Orthodox Christians celebrate Holy Week

Among several services marking the Orthodox Christian Holy Week preceding Easter, celebrated this year on Sunday, May 1, Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago, spiritual leader of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago, celebrated two special services commemorating the Last Supper Wednesday, April 27, at St. John the Baptist Church of Des Plaines and Thursday, April 28, at the Greek American Rehabilitation & Care Center in Wheeling.

As in biblical tradition, the Orthodox festal holidays begin at sundown the evening before the date.

The Metropolitan visited St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, 2350 E. Dempster St., Des Plaines, to celebrate the Matins of the Last Supper, followed by the custom of the "Washing of the Feet" (in Greek, Nipter), commemorating Jesus Christ's washing of his disciples' feet after the Last Supper.

In Orthodox tradition, this ceremony is only celebrated by bishops and is a sign of the humility and service of the pastors of the church.

The Metropolitan also visited the Greek American Rehabilitation & Care Center, 220 N. First St., Wheeling. The visit included a full celebration of the Eucharist (the Divine Liturgy, equivalent of the Roman Catholic Mass) in commemoration of the institution of the Lord's Supper for the residents, a long tradition of the Metropolitan's pastoral ministry and Holy Week schedule.

The services of Holy Week began to take on a special solemnity on Holy Wednesday evening and Holy Thursday, and proceed quickly to the commemoration of the Lord's Passion, crucifixion, and burial, Holy Thursday evening through Holy Friday, culminating in the climactic midnight services on Easter Sunday.

Orthodox Christians throughout the world celebrate Easter May 1 this year as they follow, for a variety of historical reasons, the Julian calendar for calculating the date. This currently lags behind the contemporary Gregorian calendar by 13 days.

Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago has served as the spiritual leader of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago since May of 1979. Under his leadership, the Metropolis has increased its efforts to assist the homeless and those in need, as witnessed in the labors of the Metropolis Philanthropy committee.

He has founded new youth programs, established various local dialogue commissions with other faith communities and continues to work with other area religious leaders in promoting justice and truth in society.

Easter Orthodox Christians are the second largest Christian denomination worldwide. The Metropolis of Chicago oversees all Greek Orthodox parishes within Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, as well as large portions of Missouri and Indiana.

For details, visit www.chicago.goarch.org.