The Fourth Great Day of Holy Week is the Pure Four, even those who are far from religion associate this day with various rituals, traditions, and call such a day “bath”. This is not surprising, because the main tradition for Pure Fours is. Those who still try to follow church canons are wondering when to wash in Maundy Thursday before Easter: morning or evening? Let's consider this ritual, how to perform it correctly and when to do it.
Maundy Thursday and important traditions
If we turn to history, it was on the Pure Four that the Last Supper took place, when Jesus, knowing that one of his disciples would betray him, said goodbye to them with a special ritual - he washed everyone’s feet. This is how he showed his humility, forgiveness and love. Therefore, one of the most important rituals on this day is bathing and washing.
It is believed that on Maundy Thursday you can cleanse your soul and body, and help your life improve (it doesn’t matter what aspect of life needs improvement). In addition to swimming, there are other common traditions and rituals on this day:
Communion in church and confession;
Total house cleaning;
Preparation of Thursday salt;
Baking Easter cakes and preparing food for the festive meal on the occasion of Easter.
When to swim on Maundy Thursday
Popular wisdom says: “If you want to live in health all year, take a swim on Maundy Thursday before the sun appears on the horizon.” This morning, the water acquires unique healing properties, you will feel vigor, health, and strength. With this water you can wash away all your sins that have accumulated throughout the year.
The best time to swim is on clean Thursday early in the morning, and even better if it’s a trip to the bathhouse. Of course, in modern conditions This is not always possible, so acceptance is also welcome hot bath with foam and soap. At the same time, while washing, you need to think about something good, positive so that bad emotions do not interfere with the cleansing process.
Is it possible or not to swim in the evening and at night? Despite the fact that it is better to start your day with a swim on Maundy Thursday, you can swim in the evening, at any time, the main thing is to do it immediately before bed. Even if this evening ritual will be performed not for the healing properties of water, but to cleanse the spirit and body, and also as respect for traditions.
Another important nuance, which should be stipulated, is that you need to bathe or wash yourself on Maundy Thursday for a reason, but with prayers in special spell words. The following words should be pronounced:
Holy Scripture says that one must pray on Maundy Thursday not only during ablutions, but also when performing any task, and there will be quite a few of them on Maundy Thursday. Everything on this day should be done with great love in the heart, with joy and good thoughts. After all, Easter is coming, which means you need to cleanse yourself of all negativity, and this is only possible through intense and sincere prayers.
So when is the best time to wash before Easter on Maundy Thursday? In the morning it’s best, but in the evening it’s also possible, so don’t be upset, the main thing is to approach the matter with good intentions and sincere faith, then there will be no difference between the two procedures.
Communion and Confession on Maundy Thursday
After the literal cleansing of body and spirit, you should “consolidate” the result by going to church for communion and confession. It is important to take into account here that if you have not observed the entire period of Lent, then before communion you need to fast for several days, you can start on Holy Monday. Only on Maundy Thursday can you pray away even those sins that are considered mortal.
Again, without communion and confession there will be no complete cleansing, which means that a person is not ready for Great Easter.
Maundy Thursday is an important and special day for religious people, it is actually final stage Great Lent, the last stage of preparation for the holiday. The rituals that are customary to be performed on Maundy Thursday are valid only on this day.
Clean Thursday on the eve of Easter is a strong day for neutralizing negativity and attracting health, love and prosperity. Our ancestors left a legacy of many customs and rituals that have not lost their relevance in modern times. So, Maundy Thursday before Easter: signs, customs, conspiracies and prayers. Let's look at it in order.
What do they do, what rituals and conspiracies are performed on Maundy Thursday before Easter? Orthodox believers must visit church, confess and receive communion. On this day it is supposed to be done general cleaning in the house, baking Easter cakes. Before dawn, you need to have time to swim in the river or at home in the shower to cleanse yourself of negative energies.
After ablution, they begin to cleanse the home, wash clothes and decorate the house for the holiday. Traditionally, women washed all linen, clothes, towels, bed dress, tulle and curtains, floor mats and rugs. On the night from Thursday to Friday, all household members slept on a straw bedding made of peas.
The women worked all day in the house, because until Friday there was not a single dirty rag left - everything was sparkling clean. The men worked in the yard and garden - clearing the space of rubble, remnants of dirty snow and debris. People believed that global cleansing of the house on Maundy Thursday would bring happiness and good luck to the house. whole year.
