Orthodox Holy Week and Its Theology

Course level:All Levels
Course Duration: 8h 30m
Last Updated:February 10, 2026

This course is taught by:

Fr. Philip Zymaris, Th.D.

Course Description

The continuing education course Orthodox Holy Week and Its Theology by Fr. Philip Zymaris, Th.D., Associate Professor of Liturgics, consists of four lectures.  Lecture One: Theological Foundation and Liturgical Origins of Holy Week; Lecture Two: The Bridegroom Services; Lecture Three: Holy Thursday and the Passion Orthros; Lecture Four: Holy Friday Hours, Vespers, and Holy Saturday.

Taught in lecture format, this course aims to study the theology and symbolism, as well as rubrics wherever they are pertinent, of the Greek Orthodox celebration of Holy Week. 

In addition to the lectures and live Zoom sessions, students will have access to readings that coincide with the topics associated with each lecture.  The course is designed as an introduction to the theological depth and symbolism of Orthodox Holy Week, which is the central liturgical mystery of the Church and the theological kernel for the development of the rest of the liturgical year.

Course Outcomes

  • 1. Be familiar with the origins and theology of Holy Week
  • 2. Understand the basic liturgical structure of Holy Week
  • 3. Know the main symbolic themes of each day of Holy Week

Course Modules

Theological Foundation and Liturgical Origins of Holy Week
a. The Paschal Mystery b. The encounter with the Crucified and Risen One. c. The Johannine School, the origins of Pascha, and the Johannine notion of the human being. d. From the Quartodecimans to the Triduum e. From the Triduum to Holy Week f. Relation between Great Lent, Holy Week and Baptism g. Saturday of Lazarus h. Palm Sunday

  • Theological Foundation and Liturgical Origins of Holy Week

The Bridegroom Services
a. The Bridegroom Services as a unit b. Main themes c. Ethos and particularities of the services d. Icon e. Dismissal Hymn and Exaposteilarion f. Holy Monday g. Holy Tuesday h. Holy Wednesday

Holy Thursday and the Passion Orthros
a. Holy Thursday Orthros b. Holy Thursday Vesperal Liturgy c. Reserved Sacrament d. Holy Myrrh e. The Orthros of Holy Friday (Twelve Gospel Passion Service)

Holy Friday Hours, Vespers, and Holy Saturday.
a. The Royal Hours b. The Apokathelosis Vespers c. The Lamentation Service (Holy Saturday Orthros) d. The Vesperal Liturgy of Holy Saturday e. Notes on the Resurrection Service

$200.00
Purchase
Enrollment closes on 2026-03-09 11:00:00

Course level

All Levels

Time to Complete

8h 30m

Course Requirements

  • Participants must have consistent access to a stable internet connection and an internet-enabled computer or tablet.