Maundy Thursday Vigil Service at St. Sarkis Church in Pasadena

On the evening of Thursday, March 29, 2018, the solemn vigil service commemorating the betrayal, arrest, trial, suffering, and crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ was held in Prelacy Churches, with H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, presiding over the service at St. Sarkis Church in Pasadena.

The moving service was comprised of Gospel readings detailing the last hours of our Lord’s earthly life, as well as psalms, prayers, and hymns. Candles representing Christ, the eleven apostles, and 1 black candle representing Judas were placed before the altar, and distinguished with each Gospel reading, in the end only that of Christ remaining lit.

The Prelate began his message by citing the seven last words our Lord Jesus Christ spoke from the Cross, the message of which is the love, mercy, obedience, and submission to God. The unspeakable suffering and torture that Jesus endured for our sins was the supreme example of His love and mercy for mankind, said His Eminence, who added that even in His last moments on the Cross, Jesus granted salvation to the criminal on the cross next to Him and sought forgiveness for those who persecuted Him. The Prelate added that the Crucifixion was the climax of Jesus’ obedience and sacrifice, stating that Jesus was born by obedience and died by obedience, with His final words being “Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit.” The Prelate invited the faithful to trust absolutely in the Lord in all aspects of our life and submit to His will, and concluded by praying that we look to our crucified Savior as the way, the truth, the life, and the light, and for His light to permeate within our spirits.

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