Book of Alternative Services

Wednesday, April 1^st, 2026

Wednesday in Holy Week (Red)
Day of discipline and self-denial

Morning Prayer: Ps 55; Lam 2:1-9; 2 Cor 1:23—2:11; Coll 303

Holy Eucharist: Propers 303; Is 50:4-9a; Ps 70; Heb 12:1-3; Jn 13:21-32; Preface of Holy Week

Evening Prayer: Ps 74; (Jer 17:5-10, 14-17); Mk 12:1-11; Coll 303

Tenebrae: The Office of Shadows: The name "Tenebrae" (the Latin word for "darkness" or "shadows") has for centuries been applied to the ancient monastic night and early morning services (Mattins and Lauds) of the last three days of Holy Week, which in medieval times came to be celebrated on the preceding evenings. Apart from the chant of the Lamentations (in which each verse is introduced by a letter of the Hebrew alphabet) and readings from the Treatise of Saint Augustine on the Psalms, the most conspicuous feature of the service is the gradual extinguishing of candles and other lights in the church until only a single candle, considered a symbol of our Lord, remains. Toward the end of the service this candle is hidden, typifying the apparent victory of the forces of evil. At the very end, a loud noise is made, symbolizing the earthquake at the time of the Resurrection (Matthew 28:2), the hidden candle is restored to its place, and by its light all depart in silence. By drawing upon material from each of the former three offices of Tenebrae, this service provides an extended meditation upon, and a prelude to, the events in our Lord’s life between the Last Supper and the Resurrection. Many parishes use a Tenebrae hearse—a triangular candlestick which holds fifteen candles—specially for this service. The Episcopal Church provides a service of Tenebrae for the Wednesday in Holy Week in The Book of Occasional Services on p. 65 (available online).