Palm Sunday

Repeated Thematic Phrases: | "Hosanna in the highest, blessed is He that comes in the Name of the Lord" |

"Today the grace of the Holy Spirit has gathered us together, and we all take up Thy Cross and say…"

Children "of the Hebrews"

"Six days before the Passion…"

Scripture

Philippians 4.4-9

John 12.1-18

General

He Who rides on the Cherubim now rides on the foal of a beast of burden.

The Cherubim cannot gaze upon the Lord of all and yet praise Him, but the children behold the Lord and sing His praise unhindered.

The children of the Hebrews recognized the King of Israel and met Him as a victorious Conqueror, but the Jews rejected His coming.

Canon

Ode 1: praise from children and Adam is now right due to Adam's redemption

Events recalled that are praiseworthy

Overthrow of the adversary by His Passion

Avenging of Adam's fall

Raising of Adam from his fall

Christ

Whom the "Church of the saints" praise

Dwells in Zion

Israel rejoices in their Maker

Mountains exult in Christ

Represent the Gentiles' repentance, who are stony-hearted

Ode 3: Jesus is the powerful Rock who is Lord and God of Life

Hell gave up Lazarus at Christ's command

Christ is the resurrection and the life

The Church is founded on Christ

Command to praise

In Zion "sing a hymn fitting for God"

In Jerusalem offer prayer

Hypakoe

First they praise Him, then they seize and crucify Him

He is our Benefactor

Ode 4: Jesus reveals Himself as God of all in Zion

"Mountains and all hills" recognize and

"break forth into great rejoicing"

Because they recognize the mercy of God

"Trees of the forest" recognize and

Clap their hands

Nations should (imperative)

Give praise

Peoples should (imperative)

Magnify Him

In Zion

There Jesus is the King of the ages and the Lord comes

There the "Surpassing splendor of His beauty" is revealed

There His Glory is revealed

There He chooses her

There He dwells

There He rules

"The Lord is here"

He measures the heaven

He holds the earth

Ode 5: peace to Israel and salvation to the Gentiles

Christ is God who comes

Enthroned on the Cherubim

Yet cares for the lowly

Comes in power and glory

All things shall offer divine praise to Him

Jerusalem: behold your children

Gentiles gathered to Zion to praise Jerusalem's King

Ode 6: renewal through sprinkling of the Blood of God

Israel:

Receive God's Kingdom

From darkness see the great Light

Zion:

Free thy prisoners

Let thy prisoners go

Bring them out from ignorance

People: be renewed

Kontakion

Christ our God is seated in heaven

Upon His throne

Christ our God is seated on earth

Upon a foal

Accepted:

Praise of the angels

Songs of the children

Ikos

Jesus is immortal Lord

The children praise Him TODAY!

Why do the children praise Him?

He bound hell

He slew death

He raised the world

He is Victor

NO MORE shall they be killed

Because Mary's Child was killed, crucified for all, young and old

NO MORE shall they be killed with the sword

Because He was pierced with a spear

Jesus comes to call Adam back to Himself

Ode 7: All offer praise and welcome to the God of our fathers.

The people

Knelt to Jesus and cried aloud.

Rejoiced with the disciples and cried aloud.

Innocent children sang a hymn fitting for God to Jesus.

The multitude greeted Jesus.

Who is Jesus?

Son of David

King of Israel

King of the Angels

Christ

King of the Ages

Ode 8: Zion rejoices and keeps feast reverently, calling all to praise the Lord.

Why should Zion rejoice?

The Eternal Ruler has come (irmos)

To destroy the error of idolatry. (troparion 1)

To restrain the untamed willfulness of the Gentiles. (troparion 1)

To destroy the proud arrogance of His enemies. (troparion 2)

To redeem. (troparion 3)

Who is Jesus?

He who rules forever (irmos)

Lord of Hosts (irmos)

Zion's King (troparion 1)

Zion's God (troparion 2)

Our righteous Deliver (troparion 2)

Redeemer (troparion 3)

Opposition

Idolatry: senseless (troparion 1)

Gentiles: untamed (troparion 1)

His enemies: arrogant and will not cry in praise (troparion 2)

Company of men: lawless, disobedient, and reject Christ (troparion 3)

Ode 9: God the Lord has revealed Himself, blessed is He who has come!

What does Christ do?

He is God and Savior Who has appeared to mankind. (irmos)

He comes in the Name of the Lord.

He has found righteous ways and given them to Israel. (troparion 2)

Shown Himself and lived among man on earth. ((troparion 2)

He shall rise again to save all. (troparion 3)

Protagonists

[Church]: keep the feast, rejoice, and magnify Christ with palms and branches (irmos)

Children: cry with palms and branches (troparion 1)

Israel: His beloved (troparion 2)

All who cry to bless the Lord: saved by Christ (troparion 3)

Opposition

Heathen: rage (troparion 1)

Scribes and priests: imagine vain things (troparion 1)

[Other Gods]: unlike Christ (troparion 2)

Nations: set stumbling blocks and swiftly shed their Master's Blood (troparion 3)

Praises

Characters

Very great multitude: spread their garments, walking before and after Christ

Others: cut down branches and carried them, walking before and after Christ

Multitude of the Holy City: carried branches and sang

Nations: come forth and look upon the King (imperative)

People: come forth and look upon the King (imperative)

Jews: unbelieving and adulterous, look upon Him Whom Isaiah saw (imperative)

New Zion: chaste, rejects the condemned synagogue

[Church]: sing the hymn of the angels

Children of the Hebrews: meet Christ with palms and olive branches

Who is Jesus?

Lord

Son of David

Master of all

King of heaven

Him Whom Isaiah saw

Christ our God

Giver of Life

Savior

What does Christ do?

He hast come and shalt come again in the Name of the Lord.

He comes riding on a foal as though upon the Cherubim.

He enters Jerusalem upon a humble colt as though upon a lofty throne.

He comes in the flesh for our sake.

He weds the New Zion.

He rejects and condemns the synagogue.

Is about to go to His Passion voluntarily.

He gives all men assurance of the general resurrection by raising Lazarus yesterday.

He made the blind to see.

He enters the Holy City with His Disciples.