As the Lent period comes to an end, Orthodox Churches, which have started Holy Week, perform the Pre-Easter Rites of Sorrow. Holy Wednesday Evening, Oil Mass; was held in Mersin and Hatay Orthodox Churches with limited participation of the congregation or without a congregation.
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, and Father Trifon Yumurta and Dimyan Yakupoğlu conducted the service in Samandağ.
In the ceremonies held, after the Readings and Prayers, the oils were consecrated and these consecrated oils were applied to the participants of the ceremony.
Iskenderun St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church Father Yusuf Nicholas Papasoğlu talked about achieving spiritual and physical healing in his statement about this special rite.
The ceremony held in Mersin St. Gabriel and St. Mikail Greek Orthodox Church was broadcast live on Facebook.
On Holy Thursday, Jesus Christ humbly washing the feet of the apostles, the Last Supper (the Giving of the Holy Eucharist Mystery), and the Apostle Judas Iscariot betraying Jesus Christ to the Jews are commemorated. In this Sacred Liturgy, the Reserve Eucharist called “Purveyance” is prepared and consecrated. Its purpose is for sick believers who need to be given communion on Non-Liturgical days and in emergencies. In the evening, the ceremony of the sufferings and Crucifixion of Christ, called the reading of the 12 Gospels, connected with the morning prayer of Good Friday is performed. There are 12 chapters about the reason for reading the 12 Gospels, the trial of Jesus Christ, his whipping and crucifixion. The entire faith of Christianity was established at this supper. Also, at this supper, the Lord Jesus told his disciples that he would die and be resurrected, and that our faith would exist only through resurrection, not death. After the fifth Gospel is read, the Father carries the cross with the image of the Lord Jesus nailed on it, and the church lights are turned off. This symbolizes the moment when the sun goes dark at that moment. Three turns are made in the church, the Crucified Jesus Christ and the Cross are placed in the middle of the church, accompanied by hymns, and everyone comes and prostrates and kisses the Cross. Then the other seven Bible chapters are read. (SAT-7 TURK/İlyas Edip Terbiyeli, İskenderun/BT Mersin)