On Maundy Thursday, people prepared Thursday salt for the coming year. To do this, it was necessary to pour salt into a canvas bag and take it to the temple for consecration. All family members poured salt into the bag - a handful at a time. Sometimes salt was mixed with poppy seeds.
Signs
Folk signs on Maundy Thursday were associated with the acquisition of prosperity for the entire current year!
- Anyone whose home is dirty on Maundy Thursday will live in quarrels and uncleanness all year.
- To make hair grow lush and shiny, the ends of the strands were cut. One-year-old babies also had their hair cut for the first time on Maundy Thursday. The hair of livestock is cut for well-being.
- From Maundy Thursday until Easter you cannot give anything from home, otherwise you will give away your well-being.
- In order to have money, you need to count it three times. Also, for well-being, you need to shoot a gun and rearrange the furniture.
Get rid of diseases
On Thursday you can make a spell for health and getting rid of illnesses. To do this, at exactly midnight, you should cut off the ends of your hair and burn it on fire. In order for your hair to quickly burn and turn into ash, you need to heat it in advance. cast iron frying pan and put the strands there. Light your hair with a match - it will quickly turn to ash.
Then you need to throw the ashes into a bowl of water, look at the water and say:
Place the bowl on the window before dawn, cross yourself. In the morning, get up before everyone else, read the spell over the bowl again and throw the water and ashes out the window. This ritual will save you from many physical and mental ailments. Do it every year. Before Sunday, don’t forget to light a candle for Panteleimon the healer and ask him for help.
Get rid of damage
On Maundy Thursday you can cleanse yourself of spoilage with salt. To do this, buy a new pack of salt (don’t take change), bring it home and pour it into a large frying pan. Turn on the heat, stir the salt with a wooden stick (bring it from outside) and continuously read the Lord's Prayer.
Heat the salt until it stops crackling and bouncing. If the damage is severe, the salt will not calm down for a long time - be patient. The main thing is to constantly say prayer. When the salt has subsided, remove the pan from the heat. When it has cooled, flush the used salt down the toilet. The pan can be washed and used in the kitchen. After this, read any health plot and prayer of thanksgiving Lord.
To attract suitors
Young girls washed themselves on Maundy Thursday with a special spell to attract the attention of suitors. The words of the conspiracy are as follows:
Dryness on the young man
How to attract the love of a husband or a young unmarried guy? To do this, on Maundy Thursday you need to wash your face and dry it in the wind. When the wind starts to blow on your face, say:
Amulet against witchcraft and damage
On Maundy Thursday, they kneaded the dough with charming words that protected the whole family from the machinations of sorcerers and witches. They baked as many bread cakes as there were members of the household. Before baking, they drew a cross on each cake and said:
To protect your home from witchcraft, you need to bring candles from the service and burn crosses with them. front door. They will prevent negativity from entering through the doorway.
Money plot
A conspiracy for money and luck was done as follows. You need to put a handful of coins in a bucket, clasp your little fingers together and read a request to the water 33 times so that it will wash away bad luck and help you live richly throughout the next year:
Maundy (Maundy) Thursday falls on the last week of Great Lent and marks the beginning of preparation for happy holiday Resurrection of Christ.
Each day of the last week of Lent is dedicated to memories of last days stay on earth of Jesus Christ, which in church tradition are called Great or Passionate.
© photo: Sputnik / RIA Novosti
Reproduction of Rubens' painting "The Last Supper"
On Maundy Thursday, during services, four events are remembered at once - the Last Supper, at which Jesus Christ established the Sacrament of the Eucharist (Communion), his washing of the disciples’ feet, his prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane and the betrayal of Judas.
Maundy Thursday
Since ancient times, Holy Thursday has been considered a day of renewal, endowed with special power, because this day is the harbinger of the grave earthly suffering of Christ, after which the Resurrection will come.
The history of Maundy Thursday, which is associated with the Last Supper - one of the most significant gospel events preceding the crucifixion of Christ, has its roots in early Christianity.
Evangelists say that during the last meal with his disciples, Christ said that he would be betrayed by one of them, captured by the Roman authorities and crucified. Judas sold his teacher for thirty pieces of silver on that distant night.
Maundy Thursday for any Christian is a symbol of complete spiritual and physical cleansing. It was on this day that Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, thereby showing an example of brotherly love and humility of a true Christian.
