Holy Thursday – Twelve Gospels (Page 5 of 7)
| By: Fr. Paul Lazor | Read time: 17 mins | 24453 Hits |
Those Who Surrounded Christ
The human, personal reactions of those who surrounded Christ at the time of His Passions were, like our own, many and varied. The Service deals with these reactions in much detail, particularly the agony experienced by Mary the Theotokos. Her initial reaction before the Passion of her Divine Son is one of disbelief:
…Where goest Thou, my child?
Why dost Thou run so swift a course?
Sorely there is not another wedding in Cana to which Thou now dost hasten to change water into wine?
… -Do not pass me by in silence . . .
… Thou art my son and my God.(Ikos)
Today the blameless virgin
Saw Thee suspended upon the cross, O Word.
She mourned within herself and was sorely pierced in her heart.
She groaned in agony from the depth of her soul…(Apostilcha)
With Mary at the time of the crucifixion was John. He alone among the disciples did not abandon the Lord. He remained faithful to the very end, and was present to accept Jesus’ last command: “Woman, behold your son! . . . Behold your mother” (John 19:26-27).
“You will deny your convictions as soon as the question is put to you, O Simon Peter,
and the sudden approach of a servant girl will terrify you,” said the Lord.
“But after weeping bitterly you will have great mercy from me,
whom all creation blesses and glorifies throughout all ages.”(Kanon, Ode 8)
Most noteworthy is the pagan centurion who fell in awe before the torn body yet unshaken majesty of Christ and exclaimed: “Truly, this was the Son of God” (Matthew 27:54).