Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center Great Feast of Holy and Glorious Palm Sunday - Shaneeneh

According to the liturgical books, the olive and palm branches should be blessed at Orthros. Orthos is the Morning Prayer that is properly celebrated before the Divine Liturgy.

These two Blessing of Palm and Olive Branches text is in two books. These books are published by the Eparchy of Newton (Our Lady of the Annunciation (Al Bisharah) in Roslindale, MA), United States. These books are available from Sophia Press, Eparchy of Newton (Our Lady of the Annunciation (Al Bisharah) in Roslindale, Massachusetts, United States).

Byzantine Melkite Euchologion
Lenten Triodion, Volume 4, Weeks 5 and 6 of Great Lent

The Gospel according to Saint Matthew, chapter 21, verses 1-17 is read.

At this point the olive and palm branches are blessed. In most cases, this is done just before or after the Liturgy: in those cases, go immediately to the Idomela after Psalm 50.

The priest incenses the palms crosswise, then prays:

Priest: Let us pray to the Lord.

Response: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: Lord our God, You are seated upon the throne of the Cherubim, and by Your sublime power, You have sent Your only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, to save the world by His crucifixion, burial and resurrection. And when He entered Jerusalem to suffer the crucifixion by His own free will, the people sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death took branches of olive and palm trees as the symbols of victory and proclaimed beforehand His Resurrection.

Therefore, O Lord, as we imitate these same people, preserve and keep us while we carry in our hands palms and branches of trees on this vigil of the Feast. And like the crowds and children who shouted to You, "Hosanna!" make us worthy through our praises, chants and spiritual hymns, to see the glorious Resurrection on the third day by the same Jesus Christ our Lord, with whom You are blessed together with Your all-holy good and life-giving Spirit, now and always and forever and ever.

R: Amen.

Then the priest sprinkles the palms with holy water, saying: These palms are blessed by the grace of the all-holy Spirit, through the sprinkling with holy water, in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

R: Amen. (Three times)

When the olive and palm branches are blessed after the Gospel during the Divine Liturgy

When the olive and palm branches are blessed after the Gospel during the Divine Liturgy, the people come forward to kiss the Gospel Book after the prayer, "O God, save Your people..."
Then, the priest distributes the olive and palm branches to the people. The people hold the olive and palm branches in their hands with lighted candles until the end of the Divine Liturgy.

Where are the Olive and Palm Branches Placed

The custom is that the olive and palm branches are placed near the ikon of the . Some times the flowers are made into a round wreath. Some times the flowers are made into a rectangular border for the ikon. Some times the flowers are placed into vases. Sometimes the flowers are placed below the ikon of the Dormition of The Theotokos in vases.

Who Provides the Flowers

Sometimes, the parish provides the flowers. Sometimes, the people provide the flowers for their families.

The Flowers are Taken Home

The custom is that the flowers are taken home by the people to remember the sweet-smelling flowers found in the empty tomb when the Apostles took Holy and Glorious Apostle Thomas there to say farewell to The Theotokos.

Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center
Martha Liles
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Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center is dedicated to my cousins: Bucky (Richard C. Liles), Shirley (Shirley Jean Liles Buck), and Donna (Donna Bertha Liles Campbell). Bucky fell asleep in the Lord on Dec. 12, 2000, Shirley fell asleep in the Lord on Nov. 8, 2001, and Donna fell asleep in the Lord on March 9, 2020.
O God of all spirits and of all flesh, who have destroyed death, overcome the devil, and given life to the world: grant, O Lord, to the souls of your servants Bucky and Shirley, who has departed from this life, that it may rest in a place of light, in a place of happiness, in a place of peace, where there is no pain, no grief, no sighing. And since You are a gracious God and the Lover of Mankind, forgive him/her every sin he/she has committed by thought, or word, or deed, for there is not a man who lives and does not sin : You alone are without sin, your righteousness is everlasting, and your word is true. You are the Resurrection and the Life, and the repose of your departed servants Bucky and Shirley. O Christ our God, and we send up glory to You, together with your eternal Father and your all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and always and for ages upon ages. Amen.

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