Passion week is of ten incorrectly identified with Holy week.
Of the reformed churches, the Church of England alone includes Palm Sunday in the Holy Week celebrations.
Penitents, therefore (as a rule), were excused the painful ordeal of public humiliation, but performed their penances in secret; only at the end they were publicly reconciled by the bishop. This was at Rome and Milan appointed to be done on the Thursday before Easter, and gradually became a regular practice, the same penitent year after year doing penance during Lent, and being publicly restored to communion in Holy Week.
When we came to Holy Week I asked for a few volunteers to become cantors and found 12 volunteers.
In Rome and Alexandria, and even in Jerusalem, Holy Week was included in Lent and the whole fast lasted but six weeks, Saturdays, however, not being exempt.
