GROUP MINDS during PALM SUNDAY

28.4.2024: Palm Sunday Orthodox commemorates Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem

The Sunday before Easter is what the Christians traditionally call Palm Sunday. This day commemorates the arrival of Jesus in Jerusalem a few days before his crucifixion. According to the Gospels, Jesus entered the city riding a donkey. He was greeted by a multitude of people who acclaimed him by waving palm branches and laying cloaks on the ground to honour him. This episode, which marks the first day of the Holy Week, introduces the events of the Passion of Jesus that led to his crucifixion and resurrection. Its importance is signalled dramatically by the elaborate depiction of the mental states and actions of groups, which serve to magnify the glory of Jesus and extol his divinity.

Here is the description of the event as narrated in the Gospel of Matthew (21:1–11):

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”

This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:

“Say to Daughter Zion,

‘See, your king comes to you,

gentle and riding on a donkey,

and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”

The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

“Hosanna to the Son of David!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”

The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

(Trans. New International Version (NIV))

Even today the day is celebrated in the Byzantine liturgy with a ritual ceremony. This includes a procession in which the priest carries the icon representing the events being commemorated, while the members of the congregation cover the path with palm leaves and flower branches (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRX4ycb_02E) . The palms are often taken home to serve as sacramental.

  (https://www.mecc.org/news-en/2022/4/19/palm-sunday-at-the-orthodox-patriarchate-of-jerusalem)

(https://www.goarch.org/palmsunday-learn)

Chrysanthos S. Chrysanthou, 28.4.2024