Maundy (Clean) Thursday for Orthodox Christians (21/04)

And taking bread and giving thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying: This is My body, which is given over to you; do this in My remembrance. Gospel of Luke 22:19

In the week before Easter, Great (Clean) Thursday, or Great Quarter, begins for Orthodox Christians.

During services on this day, one of the most important gospel events is remembered: the Last Supper, at which Jesus Christ washed the feet of his disciples, thereby showing an example of brotherly love and humility. According to the Gospel, at the Last Supper Jesus Christ established the rite of the Eucharist — of Holy Communion.

This ritual is recognized by all Christians — Orthodox, Catholics, Lutherans — believers eat wine and bread, meaning by them the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. From Maundy Thursday until Sunday, church services in all Orthodox churches are dedicated to memories of the Savior’s earthly suffering.

Preparations for Easter begin on Maundy Thursday. Believers need to come to churches, confess and receive communion. The house is cleaned, Easter cakes are baked, and eggs are painted. On Maundy Thursday, it is customary to get up before sunrise and swim — symbolically cleanse yourself of sins and fuss.

On Maundy Thursday, Russian peasants cleared the house, yard and vegetable garden of debris, dirt and dust that had accumulated over the winter. First of all, icons and lamps were updated and washed. Then they thoroughly washed the floors, walls, ceilings of the hut, table and benches, wiped them with sand, and scraped them together with a knife. People said: «If you wash yourself and wash yourself on Maundy Thursday, there will be cleanliness in the hut all year.

Preparations for Easter begin on Maundy Thursday (Photo: borzywoj, licensed from Shutterstock.com)

After cleaning on Maundy Thursday, the houses were not cleaned or the floors were ground until Easter, so as not to clog the eyes of Christ lying in the coffin«. In some areas on this day, all the dishes in the house were washed, and the milk caps were also fumigated with women's hair, explaining the importance of this activity by the fact that the dishes were desecrated by the touch of Judas the Traitor.

On this day, a large wash was held — all clothes, bed linen, tablecloths, curtains and towels, as well as rugs, rugs and bedding were washed. Everything was taken out into the yard for drying, and the whole family went to bed on the night from Thursday to Friday on «pea», pea straw that was spread on the floor. In the Russian North, for example, mothers taught their daughters, and mothers-in-law taught — daughters-in-law: «Everything needs to be washed, even a footcloth and that Easter rejoices».

The need for cleaning on Maundy Thursday was also explained by the fact that not only people and nature rejoice at the Feast of the Resurrection of Christ, but also animals, and every thing, and object.

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