On this day, the Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great is celebrated together with Vespers. This Liturgy commemorates the institution of the Holy Eucharist.

The 12 Gospels of Holy and Great Thursday begin with Christs discourse at the Last Supper and end with the account of His burial: how our Saviour and His disciples came to Jerusalem to celebrate His last feast of the Passover, and how He washed their feet. They tell the account of that Mystical Supper when our Lord ordained the Mystery of His Most Holy Body and Blood for the remission of sins and life everlasting. They speak of Christs instruction to the Apostles, and how He told them that they would all forsake Him that night; they speak of Peters rash promise that he would always remain faithful; of Christs vigil in the garden; of how He was seized and led away to the high priests court; of the scene in the courtyard; of Peters three-fold denial and his grief; betrayal of Judas; of the high priests mocking questions; and of how our Saviour Christ God, wearing the crown of thorns, beaten and insulted by the soldiers, was led before Pilate.

These readings relate the last instructions of Christ to His disciples, the prophecy of the drama of the Cross, the dramatic prayer of Christ and His new commandment. After the reading of the fifth Gospel comes the procession with the Crucifix around the church, while the Priest chants the Fifteenth Antiphon:

"Today is hung upon the Tree, He Who did hang the land in the midst of the waters. A Crown of thorns crowns Him Who is King of Angels. He is wrapped about with the purple of mockery Who wrapped the Heavens with clouds. He received buffetings Who freed Adam in Jordan. He was transfixed with nails Who is the Bridegroom of the Church. He was pierced with a spear Who is the Son of the Virgin. We worship Thy Passion, O Christ. Show also unto us thy glorious Resurrection."

The Faithful kneel and the Crucifix is placed in the middle of the Solea. A wreath is put on and round the cross. The clergy also kneel at front of the Cross and a solemn Hymn is chanted. At the end of the service, the Faithful in line go to venerate the Crucifix.

On Great Thursday, light and darkness, joy and sorrow are so strangely mixed. At the Upper Room and in Gethsemane, the light of the kingdom and the darkness of hell come through simultaneously. The way of life and the way of death converge. We meet them both in our journey through life.

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