- Date: Thursday, April 18 (Western) - Thursday, April 25 (Eastern)
- Significance: Commemoration of Jesus' Last Supper, Prediction of Judas Betrayal, Prediction of Peter's Denial, Washing of the Disciples Feet, The New Commandment and Farewell Discourse
- Observances: Scripture readings, singing hymns, feasting on grand dinner at night, symbolic decoration, prayers, spreading love and harmony, following the religious rite of foot washing
- Observed by: Christians
- Also called: Holy Thursday, Covenant Thursday, Great and Holy Thursday, Thursday of Mysteries, and Sheer Thursday.
Maundy Thursday, also known as Holy Thursday, is the Thursday of Holy Week. The day commemorates Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciple and the foot washing.
Maundy Thursday is an important Christian holy day falling on the Thursday of Holy Week, a day before Good Friday (the Friday before Easter). It is the day on which Jesus celebrated the Passover Feast, predicted his betrayal, and washed the disciples’ feet.
Section #1: What is Maundy Thursday?
Maundy Thursday is the day when Jesus and his disciples gathered for the Passover meal, just like all the Jews did every year. Maundy Thursday is the:
- Thursday of Holy Week / Passion Week
- Thursday before Good Friday and Easter Sunday
The major events that happened on Maundy Thursday were:
- Jesus Last Supper (Passover Feast)
- The institution of the Eucharist
- Jesus’ washing of the disciples’ feet
- Jesus predicting Peter denial of Him
- Jesus predicting his betrayal and Crucifixion
- Jesus Farewell Discourse
Maundy Thursday is also called: Holy Thursday, Covenant Thursday, Great and Holy Thursday, Thursday of Mysteries, and Sheer Thursday.
| Holy Week Days | |||||
| Holy Week Day | Significance | ||||
| Palm Sunday | Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem | ||||
| Holy Monday | Cursing of the Fig Tree – Temple Cleansing – Jesus Authority Questioned | ||||
| Holy Tuesday | Commemorates the Parable of the Ten Virgins and the Parable of the talents | ||||
| Holy Wednesday | Commemorates the Bargain of Judas and the Parable of the Two Debtors | ||||
| Holy Thursday | Commemorates the Maundy and Last Supper of Jesus Christ | ||||
| Holy Friday | Commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ | ||||
| Holy Saturday | Marks the day Jesus’ body lay in the tomb and the Harrowing of Hell | ||||
| Easter Sunday | Celebrates the resurrection of Jesus from the dead | ||||
The dates of Maundy Thursday are always between March 19 and April 22. The day falls on different dates depending on – Western Christianity that follows the Gregorian Calendar and the Eastern Christianity that follows the Julian Calendar.
The liturgy held on Maundy Thursday marks the start of Easter Triduum, the period which includes Good Friday, Black Saturday, and Easter Sunday – commemorating the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus.
A special Lord’s Service in memory of the Last Supper on Monday Thursday / Holy Thursday and doing a foot-washing to recall how Christ humbled Himself are some of the famous ways of observing this day.