Holy Monday of Holy Week: reading the Gospel, signs, what not to do
Great Monday is the first day of Holy Week, which marks the end of Lent and the imminent arrival of Easter. Orthodox believers these days remember key biblical events, the sufferings of Jesus Christ in the last days of his earthly life, and also prepare for the Resurrection of Christ — Easter. Every day there is a special service that has a special meaning. For more information about Holy Week, the signs of Great Monday, as well as about church services, see the Izvestia article.
Holy Week in 2025: from Holy Monday to Easter
Holy Week (or Week) is the last week of Great Lent, which in 2025 began on March 3. It is followed by the main Christian holiday, Easter, which falls on April 20.
Every day of Holy Week is called Great, and the most magnificent and solemn services of the year are held in churches. These services are dedicated to the last days of the earthly life of Jesus Christ, but on the first two days, Great Monday and Great Tuesday, they remind of the last sermons of Christ, his parables, as well as Old Testament stories that bring believers to the events of the last days of the Savior's life.
During Holy Week, saints' days are not celebrated and the dead are not commemorated. In addition, weddings and baptisms are not held throughout Lent, and all ceremonies are dedicated to preparing for Easter. The very word "passion" in the church language means suffering, respectively, during the last week of lent, the passions (sufferings) of the Lord are remembered.
This year, Holy Week will begin on April 14 and end on April 19.
Great Monday. The services commemorate the sufferings of the Old Testament Joseph and the curse of the barren fig tree by the Lord.
Great Tuesday. Orthodox Christians recall the last sermon of Jesus in the Jerusalem temple, after which they wanted to take his life.
Great Wednesday. I remember the day of Judas' betrayal of Christ for 30 pieces of silver.
Great Thursday. It is also called Pure. On this day, the Last Supper and this sacrament of Communion are remembered at the divine service.
Good Friday. A mournful and mourning day dedicated to the crucifixion of the Savior and his death on the cross.
Holy Saturday. The day of the burial of Jesus Christ and his descent into hell. Traditionally, Easter treats begin to be consecrated in temples on this day: Easter cakes, eggs and cottage cheese.
The Great Resurrection of Christ (Easter). The Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the main holiday of believers.
Great Monday 2025: What it means in Church life
In 2025, Great Monday falls on April 14, and several biblical themes are remembered at the service on this day.
The sufferings of Joseph the Beautiful, who was sold into slavery by his brothers. The Old Testament Joseph was one of the 12 sons of Jacob and from childhood dreamed of events that would come true in reality. One day, he told his family that he saw in a dream how everyone was bowing to him. Joseph was a beloved son, so the brothers were jealous of him and decided to sell him into slavery. Joseph's talents and humility helped him not only become famous throughout Egypt, but also to save people during the days of the great famine. Joseph was able to forgive his brothers. In his sufferings, the Church sees a prototype of the sufferings of Christ. In the final triumph of Joseph and his exaltation in Egypt, both the Resurrection of Christ and His victory over the world are predicted. Like Joseph, who forgave his brothers and nourished them with earthly goods, Christ reconciles humanity to himself by communing believers with his body and blood, the symbols of which in Christianity have become bread and wine.
The curse of the barren fig tree. The Gospel of Luke tells of a fig tree, which, despite its rich foliage, did not yield a harvest. The fig tree symbolizes the unrepentant and spiritually fruitless soul of a person living without faith, prayer and good deeds. When Christ saw no fruit on the tree, He performed a miracle: in an instant, the tree withered. It became a warning to atheists who do not try to cultivate spiritual fruits in themselves. It is noteworthy that the first people, Adam and Eve, according to the Bible, made clothes for themselves from fig leaves.
What not to do on Holy Monday, folk signs
Preparations for Easter begin on Great Monday. By Thursday, believers are cleaning the house and doing household chores for the week ahead in order to free up the last days before Easter for spiritual purification and compassion. On Holy Monday, it is not recommended to start new businesses — it is believed that they will be doomed to failure. This day is also not the time for concluding business agreements and important financial transactions. Signs say that on this day, any attempts to change life face insurmountable difficulties or cause a series of undesirable events.
On Great Monday, food restrictions remain in place: you can cook meals on this day without vegetable oil.
There are also folk examples for Great Monday.:
— the warm and clear weather promised a rich harvest;
— a bird that flew up and landed on the window — for good news or acquaintance;
— the girls believed that washing up before dawn meant being healthy all year round;
— to throw away broken and unnecessary things — to attract good luck, prosperity and prosperity to the house.
Great Monday, April 14: Church service and the Gospel of the Day
On Holy Monday, believers devote themselves to prayer and repentance, reflecting on Jesus' sacrifice for people, as well as on the sufferings he endured in order to bring salvation.
According to the schedule of services at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow, two services will be held on April 14. Confession and the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts will be held at 8:00, and the Matins of Holy Week will be held at 17:00. In St. Petersburg, St. Isaac's Cathedral will host the pictorial hours at 8:00 a.m., followed by the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts. Matins and the 1st hour will be held at 4:45 p.m.
On the first three days of Holy Week, the last liturgies of the Presanctified Gifts of the year are held. Nowadays, in most churches, the service takes place in the morning, but in some parishes it also happens in the evening. The exact schedule needs to be specified in a particular temple.
The main themes of the services remain the plots about the fig tree and the sufferings of Joseph the Beautiful. During the liturgy, a special place is given to the reading of the Gospel, which contains the words of Christ about the future of the world and His second coming. Quotations from the Book of Job can be heard in churches almost throughout Holy Week. This is due to the fact that he is considered the most perfect righteous man of the pre-Christian era, an example of humility, as well as love for God. The sufferings he endured are in many ways compared to the sufferings of the Lord and serve as their prototype.
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