Holy Week (Orthodox calendar)

About this plan

This is Holy Week as the Orthodox Church keeps it, from Palm Sunday to Pascha on the Orthodox calendar. Pascha is often later than Western Easter, and the two fall on the same day only in some years. The readings are the same as in the Holy Week plan, one day at a time, so people who keep different dates can still read the same chapters.

Palm Sunday begins with Jesus entering Jerusalem in Matthew 21 and Psalm 118. The next days follow his teaching in the temple, in Mark 11 to 13 and Jeremiah 7. On Holy Thursday you read the Passover in Exodus 12, the washing of the disciples’ feet in John 13 and Gethsemane in Luke 22. Holy Friday gathers Isaiah 53, Psalm 22 and John 19 at the cross, and Holy Saturday reads of the tomb in Matthew 27 and of Job’s question whether the dead will live again. The week ends on Pascha with the resurrection in Matthew 28 and John 20.

What you’ll read

• The king enters JerusalemPalm SundayMatthew 21, Psalm 118
• The Passover and the washing of feetHoly ThursdayExodus 12, John 13
• The crossHoly FridayIsaiah 53, Psalm 22, John 19
• Shall the dead live again?Holy SaturdayJob 14, Matthew 27
• Christ is risenPaschaMatthew 28, John 20

18 chapters · 9 books · every Orthodox Holy Week

This plan follows the Orthodox church year: Day 1 is Palm Sunday and Day 8 is Pascha, both on the Orthodox calendar. Pascha moves every year, and in some years it falls on the same day as Western Easter. The readings are the same as in the Holy Week plan.