Queen Elizabeth's Maundy ceremony took on a distinctly ecumenical flavour, writes Patsy McGarry.
MAUNDY. FROM mandatum, meaning command in Latin - from the command given by Jesus to his disciples on Holy Thursday: that they should love one another.
Yesterday's Maundy Thursday was "as momentous as any in the history of this ancient place," said Church of Ireland primate Archbishop Alan Harper at a lunch in Armagh to honour Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.
He presented the queen with a replica of the Bell of St Patrick as a memento of her visit to Ireland's ecclesiastical capital.
Among the approximately 80 guests at the lunch were the Catholic primate Cardinal Seán Brady, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church Rev Dr John Finlay, President of the Methodist Church Rev Roy Cooper, Northern Ireland First Minister the Rev Ian Paisley and Northern Secretary Shaun Woodward.
Earlier all four main church leaders had taken part in the Maundy Thursday service in the nearby Church of Ireland Cathedral of St Patrick with the queen, supreme governor of the Church of England, and her husband Prince Philip.
Also taking part were the former Church of Ireland primate Archbishop Robin Eames and all Church of Ireland bishops with dioceses.
The service was "one other step in the process of normalisation" of relations within these islands, Cardinal Brady said later. He was "pleased to take part."
Archbishop Harper said that the service had been "deliberately ecumenical. It wouldn't have happened without the agreement of the others' [ church leaders] to take part. It was what the queen wanted . . . for it to be a genuine engagement with the whole community". It was also why it was decided to choose Maundy coin recipients from across the denominations.
There were also representatives of the Muslim, Jewish and Hindu communities at the service.
Archbishop Harper explained that the service had particular meaning for the queen.
"As a believer, she does take it very seriously. It is one of the key points of the year for her, when she recommits herself to the service of her people."
Yesterday's had been "a powerful event", he said. It had been in the making for the best part of a year and had been first discussed at the Palace in London during Holy Week of last year.
During the ceremony the queen presented the symbolic Maundy coins to 82 men and 82 women from across the community who were distinguished for their service to people in Northern Ireland.
One recipient was Moyra Mitchell, who sat in a wheelchair.
The queen handed her the purses and thanked her for her work. Ms Mitchell is founder of the Fold agency which has provided 4,200 sheltered homes in Northern Ireland.
She felt privileged to be there, she said. Her husband, Rev George Mitchell was "very proud".
The queen said nothing to Tom Montgomery, Scouts Commissioner from Ballymena, so he confessed to feeling somewhat frustrated.
He couldn't tell the queen how well she looked as she did not speak first. Protocol dictated she must, before he could say anything.
Not so inhibited was Good Shepherd Sr Clare O'Mahony. She is from Inchydonny in West Cork. "I took my moment and I thanked her for coming," she said. "She smiled and said 'thank you very much' ."
Since 1966 Sr Clare has served as a social worker and with youth in the Catholic Down and Connor diocese. She still speaks 'Cork'. "I go back regularly to top up," she said.
One of the recipients of Maundy coins from the queen was 90-year-old Leslie Price. Shortly, he is to marry Rosemary Rooke, who is in her 80s.
Rosemary is mother of Dean Patrick Rooke of St Patrick's Cathedral Armagh, who will officiate at their wedding ceremony.
There were two readings during the service. Prince Philip read from John's account of the washing of the feet at that first Holy Thursday.
Cardinal Brady read from Matthew, ". . . I tell you truly, whatever you did for one of these least of my brothers, you did for me".
Prayers were read by Rev Dr Finlay and Rev Cooper.
At the end all four church leaders imparted blessings.