News Entry
Holy Week and Easter at Old Saint Paul’s
Date Posted: Saturday 28 March 2009
In the Liturgy of Holy Week we journey with Christ to his Passion and Resurrection. As we recall, and re-enact in the Liturgy, the events of that sacred week, we contemplate the salvation Jesus brought to all humankind. The week begins with the joyful procession of palms in honour of Christ our King on Palm Sunday (5 April). This is only the first in a series of processions which mark the celebration of Holy Week and Easter Day (12 April). The procession of palms is followed by the procession of the Eucharist on Maundy Thursday, the procession of the Cross on Good Friday, and the procession of Light at the Easter Vigil.
The Liturgy also provides moments for quieter reflection. We listen to the singing of Gospel accounts of the Passion on Palm Sunday and Good Friday. Before the Altar of Repose, we watch and pray with Christ overnight from Maundy Thursday to Good Friday. On Good Friday we kneel before the image of the Crucified. At the Easter Vigil we listen to accounts of God’s salvation through history before renewing the vows made at our Baptism.
On Palm Sunday (5 April), the 10.30am Liturgy begins with the liturgy of palms, recalling our Lord’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem before his Passion. After receiving our palm crosses and hearing the Gospel account of the first Palm Sunday, we set off with our palms in a joyous procession through the Old Town of Edinburgh to hail Jesus as King. But then, the mood changes in the liturgy of the passion. As we listen to the singing of Matthew’s account of the Passion, we recall that those who welcomed Jesus with exuberance at his entrance into Jerusalem called for his crucifixion a few days later.
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On the evening of Palm Sunday at 6.30pm Evensong gives way to Stations of the Cross. We re-enact our Lord’s journey along the Via dolorosa, from Pilate’s judgement hall to the cross of Calvary. We process around the church, moving between representations of fourteen events on the way to the Cross. The Old Saint Paul’s Stations can be followed online here.
On Wednesday evening (9 April) at 7.30pm Tenebrae anticipates Matins (morning prayer) of Maundy Thursday. The service comprises psalms and readings sung to plainsong and faux-bourdon settings. This evocative rite with simple but dramatic ceremonial helps to draw us into the darkness of the Passion. During the rite the lights are gradually extinguished until just one candle, representing Christ, remains shining in the darkness. This is a foretaste of the Resurrection, the light that banishes darkness.
On Maundy Thursday (10 April) the Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7.30pm recalls the gift of Jesus present in the Blessed Sacrament. We wash the feet of twelve members of the congregation, as the disciples were washed in the upper room. After Mass we take the Sacrament in procession to the Altar of Repose. Here, we watch with Christ through the night, recalling the agony of Gethsemane. After the procession, the altars and the church are stripped of all their hangings and furnishings in preparation for Good Friday.
On Good Friday (11 April) we mark the Three Hours, the time Jesus hung on the Cross, from 12 noon to 3 pm. First, there are reflections on the Passion; then, the Liturgy begins at 1.30pm, marked by severe simplicity and austerity. After hearing God’s Word, we unveil a crucifix as it is borne through the church, and then come forward to venerate the crucified Saviour. After praying for God’s world, we receive Christ in the Sacrament of the Eucharist.
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Easter Day (12 April) begins early with the celebration of the Easter Vigil and First Mass of Easter at 5 am. The service starts in quiet and darkness. A fire is lit, from which the great Easter candle - symbol of the light of the risen Christ - is lit and carried to its stand at the front of the church. An ancient hymn in praise of the Resurrection, the Exsultet, is sung, before we hear accounts from the Old Testament of God’s acts of salavation through history. The singing of the Gloria is greeted with a fanfare of bells and organ, and then we go the font where we renew the vows of our Baptism and are sprinkled with newly blessed baptismal water. The service continues with the Liturgy of the Eucharist, and ends with the joyous Easter form of the dismissal.
Later on Easter Day, there is a said Mass at 8 am and high Mass at 10.30am, both with renewal of baptismal vows. The day ends with Solemn Evensong and Benediction at 6.30pm.
All are warmly invited to join us in our celebration of Holy Week and Easter. Full service details will be found in our forthcoming services section.
