Holy Monday Trivia Quiz

Answer: Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Holy Monday falls the next day, during Holy Week, which also includes Holy Tuesday, Holy Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday.

In 1943, Holy Monday fell on April 19th. This was the latest date of any Holy Monday in the 20th century. The earliest Holy Monday fell in any year was on March 17th in 1913.

Answer: The third day of Holy Week

In the Eastern Orthodox church, Holy Week begins with Lazarus Saturday rather than Palm Sunday, so Holy Monday is actually the third rather than the second day of Holy Week. Lazarus Saturday commemorates the day when Jesus rose Lazarus (the brother of Mary and Martha) from the dead as depicted in John chapter 11.

Answer: Fig tree

This event is recounted in all three synoptic Gospels but not in John. In the Old Testament, the fig tree represents Israel. As it was "not the season for figs" anyway, this curse is typically viewed as a parable. In the Eastern church, the event is commemorated on Holy Monday and is said to refer to the fate of those who do not bear the fruit of repentance

Answer: doves

The story of the cleansing of the temple is told in all three of the synoptic gospels and early in the Gospel of John, though some scholars believe John's version refers to a different incident. Jesus drove out the money changers with a whip and overturned their tables. The money changers converted Greek and Roman money to Jewish shekels and were reputed to have extorted the people with their exchange rate.

Jesus also overthrew the seats of those who sold doves. In Leviticus, two doves were allowed as a sin offering by those who could not afford the preferred offering of a lamb. This suggests that Jesus was specifically reacting to the exploitation of the poor, who may have been overcharged by the dove sellers. Christ rebukes the moneychangers and dove sellers for turning the "house of prayer" into a "den of thieves" (in Matthew) or a "house of trade" (in John).

Answer: He refused to tell them by whose authority

As Jesus often does when put on the spot by the Pharisees, he escaped their verbal snare through verbal trickery of his own. He answered their question with a question: "I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things.

The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men?" This question put the chief priest and elders in a bind: "If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him? But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet." So in the end, they answered, "We cannot tell." And so Jesus replied, "Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things." (Matthew 21:23-27)

Answer: Mary the sister of Martha

This occurs in John 12:1-9, which is the Gospel reading for Holy Monday in the Revised Common Lectionary used by the Anglican, Methodist, and Lutheran churches.

In Bethany, "a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume" (John 12:2-3, NIV).

Judas protests the expense involved, saying the money could have been used in support of the poor instead, and Jesus rebukes him, saying, "Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always" (John 12:7-8).

Answer: With a purple robe and a crown of thorns

This icon is known as "Christ as Bridegroom" or "Christ the Bridegroom" and depicts Jesus wearing the purple robe and crown of thorns that were put on him to mock him prior to his crucifixion. The Matins service held during Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of Holy Week in the Orthodox Church is known as the "Bridegroom Service." Jesus is metaphorically regarded to be the bridegroom of the Church.

Answer: James Montgomery

The hymn is included in The United Methodist Hymnal and the Episcopal Hymnal as a suggestion for the Monday of Holy Week and begins:

"Hail to the Lord's Anointed,
great David's greater Son!
Hail in the time appointed,
his reign on earth begun!
He comes to break oppression,
to set the captive free;
to take away transgression,
and rule in equity."

James Montgomery was born in 1771 and raised in the Moravian church, which is one of the oldest Protestant denominations in the world, originating in the Bohemian Reformation of the 15th century. Montgomery was a poet and the author of "The Wanderer of Switzerland". He has come to be associated with Christians of various denominations and was a supporter of both The Bible Society and missions. He wrote dozens of hymns, including "Hail to the Lord's Anointed".

Answer: false

Rather, Clean Monday is the first day of Great Lent in the Orthodox church and falls seven weeks before Easter. There are 40 days in Great Lent counting Sundays. The Western church does not count Lent in Sundays and begins its Lent on Ash Wednesday. The Orthodox church refers to the Monday through Wednesday of Holy Week as "Great and Holy."

Answer: El Greco

The oil painting is now housed in the National Gallery in London. Artist Doménikos Theotokópoulos, who is widely known as "The Greek" (El Greco) painted it. He was of Greek origin but was a prominent figure in the Spanish Renaissance.