A HISTORICAL APPRAISAL OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TRIDUUM LITURGY AND ITS CONNECTIVITY TO IGBO CULTURAL HERITAGE

Abstract

The Triduum has remained one of the earliest celebrations of the Church that its historical development and connectivity to some Igbo cultural heritage are worth exploring. Etymological analysis of Pascha as coming from two Latin words, passio and transitus, meaning passion and passage, respectively, gives a biblical foundation for Pascha as passio and as transitus. This establishes a single basic fact: that the event which marks the movement of the Israelites from the land of slavery in Egypt to freedom are at the foundation of the Pascha, as a single celebration of Christ’s Last Supper; His Passion/Death and Resurrection. Having given the solid base, this article will essentially be on the historical development of the Triduum, which celebrates the Last Supper; Passion/Death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ on three different days, with emphasis on Good Friday. Hence, diachronic historical method will be used to give a comprehensive and chronological history of the development of a single Paschal celebration into three-day liturgy: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. Hence, like the Jewish traditions that are at the foundation of some of the liturgical practices, there are equally links to the Igbo traditional heritage, especially with the liturgy of the Triduum.