On Great and Holy Wednesday, we commemorate the sinful woman who anointed the Lord’s feet with fragrant oil—a powerful act of humility and love offered just before His saving Passion.
This sacred moment was honored during the Bridegroom Service on the evening of Tuesday, 15 April 2025, at Holy Resurrection Cathedral, in the Holy Diocese of Jinja. The service featured penitential hymns that vividly expressed the brokenness and repentance of the sinful woman, inviting the faithful into a moment of deep reflection.
During the Lauds (Praises), Judas Iscariot is contrasted with the woman. While she knelt and kissed the Master’s feet, Judas, though a disciple, was already preparing for the kiss of betrayal. The hymn powerfully presents the contrast between selfless repentance and selfish intent.
In his homily, Bishop Silvester encouraged the faithful to pursue a life of purity and spiritual vigilance. “Even if you fall into sin,” he said, “repent with brokenness—and then fight to stay out of temptation.” He also referenced Judas’ concern about the anointing, saying: “Why was this fragrant oil not sold, and the money given to the poor?”
The hierarch reflected on how Judas’ words echo in today’s world. “People still say similar things,” he noted. “Why build beautiful churches when people are poor? Why decorate chalices or sanctuaries?” He cautioned that such remarks, while appearing compassionate, often come from a place of envy or spiritual coldness.
The Penitential Hymn of Kassiani: Reflecting on the Sinful Woman
At the Doxastikon of the Aposticha, a deeply penitential hymn composed by Kassiani, a 9th-century Byzantine nun, is presented to us. Known for its profound emotion and poetic depth, this hymn reflects the repentance and devotion of the harlot who anointed Jesus. Kassiani’s words offer a powerful image of humility and longing for divine mercy, drawing the faithful into the heart of Holy Wednesday’s spiritual reflection.
This hymn is traditionally chanted on Holy Tuesday evening during Bridegroom Matins and is repeated during the Presanctified Liturgy on Holy Wednesday morning.
The hymn is a poetic meditation on the Gospel story (Luke 7:36–50), written from the perspective of the sinful woman. It beautifully blends sorrow, repentance, and longing for forgiveness, offering a reflection on the contrast between human frailty and divine mercy.
A particularly moving line from the hymn says: “I shall embrace and kiss Your pure feet, and wipe them again with the locks of my hair, those feet, whose sound at twilight in Paradise echoed in Eve’s ears, and she hid in fear…”
The hymn is usually chanted slowly, in Plagal Tone 4 (Tone 8), in a darkened church. Its mournful tone and poetic depth often move the congregation to tears.
The Hymn of Kassiani is more than music—it is a moment of sacred intimacy with Christ, inviting every soul to humility, repentance, and hope. On Holy Wednesday, it remains one of the most moving and personal moments of Holy Week.