last week Before Easter they call it Holy Week, and every day of it is called Great Week. These days, the Church remembers and experiences the last events from the life of Christ before the crucifixion. Maundy Thursday is of particular importance among them. At the Liturgy on this day, the establishment of the Sacrament of the Eucharist is remembered, and in the evening the so-called “Passionate Gospels” are read. What does this day look like in the light? Holy Scripture? How do modern Christians conduct it? Is it necessary to bring a lit candle from the temple and draw a cross on the front door with the smoke from its flame? Where did the “tradition” of cleaning, washing and doing laundry on this day come from? Read on for answers to these questions.

What does the Gospel say about the events of Maundy Thursday?

All four evangelists testify to last days life of Christ. The taking into custody and crucifixion were preceded by Easter, which Christ celebrated with his disciples.

Preparation for Passover and washing of feet

Jesus asked Peter and John to go to Jerusalem and prepare the Passover meal. The apostles, according to the word of the teacher, met a man with a jug of water and turned to him: The teacher ordered to celebrate Easter in your house. In the evening, at this place, in the so-called Zion Upper Room, Jesus Himself came with the rest of the disciples.

Before eating the festive meal, also known as the Last Supper, Jesus showed an example of amazing humility.

This was not the first time that the disciples began to measure grace by human standards, that is, they began to ask Christ who deserves to be honored more. The Good Teacher, the Son of God, who became Man for the salvation of everyone, washed his feet To my students.

What is the point of this action? Jesus showed that the Kingdom of Heaven is a reverse kingdom. In it, the one who belittles himself becomes superior to everyone. And even the Son of God accepts humiliation and death on the cross. This custom of washing feet has survived to this day: in cathedrals and some monasteries, representatives of the highest clergy perform a special rite.

Then Jesus and his disciples began to eat. In addition to fulfilling the law and eating Easter food, on Maundy Thursday Jesus actually also established the Sacrament of the Eucharist. He took the bread in his hands, after blessing, he divided it into pieces and gave it to the disciples with the words:

Take, eat; This is My Body, broken for you for the remission of sins

Then Jesus took a cup of wine and also gave it to the apostles:

Drink from it, all of you, this is My Blood of the New Testament, which is shed for you and for many for the remission of sins

Bread and Wine - these are not banal symbols at all. According to the teachings of the Church, every time during the Liturgy, bread and wine are transformed into the Flesh and Blood of Christ. There are many testimonies from both priests and laity who doubted the truth of this sacred rite, but then became witnesses to a terrible secret. With their spiritual gaze they saw body and blood in the cup. But this is a completely different topic.

Let us return to the events taking place in the Upper Room of Zion. Jesus, who called Himself the bread of life in the Gospel, establishes the Sacrament of the Eucharist. Therefore, the events of Thursday evening are also called the Last Supper. The Son of God says that He gives His Flesh and Blood to save people from sin.

The Betrayal of Judas and the Commandment of Love

And the very next day He will have to endure unbearable bodily torment and bloodshed, including death on the cross. And one of the twelve, Judas Iscariot, will betray Him to certain death.

Judas was a kind of “cashier” among the apostles; he carried a box of money. But at some point, he began to treat his “job” as something other than service. Judas was mentally seduced by money once, twice, three times... Before he knew it, passion took complete possession of him and led him to the high priests. He betrayed him for 30 pieces of silver. And not just a person, but a Teacher, whom the disciples consciously called the Son of God.

Jesus knew what Judas was up to. And it was at the Last Supper that he told the apostles that one of them would betray Him. The students, of course, began to ask: “Isn’t it me?” And only Judas heard the answer: “You.” Then the tempted student received from the good Teacher a piece of bread dipped in salt, with the words: “What are you doing, do it quickly.” After this, Judas left the Zion upper room.

He no longer heard the commandment of love:

I give you a new commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you... And greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life (give up his life) for his friends

It was precisely this step, even death on the cross, that the Son of God took.

Judas did not hear the last teachings of Christ at the Last Supper - to overcome grief, endure suffering and believe in the Son of God, His Father and the Holy Spirit. The prediction about the preaching of Christianity throughout the world, which the apostles would later fulfill, did not apply to him.

Judas did not hear Christ’s grief over the disciples, who would scatter in the last hours of Christ’s life. I didn’t know that Peter would deny the Son of God three times before the rooster crowed.

Judas Iscariot was not a witness to Jesus' prayer to His Father for the apostles. The commandment about faith, love and patience of sorrows no longer applied to him. After all, by his betrayal of Christ, he betrayed himself into the hands of the devil.

Evangelists remember all these events on Thursday. And the Church also especially honors this day.

Features of the Liturgy on Maundy Thursday

In memory of the celebration of the First Eucharist, the Divine Liturgy is necessarily served.

It reads a Gospel passage about the events of that day: the celebration of Easter, the Last Supper and the communion of the apostles, the washing of feet, the betrayal of Judas and the denial of Peter.

Also, the Cherubim is not sung at the Liturgy. It is replaced by a prayer known to many before communion:

Thy secret supper this day, O Son of God, receive me as a partaker, for I will not tell the secret to Thy enemies, neither will I give Thee a kiss like Judas, but like a thief I will confess Thee: remember me, O Lord, in Thy Kingdom

In it, believers ask the Lord to grant them communion, as the disciples once did. Those praying promise not to betray Christ by serving passions, like the money-loving Judas, who betrayed Christ with a kiss in the Garden of Gethsemane. In this prayer, Christians show meekness, humility and hope, like the thief crucified at the right hand of Christ. As you know, the thief repented before his death and asked Jesus to remember him in the Kingdom of Heaven.

If possible, believers try to take communion on this day. Approaching the chalice with the Holy Gifts, they remember the communion of the apostles and the great mercy shown to every person - the opportunity to unite with God in the Sacrament.

Reading the 12 Passionate Gospels

In the evening, churches serve Matins of Good Friday. It reads 12 Gospel passages about the suffering of Christ. Therefore, the service is known by another name - service of the 12 gospels .

Believers hold lighted candles in their hands and in some churches kneel while reading the Holy Scriptures. The priests read the gospel stories about the suffering of Christ. Since in the Church Slavonic language suffering is called passions, it is customary to call readable passages passionate Gospels.

