This year, after the earthquake in Izmir, the Holy Wednesday Chrysm (Blessing of the Holy Oil) Mass and the Holy Thursday (Last Supper of Christ) were held for the first time in St. John’s Cathedral.
On Wednesday evening, the priests of the Archdiocese of Izmir came from Izmir, the House of Virgin Mary of Selcuk, and Antalya to accompany the Mass.
After reading Words from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah and Words from the Book of Revelation, Father Ugo De Rosa, Rector of the Cathedral, read Words from the Gospel of Luke.
When he finished his sermon, Msgr. Martin asked the entire congregation to pray for the priests, and then asked questions of the ritual of renewing their priesthood vows. The priests agreed, saying, “Yes, I do.”
Then Monsignor Martin consecrated the Holy Oils brought through the three priests, first the Oil of the Sick, then the Oil of Catechumen, and finally the Oil of Chrysm.
On Holy Thursday evening, the last Supper is commemorated the night before the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
Then a “foot washing” ritual was performed for 5 people, the Archbishop washed and kissed the feet.
After the Mass, the holy Eucharist was taken out of its enclosure and carried by the Archbishop with the procession to another place, and worship was held in silence in front of the place where it was placed.
The wonderful choir of the Cathedral under the direction of Ozan Karagöz enlivened these magnificent Rites with Turkish and Latin chants. (SAT-7 TURK/İZMİR-Nathalie Ritzmann)
