The nerve heart of the Christian rite, particularly Catholic, Holy Week is a dramatic journey through the last moments of the life of Jesus as they are told in the Gospels. Located at the end of Lent, it commemorates his arrival at Jerusalem, his last meal, his arrest then his death on the cross and finally his resurrection during Easter night. The liturgy offers numerous celebrations for this, which allow believers to live these moments with strength.
Among Protestants, the Lutheran and Reformed churches also commemorate Holy Week, with more or less intensity depending on the church. On the other hand, most evangelicals do not make reference to it.
Among the Orthodox, the structure is approximately the same but the calendar is shifted most of the time, because they use the Julian calendar and not the Gregorian calendar.
The Palms
Holy Week opens with Palm Sunday. That day, Jesus entered Jerusalem mounted on a donkey, cheered by the crowd who placed branches and coats on the path as a sign of respect. Catholics brandish boxwood, olive or palm branches in memory of this event.