Believers invisibly witness the prayer of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, the betrayal of Judas and the denial of Peter, the suffering of the high priests Anna and Caiaphas, Pilate's doubts and condemnation to death, the beating of Christ and the road to Golgotha, crucifixion and humiliation from the crucifixion, the repentance of the thief and death.

Before us, the Son of God is pouring out a bloody sweat in prayer for the cup; the guards who came to arrest Jesus heard Him Holy Name, fall to their knees.

Before us, Judas betrays the Son of God with a crafty kiss for 30 pieces of silver, Peter, who denied Christ three times, cries to the crowing of a rooster, the disciples run away so as not to see the Passion of Christ.

In front of us, Jesus is beaten half to death, they spit in His eyes, they shout: “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”, and mockingly say: “Save Yourself and come down from the cross.”

Before us, the Virgin Mary grieves, whom Christ gives to the care of his beloved disciple John, Mary Magdalene and other myrrh-bearing women burst into tears.

The prudent thief repents before us and gives himself up to eternal torment, crucified according to left hand from the Son of God.

Before us, a choking Jesus squeezes out the words of prayer for crucifiers and evildoers:

Forgive them, Father, for they do not know what they are doing.

And then he gives his spirit into the hands of the Lord.

Then there will be the removal of Christ from the cross, burial and mourning, and then the joy of the Resurrection. But when reading the passionate Gospels, the Church first of all remembers the great sacrificial love Christ to people, the price of which is betrayal, loneliness and crucifixion.

Why carry a lit candle home?

While reading Gospel passages, believers hold lighted candles in their hands; after the end of the service, they do not extinguish them, but go home to draw a cross at the front door with the flame of the “Thursday” or “Passion” candle. It is believed that this cross should protect the home from evil spirits.

But what is it? A pious tradition or another superstition, so beautifully disguised as Orthodoxy?

In the liturgical literature there is no mention of such a tradition of Maundy Thursday, there is no corresponding decree for mandatory execution.

But this custom cannot be called a magical action, because it is performed with faith and prayer.

Some parallels can be drawn with Hebrew Passover . In the book of Exodus it is written that each family had to take a lamb, the meat of which was baked with bitter herbs and unleavened bread and eaten at Passover. And the doorposts were anointed with the blood of this lamb. According to this “mark,” the Angel of the Lord distinguished the families of the Israelites from the Egyptians, in whose houses the “destructive plague” was supposed to take away the eldest sons.

So to this day, Orthodox Christians believe that crosses drawn with “passionate” candles are able to protect their homes from uncleanness. It is difficult to disagree with this, knowing how evil spirits fear the sign of the cross and the pectoral cross.

Is Maundy Thursday a time for cleaning?

But there is another “tradition” associated with Maundy Thursday. This day is also popularly called Maundy Thursday. Speaking modern language, people believed that this was supposedly the perfect day for cleaning. Therefore, on this day everything had to be put away, cleaned, washed, washed. Also, our great-grandmothers believed that on this day it was useful to swim in a living pond to cleanse yourself of diseases.

Where to look for the basis for such an interpretation of Maundy Thursday? There are several options:

• in the Gospel: Christ washed the feet of His disciples;
• in the history of the Church: they used to baptize on Holy Saturday. People have been preparing for this event for about three years. To take care of appearance did not worry them on Friday, when the Church remembers the death of Christ, “candidates for Christians” put themselves in order on Thursday.

There are also versions related to the pagan past of the Slavs. But in modern Orthodox life, such options can be looked at from a different angle. Maundy Thursday is another reason on the eve of Easter to take care of spiritual purity , confession and communion.

The meaning of this day of Holy Week is also described in this video:

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On the evening of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday Matins, or the service of the 12 Gospels, as this service is usually called, is celebrated. This entire service is dedicated to the reverent remembrance of the saving suffering and death on the cross of the God-Man. Every hour of this day there is a new deed of the Savior, and the echo of these deeds is heard in every word of the service.

In it, the Church reveals to believers the full picture of the Lord’s suffering, starting from the bloody sweat in the Garden of Gethsemane to the Calvary crucifixion. Taking us mentally through past centuries The Church, as it were, brings us to the very foot of the cross of Christ and makes us reverent spectators of all the torments of the Savior. Believers listen to the Gospel stories with lighted candles in their hands, and after each reading through the mouths of the singers they thank the Lord with the words: “Glory to Your long-suffering, Lord!” After each reading of the Gospel, the bell is struck accordingly.

In between the Gospels, antiphons are sung that express indignation at the betrayal of Judas, the lawlessness of the Jewish leaders and the spiritual blindness of the crowd. “What reason made you, Judas, a traitor to the Savior? - it says here. - Did He excommunicate you from the apostolic presence? Or did He deprive you of the gift of healing? Or, while celebrating the Supper with the others, He did not allow you to join the meal? Or He washed others’ feet, but despised yours "Oh, how many blessings have you, ungrateful one, been rewarded with." And then, as if on behalf of the Lord, the choir addresses the ancient Jews:

“My people, what have I done to you or how have I offended you? I opened the sight of your blind, I cleansed the lepers, I raised up a man on a bed. My people, what have I done to you and what have you repaid Me: gall for manna, gall for water [in the desert] - vinegar, instead of loving Me, they nailed Me to the cross; I will not tolerate you any longer, I will call My peoples, and they will glorify Me with the Father and the Spirit, and I will give them eternal life."

After the sixth Gospel and the reading of the “blessed” with troparia, the canon of the three hymns follows, conveying in a condensed form the last hours of the Savior’s stay with the apostles, the denial of Peter and the torment of the Lord, and the thrice luminary is sung. We present here the irmos of this canon.

Song one:

“To You, the Morning One, who has immutably exhausted mercy for Yourself, and who has bowed down to the passions, the Word of God, grant peace to those who have fallen, O Lover of Mankind.”

“I dedicate the morning to You to the Word of God. Remaining unchanged, You humbled Yourself out of mercy [to us] and dispassionately condescended to endure torment. Give peace to me, the fallen, O Lover of Mankind.”

