Holy Wednesday
In Christianity, Holy Wednesday commemorates the Bargain of Judas as a clandestine spy among the disciples.[1] It is also called Spy Wednesday,[2] or Good Wednesday (in Western Christianity),[3] and Great and Holy Wednesday (in Eastern Christianity).
Holy Wednesday
Spy Wednesday
Good Wednesday
Holy and Great Wednesday
Christians
commemorates the Bargain of Judas and the Parable of the Two Debtors
Wednesday before Easter
- April 5 (Western)
- April 12 (Eastern)
- March 27 (Western)
- May 1 (Eastern)
- April 16 (Western)
- April 16 (Eastern)
- April 1 (Western)
- April 8 (Eastern)
annual
In Western Christianity many churches of various denominations observe the tenebrae service on Holy Wednesday.[4][5][6]
Biblical narratives[edit]
In the New Testament account of Holy Week, after Palm Sunday, the Sanhedrin gathered and plotted to kill Jesus before the feast of Pesach.[7] On the Wednesday before his death, Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the Leper. As he sat at the supper table with his disciples, a woman named Mary anointed Jesus' head and feet with a costly oil of spikenard.[8] The disciples were indignant, asking why the oil was not instead sold and the money given to the poor.[9] But Judas Iscariot wanted to keep the money for himself.[10][11] Then Judas went to the Sanhedrin and offered to deliver Jesus to them in exchange for money. From this moment on, Judas sought an opportunity to betray Jesus.[12]
In reference to Judas Iscariot's intent to betray Jesus, formed on Holy Wednesday, the day is sometimes called "Spy Wednesday".[13][14][15] The word spy, as used in the term, means "ambush, ambuscade, snare".[16] Additionally, among the disciples, Judas clandestinely was a spy and Wednesday was the day he chose to betray Christ.[17]