The Holy Qurbono

The Christian week, like the Christian year, centres on the mystery of the Resurrection. Every Sunday is a commemoration of the Resurrection of Christ. The Resurrection of Christ, bringing the hope of resurrection to all humankind, is the “good news” of the Gospel. It refers not only to the future but also to the present life. Through baptism, a Christian begins to participate in the new life in Christ, and every Qurbana makes this mystery truly present.

The observance of Sunday is meant to recall this great mystery at the start of each week, helping Christians renew their memory of the Resurrection and strive to live in its light throughout the week. However, each day of the week has its own significance in the Syrian Church:

• Monday and Tuesday: These are days of repentance. Repentance in the Gospel signifies “conversion” or “change of heart,” as proclaimed by both John the Baptist and Our Lord: “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand.” Weekly observance offers Christians an opportunity to renew their faith, turn back to God, and anticipate His Kingdom.
• Wednesday: Dedicated to the Mother of God, as an ancient tradition states that the Annunciation took place on a Wednesday. This day invites reflection on Mary’s role in the economy of salvation, her divine motherhood, and her position as the Mother of Jesus and, through Him, of all Christians.
• Thursday: Set apart in memory of the Apostles, who were responsible for the original preaching of the Gospel and whose succession of bishops continues to teach and guide the Church to this day. The Syrian Church also associates Thursday with the Prophets of the Old Testament, who prepared the way for the Gospel, and with the Martyrs, who gave their lives in testimony to it.
• Friday: A commemoration of the Cross, recalling the mystery of the Passion of Christ, through which humanity was redeemed. It is also a reminder of the victory over death that was achieved on the Cross.
• Saturday: Dedicated to the departed, particularly departed priests, through whom the ministry of the Gospel continues. It is a time to reflect on the end of this earthly life and the Second Coming of Christ, which will bring about the general resurrection. Each day in the weekly cycle provides Christians with a spiritual focus, connecting them to key aspects of faith and the overarching mystery of salvation.

As the Christian week centres on Sunday, the day of the Resurrection, so the Christian Year centres on the mystery of Easter. In the early Church, there were only two great festivals: Easter and Pentecost. The entire period between these festivals was considered a sacred season in which the Church, in a sense, anticipated the new life of the world to come.

The liturgical year is not merely a commemoration of past events in the life of Christ but a re-enactment of His mysteries. Through this re-enactment, the Church shares in their saving grace, and Christians are conformed to the likeness of Christ.

The Syrian Church begins its liturgical year at the end of October or the beginning of November with the feasts of the Consecration and Purification of the Church. These feasts highlight the mystery of the Church as the Bride of Christ, prepared by Him for the marriage feast, teaching her to follow in His footsteps.

The five Sundays before Christmas are known as the Sundays of the Annunciation (Suboro). These Sundays commemorate:

1. The Annunciation to Elizabeth.
2. The Annunciation to Mary.
3. The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth.
4. The Birth of John the Baptist.
5. The Revelation to St. Joseph.

While Christmas is a feast of Western origin, it has always been somewhat overshadowed in the East by the feast of Epiphany. The Epiphany commemorates the manifestation of Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of God at His baptism in the Jordan. It also marks the initiation of the mystery of Baptism.

The last two Sundays after the Epiphany (before Lent) are dedicated to the commemoration of:

1. Departed Priests.
2. All the Faithful Departed (similar to All Souls' Day in the Western Church).

Eighteen days before the Lenten fast, the Fast of Nineveh is observed for three days. It recalls the fast proclaimed by the Prophet Jonah, which led the people of Nineveh to repentance.

Lent commemorates the forty-day fast of Our Lord and serves as a period of preparation for the Mystery of Easter. In the Syrian Church, Lent begins on the sixth Sunday before Easter, with Saturdays and Sundays not counted as fasting days.

• Rosana Sunday: The Sunday before Easter commemorates Our Lord’s entry into Jerusalem, when the children cried, “Hosanna.”
• Passion Week (Hasa): The rest of the week follows the story of the Passion, almost hour by hour.
  • Thursday: Commemorates the Last Supper.
  • Saturday: Marks the Annunciation of the Gospel to the Dead.

As Lent is a time of fasting and penitence, Easter-tide is a time of joy and thanksgiving. The Church enters into the new life of the Resurrection:

• The Sunday after Easter is called New Sunday.
• The season culminates in the feast of Pentecost, ten days after the Ascension of Christ, when the Holy Spirit descends upon the Church, filling it with new life.

From Pentecost onward, every Sunday commemorates the twofold mystery of the Resurrection and the Gift of the Spirit. These represent two aspects of the same mystery: the new life of communion with God, granted through the Resurrection.

Previous | Next