Song eight:

“The Divine Children have denounced the pillar of malice against God; but on Christ the tottering congregation of lawless people advises in vain, the belly of the One who holds the length is taught to kill. All creation will bless Him, glorifying him forever.”

“The pious youths [in Babylon] dishonored the pillar with the abominable [idol], and the band of lawless [principals] raging against Christ are plotting in vain, intending to kill Him who holds life in His hand, whom all creation blesses, glorifying forever.”

Song nine:

“We magnify You, the most honorable Cherub and the most glorious without comparison Seraphim, who gave birth to God the Word without corruption.”

“More revered than the Cherubim and incomparably more glorious than the Seraphim, who painlessly gave birth to God the Word, the true Mother of God, we magnify You.”

After the canon, the choir sings a touching exapostilary, in which the repentance of the robber is remembered.

“You have made heaven worthy of the prudent thief in one hour, O Lord, and enlighten me with the tree of the cross and save me.”

“You immediately honored the prudent thief with heaven, O Lord! And enlighten me with the tree of the cross and save me.”

Before the end of the service (dismissal), the choir sings the troparion: "Thou hast redeemed us from the legal oath(You delivered us from the curses of the [Old Testament] law) I was nailed to the cross with Your honorable blood and pierced with a spear; Thou hast exuded immortality upon man, O our Savior, glory to Thee."

There is an ancient custom after the last Gospel not to extinguish your candle, but to bring it home burning and with its flame make small crosses at the top of each door of the house (to keep the house from all evil, Ex. 12:22). The same candle is used to light the lamp in front of the icons.

Maundy Thursday. Sermon by Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh

Before us is a picture of what happened to the Savior out of love for us; He could have avoided all this if only he had retreated, if only he had wanted to save Himself and not complete the work for which He came!.. Of course, then He would not have been Who He really was; He would not be Divine love incarnate, He would not be our Savior; but at what price does love cost!

Christ spends one terrible night face to face with coming death; and He fights this death, which comes at Him inexorably, just as a man fights before death. But usually a person simply dies helplessly; something more tragic was happening here.

Christ had previously said to his disciples: No one takes life from me - I give it freely... And so He freely, but with what horror, gave it away... The first time He prayed to the Father: Father! If this can pass me by - yes blowjob!.. and fought. And the second time He prayed: Father! If Not this cup may pass Me by - let it be... And only for the third time, after a new struggle, He could say: Thy will be done...

We must think about this: it always - or often - seems to us that it was easy for Him to give His life, being God who became man: but He, our Savior, Christ, dies as a Man: not by His immortal Divinity, but by His humanity , a living, truly human body...

And then we see the crucifixion: how He was killed with a slow death and how He, without one word of reproach, surrendered to torment. The only words He addressed to the Father about the tormentors were: Father, forgive them - they do not know What are creating...

This is what we must learn: in the face of persecution, in the face of humiliation, in the face of insults - in the face of a thousand things that are far, far removed from the very thoughts about death, we must look at the person who offends us, humiliates us, wants to destroy us, and turn our souls to God and say: Father, forgive them: they do not know what they are doing, they do not understand the meaning of things...

The final trial of Jesus Christ by Pilate. (Chapter from the “Law of God” by Archpriest Seraphim Slobodsky)

When the Lord Jesus Christ was again brought to Pilate, many people, rulers and elders, had already gathered at the praetorium. Pilate, having called the high priests, rulers and people, said to them: “You brought this Man to me as one who corrupts the people; and so I examined you, and did not find Him guilty of anything of which you accuse Him. I sent Him to Herod, and Herod also found nothing in Him worthy of death. So, better, I will punish Him and let Him go." It was the custom of the Jews to release one prisoner, chosen by the people, for the Passover holiday. Pilate, taking this opportunity, said to the people: “You have a custom that I release one prisoner to you for Easter; do you want me to release you the King of the Jews?” Pilate was sure that the people would ask Jesus, because he knew that the leaders betrayed Jesus Christ out of envy and malice.

While Pilate was sitting in the judgment seat, his wife sent him to say: “Do not do anything to that righteous man, because now in a dream I have suffered a lot for Him.”

Meanwhile, the high priests and elders taught the people to ask for the release of Barabbas. Barabbas was a robber who was put in prison with his accomplices for causing outrage and murder in the city. Then the people, taught by the elders, began to shout: “Release Barabbas to us!”

Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, went out and, raising his voice, said: “Whom do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus, who is called Christ?” Everyone shouted: “Not Him, but Barabbas!” Then Pilate asked them: “What do you want me to do with Jesus, who is called Christ?” They shouted: “Let him be crucified!” Pilate said to them again, “What evil has He done?” I did not find anything worthy of death in Him. So, having punished Him, I will release Him." But they shouted even more loudly: "Crucify Him! Let him be crucified!" Then Pilate, thinking of arousing compassion for Christ among the people, ordered the soldiers to beat Him. The soldiers took Jesus Christ into the courtyard and, undressing Him, beat Him severely. Then for weeks He wore a scarlet robe (short red robe without sleeves, fastened on the right shoulder ) and, weaving a crown of thorns, they placed it on His head, and gave Him a reed in his right hand, instead of royal scepter. And they began to mock Him. They knelt down, bowed to Him and said: “Hail, King of the Jews!” They spat on Him and, taking a reed, beat Him on His head and face.

After this, Pilate went out to the Jews and said: “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, so that you may know that I do not find any guilt in Him.”

Then Jesus Christ came out wearing a crown of thorns and a scarlet robe.

Pilate said to them: “Here is a man!” With these words, Pilate seemed to want to say: “look how He is tormented and mocked,” thinking that the Jews would take pity on Him. But these were not the enemies of Christ. When the high priests and ministers saw Jesus Christ, they shouted: “Crucify Him!”

Pilate says to them: “Take Him and crucify Him, but I find no guilt in Him.”

The Jews answered him: “We have a law, and according to our law He must die, because He made Himself the Son of God.”

Hearing such words, Pilate became even more frightened. He entered the praetorium with Jesus Christ and asked Him: “Where are you from?”

But the Savior did not give him an answer. Pilate says to Him: “Do you not answer me? Do you not know that I have the power to crucify You and the power to release You?”

