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The phrase "reserved Eucharist" is ambiguous, and could lead people to erroneously believe the Holy Thursday liturgy is presanctified
[[Image:Twelve gospels.jpg|right|thumb|350px|A worshiper prostrates before the cross at the Twelve Passion Gospels service at St. Mary Orthodox Church in Cambridge, Massachusetts.]]
'''Great and Holy Week''' is the week from the conclusion of [[Great Lent]] on the [[Lazarus Saturday|Saturday of Lazarus]] to the celebration of [[Pascha]]. It is emphasized that the services of Holy Week follow the ecclesiastical day, that is from sundown to sundown. Thus Saturday of Lazarus ends at sundown on Saturday.
==History==
The first three days of Holy Week remind us of Christ's last instructions with his disciples. These teachings are remembered in the celebration of the Great [[Compline]], Matins, [[Hours]], and [[Liturgy]] during these days. The [[Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts]] celebrated these days includes readings from [[Exodus]], [[Book of Job|Job]], and [[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]].
The Matins services of the evenings of Palm Sunday, Holy Monday, and Holy Tuesday, anticipating the events of the next day, share a common theme. These [[Christ The Bridegroom (O Nymphios)|Bridegroom]] Services are derived from the [[Parable ]] of the Ten Virgins, which calls for preparedness at the Second Coming, for the "thief comes in the middle of the night." (Matt. 26:1-13)
===Holy Wednesday===
[[Image:mysticalsupper.jpg|left|thumb|The Mystical Supper]]
===Holy Thursday===
'''Holy Thursday''' begins with the celebration of vespers and the [[Divine Liturgy]] of St. Basil with a Reserved [[Eucharist]] , in representation of the earthly presence of Christ realized at the [[Last Supper]]. In the evening, anticipating the Matins of Friday morning, the Holy Passion service of the reading of the '''Twelve Gospels''' is conducted. In these readings Christ's last instructions to his disciples are presented, as well as the prophecy of the drama of the Cross, Christ's prayer, and his new commandment. The twelve readings are:
* [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=St.%20John%2013:31%20-%2018:1;&version=9; John 13:31-18:1]
==External links==
*[http://churchmotherofgod.org/articlesarticleschurch/about-services-and-prayers/519-holy-week.html A Liturgical Explanation for the Days of Holy Week], by Fr. [[Alexander Schmemann]]
*[http://www.antiochian.org/midwest/Articles/Development_of_Holy_Week_Services.htm The Historical Development of Holy Week Services In the Orthodox/Byzantine Rite], by Fr. Nabil L. Hanna
*[http://www.goarch.org/en/ourfaith/articles/article8432.asp Holy Week GOARCH]