The holy foot washing ceremony in the Orthodox Church is observed on Holy and Great Thursday (Maundy Thursday). The holy service of foot washing is a piouis ceremony normally performed by a Metropolitan Bishop or an Abbot in Eastern Orthodox Churches. During the service Bishop washes the feet of twelve priests and the abbot performs the ceremony with twelve members of his brotherhood in his monastery. This ceremony occurs towards the end of the Divine Liturgy.
Depiction of the Orthodox Foot Washing Ceremony on Maundy Thursday; courtesy George Alexander
Immediately following Holy Communion, the priest or the brotherhood member’s willl move in a procession to the spot where the ceremony will take place, usually in the center of the nave, in the narthex, or a location outside. Psalms, hymns, litany are recited and the prayer is read by the bishop or abbot. St Johns chapter is then read. The deacon reads from St. Johns but stops where the dialogue between Jesus and Peter begins. Senior ranking clergy will speak the words of St Peter whereas then words of Jesus Christ will be spoken by the Bishop or Abbot. They will then conclude with reading prayers from the Gospels. Water used for the ceremony is sprinkled on all those who are present for the occasion. The procession then returns to the church for the final dismissal.
Foot Washing Ceremony with His Holiness Syriac Orthodox Patriarch Mar Ignatias Zakka I
Similar to the Eastern Orthodox Churces, the Oriental Orthodox Churches conduct foot washing ceremony on Holy Thursday. It shall be noted that in the Coptic Orthodox church the ceremony is performed by the parish Priest who blesses the foot washing water with a cross and washes the feet of the entire congregation.
On Holy Thursday the Armenian Church celebrates the Divine Liturgy. The washing of the feet is known by the name ‘Vodunluvah’ and the long vigil service known as Khavaroom is also conducted. Normally the ceremony is held in the late afternoon. The service was actually written by St Ephrem the Syrian, who was one of the greatest Orthodox Church Fathers of all time and was later translated into Armenian. The Armenian Church engages in the holy ceremony with much reverence anreminding the faithful of how Christ washed the feet of His apostles. The priest washes the feet of twelve church members, usually young men are chosen for this.
In Syrian and Indian Orthodox Churches the foot washing ceremony is performed only by Bishops. Twelve people, including laymen and priest are elected for the ceremony. The Bishop will wash and kiss their feet and it is performed in between reading of the scriptures followed by the washing of the Bishops feet by the eldest Priest. The ceremony concludes with prayers.
The ceremony of foot washing is very important tradition and not merely a reenactment of a Biblical event and holds much significance and spiritual meaning. Those participating in the ceremony will wash and clean themselves from their sins.
George Alexander is a regular contributor to Travelujah-Holy Land Tours on Orthodox Christianity and is the Secretary of Orthodox Cognage PAGE. He can be reached at http://www.theorthodoxchurch.blogspot.com
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