Then Jesus Christ answered him: “You would not have had any power over Me if it had not been given to you from above; therefore, the greater sin is on the one who betrayed Me to you.”

After this answer, Pilate became even more willing to free Jesus Christ. But the Jews shouted: “If you let Him go, you are not a friend of Caesar; everyone who makes himself a king is an enemy of Caesar.” Pilate, having heard such words, decided it was better to put an innocent Man to death than to expose himself to the royal disfavor. Then Pilate brought Jesus Christ out, sat down on the seat of judgment, which was on the lyphostoton, and said to the Jews: “Here is your King!” But they shouted: “Take and crucify Him!” Pilate says to them: “Shall I crucify your king?” The high priests answered: “We have no king except Caesar.”

Pilate, seeing that nothing was helping, and the confusion was increasing, took water, washed his hands in front of the people and said: “I am not guilty of shedding the blood of this Righteous One; see you” (i.e., let this guilt fall on you).

Answering him, all the Jewish people said in one voice: “His blood be on us and on our children.” So the Jews themselves accepted responsibility for the death of the Lord Jesus Christ on themselves and even on their descendants. Then Pilate released the robber Barabbas to them, and handed Jesus Christ over to them to be crucified.

"ORTHODOX LIFE"
Monthly supplement to the magazine “Orthodox Rus'”.

Twelve Gospels of the Holy Passion.

IN In ancient times, when Jerusalem was under the rule of Christian rulers, the Christians of the Holy City spent the night of Good Friday on common prayers e. - Having gathered in the Zion Church, the Christians set off from it in a procession of the cross, led by the patriarch and all the clergy, to the church on the Mount of Olives, built by Queen Helena on the site where the Lord talked with the apostles before His suffering. This conversation is recorded in the Gospel of John, chapter 13. 31 – 17 ch. Art. 26, which is the gospel, the first passionate one, and was read. After reading it, the religious procession went to the place of the Gethysemane prayer of the Savior and the betrayal of Him by Judas, and here the Gospel about this was read, the second passionate one. Then the religious procession went to new places of sacred memories of the suffering and death of the Savior, and at each place the corresponding memory of St. was read. gospel This is how the 11th gospel was read, after which the procession returned to the Zion Church, where in conclusion the 12th gospel was read about the sealing of the Holy Sepulcher and the posting of guards at it for three days. Between the Gospels, during the procession of the cross, Christians sang those of St. chants that have survived to us and which we also sing. During the march, the Christians had lamps in their hands. Following their example, we stand while reading the passionate Gospels with candles. May our prayers be to the Lord Savior fiery, Yes are burning our hearts are towards Him with a feeling of gratitude and zeal to live according to His covenants!

WITH Lava to Your Passion, Lord, glory to You!

The first gospel.
From John ch. 13, Art. 31 – 18, Art. 1.

