Maundy Thursday, the 5th day of Holy Week, celebrating the Holy Eucharist, at 7PM, with the washing of feet and stripping of the altars; also the beginning of the Great Triduum or the Great Three Days.   The heart of the church's liturgical year, begins with this liturgy and ends on Easter Day.  This means that the three days are treated as one liturgy.  Thus, Mauindy Thursday has an opening rite but no closing rite; Good Friday has no opening or closing rite; Easter Vigil has no opening rite but has a closing rite.