Holy Week

Holy Week (Koinē Greek: Ἁγία καὶ Μεγάλη Ἑβδομάς, romanized: Agia ké Megale Evdomas, lit. 'Holy and Great Week') is the most sacred week in the liturgical year in Christianity.[1][2] For all Christian traditions it is a moveable observance. In Eastern Christianity, which also calls it Great Week, it is the week following Great Lent and Lazarus Saturday, starting on the evening of Palm Sunday and concluding on the evening of Great Saturday.[3] In Western Christianity,[upper-alpha 1] Holy Week is the sixth and last week of Lent, beginning with Palm Sunday and concluding on Holy Saturday.[1][2][5][6]

Quick facts: Holy Week, Type, Observances, Date, 2022 ... ▼

Holy Week
The entry of Jesus and his disciples into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, is the last week of Lent, between Palm Sunday and the dusk of Maundy Thursday. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, Palm Sunday along with the Saturday of Lazarus marks the two-day transition between the 40 days of Great Lent and Holy Week.
Type	Christian
Observances	Palm Sunday, Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday, Holy Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday
Date	Last week of Lent
2022 date	April 10 – April 16 (Western) April 17 – April 23 (Eastern)
2023 date	April 2 – April 8 (Western) April 9 – April 15 (Eastern)
2024 date	March 24 – March 30 (Western) April 28 – May 4 (Eastern)
2025 date	April 13 – April 19 (Western) April 13 – April 19 (Eastern)
Frequency	Annual
Related to	Eastertide

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Death and Resurrection of Jesus
Passion Last Supper Arrest Trials Sanhedrin trial Herod's court Pilate's court Flagellation Mocking Crown of thorns Via Dolorosa Crucifixion and Death Burial
Resurrection Empty tomb Biblical accounts (overview) Noli me tangere Road to Emmaus Great Commission Ascension
Holy Week Palm Sunday Holy Monday Holy Tuesday Spy Wednesday Maundy Thursday Good Friday Holy Saturday Easter Sunday
Significance Session of Christ Salvation Jewish eschatology Christian eschatology
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Related Instrument of crucifixion Crucifixion darkness Conversion of Paul the Apostle Islamic view
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Holy Week begins with the commemoration of Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, marks the betrayal of Jesus on Spy Wednesday (Holy Wednesday), climaxing with the commemoration of the Mystical or Last Supper on Maundy Thursday and the Passion of Jesus on Good Friday. Holy Week concludes with Christ's rest in death and descent into Hades on Holy Saturday.[5][6]

Christians believe that Jesus rested in death from the ninth hour (3 pm) on Good Friday until just before dawn on Sunday morning, the day of his resurrection from death, commonly known as Easter Sunday. However, in 1 Peter 3:19, there may be a clue as to a task Jesus performed during this period between death and resurrection: "By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison." This marks the beginning of the season of Eastertide, with its first week being known as Easter Week (Bright Week).

Holy Week liturgies generally attract the largest crowds of the year. Many Christian cultures have different traditions such as special liturgies or services, floats, sculptures or live reenactments of Christ's life, his arrest and crucifixion (also called the Lord's passion, the Passion of Christ or Passion of Jesus); the latter are known as Passion Plays, which are often interdenominational productions.[7] In Eastern Rite Churches there are also many means to commemorate the Great Feasts and emphasize the theme of resurrection.[8] Many television channels air films related to Holy Week, such as The Ten Commandments, The Greatest Story Ever Told and The Jesus Film.[9]