R here the Lord is with His disciple: Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. If God is glorified in Him, God will glorify Him in Himself, and He will also glorify Him. Children, I haven’t been with you much yet. - You will seek Me, and like the Jews of Judaism: even though I go, you cannot come: and to you I speak today. I give you a new commandment, that you love one another; as you have loved, you also love yourselves. Everyone understands this, for you are My disciples, if you have love for each other.. Simon Peter said to Him: Lord, where are you going? Jesus answered him: Even though I am walking, you cannot now walk after Me: but follow Me. Peter said to Him: Lord, why can’t I walk after You today? Today I will lay down my soul for You. Jesus answered him: Will you lay down your soul for Me? Amen, amen, I say to you: the alector will not cry until he has denied me three things. Let not your heart be troubled: believe in God, and believe in Me. In My Father's house there are many mansions: if not, I would say to you: I am going to prepare a place for you. And if I prepare a place for you, I will come and take you to Myself, so that even though I am, you too will be. And even though I am walking, I know, and I know the way. The verb to Him Thomas: Lord, we do not know where you are going: and how can we lead the way? Jesus said to him: I am the way and the truth and the life: no one will come to the Father except by Me. If they knew Me quickly, and knew My Father, then they knew Him, and henceforth they knew Him, and they saw Him. Philip said to Him: Lord, show us the Father, and it will be sufficient for us. Jesus said to him: I have been with you for so long, and you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father, and why do you say: show us the Father? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The verbs that I say to you, I do not say about Myself: But the Father abides in Me, He does the works. Believe in Me, for I am in the Father, and the Father in Me: or else, for this reason have faith in Me. Amen, amen, I say to you: believe in Me, the works that I do, he will do this, and he will do greater things than these.: For I am coming to My Father. And whatever you ask of the Father in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. And whatever you ask in My name, I will do it. If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray to the Father, and another Comforter the Spirit of truth will give you, may it be with you forever The world cannot accept Him, for it does not see Him, nor does it know Him: you know Him, for He abides in you and will be in you. I will not leave you, sires: I will come to you. It is still a little, and the world does not see Me: you see Me, as I live, and you will live. On that day you will understand that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you. Have My commandments and keep them, that is, love Me: and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father: and I will love him and will appear to him Myself. The verb to him from Judas is not Iscariot: Lord, what will happen if you want to appear to us, and not the world? Jesus answered and said to him: If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word: and My Father will love him, and I will come to him and make my abode with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word that you have heard is not Mine, but the Father who sent Me. These are the verbs to you, in you. The Comforter, the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you everything and remember everything that has been told to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you: not as the world gives, I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor be afraid. Hear, as I say to you: I am going and will come to you. If they loved Me quickly, they rejoiced quickly, for I am going to the Father, for My Father is sick. And now it will not happen to you, before it will not even happen: but when it happens, you will have faith. To whom I say a little with you: for the prince of this world is coming, and in Me he will have nothing. But let the world understand that I love the Father, and as the Father commanded me, I do this: Arise, let us go from here. I am the true vine, and My Father is the worker. Every rod about Me that does not produce fruit I will cut off; and every rod that produces fruit I will cut off, so that it may bear abundant fruit. You are already clear for the word that was spoken to you. Be in Me, and I am in you. Just as a rod cannot produce fruit for itself unless it is on the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. . I am the vine, you are the birth. And he who is in Me, and I in him, will produce much fruit: for without Me you cannot do anything. If anyone does not abide in Me, he will be cast out like a rod and dry up.: And they collect it and put it into the fire, and it burns. If you remain in Me, My words will abide in you: if you want, ask, and it will be done for you. For this my Father is glorified, that you may produce much fruit and be my disciples. As the Father has loved Me, and I have loved you: be ye in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and I will remain in His love. These words are spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be fulfilled. This is My commandment, that you love one another as you have loved. No one has greater sowing love, but who would lay down his soul for his friends. You are my friends, and if you do, I command you. To whom do I speak, you are servants, for a servant does not know what his Lord is doing; but you have been told by others, for all that I have heard from My Father I have told you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and your fruit should remain, that if you ask the Father in My name, He will give it to you. I command you this, that you love one another. If the world hates you, know that it hated Me before you. If you were quicker from the world, the world would love its own: just as you are not from the world, but I chose you from the world, for this reason the world hates you. Remember the word that is spoken to you: there is no greater servant than his master. If they expel me, they will expel you too : If you keep My word, they will keep yours. But they are doing all this to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. If he had not come and spoken to them, they would have had no sin: now they have no guilt about their sin. Hate Me, and hate My Father. Even if I had not done deeds in them that no one else had done, they would have no sin: now you both see and hate Me and My Father. But may the word written in their law be fulfilled, that they hated Me. When the Comforter comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.: And you testify that from time immemorial you have been with Me. These are the words to you, so do not be tempted. You will be separated from the hosts: but the hour will come, and everyone who kills you will think of offering service to God. And they will do this because they have not known the Father or Me. But these words were spoken to you, yes, when the hour comes, remember this, for I have been for you; these things have not been for you from the beginning, for I have been with you. Now I go to Him who sent Me, and no one asks Me from you: where are you going? But, as these words were spoken to you, your hearts were filled with sorrow. But I tell you the truth: if I do not go, I will go; if I do not go, the Comforter will not come to you; if I go, I will send Him to you. And when He comes, He will convict the world about sin, and about truth, and about judgment. About sin, because they do not believe in Me: about righteousness, because I go to My Father, and those who do not see Me: about judgment, because the prince of this world is condemned. The imam has many more words to say to you, but you cannot wear them now. When He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth: for it is not about Himself to speak, but if anyone hears, He will speak, and the one who comes will tell you. He will glorify Me, because He will receive from Mine and tell it to you. All that the Father has is Mine: for this reason, he will receive from Mine and tell you. Away, and those who do not see Me: and again a little, and you will see Me as I go to the Father. Deciding from His disciples to themselves: what is this, which He says to us: a little, and you do not see Me: and again a little, and you will see Me? and: How am I going to the Father? To the verb: what is this, he says, in the distance? We don’t know what he says. Jesus understood, as if He wanted to question Him, and He said to them: Do you quarrel among one another about this, as if you were a little, and you do not see Me; and again, a little, and you will see Me? Amen, amen, I say to you, that you will weep and mourn, and the world will rejoice: you will be sad, but your sorrow will be joy. When a woman gives birth, she has sorrow, because her year is come; but when a child gives birth, who does not remember the sorrow for the joy that a man was born into the world. And you have sorrow today: but I will see you, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you: and in that day you will not ask Me anything. Amen, amen, I say to you, for whatever you ask from the Father in My name, He will give it to you.. Until now, do not ask for anything in My name: ask, and you will receive, that your joy will be filled. These things are spoken to you in parables, but the hour will come when I will not speak to anyone in parables, but will manifestly tell you about the Father. On that day, in My name, ask: And I will not tell you, that I will pray to the Father for you: for the Father Himself loves you, because you loved Me, and believed, because I died from God. I departed from the Father and came into the world: and again I leave the world and go to the Father. His disciples said to Him: Behold, now you speak without hesitation, but you speak no parables. Now we know that you are everything, and you do not demand, but someone asks you: about this we believe, as if you came from God. Jesus answered them: Do you believe now? Behold, the hour is coming, and now it has come, that you may be separated, each to his own, and leave Me alone: ​​and you are not one, for the Father is with Me. These are the words to you, may you have peace in Me. You will be in the world of sorrow: but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world. Jesus said this, and lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: Father, the hour has come: glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You: for Thou hast given Him power over all flesh, and whatever Thou hast given Him, He will give them life. eternal. This is the eternal belly, yes They know You the one true God, and He Whom You sent Jesus Christ. I have glorified You on earth, having accomplished the work that You gave me to do. And now You glorify Me, Father, with You Yourself with glory, even though You had no peace before. Yavikh your name man, which you gave me out of the world: your besha, and you gave them to me: and you have kept your word. Now I understand that all that you have given to Me is from You: as the verbs that You have given to Me, I have given to them: and I have accepted these, and truly understood that I have departed from You, and I have believed that You have sent Me. I pray for this, I do not pray for the whole world, but for those whom you have given to me, for they are yours.. And all of Mine is Thine essence, and Thine is Mine: and I am glorified in them. And whoever is not in the world, and these are in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, which You have given to Me, so that they may be one, as We are. Whenever I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name: which you gave Me to keep, and no one perished from them except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. Today I come to You, and I say this to the world, that they may have My joy filled within themselves. I gave them Your word, and the world hated them, for they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that you keep them away from the world, but that you keep them from hostility. They are not from the world, just as I am not from the world. Sanctify them in Thy truth: Thy word is truth. As you sent Me into the world, and I sent them into the world: and for them I will sanctify Myself, so that they too may be sanctified in truth. I pray not only for these, but also for those who believe their words for their sake in Me: that they all may be one: just as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You, that they also may be one in Us.: Yes, and the world has faith, because You sent Me. And I have given the glory to Me, I have given it to them: that they may be one, as We are one. I am in them, and You are in Me: that they may be perfect in one, and that the world may understand that You sent Me, and that You have loved them, as You have loved Me. Father, these you have given to Me, I want, that even where I am, they also may be with Me: that they may see My glory, which you have given to Me, because you loved Me before the foundation of the world. Righteous Father, even the world does not know You, but I have known You, and these have known that You have sent Me: and I told them Your name, and I will say: Yes, love, with whom You loved Me, He will be in them, and I will be in them . And this river Jesus went out with His disciples to the half of the stream of Kedrsk, where there was a helicopter city, and into it He and His disciples entered.

