Washing Feet of Apostles. Maundy, or the Washing of the Feet, or Pedelavium, is a religious rite observed by various Christian denominations. The name is taken from the first few Latin words sung at the ceremony of the washing of the feet, Mandatum novum do vobis ut diligatis invicem sicut dilexi vos, and from the Latin form of the commandment of Christ that we should imitate His loving humility in the washing of the feet. The term mandatum, therefore, was applied to the rite of foot-washing on this day of the Christian Holy Week called Maundy Thursday. John 13:1-17 recounts Jesus' performance of this act. In verses 13:14-17, He instructs His disciples: If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them; John 13:14-17 Many denominations therefore observe the liturgical washing of the feet on Maundy Thursday of Holy Week. Moreover, for some denominations, foot-washing was an example, a pattern. Many groups throughout Church history and many modern denominations have practiced foot washing as a church ordinance including Adventists, Anabaptists, Baptists, Free Will Baptists, and Pentecostals. The origin of the word Maundy has at least two possibilities: Through Middle English and Old French mande, from Latin mandatum. From the Latin mendicare, Old French mendier, and English maund, which means to beg or a small basket held out by maunders as they maunded. The root of this practice appears to be found in the hospitality customs of ancient civilizations, especially where sandals were the chief footwear. A host would provide water for guests to wash their feet, provide a servant to wash the feet of the guests or even serve the guests by washing their feet. This is mentioned in several places in the Old Testament of the Bible, as well as other religious and historical documents. A typical Eastern host might bow, greet, and kiss his guest, then offer water to allow the guest to wash his feet or have servants do it. Though the wearing of sandals might necessitate washing the feet, the water was also offered as a courtesy even when shoes were worn. I Samuel 25:41 is the first biblical passage where an honored person offers to wash feet as a sign of humility. In John 12, Mary of Bethany anointed Jesus' feet presumably in gratitude for raising her brother Lazarus from the dead, and in preparation for his death and burial. The Bible records washing of the saint's feet being practised by the primitive church in I Timothy 5:10 perhaps in reference to piety, submission and/or humility. There are several names for this practice: maundy, foot washing, washing the saints' feet, pedilavium, and mandatum. The foot washing, described in the following verses of the Gospel of John, concerns with the Latin title of Servus servorum dei, which was historically reserved to the Bishops and to the Pope, also called the Bishop of Rome. Jesus Christ God said to the Twelve to be Servant of the Servant of God, and this calling to the Imitation of Christ has been firstly extended to all the bishops of the Church as the direct successors of the Apostles. The Apostles were received the Holy Spirit on the day of the Pentecost, for the evangelization and salvation of all the human kind. This belief is common at least to the Catholics and to some denominations of the Western Christianity as well as for Eastern Christian practices. A main difference is the Filioque doctrine, rejected by the Western Christians, for which the Holy Spirit God proceed uniquely from God the Father: Western Christians subsequently believe that the Apostles got the Holy Spirit with his seven gifts from God the Father, and all the bishops onward, like their successors. However, this belief doesn't impact the words of Christ to be the Servant of the Servant of God. It is also recalled in the Latin text of the Magnificat, for which God regarded the lowliness of His Most Blessed Virgin Mother and, by effect of that, magnified her.