'''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.

While little is recorded of the development of the celebrations of the Holy Week during the early years of the Church, it apparently had very early origins. By the fourth century the celebration of the week appears well-founded and to be similar to our celebrations today. The pilgrim [[Egeria]] to Jerusalem in the latter part of the fourth century described the events of the week after the services of the Saturday of Lazarus, "...began the week of the Pasch, which they called here the '''Great Week'''", noting the procession commemorating Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem on the first day of the week. It is during this week that we remember Christ's Passion and Crucifixion.

[[Lazarus Saturday]] concludes [[Great Lent]]. This celebration remembers Christ's raising of Lazarus from the dead and the promise of universal [[resurrection]] for all. Lazarus Saturday provides a bridge to Holy Week during which the Church services remember Christ's last week before his crucifixion and resurrection, his [[passion]]. During this week the [[Matins]] services for the upcoming day are celebrated the evening before, and Vespers is celebrated in the morning. This anticipation of the Church's services gives the faithful a sense that the world is in travail, upside-down, because of the passion our Lord endured for our salvation. Although this practice is unusual, it is canonical in accordance with the ancient definition that the day is from sunset to sunset. [[Image:Palm_Sunday.jpg|left|thumb|Icon of Christ's entry into Jerusalem]][[Image:extremehumilityBridegroom.jpg|right|thumb|Christ the Bridegroom]]

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 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://memberschurchmotherofgod.aol.comorg/articleschurch/stgeoworcabout-services-and-prayers/holyweek519-holy-week.htm 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] * [http://www.goarch.org/en/ourfaith/articles/article8504.asp The Origins of Pascha and Great Week - Part I]* [http://www.goarch.org/en/ourfaith/articles/article8505.asp The Origins of Pascha and Great Week - Part II]* [http://www.holy-trinity.org/feasts/holyweek.html Holy Week and Pascha] * [http://holytrinity.ok.goarch.org/holy_week.html Holy Week]* [http://www.fatheralexander.org/booklets/english/holy_week2_e.htm Approach to Holy Week]