☦ Orthodox Christian Pascha/Easter🌸Wednesday of Great and Holy Week.

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Holy Wednesday~

There is usually another service in the evening where people may receive Holy Unction. The focus during the services of Holy Wednesday are of repentance and confession, and the oil is said to be very healing. This day commemorates the day that Christ's feet were anointed with myrrh.


Great Holy Wednesday Evening~

"Anointing him sick with oil in the name of the Lord..."

(The Mysterion of Unction)

The sacred ceremony of the Mysterion of the Holy Unction takes place on this Wednesday evening, following an old custom. It is the evening of repentance, confession, and the remission of sins by the Lord, preparing the faithful to receive Holy Communion, usually the next day, Holy Thursday morning. Holy Unction is the Mysterion for cleansing sins and renewing the body and the spirit of the faithful. Holy Unction is one of the seven Sacraments of the Church, and it has its origin in the practice of the early Church as recorded in the Epistle of James (5:14-15). At the end of the service, the priest anoints the people with Holy Oil, the visible carrier of the Grace of God.

Great Holy Wednesday Evening
"Let no fear separate you from Me..."

(The service is Matins of Thursday morning sung by anticipation, on Wednesday evening.)

The Orthros of Thursday morning is sung by anticipation, on Wednesday evening. In many Orthodox churches, however, this service is sung at its designated Thursday morning time, before the Vespers and Divine Liturgy. "On Thursday in Holy Week (now Wednesday evening or Thursday morning) the Holy Fathers, who had well-ordained things, handed down to us successively from the Holy Apostles and the Sacred Gospels to celebrate four Events: the washing of the disciples' feet, the institution of the Holy Eucharist, the Marvelous Prayer, the betrayal."

The Gospel reading is St. Luke 22:1-39.