Verses:
He Who by His word created the heavens sat upon a dumb beast,
delivering mankind from becoming like the irrational animals.

We celebrate the glorious and most radiant feast of the Palms for the following reason. After the raising of Lazarus from the dead, many who saw what had taken place believed in Christ; therefore the Jewish council decreed to put both Christ and Lazarus to death. Jesus withdrew, avoiding their malice, while they resolved to kill Him at the feast of Pascha, though for a time He was permitted to escape them. Six days before the Pascha, as the Evangelist John says, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus, who had been dead, was. There they prepared a supper for Him, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with Him, while his sister Mary anointed the feet of Christ with myrrh.

On the following day the Lord sent His disciples to bring a she-ass and a colt. And He Whose throne is heaven, having mounted the colt, entered into Jerusalem. Some spread their garments before Him along the way, while others cut branches from palm trees and spread them on the road. The Hebrew children, both those who went before and those who followed, holding branches in their hands, cried aloud: Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord, the King of Israel! This took place because the Holy Spirit moved their tongues to glorify and praise Christ. By the branches, that is, the palms, they signified Christ’s victory over death, for among the Hebrews the word “vaia” denotes a budding or living branch. It was the custom to honor victors in contests or wars by accompanying them in solemn procession with branches of evergreen trees. And the young (unbroken) colt upon which Christ sat mystically signified us, the Gentile nations; for having subdued them under His dominion, He came to be called the Victor and Conqueror, the King of all the world.

Of this feast the Prophet Zechariah foretold: Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; behold, thy King cometh unto thee, sitting upon a donkey and upon a colt, the foal of a beast of burden (Zech. 9:9); and likewise David said concerning the children: Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast Thou perfected praise (Ps. 8:2).

And when Christ entered Jerusalem, the Gospel says, the whole city was stirred (Matt. 21:10), and the people, incited by the chief priests out of envy, sought to kill Him. But He withdrew, hiding Himself, and when He appeared, He spoke to them in parables.

O Christ our God, by Thine ineffable mercy make us victors over senseless passions; vouchsafe us to behold Thy glorious victory over death, Thy radiant and life-giving Resurrection, and have mercy on us, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.