Second Gospel.
From John ch. 18, Art. 1-28.

IN About that time, Jesus went out with His disciples to the half of the stream of Kedrsk, where there was a helicopter city, and there He and His disciples were seen. Seeing Judas, give His place, as Jesus gathered in multitudes with His disciples. And then there was the reception of the spirit, and from the bishops and Pharisees the servants came there with luminaries and candles and weapons. Jesus, knowing all that was to come, said to them: Whom are you looking for? Answering Him: Jesus of Nazareth. The verb is named after Jesus: I am. And Judas, who betrayed Him, stood with them. Yes, as I said to them: I am, I went back and fell to the earth. Then Jesus asked them: whom are you looking for? They decided: Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus answers: Reh to you, for I am. If you seek Me, leave these behind: that the word that was spoken might be fulfilled: For you have given them to Me, and have not destroyed anyone through them. Simon Peter took the knife, take it out, and strike the bishop’s servant, and cut his gum. The name of the servant is Malchus. Jesus Petrov said: stick the knife into the scissors. If the Father gives me the cup, won’t the imam drink it? Spira and the captain and the servants of the Jews brought Jesus and bound Him, and brought Him to Anna first: for Caiaphas was the father-in-law, who was the bishop of the year before. Caiaphas gave advice to Judaea, because it was impossible for a single person to die for the people. Simon Peter and another disciple walked after Jesus; the bishops knew that disciple, and they went with Jesus into the courtyard of the bishops. Peter stood at the door outside. The disciple of the same one whom the bishops knew went out, and spoke at the door, and brought Peter in. The verb of the servant of the door of Petrovi: food and are you a disciple of this Man? The verb is: there is no. As I stood, the slaves and servants created fire, like winter, and warmed themselves: and Peter stood and warmed himself with them. The bishop asked Jesus about His disciples and about His teaching. Jesus answered him: I do not hesitate to speak to the world: I have always taught in the congregations and in the church, where the Jews are always silent, and in no words whatsoever. Why are you asking Me? Questions from those who heard what the verbs said to them: behold, behold, even reh Az. This is what I told Him: from the coming servants, strike Jesus on the cheek, saying: is this the answer of the bishops? Jesus answered him: If you speak evil, testify of evil, or if it is good that you speak of Me? His ambassador Anna was associated with the bishop Caiaphas. Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Deciding to him: Are you food from His disciple? He refused and spoke; no. There is only one verb from the servant of the bishops, this little boy, whom Peter cut off his ear: didn’t I see you in Vertograd with him? Again, Peter denied himself, and cried out to all the loopers. He led Jesus from Caiaphas to the praetor. Early in the morning, let them not go into the praetor, lest they be defiled, but let them eat the Passover.

Third Gospel.
From Matthew ch. 26, art. 57-75.

IN About the time it came, the soldiers of Jesus led the bishops to Caiaphas, where the scribes and elders gathered. Peter walked along Him from afar, to the bishop’s courtyard: and going inside, sitting with the servants, he saw his death. The bishop and the elders and the whole host sought false witness against Jesus, so that they would kill Him, and they did not find it: and they did not find it with many false witnesses. - Afterwards, two false witnesses came forward and said: This is what I say: I can destroy the Church of God and in three days create it. And the bishop stood up and said to Him: Is it wrong for you to answer that these things testify against You? Jesus is silent. And the bishop answered and said to Him: I conjure Thee by the Living God, and say unto us, Are Thou the Christ, the Son of God? Jesus said to him: you say. Again, I say to you: from here you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven. Then the bishop tore his vestments, saying, as if blaspheming the verb: what else do we require witnesses? Behold, now you have heard His blasphemy: what do you think? They answered and decided: I am guilty of death. Then you spit on His face and dirty tricks on His deeds: but you struck thee for the cheek, saying: prophets to us, O Christ, who is it that strikes Thee? - Peter is sitting outside in the courtyard. And one servant girl approached him, saying: “You too are with Jesus of Galilee.” He denied himself before everyone, saying: “We do not know what you say.” I went out to his gate, and another woman saw him, and she said to them: “And this one was with Jesus of Nazareth.” And again I denied with an oath that I did not know the Man. Little by little, the standing people came up and decided to Petrov: “Truly you are from them, for your conversation is creating you in reality.” Then they began to grumble and swear that they didn’t know the Man. And shout out loudly. And I will remember Peter’s verb of Jesus, which was spoken to him, because first he would not even cry out, having denied Me three times. And he went out, crying bitterly.

The Fourth Gospel.
From John ch. 18, Art. 28 – Ch. 19, art. 16.

IN About the time it was, leading Jesus from Caiaphas to the praetor. It is early morning: and they shall not go into the praetor, lest they be defiled, but let them eat the Passover. - Pilate came out to them and said: What speech do you bring against this Man? Answering and deciding to him: If this had not been an evildoer, they would not have handed Him over to you. Pilate said to them: Capture Him, and judge Him according to your law. The Jews decided to him: “We are not worthy of killing anyone; let the word of Jesus come true, as he said, signifying the death by which we wish to die.” Below, Pilate returned to the praetor, and the voice of Jesus was heard, and he said to Him: Are you the King of the Jews? Jesus answered him: Are you saying this about yourself, or are you talking about Me? Answer Pilate: Am I food for the Jews? Your family and the bishop gave You over to me: what have you done? Jesus answered: My kingdom is not of this world: though my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have fought, lest they be delivered up by Judea: but now my kingdom is not from here. Pilate said to Him: Art Thou a King? Answer Jesus: You say that I am the King. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, that I may bear witness to the truth: and everyone who is of the truth will hear My voice. Pilate said to Him: What is truth? And these things he again went out to Judea and said to them: I find not a single guilt in Him. There is a custom for you, so that I will release one thing to you on Easter: do you want, then, that I will release to you the King of the Jews? Then she cried out again, saying: not this one, but Barabbas. Barabbas was a robber. Then Pilate watered Jesus and beat Him. And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns, placed it on His head, and clothed Him in a scarlet robe, and said: Hail, King of the Jews! and beat Him on His cheek. Then Pilate went out again and said to them: Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, so that you may understand that in Him I find not a single guilt. Out went Jesus, wearing a crown of thorns and a scarlet robe. And the verb to them: behold, Man. When the bishop and servants saw Him, they cried out, saying: Crucify, crucify Him. Pilate said to them: catch Him and crucify Him, for I find no guilt in Him. The Jews answered him: we are imams of the law, and according to our law we must die, because we have created for ourselves the Son of God. When Pilate heard this word, he was more afraid, and went into the praetor again, and the verb of Jesus: Where are you from? Jesus did not give him an answer. Pilate said to Him: “Are you not speaking to me?” Do you not think that the imam has the power to crucify you, and the imam has the power to let you go? Answered by Jesus: Do not have any power over Me, unless it is given from above: for this reason, having betrayed Me to you, it is a greater sin to have. For this reason Pilate sought to let Him go. But the Jews cried out, saying: If you let this go, bear it as a friend of Caesar: everyone who creates a king for himself resists Caesar. Pilate, having heard this word, brought Jesus out, and sat at the trial, on the spot we say lihostroton, in Hebrew Gabbatha. It’s almost five o’clock, and it’s almost six o’clock. And the verb Iudeom: behold, your King. They cried out: take him, take him, crucify him. Verb named after Pilate: Shall I crucify your king? The bishop answered: not the imams of the king, only of Caesar. Then he handed Him over to them, so that He might be crucified.