In memory of this, on Maundy Thursday, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II, according to tradition, washes the feet of twelve priests, as Christ did the apostles.
The clergy explain that the essence of Maundy Thursday is to show how willing people are to be tolerant, sincere and compassionate towards all the people around them.
Eucharist
The main Sacrament of the Church - the Eucharist (Holy Communion) - was established by Jesus Christ at the last meal with the apostles - the Last Supper.
Gathering his closest disciples, Christ gave them wine and broke bread for them with the words: “Take, eat, this is My Body given for you, and My Blood shed for you.”
This rite 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 to Sunday in all Orthodox churches Church services are dedicated to memories of the earthly suffering of the Savior. Clean Thursday is a symbolic transition from sinful mortal life to spiritual cleansing.
© Sputnik / Alexander Imedashvili
Therefore, on this day, believers, with the exception of some emergency situations, come to church for worship and partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ.
It is very important to remember that Maundy Thursday is the beginning of the strictest part of Lent, which continues until Easter. Fasting involves significant restrictions on food, complete abstinence from smoking and drinking alcohol.
Traditions
On Maundy Thursday, according to tradition, it is customary to swim before sunrise in order to symbolically wash away all the sins that have accumulated over the year and move away from the bustle of the world. And then visit the temple to confess and receive communion.
You need to bring a lit candle from church home, trying not to extinguish it along the way. In the old days, it was believed that this candle protected the house from fires and the family from illnesses.
True Christians, paying tribute to the church, on this day also take care of preparing their home for the great holiday. This is a day of thorough house cleaning and laundry. On Friday and Saturday following Thursday, no household chores can be done, otherwise “dust and dirt may get into the eyes of Jesus.”
Church ministers believe that on this day it is important to cleanse your soul, and then take care of the cleanliness of your body and home.
In addition to cleaning, you also need to take care of the Easter table: bake Easter cakes, make Easter cottage cheese, paint eggs. In Georgia, eggs are traditionally painted on Friday afternoon, before sunset.
© photo: Sputnik / Alexander Imedashvili
On this day, Thursday salt is also prepared - ordinary salt is baked in the oven, and then consecrated in the church. This salt has amazing healing properties.
In the old days, Maundy Thursday was a real brewing day - beer was brewed for the whole week in advance.
IN Orthodox tradition There are many rituals and signs dedicated to Maundy Thursday, including pagan ones, preserved after the adoption of Christianity. They are associated with personal and family well-being, as well as health.
Therefore, it is not surprising that the rituals on Maundy Thursday were performed throughout the day - from dawn to midnight.
Chiakokonoba - the oldest Georgian tradition
The pagan holiday "Chiakokonoba", preserved in Georgia since ancient times and similar to the Slavic night of Ivan Kupala, is celebrated on the night of Maundy Thursday.
© photo: Sputnik / Yuri Kaver
On this day, as soon as it gets dark, large bonfires are still lit in some villages. People start jumping over the fire when the main part of it is burned.
Georgians believe that this cleanses from evil spirits. This great joy old tradition brings to children. The Georgian church considers "Chiakokonoba" a manifestation of paganism - fire worship, and opposes its celebration.
Signs and customs
In the old days they believed that washing with silver, that is, with a silver coin or spoon on Maundy Thursday, endows a person not only with good health, but also with beauty. By the way, the most powerful coin was considered to be a stolen one, which was treasured and used in treatment, sorcery and fortune-telling.
Swimming before sunrise will help attract good luck. While bathing, you need to read the following spell: “Water, water, pour down, cleanse my face, cleanse my body and cleanse my soul, fill me with beauty and health.” After this, bathing ends with pouring cool water over yourself from a ladle.
By the way the Easter cakes turned out, one could guess what the whole year would be like until next Easter. If the Easter cakes turned out lush and tasty, the year will be successful. And if baking is not a success, then the year will be difficult.
According to the signs, it was strictly forbidden to give away anything from home on Maundy Thursday, since with this thing you can give away prosperity and peace from your home.
On Maundy Thursday, people wondered about the future. To do this, they took a candle brought from the evening service, lit it and went to the attic - one of the habitats of the brownie. You had to stand there for a while and wait for the home spirit. If a shaggy brownie appeared, then this promised wealth to the family, but if a bald one, then the owners would live in poverty.
