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littlenothing
Guest
What is Spy Wednesday? I heard a small news blip mentioning it, but didn’t catch the full discussion. I think it was an Eastern Rite thing, but I didn’t hear the whole thing. Anyone know?
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Vico
Guest
Holy Wednesday. It is the Wednesday after Flowery (Palm) Sunday in Holy Week.
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littlenothing
Guest
Flowery?! Are you teasing me? Why have I never heard these things? What are you supposed to DO on spy Wednesday? Why spy?
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Vico
Guest
If is flowery because in some areas there are no palms used, but Pu**y Willow branches (the first flower of spring).
https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/...2gv5dbpp6h3vh08FY0_Pv3_CGVxSz7ru4y-Sdu636uDWg
Spy because of the betrayal of Judas (he was a spy). It is also the commemoration of the washing the feet of Our Lord before his Crucifixion by the sinful woman.
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littlenothing
Guest
That’s beautiful! I wish we had spy Wednesday in the Roman Rite.
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Allegra
Guest
I think he was talking about Palm Sunday actually. According to Wikipedia, it’s called Spy Wenesday because that was the day that Judas agreed to betray Jesus.
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Elizium23
Guest
It is Spy Wednesday in the Western tradition because the readings for the day describe Judas’ actions of betrayal.
In the East, it is called Holy and Great Wednesday, Greek: Μεγάλη Τετάρτη
In the East, it is called Holy and Great Wednesday, Greek: Μεγάλη Τετάρτη
The Greek literally says Μεγάλη (Great) Τετάρτη (Wednesday). Άγιος means holy/saint. However, in English writings, the East calls it Holy and Great Wednesday.
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Vico
Guest
- Flowery (Palm) Sunday has the willows or palms or flowers distributed.
- On Holy Wednesday, we read the Gospel of Matthew 26:6-16, at the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts:Now when Jesus was in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came up to him with an alabaster jar of costly perfumed oil, and poured it on his head while he was reclining at table. When the disciples saw this, they were indignant and said,“Why this waste? It could have been sold for much, and the money given to the poor.”
Since Jesus knew this, he said to them,“Why do you make trouble for the woman? She has done a good thing for me. The poor you will always have with you; but you will not always have me. In pouring this perfumed oil upon my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. Amen, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be spoken of, in memory of her.”
Then one of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said,“What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?”
They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over.
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GEddie
Guest
Don’t feel too badly.
I was over 30 before I heard of Spy Wednesday. I only heard about it because it was the title of a spy novel!!!
ICXC NIKA.
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littlenothing
Guest
Thank you.
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Celticnovice
Guest
We used both palms and PW branches
I’ve heard that this is popular among Slavonic Byzantine Churches because, historically, palms were hard to come by in Russia, Ukraine, etc. I saw them used in an OCA parish where the priest and his family were Russian.
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Aramis
Guest
Yep. When plams are available, many slavs use both, bound together.I’ve heard that this is popular among Slavonic Byzantine Churches because, historically, palms were hard to come by in Russia, Ukraine, etc. I saw them used in an OCA parish where the priest and his family were Russian.
That said, we don’t have even PW blooming yet. Just had fresh snow 3 days ago.
The Eastern Orthodox still have a chance since their Palm Sunday is April 28.
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rciadan
Guest
Yes, we used both in this fashion at Sts Cyril and Methodius. Though we are in Florida, Father’s brother grows the ***** willows and sends them to us for Flowery Sunday.
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annastasia75
Guest
Never heard of spy wednesday, we use palms and prissy willows ,sorry auto correct keeps changing , it can be a dirty word I guess. We have a prissy willow tree on the far end of the property next door that my DH and I bought last year, I would have never noticed but my mom did right away , You have a prissy willow tree to use for Palm Sunday, she said.
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