Thursday of The Holy Pascha      طقس خميس العهد

The Institution of the Sacrament of the Eucharist

The Major Lordly Feasts

1. The Feast of the Annunciation – (29 Baramhat)

2. The Feast of the Nativity (Christmas) – (29 Kiahk)

3. The Feast of Epiphany (Theophany) – (11 Tobe)

4. Palm Sunday

5. The Feast of the Resurrection (Easter)

6. The Feast of the Ascension

7. The Feast of Pentecost

The Minor Lordly Feasts

1. The Glorious Feast of the Circumcision – (6 Tobe)

2. The Feast of the Wedding at Cana of Galilee – (13 Tobe)

3. The Feast of the Entry of the Lord Christ into the Temple – (8 Amshir)

4. Holy Thursday (Covenant Thursday)

5. Thomas Sunday (New Sunday)

6. The Feast of the Entry of the Lord Christ into the Land of Egypt – (24 Bashans)

7. The Glorious Feast of the Transfiguration – (13 Misra)

Preparation for the Last Passover

The Feast of Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday)

1. The Morning Rite (Matins): It is part of the Pascha prayers which begin on Palm Sunday and include The Prophecies & Thok Tati Gom

The Offering of Evening Incense, which includes: The Prayer of Thanksgiving, The Four Bell Calls, “Have mercy on us, O God”, The Litany for the Sick, The Litany for the Offerings, “Let us Praise”, The Doxologies, The Incense Procession without the Kiss of Peace, The Nicene Creed, Afnouti Nai Nan, The Great Kyrie Eleison, The hymn Fai Etav Enf, The reading of the sorrowful Acts (Praxis) with the Abrasxenton tune, A lamentation for the betrayal: “Judas Obaranamos”, meaning Judas the transgressor of the Law, The Three Agios (the first about the Incarnation, the second and third about the Passion), The Litany of the Gospel, The Psalm and Gospel read with the Adribian tune, A sermon, The Tarh (exposition) and its response, Supplications & The conclusion in the Pascha rite

2. The Canonical Hours: Prayed according to the usual Pascha rite: The Third Hour, The Sixth Hour and The Ninth Hour

3. The Liturgy of the Lakan (The Basin Service): The basin is filled with fresh water. The deacons wear their liturgical vestments according to their ranks. The service begins with the hymn Ek Esmaroout if the Patriarch or a Bishop is present. Then the service proceeds with: Eleison Imas, The Our Father prayer, The Prayer of Thanksgiving, Incense offering, The Four Bell Calls, Have mercy on me, The Prophecies, A sermon by Saint Anba Shenouda, The hymn Ten O Oosht, The raising of incense, The Pauline Epistle and its reading, Followed by: The Three Sanctifications, The Litany of the Gospel, The Psalm and Gospel (annual tune), Afnouti Nai Nan, The Great Kyrie Eleison (12 times), Then the Seven Major Litanies: Litany for the Sick, Litany for Travelers, Litany for Nature, Litany for the Departed, Litany for the Offerings, Litany for the Rulers, Litany for the Catechumens, Then Supplications, Kyrie Eleison (100 times), The Three Major Litanies, The Nicene Creed, The Espasmos, Axion Kazi Keon, Signing the water with the Cross, Agios (with all its parts), Blessing of the water with the Cross, The Our Father, The Absolutions, Sprinkling water on the feet only, The Blessing, and then the Lamb offering.

The Readings Focus on the Last Passover (The Last Supper)

Prophecies: The defeat of Amalek (victory), The bitter water turned sweet (a symbol of the wood of the Cross), The acceptable fast (Isaiah 58), Acceptance of repentance (Ezekiel)

Epistles: Pauline Epistle: reconciliation with God through the Cross.

Acts (Praxis): The removal of grace from the traitors.

Final Note: The Liturgy concludes with Holy Communion and praises about the Last Supper, and the Eleventh Hour prayers of Thursday are postponed to the evening.

النبوات: هزيمة عماليق (النصرة) - تحويل الماء المر إلى حلو (إشارة على خشبة الصليب - الصوم المقبول (إش 58) - قبول التوبة (حزقيال).

الرسائل: البولس: المصالحة مع الله بالصليب...

الابركسيس: نزع النعمة عن الخائنين...

ملاحظة أخيرة: يختم القداس (التناول) ومدائح عن العشاء السري وتؤجل الساعة الحادية عشر من يوم الخميس إلى المساء.