Festivals

Holy Monday 2023: Date, History, Facts about Holy Monday

Holy Monday can be traced back to the establishment of Lent. Only Good Friday and sacred Saturday were observed and considered sacred during the third century.

Holy Monday is observed on April 3 this year, as it is every year. It commemorates the life, devotion, and events leading to Jesus’ death and eventual resurrection. Holy Monday is the day after Jesus was hailed with palm leaves and the day before Judas decided to betray him, according to the Bible.

The holiday marks the beginning of Holy Week preparations for Christians, which include perusing the Bible and meditating on the Scripture. Others are now receiving a well-deserved respite.

The background of Holy Monday

Holy Monday can be traced back to the establishment of Lent. Only Good Friday and sacred Saturday were observed and considered sacred during the third century. Later, Judas’ betrayal of Jesus on Holy Wednesday was added to the celebration, as this was the day he did so. St. Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria, and St. Epiphanius of Constantia used the term “Holy Week” for the first time in the fourth century, thereby giving birth to the holiday. It was now inclusive of the remaining weekdays, including Palm Sunday, Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday, and Easter Sunday.

On Holy Monday, Jesus Christ travelled from Bethany to Jerusalem. During his travels, he observed a barren fig tree. He cursed the tree until it withered and produced fruit. He promptly informed his disciples that, if they had sufficient faith, they could cause the tree to wither and even move mountains. He also cleansed the temple and responded to the authorities’ questions on this day. Matthew 21:19–22, Mark 11:20–25, Matthew 21:19–22, and Mark 11:23, which describe the aforementioned actions, were the primary biblical passages that established Holy Monday.

Historically, significant alterations to the Holy Week celebration have occurred. The decree known as “Maxima Redemptoris” revised the observances in the Roman Missal on November 16, 1955. It restored the services in the Bible by the exact time and day. Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, Lutheran, and Presbyterian liturgies are now nearly identical.

Palm Sunday 2023: Date, History, Facts about The Palm