Wednesday, 23 March – Holy (Spy Wednesday)

 It is the Wednesday of after  Is also known as Great Wednesday in the Orthodox Church  On the Wednesday before his death was in , in the house of . As they sat at the supper table, a woman named Mary anointed Jesus’ head and feet with costly oil (Matthew 26:6-13, :3-9, John 12:1-19, Luke 7:36-50). It is also the day when started plotting against Jesus (Matthew 26:14-16, Mark 14:10-11, Luke 22:1-6) – thus the name Spy Wednesday

13th century fresco showing Judas being paid his 30 pieces of silver for betraying Jesus  The liturgy called the (“darkness” in ) is often celebrated on this day, where all of the candles on the table are gradually extinguished until the sanctuary is in complete darkness. At the moment of darkness, a loud crash occurs symbolising the death of Jesus (or “strepitus”, the earthquake that followed Jesus’ death. The Tenebrae may also be celebrated on the two following days

 In the Orthodox Church, the theme of the day is of the sinful woman who anointed Jesus, as well as the agreement to betray Jesus made by Judas Iscariot  Towards the end of , the 9th century of Kassiani in sung, telling of the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet, written from the perspective of the sinful woman. The Byzantine musical composition expresses the poetry so strongly that it often leaves people in a state of prayerful tears. It can last up to 25 minutes and is liturgically and musically a highpoint of the entire year  In Greece all members of the church receive Holy Unction on Wednesday evening. This sacrament is offered for the healing of sould and body, and for forgiveness of sins. At the conclusion of this sacrament, the body is anointed with oil, and it is performed by a gathering of priests, ideally seven in number The Sacrament of Holy Unction  In , the day is called Ugly Wednesday or Black Wednesday because chimneys used to be swept on this day, to be clean for  In , the day is known as Wednesday of Shadows, referring to the liturgical darkness (tenebrae). Formerly children went to the parish church and drummed on the chairs to make the sound of thunderstorms, their version of “strepitus”  In Scandinavia, on that day historically the metal clapper of the church bells were replaced by wooden dymbils, to make a duller sound  In Poland, young people throw an effigy of Judas from the top of a church steeple. Then it is dragged through the village amidst hurling sticks and stones. What remains of the effigy is drowned in a nearby stream or pond

 On the backdrop of Judas’ false piety and friendship, Holy Wednesday should provide us a period of reflection and introspective prayer. We need to examine our lives and look for the moments that we have falsely shared intimacy with our brothers and sisters in faith, the lack of true “communio” in our life.  As Jesus offers to Judas the morsel, he is offering his friendship and love. Some biblical scholars have even said that the “morsel” is symbolic of Jesus’ Eucharistic manifestation. Though Judas does not partake the meal with Jesus, he was invited just the same. Jesus does not chastise him, but permits him to engage in his struggle and reveal the implications of his actions and unfaithfulness – there is hope for conversion and grace for anyone. Thus, our preparations on this day should be motivated by the promise of new life and not a rejection of the “morsel” that Jesus offers to us in friendship and love

Russian icon of St , the first female composer of the Occident, holding a scroll with her written hymn

Kassiani Hymn

O Lord, the woman who had fallen into many sins, sensing Your Divinity, takes upon herself the duty of a myrrh-bearer. With lamentations she brings you myrrh in anticipation of your entombment. "Woe to me!" she cries, "for me night has become a frenzy of licentiousness, a dark and moonless love of sin. Receive the fountain of my tears, O You who gather into clouds the waters of the sea. Incline unto me, unto the sighings of my heart, O You who bowed the heavens by your ineffable condescension. I will wash your immaculate feet with kisses and dry them again with the tresses of my hair; those very feet at whose sound Eve hid herself in fear when she heard You walking in Paradise in the twilight of the day. As for the multitude of my sins and the depths of Your judgments, who can search them out, O Savior of souls, my Savior? Do not disdain me Your handmaiden, O You who are boundless in mercy.

Mary of Bethany Jesus’ feet

Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.

Kassiani hymn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zY5x1kPlwE

The Hymn of Kassiani is one of the most beloved of Orthodox Christian Holy Week. It is sung at Bridegroom Matins of Holy Wednesday. This is the only time this hymn is sung all year.