WHAT IS EASTER AND HOLY WEEK?

The Holy Week is among the many activities in the Christian calendar and is one of the most celebrated by Catholics and Protestants. Christian nations all over the world unite during this time, each with their own unique way of celebrating Christ’s death and resurrection. Earliest catholic reference as

to the celebration and observance of the Holy Week are found in the Apostolical Constitutions in the latter half of the 3rd and 4th century. Here, it is stated that abstinence from flesh is necessary, particularly on the Friday and Sunday of the week. Dionysius Alexandrinus wrote in his canonical epistle the 91 days of fasting, and also implied that the observance had already taken place in his time.

The celebration of the Holy Week varies within church traditions. Some would focus only on the last week of Jesus’ life; some celebrates on a wider scope the Passion of The Christ. The ways of celebrating vary from the usual liturgical services, home visits, novenas and inspirational talks. Within the walls of catholic custom, the week is concluded during the Easter Triduum, or a three day span supplementary to a church festival dedicated to prayers and other observance. It usually begins Thursday evening until Easter Sunday.

Holy Week starts with Sunday to commemorate Christ’s Passion. In Roman Rite, it simply known as Palm Sunday sometime before 1955. In the successive years, it was called Second Sunday in Passiontide.

Easter Sunday marks as the culmination not only of the Holy Week but also of the whole year and is considered the most important day of the church year and celebrates the resurrection of the Christ Jesus.