You could even ask the devil about the future. To do this, you need to go into the forest, sit on a birch tree (associated with the souls of the dead) or aspen (cursed tree), take off your pectoral cross and call the forest spirit.
People believed that on Holy Thursday the goblin would definitely appear and answer all the questions of the person who dared to talk with the evil spirit.
The material was prepared based on open sources
Traditions and origins of Maundy Thursday. Rituals and beliefs. Contents of the article
- What date will Easter and Maundy Thursday be in 2017?
- What time does Maundy Thursday start and end in 2017?
- VIDEO: Maundy Thursday
- Why is the holiday on the Thursday before Easter called Maundy Thursday?
- Maundy Thursday traditions
- Why do people bathe on Maundy Thursday?
- VIDEO: Maundy Thursday traditions
Easter is one of the brightest and greatest holidays. It is celebrated by all believers; on this day, services are held in which the resurrection of Christ is glorified. It is worth noting that during Holy Week Maundy Thursday is celebrated, on which all housewives clean their homes.
In 2017, Easter falls on April 16, so Maundy Thursday will be April 13. It is worth noting that the date of Easter changes every year. This is due to the fact that the Resurrection of Christ falls on the first Sunday after the vernal equinox. Therefore, special Easter tables were compiled - tables with the help of which the day of Easter is calculated.
These Easters record the date of the vernal equinox and the full moon after it. The first Sunday after these dates is Easter. The week before the Resurrection of Christ is called Holy, and Thursday is Clean.
What date is Easter and Maundy Thursday in 2017?
It is worth noting that on Maundy Thursday housewives clean up the mess. After all, on this day it is believed that not only the home is cleansed of dirt and debris, but also of evil spirits. On this day, even from the usual water tap holy water flows. In 2017, you need to swim for cleansing from midnight on April 13th.
The Holy Scripture says that it was on the fourth day of Holy Week (week) that the Last Supper took place. This is Christ's supper with his disciples. Before the meal, he washed the feet of everyone who came to dinner. This was a symbol of purification and “communion.” It is on this day that you need to clean the house and prepare for the upcoming holidays. This will help you get rid of bad thoughts and negative energy in the house.
Why is the holiday on the Thursday before Easter called Maundy Thursday?
On Maundy Thursday, a true housewife will have to work hard. A lot of things need to be done.
To-do list for Holy Thursday:
- Wash and get a haircut. According to traditions, you need to wash your face on Thursday, but before sunrise. Accordingly, you will have to wake up early, since the sun rises approximately at 5.30 am. You can get your hair cut throughout the day.
- Take communion and confess. It is on Thursday that services are held in all churches where you can receive communion. Before communion, be sure to confess. This is precisely the main purpose of Holy Thursday. It is necessary to cleanse not only yourself and your home, but also your spiritual essence and thoughts.
- Wash and clean the apartment. On this day, along with the garbage, we throw away everything unnecessary and unnecessary that has accumulated over this year. Along with the garbage, you need to try to throw out all sinful and evil thoughts from your head, forgive all enemies.
- Bake Easter cakes. On Thursday, Easter cakes are baked and eggs are painted. It is customary to begin kneading dough with bright thoughts and prayer. They bake a large number of Easter cakes to serve to the poor and neighbors. It is not necessary to prepare the remaining dishes, as they may spoil before the holiday.
- Prepare Thursday salt. This is Magic Salt, which is quite simple to prepare. The easiest way is to heat the salt in a frying pan until dark. Next, this salt is poured into a bag and stored behind the icon. All holiday dishes are seasoned with this salt. In addition, this remedy is used to treat many ailments and has healing powers.
- Conspiracies and rituals. On this day you can cleanse yourself of illnesses, as well as attract wealth and a positive aura into your home. There are a lot of conspiracies that are carried out on this day.
Maundy Thursday traditions
More information about the traditions of Holy Thursday can be found here. In addition to these simple and well-known traditions, there are many beliefs. On this day you can charm money and water. This will help attract wealth, prosperity and health, writes the Rosregistr portal. Many note that these traditions work.
The tradition of swimming on Maundy Thursday has come to us since ancient times. On this day, holy water flows from the tap, which can cleanse all diseases. But you need to swim before sunrise. From the moment the sun rises, the water loses its healing properties. You can swim in the pond.
Why do people bathe on Maundy Thursday?
