Great Thursday

On the Great Thursday of the Passion Week, Christ’s Last Supper with the 12 Apostles was held, during which he predicted his death and Judas’ betrayal. After the supper, at prayer time, soldiers came, and after Judas’ kiss, they captured Jesus. On this day, clergymen in all Orthodox temples take the Cross out of the Altar, which is a symbol of Jesus carrying the cross to the Calvary. According to Bulgarian traditions, on this day women should not work: they are only allowed to dye the eggs. The first egg is always red, and it is thought to have healing and magical power. Women rub it over the cheeks of the kids, so that they should be healthy and red like the egg.