The Divine Drama reaches its peak on Holy Thursday. Jesus Presents the Last Supper to His Disciples in Jerusalem, and Judas Betrays Him……….
In the Orthodox Church, Maundy Thursday is dedicated to the remembrance of four events described in the Gospels which, according to the Gospel accounts, occurred shortly before the Crucifixion.:
The Secret Dinner, that is, the supper of Jesus Christ with them 12 Apostles, as described in the Gospels of Matthew (26, 17-30a), of Mark (14, 12-26) and Luke (22, 7-23),
The Holy Washbasin, that is, washing their feet 12 Apostles by Jesus Christ, as described in the Gospels of Matthew (23, 6-12), of Luke (22, 24-28) and John (13, 1-20),
The Supernatural Prayer, that is, Jesus' prayer to his Father after the Last Supper and shortly before his arrest, as described in the Gospel of John (17, 1-26), and
The betrayal of Judas which resulted in the arrest of Jesus, as described in the Gospels of Matthew (26, 47-56), of Mark (14, 43-50), of Luke (22, 47-53) and John (18, 1-11).
According to the arrangement of the sequences of Holy Week, during which the vespers and the orthros of each day are performed respectively the morning and the evening of the previous day, the Vespers of Holy Thursday are celebrated on the morning of Holy Wednesday together with the Liturgy of the Presbyterians and Orthros on the evening of Holy Wednesday, after Eucalyptus.
On the morning of Holy Thursday, the vespers of Good Friday are celebrated together with the Divine Liturgy of the Great Kingdom.. Priests prepare two "lambs" during the preparation of Holy Communion (the part of the bread which is transformed into the body of Christ) and keep one after chopping and drying it, in a safe place (inside the bakery on the Holy Table) for an entire year for the community of believers in emergencies. The orthros of Good Friday is celebrated in the evening, in which the Divine Drama of the Crucifixion is represented and the twelve gospels are read which describe the events from the conception to the burial of Christ.
Great Thursday: The Last Supper and the symbolism
The ritual that Jesus followed in the Last Supper he gave to his disciples is full of symbolism. Before starting the meal, Christ poured water on the sink and washed his disciples' feet, showing them that we should not seek primacy. "Whoever wants to be first, to be last of all ", told them.
The Supper is called a mystery not because it was done in secret but because Christ wanted to reveal to his disciples the sacrament of Holy Communion. That's why he told them: "Take eat", offering them bread (his body) and wine (His blood). «Λάβετε φάγετε τοῦτό μου ἐστι τὸ σῶμά… Τοῦτό ἐστι τὸ αἷμά μου τὸ τῆς καινῆς διαθήκης τὸ περὶ πολλῶν ἐκχυνόμενον».
Judas leaves, carrying out his plan of betrayal. Jesus makes the final teaching to his disciples on the Mount of Olives. When they leave, he prays. Judas arrives accompanied by Roman soldiers. He points them to Jesus, giving him a kiss. Jesus is arrested and taken to High Priests Anna and Caiaphas. He is on trial. They ask him if he is the Christ and he admits it. He is found guilty of death. The path of the Passion begins, from the garden of Gethsemane, at Golgotha and the Crucifixion.