Catholic and Orthodox believers celebrate Maundy Thursday today as a memory of the Last Supper of Jesus Christ and his disciples.
This is one of the most significant days during Great or Passion Sunday, when the holy secret of communion, the most holy secret of the Eucharist, was instituted.
According to the Gospel records, Christ blessed the bread at the Last Supper and, distributing it to the apostles, said: “This is my body, which is broken for you for the forgiveness of sins.”
Then he took a glass of wine and added: “Drink from this cup, everyone, this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for you and for many, for the forgiveness of sins”.
Christ’s words are repeated on Maundy Thursday at liturgies and masses before the communion of believers, following the example of the first communion of Christ and his apostles.
The holiday is one of the days designated for the communion of believers, who, respecting the Orthodox canon, “fasted on the water” for at least the last five days.
At liturgies and masses, believers receive communion with bread or wafers – the body of Christ and wine, which is a symbol of his blood shed for the salvation of the human race.
