The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1865-03-14

the following account, which we copy
from Hooks Church Dictionary" viii
be found interesting:
So we denominate the week immedi
ately preceding the festival of Eater
because in that week our Savior's pas
sion and deathhappened.
The primitive Christians called il
Hebdomas Magma, or the Great Week
No one can better describe it to us
than st. Chrysostom, who says, T" L
was called the Great Week, not becaus,
! it consisted of longer days, or more il
number, than other weeks, but because
at this time great things were wrought
for us by our Lord. For in this weel
the ancient tyranny of the devil was
dissolved, death was extinct, the strong
man was bound, his goods were spoil
ed, sin was abolished, the curse was
destroyed, paradise was opened, HEAVIER
became accessible, men and angels
were Joined together, the middle wal
or partition was broken down, the bar.
riers were taken out Of the way, the
God of peace made peace between
things in heaven and things on earth
therefore it is called the Great Week
And as this is the head of all other
weeks, so the Great Sabbath is the head
of this week. Therefore, in this week
many increase their labors some ad,
ding to their fastings, others to then
watchings, others give more liberal
aims, testifying the greatness OF the di.
vine goodness, by their care of good
works, and more intense piety and holy
living. AS the Jews went forth to meet
Christ, when he had raised Lazarus
from the dead, so now not only one city,
but all the world, go forth to meet him,
not with palm branches in their hands,
but with aims deeds, humanity, virtue,
fastings, tears, prayers, watchings, and
all kinds of piety, which they offer to
Christ their Lord. And not-only we,
but the emperors of the world, honor
this week, making 1t time of vacation
from all civil business. The imperial
letters are sent abroad at that time,
commanding all prisoners to be set at
liberty from their chains. For, as our
Lord, when he descended into hell, SET
free those that were detained by death
so the servants, according to their pow
er, initiating the kindness of their Lord,
loose men from their corporeal bonds,
when they have no power to relax the
spiritual"
1t is plain from hence, that the an
cient Christians paid an extraordinary
regard to this Holy week, and that this
consisted in additional exercises of de.
votion, longer tastings, more liberal
aims, vacation from all civil business,
and a general release ofprisoners, some
particular cases of criminals only ex-
cepted.
The Thursday in this week, which
was the day on which Christ was be-
trayed, was observed with some pccul-
lar customs. In some churches, the
communion was administered in the
evening after supper, in imitation of the
communion of the apostles at our Lords
supper. On this day the Competestev,
or candidates for baptism, publicly re-
hearsed the creed before the bishops OF
prcsbyters in the church. And on this
day it was customary for servants to
receive the communion. The modern
spiritualists call this day Mamday Thurs.
day.
The Friday was called Good Friday,
or Pdscb of the Cross, in opposition to
Easter, or the Pasch Of the Resurrection.
On this day, not only were penitents
absolved, but general absolution and
indulgence was proclaimed to all the
people, observing the day with fasting,
prayer and contrition.
The Saturday of this week was known
by the name Of the Great Sdbbath. II
had many pecularities belonging to it.
For this was the only Sabbath through.
out the year that the Greek churches,
and some ofthe Western, kept as fast;
all other Saturdays, or Sabbaths, being
observed as festivals. On this day they
continued 70 fast, not only till evening
but till cockcrowing in the morning
which was the suppoed time of our Saw
ior's resurrection. And the preceding
time of the night was spent in divine
service, praying, preaching, and bapti
7ing such of the catechumcns as pre-
sented themselves. Eusebius tells III
that, in the time of Constantine, this
vigil was kept with great pomp. Fpl
that emperor set up lofty pillars of wax
TO burn as torches all over the city, 81
that the night seemed to outshine the
sun at MONDAY. The fifth Sunday il
Lent is sometimes called Passion Sun
day, that name being applied to it il
reference to our Lords prediction OF
that day of his approaching passion
And some persons call the week, o
which Passion Sunday is the first, Pas
sion week: and the real Passion Weel
they call Holy Week. This is, howev
er, a piece of pedantry, founded on {
mistake.