KOREKSI TRADISI LITURGIS PRA PASKAH DAN MINGGU SENGSARA DI GMIT: SEBUAH TINJAUAN HISTORIS-TEOLOGIS

Abstract

The Evangelical Christian Church in Timor (GMIT) has a unique tradition of celebrating the period leading up to Easter: it refers to the entire seven weeks before Easter as "Passion Week" and celebrates the Lord's Supper on Good Friday. This article critically examines both practices through historical-liturgical and theological approaches. Based on liturgical and church historical studies, it is found that the concept of "Passion Week" should refer only to the last week before Easter, while the six weeks before it constitute the Lenten season, rooted in the tradition of 40 days of fasting. Similarly, theologically and historically, the Lord's Supper should be celebrated on Easter Sunday—as a celebration of the resurrection—rather than on Good Friday. This article offers corrective recommendations for GMIT to align its liturgical practices with the historical and theological roots of the ecumenical Christian tradition.