The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Prayers, homily mark Maundy Thursday observance

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Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Prayers, homily mark Maundy Thursday observance

Staff Reporter

— Photo: S. Mahinsha.

Act of humility: Bishop Susaipakiam performing the washing-the-feet ceremony on Maundy Thursday at St.Joseph’s Cathedral in Thiruvananthapuram.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Hundreds of Christians in the city on Thursday reaffirmed their faith in the Eucharist or Holy Communion, the sacrament commemorating the Last Supper, instituted by Jesus Christ more than 2,000 years ago.

Referred to as ‘Maundy Thursday,’ churches across the city commemorated the day with the symbolic ‘washing-the-feet ceremony,’ processions, holy mass and homily.

Latin Catholic Diocese Metropolitan Archbishop M. Susaipakiam led the ceremonies at the St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Palayam.

He washed and kissed the feet of the 12 selected parishioners, symbolically re-enacting the day of the Last Supper when Jesus Christ washed the feet of his disciples, as an act of humility and service, and established the ceremony known as the Eucharist.

As the night of Maundy Thursday also marks the night on which Jesus was betrayed by Judas at the garden of Gethsemane; at the end of the holy mass, the Eucharist was taken out in procession to a separate altar signifying the persecution and suffering of the Christ. The altars too were stripped bare to indicate that Jesus, after celebrating the Passover feast, had gone to the garden of Gethsemane.

At the St. Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, Palayam; Malankara Catholic Church Major Archbishop Baselios Cleemis performed the washing-the-feet ceremony in the evening, while other liturgical services associated with Maundy Thursday was officiated by the Major Archbishop at the St. Mary’s Cathedral, Pattom, in the morning. The Major Archbishop also held a ceremony for prisoners at the Attakkulangara Sub Jail.

According to church authorities, Maundy Thursday refers to the command Jesus gave to his disciples during the Last Supper that they should love and serve.

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