The Russian Orthodox Church revealed the mystery of the Holy Thursday service

Maundy Thursday is one of the most important and symbolic days of Holy Week. In 2026, it falls on April 9th. This day recalls the Sacrament of the Last Supper, where Christ washed the feet of his disciples and established the Eucharist, that is, communion. On this day, believers attend the Liturgy, receive communion, and participate in special rituals. The schedule of services in the largest churches in Russia and the specifics of worship services are in the material of Izvestia.

Maundy Thursday: schedule of services on April 9th

The liturgy in churches traditionally begins at 8:00 or 9:00 a.m. Evening services are held from 14:00 to 17:00 at different times depending on the temple. Before visiting, it is recommended to check the schedule on the official website or on social networks of a particular temple.

Schedule of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior (Moscow, Volkhonka St., 15):

07.00 — Early Liturgy (to be held in the Church of the Transfiguration)

09.00 — Confession

10.00 a.m. — Late Liturgy

18.00 — Matins, reading of the 12 Gospels

Schedule of St. Isaac's Cathedral (St. Petersburg, St. Isaac's Square, 4):

08:00 — Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great

17:30 — Matins with the reading of the 12 Passion Gospels

The service usually lasts 2-3 hours. The duration of the services will also vary depending on which chant and chant the choir chose, and how many people confessed or took communion. The duration of the service also depends on whether the service was performed by a bishop or an ordinary priest, that is, by a priest or bishop.

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The Biblical story of Maundy Thursday

Every day of Holy Week is filled with symbolism and serves as a reminder of the last days of Christ's life on earth. Holy Thursday is dedicated to the memories of the Last Supper, the establishment of the sacrament of the Eucharist (Communion), the washing of the disciples' feet and the prayers of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.

According to the Gospel, on this day, Christ gathered his disciples in the Upper room of Zion in Jerusalem to share his last meal with them before he was captured and crucified.

During the Last Supper, Jesus blessed the bread, broke it and distributed it to the disciples with the words: "Take and eat, this is my Body, which is broken for you for the remission of sins." Then he took a cup of wine, blessed it, and said, "Drink from it, all of you, this is My Blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." This is how the sacrament of the Eucharist, also known as the sacrament of Communion, was established. These words became the basis for the liturgical practice of the sacrament of communion, when believers partake of the body and blood of Christ under the guise of bread and wine. With this rite, Jesus made it clear to his disciples that the sacrifice he would make would be voluntary and saving.

"Since then, for thousands of years, the disciples of Jesus Christ have been gathering to taste this bread, this wine, which becomes the body and blood of Christ, and through this Sacrament to become partakers of God, to receive communion," Priest Alvian Tkhelidze, head of the Youth Department of the Stavropol Diocese, told Izvestia.

Also on this day, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples as a servant, which served to establish the commandment of love and humility. This action became a symbol of service and an example for all subsequent generations of Christians.

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Features of the Maundy Thursday service

All Holy Week services preceding Easter are unique, as they are performed once a year. Maundy Thursday is also distinguished by special church traditions.

"On this day, believers necessarily receive communion, come to church and pray at the liturgy. The priest comes out with a chalice and, under the guise of bread and wine, communicates to people through the work of the blood of Christ, essentially uniting us to Christ. Also, this sacrament of communion is usually preceded by the sacrament of confessions. In general, in many ways, Maundy Thursday is called "pure" because it is a day of cleansing the soul from sins, sanctification through the Sacrament of Communion," explained Priest Alvian Tkhelidze.

In the evening, 12 passion Gospels are read in churches: during the service, 12 of the most dramatic fragments from the Holy Scriptures are read, which describe the events of the last days of Jesus Christ's earthly life before the crucifixion, concerning betrayal, arrest, mockery of Jesus Christ and his death on the cross.

"If the service on Holy Thursday is performed by a bishop, for example, Patriarch Kirill himself, then it includes an element of washing the feet. The Patriarch and other bishops, remembering how Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, also wash the feet of the priests who will participate in that liturgy at that time," the priest draws attention to the unusual tradition of services on Holy Thursday.