How to wash on Holy Thursday:
- Wake up before sunrise and run a full bath of water.
- Plunge in with your head and let go of all the bad and disturbing thoughts.
- Lather your body and thoroughly wash off all dirt.
- Dive head first into the water again.
- Be sure to read a prayer while bathing and ask for forgiveness for all sins.
- It is necessary to completely cleanse the soul along with washing the body.
The week before Easter is a special time. Therefore, people often wonder what needs to be done on each day of Holy Week, including Maundy Thursday.
For example, is it possible to clean, how to wash properly, and in general what does this day before Easter mean – Maundy Thursday? Folk traditions and their modern understanding, comments from church representatives - all this can be found in our article.
In 2018, this day falls on April 5, and Easter Sunday, i.e. Easter itself is on April 8. Also called Maundy Thursday:
- Holy Thursday;
- Maundy Thursday.
The thing is that this is the 4th day of the so-called Holy (Red, Great) week - the last time of Christ’s earthly life. After all, on Friday he will be unjustly accused and executed, and on Easter he will be resurrected. This will become the main event of Christianity, which has been solemnly celebrated by all believers for 2 millennia. Therefore, if we talk about what Maundy Thursday before Easter means, we can say that it is rather not a holiday, but the last day of the Savior’s earthly life.
And it is called clean because it was on this evening that Christ washed the feet of all his 12 disciples during supper. That is, he literally took a vessel of water, a towel and washed everyone’s feet, as it is written, for example, in chapter 13 of John:
The Lord never performed such an action in his earthly life. And it is clear that there is some unique, even touching moment in this episode.
By washing his feet, Christ wanted to show that he came into the world precisely to serve. Yes, believers still worship him to this day as the Son of God. But at the same time, the Lord himself wanted to be known as a servant who came to the aid of sinful humanity.
There is also a very delicate, elegant detail in this story. After all, as you know, the East is a delicate matter. Since ancient times, in the countries of this region, washing feet was considered a normal phenomenon, a unique custom. When a distant guest came to the house, the owner, as a sign of his goodwill, poured water, took a towel and performed this pleasant, relaxing procedure.
Thus, Christ showed his affection for the disciples. And he clearly demonstrated the idea of serving people, giving an example to all of humanity.
What to do on Maundy Thursday before Easter: 5 traditions
That is why for several centuries (if not millennia), it has been customary for people to go to the bathhouse with the whole family on Maundy Thursday before Easter and bathe, keeping their bodies perfectly clean. True, there is an interesting detail here: water procedures should be performed before sunrise.
It is believed that it is at this time that water acquires the greatest healing power, just as it does on the night of Epiphany. And in general, the anticipation of a holiday is sometimes the holiday itself. Therefore, they try to go to the baths on the night from Wednesday to Thursday.
It is believed that before bathing, even if it is purely symbolic, you must certainly say a prayer of gratitude, at least mentally. There is some truth to this: positive perception life really helps a person tune in to a pleasant wave and start his day, getting up, as they say, on the right foot.
Here’s what else they do on Maundy Thursday before Easter according to folk traditions:
- Of course, not everyone can go to the bathhouse in modern conditions. But a silver spoon or other utensils made of this noble metal should probably be found in many homes. If you fill a silver bowl with water and wash your face with it in the morning (again, better before sunrise), you will receive a charge of vigor and health for the whole year. You can simply put a silver spoon in a vessel of water and wash your face.
- You need to cleanse not only your body, but the whole house. On Maundy Thursday they try to get rid of all the trash, old things that have not been used for a long time. They remove garbage, wash the floor, sweep away small cobwebs. In a word, they direct perfect order. It is believed that it is no longer possible to clean the house until Easter, so it is better to try right away.
- Housewives are not forbidden to sew, wash and do other household chores on Maundy Thursday, and it is better to do them before the evening.
- And what else needs to be done on Maundy Thursday before Easter - boil eggs in the evening, color them, knead the dough, and then bake the Easter cakes. The pasochki will not go stale if you cook them according to the right technology. But to do the cooking in Good Friday And Holy Saturday undesirable - these are the most intense, dramatic days of Holy Week. On Friday, as already mentioned, the crucifixion of Christ took place, and on Saturday night the lifeless body of the Savior was placed in the tomb.
- Also on this day, the so-called Thursday salt is prepared.