Fifth Gospel.
From Matthew ch. 27, art. 3-32.

IN About the time it was seen that Judas betrayed Jesus, having condemned Him, repenting and returning the thirty pieces of silver to the bishop and the elder, saying: “You have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They decide: what should we eat? you will see. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the church, and went away and hanged himself. The bishop accepted the pieces of silver, deciding: it is unworthy to put them in a corvan, since there is a price for blood. He created the council, bought with them the village of the poor, for a strange burial: and that village was called the village of blood, to this day. Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet will be fulfilled, saying: And having received thirty pieces of silver, the price of Him that was prized by the children of Israel, I gave to the poor in the village, as the Lord told me. Jesus is one hundred before the hegemon. And the hegemon asked Him, saying: Are you the King of the Jews? Jesus said to him: You speak. And when the bishops and elders say nothing, they answer nothing. Then Pilate said to Him: Have you not heard how many people testify against You? And without answering him in a single verb, as if the hegemon was greatly amazed. On every holiday, it is customary for the hegemon to release one bond to the people, his own desire: then the name is then tied deliberately, the verb Barabbas. To those who had gathered, Pilate said to them: whomever you want I will release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus, the spoken Christ? You know that you betrayed Him out of envy. And as I sat at his trial, his wife sent him to him, saying: It is nothing to you and to the Righteous One: for you have suffered much today in a dream for His sake. The bishop and elders told the people to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. Having answered the hegemon, he said to them: Whom do you want, will I release you from both? They decided: Barabbas. The verb is to them Pilate: what shall I do to Jesus, the spoken Christ? I told him everything: let him be crucified. The hegemon said: what evil have you done? They cried out too much, saying: let him drink away. Seeing that Pilate succeeded in nothing, but that there was more rumor, he took the water and raised his hands before the people, saying: I am innocent of the blood of this Righteous One: you will see. And all the people answered and decided: His blood be on us and on our children. Then release Barabbas to them; beat Jesus and hand him over to them, so that they may kill Him. Then the warriors of the hegemon, having received Jesus at the judgment, gathered together the whole multitude of warriors: and they drew Him off, and clothed Him with a scarlet robe: and woven a crown of thorns, and put it on His head, and a reed on His right hand: and bowed down on the knee before Him, I curse at Him, saying: Rejoice, King of the Jews. And he spat on Him, took up the reed, and struck His head. And when she mocked Him, she took off the scarlet robe from Him and clothed Him in His garments: and led Him to die. From there I found a man of Cyrene, named Simon: and therefore I decided to bear His cross.

Sixth Gospel.
From Mark ch. 15, art. 16-32.

IN About the time it came, the soldiers brought Jesus into the courtyard, who was the praetor, and summoned the whole army. And she clothed Him with hair, and put on Him a crown of thorns. And she began to kiss Him and say: Rejoice, King of the Jews. And I struck His head with a reed and spit upon Him: and I bowed the knee to worship Him. And when she had mocked Him, she stripped Him of His clothes and clothed Him in His robe: and they brought Him out, that they might punish Him. And he touched a passing certain Simon Cyrene, coming from the village, Father Alexandrov and Rufus, so that he might take up His cross. And they brought Him to Golgotha, a place, so to speak, the Place of Execution. And I give Him permission to drink this wine. He’s not pleasant. And those who crucified Him divided His garments, casting lots for them as to who would take what. It was almost three o'clock, and crucified Him. And without the writing of His guilt it is written: King of the Jews. And two thieves were crucified with Him: one on His right hand and one on His left side. And the Scripture was fulfilled, which says: And be reckoned with the wicked. And those who pass by blaspheme Him, nodding their heads and saying: wow, destroy the church and build it up in three days: save yourself and come down from the cross. In the same way, the bishop, swearing at each other with the scribes, said: “He saved others, but can’t he save himself?” May Christ, the King of Israel, descend today from the cross, so that we may see and have faith in Him.

Seventh Gospel.
From Matthew ch. 27, art. 34-54.

