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April 6, 2015Palm Sunday
The Triumphant Entry of Our LordOn the Sunday before the Feast of Great and Holy Pascha and at the beginning of Holy Week, the Eastern Churches celebrates one of its most joyous feasts of the year. As such, fish and oil are permitted.
Palm Sunday is the commemoration of the Entrance of our Lord into Jerusalem following His glorious miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead. Having anticipated His arrival and having heard of the miracle, the people when out to meet the Lord and welcomed Him with displays of honor and shouts of praise. On this day, we receive and worship Christ in this same manner, acknowledging Him as our King and Lord.
On this Sunday, in addition to the Divine Liturgy and Matins, the Church observes the Blessing and Distribution of the Palms. A basket containing the woven palm crosses is placed on a table in front of the icon of the Lord. The palms are then distributed to the faithful. In many places today, the prayer is said at the beginning or conclusion of the Divine Liturgy. The text of the prayer, however, indicates clearly that it is less a prayer for the blessing of the palms, even though that is its title, and more a blessing upon those, who in imitation of the New Testament event hold palms in their hands as symbols of Christ's victory and as signs of a virtuous Christian life.
To see the celebration of this joyful feast at the monastery, click here.
Troparion of Palm Sunday
We have been buried with You in Baptism, O Christ our God, and we merited eternal life through your Resurrection. Wherefore we cry out to You, singing a hymn of praise: "Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!"
