Triumphal Entry (Palm Sunday)

Sunday before Pascha

Holy Scripture Accounts

Vespers

Genesis 49:1-2, 8-12
Zephaniah 3:14-19
Zechariah 9:9-15

The Gospel (from feast day Matins)

“Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.”

All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:

“Tell the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your King is coming to you,
Lowly, and sitting on a donkey,
A colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ”

So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:

“Hosanna to the Son of David!
‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’
Hosanna in the highest!”

And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?”

So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.”

Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ”

Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant and said to Him, “Do You hear what these are saying?”

And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read,
‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
You have perfected praise’?”

Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and He lodged there.“

– Matthew 21:1-17

The Epistle (from feast day Liturgy)

“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.”

– Philippians 4:4-9

The Gospel (from feast day Liturgy)

Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.

But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.

But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.”

– John 12:1-18

Additional reading:

Mark 11:1-10
Luke 19:28-44

Troparion (Tone 1)

“By raising Lazarus from the dead before Your passion, You confirmed the universal resurrection, O Christ God! Like the children with the palms of victory, we cry out to You, O Vanquisher of death: Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is He that comes int he name of the Lord!“

( audio )

Kontakion (Tone 4)

“Sitting on Your throne in heaven, carried on a foal on earth, O Christ God, accept the praise of angels and songs of children who sing: Blessed is He that comes to recall Adam.”

Teaching from the Triumphal Entry Into Jerusalem Icon

“Jesus the Messiah enters Jerusalem with His right hand raised in blessing of the city that will crucify Him. The scroll in His left hand, showing that He is the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies, represents His authority and wisdom.”

“The Children are depicted as the ones cutting palm branches to spread on the road along with clothing to honor Jesus. Having no ulterior motives or earthly ambitions, they symbolize the pure in heart who will see God in His Kingdom.”

“The Apostles follow Jesus so that they “may die with Him” (John 11:16). Nevertheless, Jesus finds it necessary to look back and remind them that there is no other way, that in order to rise to heaven we must first lay down our lives for Him and for each other.”

“The Crowd has gathered in Jerusalem for Passover to celebrate Israel’s liberation from the Egyptians. Now they honor Jesus as the one they hope will liberate them from the Romans.”

“The Young Donkey, considered to be an unclean animal by the Jews, represents the Gentile nations that will carry Christ in their hearts after His work on earth is completed.”

“ The Mount of Olives on the left is the place where Jesus rode down from on the donkey. It represents the dwelling place of God.”

“ The Buildings of Jerusalem on the right represent the dwelling place of man. Christ sheds tears for Jerusalem because, after He establishes His heavenly Kingdom, the unfaithful earthly city will fall.”

“ The Palm Tree between the mountain and the city represents the Cross, through which the victorious Christ will bridge the gulf between man and God. “

Quoted from: Heaven meets Earth: Celebrating Pascha and the Twelve Feasts (page 10), by John Kosmas Skinas

More information

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