We are officially in the Easter season, and part of that includes Holy week. Holy Week comprises five significant days: Palm Sunday, Holy Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
Many will be familiar with the biblical story surrounding Good Friday and Easter Sunday, but fewer people may know about the other Holy Weekdays, such as Maundy Thursday.
Maundy Thursday is part of Holy Week and is celebrated by Christians from various different denominations, most notably Roman Catholics, Anglicans, Lutherans and Methodists. Some of these Christians hold services to commemorate Maundy Thursday and the significance behind it.
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Easter celebrations come in various forms and it is an emotional time for Christians as they reflect on the significance of this season and what it means for them and their faith.
When is Maundy Thursday?
Maundy Thursday takes place annually on the Thursday in the week leading up to Easter Sunday. This means that Maundy Thursday this year will take place on Thursday 14th April 2022.
What does Maundy Thursday mean for Christians?
Maundy Thursday is symbolic of the day before Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross of Calvary (Good Friday) for the sins of the world. It was also this Thursday that is believed to be the day that Jesus had his Last Supper with his disciples before he made the ultimate sacrifice the next day.
Also notably on this day, Jesus, out of incredible humility, washed the feet of his disciples when he said "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another" (John 13:34).’’
The term ‘’maundy’’ is a shortened version of the Latin word mandatum, which means ‘’command’’. This day is preparation for Christians for what is to come as their Saviour is about to make the biggest sacrifice on Good Friday.
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