Orthodox Churches, which are preparing to celebrate Easter this weekend, continue the rites of the Week of Sorrow as ‘Prudent and Restricted.’
In Hatay, the “Holy Thursday Rite” was held in the churches in Iskenderun, Antakya, Samandağ and Altınözü with limited or no participation.
In the rites dominated by sadness, the ‘Last Supper’ that Christ ate with his Apostles was commemorated, while he was arrested, tortured, and walking up to Golgotha Hill by carrying his cross.
The Consecration of Oils Ceremony, which was held without the participation of the congregation in the Iskenderun St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, was held with limited participation in the Antakya Saints Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church and the Samandağ Saint İlyas Greek Orthodox Church.
Church Father Yusuf Nicholas Papasoğlu conducted the service in Iskenderun, Church Fathers Dimitri Doğum and Can Dellüller conducted the service in Antakya, Fathers Trifon Yumurta and Dimyan Yakupoğlu conducted the service in Samandağ.
In the Holy Thursday Mass, it was remembered that Jesus Christ humbly washed the feet of his disciples, the “Holy Mysteries” were given at the last supper, and one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, delivered Jesus Christ to the Jews.
The most crucial part of the Sacred Rites, in which parts of the Bible were read, was the tour of the Holy Cross. Church Fathers, who took the cross on their backs, took three tours in the church, accompanied by sad hymns. At the end of the ritual of representing Jesus Christ taking his cross and walking up to Golgotha Hill, the holy cross was placed in the middle of the church, and the congregation members kissed the cross to show their devotion and respect.
In the ritual in which 12 parts of the Bible are read, the members of the congregation tie a knot in the ropes in their hands while each Bible chapter is read. These ropes, which reach 12 knots at the end of the month, are kept by believers throughout the year in the hope that they will bring abundance and fertility.
In Orthodox Churches, on Friday (today) during the Holy Week, the Removal of Christ from the Cross and the Removal of His Body and the Funeral Ceremony of Christ will be performed. (SAT-7 TURK/İlyas Edip TERBİYELİ/İskenderun)
