Holy Innocents and St Columba Episcopal Churches

Maundy Thursday

What is "Maundy" Thursday? We celebrate it tonight at Holy Innocents at 7:00 pm.

Father Ted will wash the feet of one of the Bishop's Committee members, who will then in turn stay and wash the feet of another, who will then in turn wash the feet of another, and so on... we will serve one another with humility until all who wish it have had their feet washed. Please don't feel shy about coming forward; this rite is an ancient and honorable one that stems from the some of the oldest traditions of hospitality in the Middle East.

The service of Maundy Thursday footwashing is "the oldest observance peculiar to Holy Week." Maundy is an obsolete word that is closely related to the modern words "command" and "mandate." It commemorates the new commandment of Christ for us to drink the wine and eat the bread in remembrance of Him. It also reminds us of the obligation of a spiritual or temporal leader to serve the people.

In England, Maundy Thursday is observed with a ceremony of penance and charity by the reigning monarch - earlier today, Queen Elizabeth II made a public appearance to hand out a small and symbolic payment in a tradition dating back to Edward I :

To reflect the Queen's age on her next birthday, 79 men and 79 women received 79p in silver Maundy coins contained in a white leather purse.

The Ceremony of the Royal Maundy dates back to Edward I - previously the monarch would wash poor people's feet.

Maundy Thursday is remembered by Christians as being the time when Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. - Queen's Maundy Money Observance

After the footwashing and final celebration of the Eucharist, the consecrated elements of communion will be processed to The Altar of Repose. The main altar will be silently stripped of its furnishings. Then a vigil will be held until midnight. Each half-hour is "covered" in prayer by a specific person, but many of Holy Innocents' parishioners that attend tonight will just stay and remain in contemplation until the service ends, at midnight.

Tomorrow, there will be Stations of the Cross at Holy Innocents at noon, and the Good Friday Liturgy will be at 7pm at St Columba.

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