This day the Orthodox Church celebrates Christ’s triumphal entry into the holy city of Jerusalem. When the people heard of His coming, great crowds rushed to the city gates to meet Him. They spread their cloaks on the road and strewed palm leaves in His path. Children waved green boughs and all sang, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!’

At Palm Sunday Matins, the Priest blesses palm leaves or other appropriate branches. The palms are not only representing the branch of palms that the Israelites shook while Jesus entered on the back of a mule into Jerusalem by crying out the king of kings, our Lord. The palms received from the church represent that we who holds these palms, also receive Him in our hearts, as his children. It is a sign of acceptance of the savior in our hearts and in our lives.

PALM SUNDAY EVENING

Beginning on the evening of Palm Sunday through the evening of Holy Tuesday, the Orthodox Church observes a special service known as the Service of the Bridegroom. The name of the service is from the figure of the Bridegroom in the parable of the Ten Virgins found in Matthew 25:1-13.

In the beginning of the service, the icon of Jesus Christ suffering is placed in the middle of the solea after a solemn procession around the church. The church is the bride and the Bridegroom is Christ who is suffering and giving His Life for the salvation of the bride which is the Church, which is all those baptized in the Church and are members of His Body.

Palm Sunday is one of the twelve great feasts of the Church.

References by Archdiocese of America, Monachos and the V. Rev. Archimandrite Alexander Kile.