{
  "$type": "site.standard.document",
  "bskyPostRef": {
    "cid": "bafyreiewi2pjyo5rzpp5gnxp7x2eoyn3efnteepwnpxwa73g3hg6g4le3y",
    "uri": "at://did:plc:xmviqbn3a2rrkhizx4gf7g6t/app.bsky.feed.post/3miljgzueq6n2"
  },
  "coverImage": {
    "$type": "blob",
    "ref": {
      "$link": "bafkreiba7ptgnpahwdmimc6dwdt3ip6synk4a4jheprw2ks7vaisyrz5ny"
    },
    "mimeType": "image/jpeg",
    "size": 591675
  },
  "path": "/2026/04/02/walk-through-holy-week-across-church-traditions/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-02T17:24:47.000Z",
  "site": "https://juicyecumenism.com",
  "tags": [
    "Ecumenical",
    "Scriptural Stations of the Cross.",
    "Simon of Cyrene was made to carry the cross for Jesus",
    "method of St. Francis of Assisi:",
    "here.",
    "Matthew 27:14",
    "here",
    "“Go to Dark Gethsemane”",
    "“Take Up Thy Cross”",
    "Three Movies to Finish Out Lent",
    "Cross and Triumph",
    "Walk Through Holy Week Across Church Traditions",
    "Juicy Ecumenism"
  ],
  "textContent": "Christians around the world speak different languages and hold to different theological distinctives or political views, but the death and resurrection of Christ unites us across the ages, marked in Holy Week with hymns, processions and worship services.\n\nFor those interested in learning some of the ways different Christian traditions meditate upon and commemorate Holy Week, here is a selection of devotions, prayers, and music from different branches of Christianity.\n\n**Stations of the Cross**\n\nThe Stations of the Cross, also called the Way of the Cross, are a tangible way of meditating on the Passion that is practiced in the Western Church, primarily by Roman Catholics as well as Lutherans and Anglicans. Divided into fourteen stations, each depicts a part of Christ’s journey to the cross. Traditionally, it is a procession from station to station, guiding participants in liturgy that includes kneeling, scripture, and song.\n\nThe Stations have differing liturgies to accompany them, such as the methods of St. Francis of Assisi and St. Alphonsus Liguori. More recently, Pope John Paul II revised the Stations and created a new liturgy called the Scriptural Stations of the Cross. However, most Catholic churches still use the traditional fourteen stations, which are customarily displayed around the church nave.\n\nAn excerpt from the fifth station, based on when Simon of Cyrene was made to carry the cross for Jesus, from the method of St. Francis of Assisi:\n\n_Priest: We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee,_\n\n_Respondent: Because by Thy holy cross, Thou hast redeemed the world._\n\n_Priest: Simon of Cyrene was compelled to help Jesus carry His cross, and Jesus accepted his assistance. How willingly would He also permit you to carry the cross: He calls, but you hear Him not; He invites you, but you decline. What a reproach, to bear the cross reluctantly!_\n\n_All: O Jesus! Whosoever does not take up his cross and follow Thee, is not worthy of Thee. Behold, I join Thee in the Way of Thy Cross; I will be Thy assistant, following Thy bloody footsteps, that I may come to Thee in eternal life. Lord Jesus, crucified, have mercy on us!_\n\nMany churches in the historic / liturgical tradition, especially Catholic, Episcopal/Anglican, or Lutheran ones, will offer such a procession on Good Friday.\n\n**Holy Week in _The Book of Common Prayer_**\n\n_The Book of Common Prayer_ is a liturgical prayer book used by Episcopal/Anglican Christians. It contains morning and evening prayers, litany, liturgy for full services, and prayers for special occasions such as baptisms, weddings, and funerals. _The Book of Common Prayer_ also has prayers specific to Holy Week; the prayer for Maundy Thursday is:\n\n_Almighty Father, whose most dear Son, on the night before he suffered, instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood: Mercifully grant that we may receive it in thankful remembrance of Jesus Christ our Savior, who in these holy mysteries gives us a pledge of eternal life; and who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen._\n\nThe prayers for Holy Week can be found here.\n\n**Holy Week Devotional from Charles Spurgeon**\n\nReformed Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon was known for his devotionals and sermons, which in true Baptist character are earnest, heartfelt, and accessible. Spurgeon’s devotionals especially are still popular to this day, appearing on several websites and apps for daily devotional reading.\n\nHere is an excerpt from one of Spurgeon’s devotionals, from his series of morning and evening devotionals. It is based on Matthew 27:14: “But he [Jesus] gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.”\n\n_“He had never been slow of speech when he could bless the sons of men, but he would not say a single word for himself. “Never man spake like this man,” and never man was silent like him…Was this silence a type of the defencelessness of sin? Nothing can be said in palliation or excuse of human guilt; and, therefore, he who bore its whole weight stood speechless before his judge…”_\n\nReaders can find the rest of this devotional here as part of a series of daily devotionals from Spurgeon.\n\n**Byzantine Chants of the Resurrection**\n\nEastern Orthodox churches have liturgical chants structured around “tones”: eight different melodies that different lyrics can be set to, following the rhythms of the Church. One series of chants, titled in Greek Orthodoxy the Kontakia of the Resurrection, focuses on the restoration and joy of the sinful Adam and Eve as Christ’s passion and resurrection redeems all of creation. Here are the lyrics from tone seven:\n\n_“The dominion of death can no longer hold men captive,_\n_For Christ descended, shattering and destroying its powers._\n_Sheol is bound, while the prophets rejoice and cry:_\n_The Savior has come to those in faith. Enter, you faithful, into the resurrection!”_\n\nInterested readers may listen here to a sung version of the tone. Lyrics to all eight tones can be found here.\n\n**Hymns for Holy Week**\n\nOn the Protestant side of music for Passion Week are, of course, Easter hymns. Readers might already know popular hymns “Christ the Lord is Risen Today” or “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.” Two more uncommon hymns to sing or listen to during the week are:\n\n“Go to Dark Gethsemane” authored in 1825 by James Montgomery, the orphaned son of Moravians who died on the mission field, calls the listener to follow Jesus from his suffering at Gethsemane to being condemned, crucified, and resurrected. Its opening lines are especially poignant: “Go to dark Gethsemane, / Ye that feel the tempter’s power; / Your Redeemer’s conflict see; / Watch with him one bitter hour.”\n\n“Take Up Thy Cross” composed by Episcopal clergyman Charles William Everest in 1833 focuses not only on Jesus’s passion, but also calls us to follow suit, suffering just as he has suffered. The second verse goes thus: “Take up thy cross, let not its weight / fill thy weak spirit with alarm; / His strength shall bear thy spirit up, / and brace thy heart and nerve thine arm.”\n\n**More from IRD** :\n\nThree Movies to Finish Out Lent\n\nCross and Triumph\n\nThe post Walk Through Holy Week Across Church Traditions appeared first on Juicy Ecumenism.",
  "title": "Walk Through Holy Week Across Church Traditions"
}