The week before the solemn celebration of the blessed Christ Resurrection, the Orthodox Church recalls the event of the Lord’s entry into Jerusalem, which is reflected in liturgical theology as a special service of the Wai Week. The festive service has special features that are unique to this celebration.
In 2019, Easter is celebrated on Sunday, April 28th. In this regard, the Orthodox calendar determines the corresponding year-to-year dates for the beginning of Lent and the twelfth feast of the Entrance of the Lord into Jerusalem.
According to the established liturgical practice of the Russian Orthodox Church, at the Wai Week, also called Palm Sunday, the willow branches are preliminarily prepared and brought to the church.
The tradition of sanctifying willows on the feast of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem is symbolic. Just as the Jewish people laid palm branches on the road that Christ walked to Jerusalem, Russian Orthodox believers for lack of palm trees greet the coming Messiah with the first spring branches that will open - willows or willows, which are solemnly consecrated for worship and stored throughout the year as the shrine.
Date of consecration of willow in 2019
Palm Sunday falls on April 21st in 2019. However, many believers are confused about when exactly the willow branches are sanctified. Some believe that the willow is blessed on the very day of the holiday, but it is worth considering that the liturgical day in the Orthodox tradition begins with the service the day before. According to the service regulations, willow is sanctified during the All-night Vigil of the Week of Wai, that is, at the evening service on Saturday, preceding the feast of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem. Thus, it is necessary to come to the temple for the consecration of willow in 2019 in the evening of April 20. The very consecration of the consecration of willows is inserted into the worship of Matins, when, during the reading of the 50th psalm, the priest first censors the prepared branches, and then he himself says a prayer for consecration, followed by sprinkling with holy water. After the consecration of the willow, the choir sings festive verses and evening worship continues.
The beginning of the service of the all-night vigil on Palm Sunday varies in many parishes. But it can be argued that in 2019 the service with the consecration of willow will begin on Saturday April 20 from 16:00 to 18:00 (the exact date of the beginning of the service at a separate parish should be clarified).
