Holy Thursday

Drove to Tampa Thursday AM. HT is, to me, the most special and beautiful service of the whole year. The priest reads 12 gospel readings detailing Jesus’ passion, trial, crucifixion and death. The service lasts about 3 hours or so. After the fifth gospel, the priest carries a cross, with an icon of a crucified Jesus on it around the inside of the church. Kneeling, the congregation closes their eyes, imagines being there 2000 years ago.

Once this happens, the choir sings more beautiful and haunting hymns. Of course I don’t understand them, but you have to read along. It shouldn’t be easy to be a Christian; you’ve got to work at it.

Once this is all done, Fr. Stavros gave his sermon (in the middle of the service, after the procession around the church). The man has never given a bad sermon in his life. He talked about how we should approach the cross with humility. To kneel in front of the cross as if you were kneeling at the very feet of Jesus on the cross. We did, and I knew it would be tough for me, as it was for my mom and sister and brother-in-law. (other sister was still in Jacksonville). It was one of the most incredible church services I’ve ever been to.