The Church Year
What Is Holy Week?
Holy Week is the final and most sacred week of Lent, running from Palm Sunday to Easter. Day by day it walks with Jesus through his last week: his entry into Jerusalem, the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday, his crucifixion on Good Friday, the silence of Holy Saturday, and the joy of the resurrection on Easter. Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant churches all keep it, with services on the great days.
The days of Holy Week
Holy Week is the church’s slow, prayerful walk through the last week of Jesus’ earthly life. It begins on Palm Sunday with his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The early days lead to Maundy Thursday, when he shared the Last Supper and washed his disciples’ feet. Good Friday remembers his crucifixion. Holy Saturday keeps watch at the tomb in silence. And on Easter Sunday the church proclaims that he is risen. The Orthodox keep the same week as Great and Holy Week, on their own calendar, so the dates often differ from the Western ones.
The week that changed everything
No week is remembered more carefully by the church. To follow it, service by service, is to walk the whole gospel: the welcome, the supper, the cross, the silence, and the empty tomb.
Find a service near you
Holy Week has a door open on every one of its great days. You do not need to know anyone, dress a certain way, or have it all figured out. Use the live church finder to search real, welcoming churches near you, then reach out to one and ask about their service times. Whether you have been every week for fifty years or have never been at all, you are wanted exactly as you are.
Find a church near youWhat to expect if you goFrequently asked questions
- What days are in Holy Week?
- Holy Week runs from Palm Sunday through Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday to Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday. The great services fall on Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter.
- Why is it called Holy Week?
- Because it is the most sacred week of the Christian year, remembering the final week of Jesus' life, his suffering, death, and resurrection. The Orthodox call it Great and Holy Week.
- Do I have to attend every service in Holy Week?
- No. You are welcome to come to any one service, or several. Many people find that even attending Good Friday and Easter together tells the whole story. Use the church finder to see what is offered near you.
Come and see
Behind every one of these days is a Person, not a performance. The living Christ is not an argument to be won but someone to be met, and he still draws near to everyone who comes to him with an open heart. You do not have to believe everything first. You are welcome to come with your questions, your grief, and your doubts, and simply see. The Gospel of John is a gentle place to begin, and it costs you nothing but a little quiet and an honest look.
Read the Gospel of JohnCome and SeeAsk for prayerJesus Christ is Lord.