In those days the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, took Jesus to Pilate, and began to accuse him, saying, "We have found that he corrupts our people, and forbids us to give tribute to Caesar, calling himself Christ the King." Pilate asked Him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" And he answered and said unto him, Thou speakest. Pilate said to the chief priests and the people, "I find no fault in this man." But they insisted, saying that He was stirring up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee to this place. And when Pilate heard of Galileo, he asked, "Is he a Galilean?" And when he knew that he was from the province of Herod, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem in those days. When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see Him, because he had heard much about Him, and hoped to see some miracle from Him, and he asked Him many questions, but He answered him nothing. And the chief priests and scribes stood and accused Him mightily. But Herod and his soldiers, having despised Him and mocked Him, dressed Him in bright clothes and sent Him back to Pilate. And on that day Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, for they had formerly been at enmity with one another. And Pilate called together the chief priests, and the rulers, and the people, and said to them, "You have brought this man to me, as a perverter of the people; and behold, I have examined in your presence, and have not found this man guilty of any of the things of which you accuse him; and Herod also, for I sent Him to him; and nothing was found in Him worthy of death; therefore, having punished him, I will let him go. And he needed to release one prisoner for the holiday. But all the people began to cry out: Death to Him! but let Barabbas go to us. Barabbas was put in prison for the indignation and murder he had committed in the city. Pilate raised his voice again, wanting to let Jesus go. But they cried out: crucify Him, crucify Him! And he said unto them for the third time, What evil hath he done? I found nothing worthy of death in Him; therefore, having punished him, I will let him go. But they continued with a great cry demanding that He be crucified; and he prevailed over their cry and the chief priests. And Pilate decided to be at their request, and released him who had been put in prison for rebellion and murder, whom they asked; and Jesus was delivered up to their will. And when they led Him away, they took a certain Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the field, and laid a cross on him, so that he might carry after Jesus. And a great multitude of people and women followed Him, weeping and weeping for Him. And Jesus turned to them, and said, Daughters of Jerusalem! weep not for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children, for the days are coming in which they will say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that have not begotten, and the breasts that have not suckled. Then they will begin to say to the mountains: Fall on us! and to the hills: cover us! For if this is done with a verdant tree, then what will happen to a dry one? They also led two evildoers with Him to death. And when they came to a place called Skull, they crucified Him and the evildoers, one on the right and the other on the left. And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them! Forgive them, for they know not what they do. And it was about the sixth hour of the day, and darkness fell over all the land until the ninth hour: and the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in the middle. Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, Father, forgive them. into Thy hands I commend My spirit. And when he had said this, he gave up his spirit. And the centurion, seeing what was happening, glorified God and said, "Truly this man was a righteous man." And all the people who had come to this spectacle, seeing what was happening, returned, beating their breasts. Yet all that knew Him, and the women who followed Him out of Galilee, stood afar off and looked at it. Then there was a man named Joseph, a member of the council, a good and truthful man, who had no part in the council and in their work; from Arimathea, a city of Judea, who was also waiting for the Kingdom of God, came to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; and having taken him down, he wrapped him in a shroud, and laid him in a coffin hewn out of the rock, where no one had yet been laid. That day was Friday, and Saturday was coming. And the women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed and looked at the tomb, and how His body was laid; and when they returned, they prepared spices and ointments; and on the Sabbath they remained at rest according to the commandment.

Luke 23:1b–34a; 44–56

Thursday of Cheese Week.

The Gospel of Luke, conceived 111

In those days, two evildoers were also led with Jesus to death. And when they came to a place called Skull, they crucified Him and the evildoers, one on the right and the other on the left. And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them! Forgive them, for they know not what they do. And they divided His garments, casting lots. And the people stood and watched. And the rulers mocked with them, saying, "I saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ, the elect of God. And the soldiers also mocked Him, coming up and offering Him vinegar, saying, If Thou art the King of the Jews, save Thyself. And there was an inscription over Him, written in Greek, Roman, and Hebrew words: This is the King of the Jews. One of the hanged evildoers cursed Him and said: If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us. The other, on the contrary, rebuked him and said: "Do you not fear God, when you yourself are condemned to the same thing?" and we are justly condemned, because we have received what is worthy according to our works, and He has done nothing evil. And he said unto Jesus, Remember me, O Lord, when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in paradise. And it was about the sixth hour of the day, and darkness fell over all the land until the ninth hour: and the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in the middle. Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, Father, forgive them. into Thy hands I commend My spirit. And when he had said this, he gave up his spirit. And the centurion, seeing what was happening, glorified God and said, "Truly this man was a righteous man." And all the people who had come to this spectacle, seeing what was happening, returned, beating their breasts. Yet all that knew Him, and the women who followed Him out of Galilee, stood afar off and looked at it.

Luke 23:32–49

Great Friday, 8 Gospel at Matins.

Good Friday, at 6 o'clock.

The Gospel of Luke, conceived 112

In those days, on the first day of the week, very early, the women came to the tomb, carrying the prepared aromas, and with them some others; but they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. And when they went in, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And when they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men appeared before them in resplendent garments. And when they were afraid, and bent their faces to the ground, they said to them, Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here: He is risen; remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again. And they remembered His words; and having returned from the tomb, they proclaimed all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. These were Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and others with them, who told these things to the Apostles. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb, and stooped down and saw only the swaddling clothes lying there, and went back, marveling within himself at what had happened.

Luke 24:1–12

The Sunday Gospel 4.

The Gospel of Luke, conceived 113

In those days, Peter arose, ran to the tomb, and bending down, saw only the swaddling clothes lying there, and went back, marveling in himself at what had happened. On the same day two of them went to a village sixty stades from Jerusalem, called Emmaus; and they talked among themselves about all these events. And as they were talking and reasoning among themselves, Jesus Himself drew nigh and went with them. But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not recognize Him.