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Hebdomadarii

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

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a name anciently applied to monks from their weekly service. Hebdomas Magna (the great week); an appellation given anciently to the week before Easter, which was observed with great solemnity. The use of this term is thus accounted for by Chrysostom: "It was called the great week, not because it consisted of longer days or more in number than other weeks, but because at this time great things were wrought for us by our Lord.. For in this week the ancient tyranny of the devil was dissolved, death was extinct, the strong man was bound, his goods were spoiled, sin was abolished, the curse was destroyed, paradise was opened, heaven became accessible, men and angels were joined together, the middle wall of partition was broken down, the barriers were taken out of the way, the God of peace made peace between things in heaven and things on earth." See Chrysostom, Hom. in Psalms 145 sive de Hebdomade Magna; Bingham, Antiq. book 21, chapter 1, sec. 24.