IN About the time it came, the soldiers came to the place called Golgotha, which is the place of Kranie: and when Jesus gave the drink, the drink was mixed with bile: and the taste was not thirsty. They crucified Him and divided His garments, casting lots: and He sat to watch over Him: and they laid His guilt on the top of His head, writing: This is Jesus, the King of the Jews. Then two thieves crucified with Him: one on the right hand and one on the left. Those who pass by blaspheme Him, nodding their heads and saying: destroy the church and build in three days, save yourself: if you are the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise, the bishop, quarreling with the scribes and elders and Pharisees, said: He saved others, but cannot save himself? If there is a King of Israel, let him come down today from the cross, and we believe in Him. I trust in God: may He deliver Him now, if He wills. I say that I am the Son of God. Likewise, the thief crucified with Him was reproached by Him. From the sixth hour darkness came over all the earth until the ninth hour. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a great voice, saying: Or, Or, lima sabachani? It is: My God, My God, have you forsaken me in all things? But Netsy from those who stood heard the verb that Elijah spoke: and he flowed alone from them, and received his lip, having fulfilled his duty, and stuck it on the reed, girding Him. The rest said: leave, so that we may see if Elijah comes to save Him. Jesus, having cried out with a great voice, gave up the ghost. And behold, the veil of the church was torn in two from the highest to the lowest: and the earth shook, and the stone was disintegrated: and the tombs were opened: and many bodies of the fallen saints arose, and coming out of the tomb, after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. The centurion and those with him who were watching Jesus, seeing the coward and being greatly afraid, said: Truly this is the Son of God.

Eighth Gospel.
From Luke ch. 23, art. 32-49.

IN About the time it came, the leader was with Jesus and two other villains were killed with Him. And when he came to the place called Skull, he crucified Him and the villain, one on the right hand, and the other on the left, and Jesus said: Father, let them go: for they do not know what they are doing. Dividing His garments, the cast of lots. And I stand people can see. The princes also cursed with them, saying: He saved others, and may He save Himself, if He is the chosen Christ of God. The soldiers also cursed Him, approaching and acknowledging what was coming to Him, and saying: If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself. - And the writing was written over Him in Hellenic and Roman and Jewish writings: This is the King of the Jews. One of the evildoers who promised him blasphemed Him, saying: If You are the Christ, save Yourself and ours. - Having answered the other, he forbade him, saying: Do you not fear God, for you are condemned to the same thing? And we are in truth: worthy in deed perceived: This one has not done a single evil. - And Jesus said: remember me, Lord, when you come to the Kingdom . And Jesus said to him: Amen I say to you, today you will be with Me in heaven. As soon as the hour was six, and darkness was over all the earth until the hour of the ninth: and the sun grew darker, and the veil of the church was rent in the midst. And Jesus cried out with a great voice, saying: Father, in Your hands I commend My spirit. And this river, published. - When the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying: Truly this man was righteous. - And all those who came for the sake of this shame, seeing what happens, beating their perseverance, return. - I stood, all who knew Him from afar, and the women who followed Him from Galilee, seeing this.

Canon.

Song 5. TO To you in the morning, for the sake of mercy, who has unfailingly exhausted and dispassionately bowed down to the passions, the Word of God: grant peace to those who have fallen, O Lover of Mankind.

Chorus: WITH lava to you, our God, glory to you.

U Having washed our feet and pre-cleansed ourselves by the sacraments of the Divine now, Thy Christ, the minister from Zion to the great Mount of Olives ascended with Thee, singing to Thee, O Lover of Man.

Z Say, say, friends, do not be afraid: now, for the hour of My life is drawing near, and I will slay the hands of the wicked: all of you are scattered, having left Me, and I will gather them together to preach Me, the Lover of Man.

Canto 8. WITH The Divine Fathers have denounced a ton of wickedness against God: the reeling, lawless congregation advises in vain against Christ, the belly of Him who holds His hand is taught to kill, Whom all creation will bless, glorifying forever.

ABOUT So, as a disciple, now shake off the dream that you have been saying, O Christ, be vigilant in prayer, so that you do not enter into adversity, and especially Simon: to the strongest of the most painful temptations: understand Me, Peter, Whom you will bless all creation, glorifying forever.

WITH I will never say the worst words to You, Master: I will die with You, as I am prudent, even if all are rejected, cry Peter: neither flesh nor blood, but Thy Father reveal Thee, Whom will all creation bless, glorifying forever.

G You have not fully experienced the depth of Divine wisdom and reason, but you have not comprehended the abyss of My destinies, O man, the Lord said: O weak flesh, do not boast: for having denied Me three times, He will bless all creation, glorifying Him forever.

ABOUT You are three, Simon Peter, who will quickly do as he said, and one young woman will come to you and frighten you, the Lord says: the mountaineer shed tears, finding Me both merciful, Whom will bless all creation, glorifying forever.

Canto 9. H The most natural Cherub and the most glorious without comparison Seraphim, who gave birth to God the Word without corruption, we magnify Thee as the real Mother of God.

P The evil assembly of the abominable, deceitful God-killers is presented to the host, Christ, to You, and as the unrighteous are drawn to the Creator of all, we magnify Him.

Z the law does not understand wickedness, with a prophetic voice learning in vain, like a sheep, I draw You, the Lord, to unrighteously slay all, Whom we magnify.

I I betrayed the life published in the language of the scribes to the murder of the priestess, wounded by self-envying malice, by the nature of the Life-Giver, Whom we magnify.

ABOUT I was like a lot of psychos, and I struck, O King, Your cheek with a blow: I asked You, but You bore false witness: and having endured everything, You saved everyone.

Exapostilary.

R You have vouchsafed the prudent robber in one hour of heaven, O Lord: and enlighten me with the tree of the cross and save me.

Ninth Gospel.
From John ch. 19, art. 25-37.

IN About the time it is, I stand at the cross of Jesus His Mother and His Mother’s sister, Mary of Cleopas and Mary Magdalene. Jesus saw the Mother and the disciple standing, who loved him, saying to His Mother: Woman, behold, your son. Then he said to the disciple: behold, your Mother. And from that hour the disciple sang in his own way. Therefore, Jesus knew that everything had already been accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, saying: I thirst. The vessel is standing full. They filled their lips with their lips and stood on their reeds, coming to His mouth. When Jesus receives the word, he says: it is finished. And bow your head, surrender your spirit. But the Jews, who had little heels, may not have their bodies left on the cross on the Sabbath, for that Sabbath day is great, praying to Pilate, that their legs may be broken and lifted up. The soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who was crucified with Him. But she came to Jesus, as if she had seen Him already dead, without breaking His legs: but one of the warriors with a spear pierced His ribs and came out blood and water. And he who has seen the testimony, and his testimony is true, and the message is that it speaks the truth, so that you may have faith. For this to happen, let the Scripture be fulfilled: a bone will not be broken from Him. And again another Scripture says: they will look upon Him, Who has given birth.