This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/7305675.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Historic first for Maundy service | Historic first for Maundy service |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Queen has broken with centuries of tradition by attending the first Maundy Thursday service to be held outside England and Wales. | |
| It was held in St Patrick's Church of Ireland Cathedral in Armagh, Ireland's ecclesiastical capital. | It was held in St Patrick's Church of Ireland Cathedral in Armagh, Ireland's ecclesiastical capital. |
| The leaders of the four main churches on the island attended the traditional alms-giving ceremony. | The leaders of the four main churches on the island attended the traditional alms-giving ceremony. |
| It marked the final day of a three-day visit by the Queen accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh to Northern Ireland. | It marked the final day of a three-day visit by the Queen accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh to Northern Ireland. |
| Representatives of the Jewish, Muslim and Hindu faiths have also attended the service, at which the Catholic Primate, Cardinal Sean Brady, and the Duke of Edinburgh gave readings. | Representatives of the Jewish, Muslim and Hindu faiths have also attended the service, at which the Catholic Primate, Cardinal Sean Brady, and the Duke of Edinburgh gave readings. |
| Maundy Thursday has been celebrated since the earliest days of the Christian Church. | Maundy Thursday has been celebrated since the earliest days of the Christian Church. |
| Last Supper | Last Supper |
| The word Maundy is derived from Latin and refers to Christ's commandment at the Last Supper to love one another, before he washed the feet of his disciples. | The word Maundy is derived from Latin and refers to Christ's commandment at the Last Supper to love one another, before he washed the feet of his disciples. |
| The tradition of the sovereign giving alms to the poor stretches back to at least the 12th Century and there are continuous records from the reign of King Edward 1. | The tradition of the sovereign giving alms to the poor stretches back to at least the 12th Century and there are continuous records from the reign of King Edward 1. |
| From the middle ages, the number of recipients mirrors the sovereign's years. | From the middle ages, the number of recipients mirrors the sovereign's years. |
| The Queen presented Maundy Thursday alms purses to 164 people - 82 men and 82 women. | The Queen presented Maundy Thursday alms purses to 164 people - 82 men and 82 women. |
| These people came from all over Northern Ireland and were deemed to have made a significant contribution to church or community life. | These people came from all over Northern Ireland and were deemed to have made a significant contribution to church or community life. |
| The Queen is presenting Maundy Thursday alms purses to 164 people | The Queen is presenting Maundy Thursday alms purses to 164 people |
| The distribution of the alms came in two parts. The red purse contained an allowance in place of food and clothing given in bygone times. | The distribution of the alms came in two parts. The red purse contained an allowance in place of food and clothing given in bygone times. |
| In the white purse there were Maundy coins, as many pence as the Queen is years old (82). | In the white purse there were Maundy coins, as many pence as the Queen is years old (82). |
| The coins are legal tender, but because they are so rare, are sought after by collectors. | The coins are legal tender, but because they are so rare, are sought after by collectors. |
| Pupils from local schools, who are known as Maundy children, have attended to the Queen. | Pupils from local schools, who are known as Maundy children, have attended to the Queen. |
| The Chapel Royal Choir and the choir of St Patrick's Cathedral led the worship. | The Chapel Royal Choir and the choir of St Patrick's Cathedral led the worship. |
| Earlier on Thursday, the Queen was guest of honour at a reception in the Royal School Armagh held to celebrate the 400th Anniversary of the five Royal Schools of Ulster. | Earlier on Thursday, the Queen was guest of honour at a reception in the Royal School Armagh held to celebrate the 400th Anniversary of the five Royal Schools of Ulster. |
| Her Majesty met the headmasters and chairmen of the five schools and about 130 guests. | Her Majesty met the headmasters and chairmen of the five schools and about 130 guests. |