“It must be total confusion in the Holy Sepulcher on Maundy Thursday when Easter is on the same day for all Christians!” “No, you’ll see; actually it’s somewhat calmer on that day, at least inside.”
In order to get a seat, some of the faithful arrived more than an hour before the scheduled beginning of the Mass of the Lord’s Supper.
On arrival in the forecourt, they noticed that a platform had been erected. This is where the Greek Orthodox would celebrate the Divine Liturgy, during which His Beatitude the Patriarch Theophilos III would wash the feet of some of the faithful, an uncommon gesture in the Orthodox Church, except in Jerusalem. A number of Greek Orthodox were already in place, some squeezing into the forecourt, some hanging on to the bell tower scaffolding, others on the rooftops of the Patriarchate, which overlooks the courtyard.
An access way to the door remains open in the middle of the crowd for the other faithful who wish to enter. Mostly Latin Catholics, but members of other denominations also take advantage of it to enter the basilica and move about during the Mass, praying in one and another of its areas. At the same time the Armenians celebrate their Pontifical Mass in Saint James Cathedral, while the Copts do the same in their Saint Mark Monastery.
His Beatitude Patriarch Michel Sabbah was the principal concelebrant of the Latin Mass, at an altar specially erected at the entrance of the aedicule of the Holy Tomb. Joining him at the altar were 150 concelebrants.
The basilica is surprisingly quiet, to the point where even the chirping of the birds who have refuge in it can be heard. Everyone was able to hear the proclamation of the Gospel [1]. Even His Beatitude’s voice could be heard during the homely, which was an invitation to love those to whom we have been sent.
As a sign of that love, the Patriarch repeated Christ’s gesture by washing the feet of six Franciscan friars and six seminarians from the Diocese of Jerusalem, all visibly moved, while the assembly sang hymns with the help of the Holy Land Custody Choir which, together with the friars, animated the celebration.
Then, for the bishops and priests who were present, it was time to renew their priestly promise, followed by the blessing of the holy oils: oil for the sick, for catechumens, the Holy Chrism. To the latter, the Patriarch added perfume and, because this oil symbolizes the Holy Spirit, he blew over the container three times.
The faithful could not see these different high points of the liturgy but, thanks to the Franciscan friars, were able to follow the proceeding in six different languages in the booklet that was available to them. The celebration continued with the Eucharistic liturgy proper. The ceremony lasted a total of almost three hours.
The Greek Orthodox ceremony over, many of the Orthodox faithful enter the church to continue their prayer. Then, after Communion, the procession of the Blessed Sacrament around the tomb begins, and things become a bit more complicated, and then a bit more so when the Stone of Anointing must be encircled. But everything goes well. In any case, it is at this moment that the doors of the Basilica are closed.
Some of the faithful decide to stay. Others push forward to leave before the doors close for the better part of the afternoon.
The Franciscan friars go in to eat. During the day priests from the diocese’s parishes come to the sacristy to collect the holy oils that will be needed for the baptisms of Easter night, toward which we continue to move forward.
MAB