- It is prepared on the basis of ordinary salt - the crystals are mixed with the soggy crumb of rye bread or with the grounds that remain after the kvass has settled. It is believed that it will serve as an excellent amulet for the whole family, and will be valid for a whole year. Therefore, such salt should be stored in a place of honor.
- On Maundy Thursday, they also make peculiar conspiracies for money and for the betrothed. For example, you can put a silver coin in water overnight and then hide it in your wallet for a whole year. Or take a piece of soap and say the name of your loved one, saying: “(Name) sticks to me like soap.” Of course, these traditions are more likely to be folk than church traditions. However, there is nothing wrong with a person’s very desire to find love and live in abundance.
What not to do on Maundy Thursday before Easter
Of course, just by the name of the holiday you can certainly say that on this day you should not forget about your hygiene. It is very important to carry out general cleaning, because if the house remains untidy, the owners will not be able to recharge themselves with the positive energy of freshness, cleanliness and prepare for Easter.
Here are some other prohibitions:
- When the apartment has been cleaned, if possible, it is better to pour out the dirty water somewhere outside the house. The best place is on a rocky surface where nothing grows. After all, with dirt comes negative energy, which must leave the house for a long time.
- There is also an interesting belief about what people do on Thursday before Easter. It is believed that lending, as well as borrowing, is undesirable. And in general, if on this day you give away something valuable (for example, a souvenir or a book), then this is a bad sign - it is better to choose any other day for gifts.
- Of course, it is intuitively clear that since this day was the last in the earthly life of Christ, it is better not to arrange any lavish feasts, not to abuse alcohol and other earthly pleasures. After all, in a few hours Judas will betray the Savior, and then Jesus will be crucified. Therefore, it is better to wait until Easter if possible to have fun.
- And here's another one interesting point– it is prohibited to take samples from Easter cakes, eggs and other holiday dishes. Of course, such a rule applies to a greater extent to churchgoers who observe Lent. However, those who have not fasted can also heed the advice.
It is clear that Maundy Thursday is a pure, truly bright day, therefore there are no strict prohibitions as such. Each person can act in accordance with the circumstances and, of course, according to his own conscience.
In this regard, it is interesting to get the priest’s answer to the question of what should be done on Maundy Thursday before Easter.
What can you eat on Maundy Thursday?
From the point of view of the post Holy Week is considered the most strict - for example, on Friday and Saturday, eating food other than bread and water is generally prohibited. But on Thursday the requirements are a little softer. The so-called dry eating is allowed - you can eat plant foods without any oil (including sunflower, olive, etc.). Another important point– hot dishes are prohibited.
That is, you can eat bread, unsweetened pastries, soaked fruits and vegetables, etc. And any meat, fish, or hot dishes are prohibited for fasting people.
At the same time, the church does not consider certain concessions for pregnant and lactating women, the elderly and children to be a sin. And also for everyone who suffers from illnesses digestive system. That is, again, fasting is a matter of conscience and the real capabilities of the human body.
What do believers do on Maundy Thursday before Easter?
The tips and prohibitions discussed above came to us from folk traditions. And the church, of course, has its own view of Maundy Thursday before Easter and what should be done on this day. Of course, the clergy recommend, if possible, attending divine services - morning and evening.
The Last Supper (painting by Leonardo da Vinci) On this day, the patriarch and local bishops wash the feet of 12 priests - a unique rite of its own that occurs only once a year. Also during the evening service, the 12 gospels are read, in which they remember key events this day:
- last supper;
- washing the feet;
- severe suffering and prayer of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane;
- betrayal of Judas Iscariot.
It is interesting to note that Judas subsequently repented and deeply regretted what he had done. True, the torment of his conscience was short-lived, and very quickly the traitor hanged himself from an aspen branch. According to legend, he first wanted to throw a rope on the birch tree, but it got scared and turned pale. And that’s why the aspen has been trembling in the wind since then: after all, it was she who became the last refuge of Judas.
Since then, Maundy Thursday has been considered a special day of repentance and purification. Of course, each person has his own weaknesses, but on the other hand, thanks to the atoning sacrifice of Christ, we can count on understanding and forgiveness.
This can be compared to how a child can always receive mercy from his parents no matter what he does. And the reason is simple - parents love their children, and even more so - God loves a person. And the whole point of Maundy Thursday is not even in washing and cleaning, but in spiritual cleansing, after which life becomes much easier and more joyful.
