Maundy Thursday

I'm going backwards through this past week. Yesterday I posted about Easter morning. Today is about Maunday Thursday. That is the night of the Upper Room and Gethsemane. Here on Thursday, many of the "old" people went to a late night service at the Church of All Nations - one of the sites of the Garden of Gethsemane. Because it didn't begin until 9:00 pm we had to hire a taxi to take us to the church. We left the Center about 8:00 and then waited in line. The only sad thing I saw this night was the fight that nearly broke out at the side entrance. People wanted to get in and the priest kept telling them to go to the other door. The priest was finally able to push the door shut against the angry arms and faces and lock it tight. Happily, people calmed down and went to the other door. Peace returned.
It was very crowded, as you can see. It is so light inside due to the filming crew lights throughout the church.

 After we were seated - we were each given a program so we could follow along. The cover shows the inside of the church.

Before the service began the priest helped us practice the different short songs we would be singing throughout the evening. We began the service with this song:

The one of the priests would read or say something and we would answer with "Amen" or a short cantus. The readings were from Psalms or one of the gospels - all relating to the Last Supper and Christ's suffering in Gethsemane. Different priests would read different parts, in their own language. There was English [though not a lot], German, Arabic, Latin, Italian, French, and even one in Hebrew. It was very cool! Here is an example:

At the end of the service we all filed out. Many singing:

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Those who had candles, lit them and then we all walked up next to the walls of the Old City. You can see them off in the distance.

When we reached the wall we continued, outside of the city, to St. Peter in Gallicantu. This is the site where many believe Christ stood trial.

This is inside the upper chapel at St. Peter in Gallicantu.

 

Kent loves this painting - look at what God is doing as He looks down on this "trial" of His son!

Before returning to the Center, we sat for a few minutes out in the back of the church. There are ancient stairs there - stairs Christ may have walked up. They had candles going down the stairs. You can see a picture on my facebook wall of us with the Huntsmans.

Such a sweet experience.