Centennial Year Church Services

April 28, 2005 -   The Twelve Passion Gospels are read in the center of the Church in the evening of Great and Holy Thursday. In the reckoning of time in a civil sense, it is the evening of Great and Holy Thursday. However, in the reckoning of time according to the Church day, it being after 6:00 p.m., it is the morning of the new day, thus the Twelve Gospels are read as part of the service of Matins for the morning of Great (Good) Friday. The Service for Matins is entitled: THE OFFICE OF THE HOLY AND REDEEMING SUFFERINGS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. The Passion Gospels read as the central part of the Matins service recount the betrayal, suffering (rendering below of Christ being mocked and beaten), and death of Jesus Christ on the Cross. Below are scenes from the service along with a cited representative verse from each of the twelve Passion Gospels. The readings are too long to publish here but each of the complete readings is cited as well.

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another." (John 13:34)/(John 13:31-18:1).

Peter again denied it; and at once the cock crowed. (John 18:27)/(John 18:1-28).

Jesus said to him, "You have said so. But I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven." (Matthew 26:64)/(Matthew 26:57-75).

Jesus answered, "My kingship is not of this world; if my kingship were of this world, my servants would fight, that I might not be handed over to the Jews; but my kingship is not from the world." (John 18:36)/(John 18:28-19:16).

So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves." (Matthew 27:24)/(Matthew 27:3-32).

And they compelled a passer-by, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross. (Mark 15:21)/(Mark 15:16-32).

When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe, and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!" (Matthew 27:54)/(Matthew 27:33-54).

And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." And they cast lots to divide his garments. (Luke 23:34)/(Luke 23:32-49).

When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" (John 19:26)/(John 19:25-37).

Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. (Mark 15:43)/(Mark 15:43-47).

So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, as the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there. (John 19:42)/(John 19:38-42).

Therefore order the sepulchre to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away, and tell the people, 'He has risen from the dead,' and the last fraud will be worse than the first." (Matthew 27:64)/(Matthew 27:62-66).

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