The Scriptural Readings for the Great and Holy Week in the Orthodox Church

Scriptural Readings for Great and Holy Week

Saturday of Lazarus                     John 11, 1 – 4

Christ Entry into Jerusalem   John 12, 1 – 18. (Palm Sunday)

Bridegroom Service                    Matthew 21, 18 –  43.

 (Palm Sunday Evening)

Bridegroom Service                    Matthew 22, 15 – 46;  23, 1 – 39.

 (Holy Monday Evening)

Bridegroom Service                     John 12, 17 – 50.

 (Holy Tuesday Evening)

Sacrament of Holy Unction      1st. Epistle – James 5, 10 – 16.

1st. Gospel –                                         Luke 10, 25 – 37.

2nd. Epistle –                                       Romans 15, 1 – 7.

2nd. Gospel –                                       Luke 19, 1 – 10.

3rd. Epistle –                                        Corinthians 12, 27 – 31; 13, 1- 8.

      3rd. Gospel –                                   Matthew 10, 1, 5 – 8.

      4th. Epistle –                                Corinthians 6,  16 – 18; 7, 1.      

     4th. Gospel –                                  Matthew 8, 14 – 23.

      5th. Epistle –                                 Corinthians 1, 8 – 11.

      5th. Gospel –                                  Matthew 25, 1 – 13.

      6th. Epistle –                                  Galatians 5, 22 – 6: 2

      6th. Gospel –                                  Matthew 15, 21 – 28

      7th. Epistle –                                  I Thessalonians 5, 14  – 23

      7th. Gospel –                                     Matthew 9, 9 – 13      

Bridegroom Service                          Luke 22, 1 – 39                                                               (Holy Wednesday Evening)

(Great and Holy Thursday Morning)       

Vesporal Liturgy of St. Basil The Great                       

The Institution of the Holy Eucharist

The Gospel Reading is a composite: 

                       Matthew 26, 2 – 20; John 13, 3 -17; Matthew 26, 21 – 39;                     Luke 22, 43 – 45;  Matthew 26, 75 + 27, 1 – 2

Great and Holy Thursday Evening, – The Service of the Twelve Gospels

1. 1. 1. 1. COMPOSITE READING: John 13, 31 – 38 + 14, 1 – 31 + 15, 1 – 27 + 16,1 – 33 + 17, 1 – 26 +18, 1.
         2. John 18, 1 – 28.
         3. Matthew 26, 57 – 75. 
         4. John 18, 28 – 40 + 19, 1 – 16.

                 5.   Matthew 27, 3 – 32.

                Procession with the Blessed Cross    

    6.   Mark  15, 16 – 31.

    7.   Matthew 27, 33 – 54.

    8.   Luke 23, 32 – 49.

    9.   John 19, 25 – 37.

  10.  Mark 15, 43 – 47.

  11. John 19, 38 – 42.

  12. Matthew 27, 62 – 66.

Great and Holy Friday:

  The Royal Hours Gospel of the First Hour:

Matthew 27, 1 – 56.

Gospel of the Third Hour

Mark 15, 16 – 41. 

Gospel of the Sixth Hour  

Luke 23,  32 – 49. 

Gospel of the Ninth Hour

        John 19, 23 – 37.

  The Vespers The Taking Down from the Cross

(The Apokathelosis)

Matthew 27, 1 – 38; Luke 23, 39 – 43;

Matthew 27, 39 – 54; John 19, 31 – 37;

Matthew 27, 55 – 61.

  The Lamentations (Matins for Holy Saturday)

Matthew 27, 62 – 66.

Great and Holy Saturday The Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great

Matthew 28, 1 – 20.

Sunday of Holy Pascha

The Resurrection Service Mark 16, 1 – 8.

The Divine Liturgy of Pascha

John 1, 1 – 17. The Vespers of Love (The Agape Vespers) John 20, 19 – 25.

Christ is Risen