oil consecration is performed, during which every willing layman is anointed with oil for health.
Folk custom connects Maundy Thursday with the tradition of dyeing Easter eggs on that day. The rite requires this to be done early in the morning before sunrise.
The first egg must be red – a symbol of the Savior’s shed blood. While the paint is still dry, a cross is drawn on the children’s foreheads with the egg and their cheeks are rubbed for health.
This egg is kept in the house for a year to bring success and happiness to the householders. The second egg is also dyed red. It will be taken and left in the church after the festive mass at midnight on Saturday and Sunday.
On Maundy Thursday, the dough for the Easter cakes is also mixed. Most often, they are shaped like a braid, and a place is left in the middle where a written egg can be placed.
For families who fail to perform the rituals today, a second chance is given – to dye the eggs and knead the kosunaks on Saturday. After the abstinence of Good Friday, Saturday is the day to complete preparations for the holiday.
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