Orthodox Good Friday is celebrated Friday before Easter according to the Julian calendar and falls on April 22 this year. While many Western churches follow the Gregorian calendar while celebrating events, Orthodox Churches retained the Julian calendar. Thus, they observe Good Friday and celebrate Easter at a much later date than the Western churches.
Orthodox Good Friday is not a public holiday, however, it has been observed by the Orthodox Christian Church for a while. The majority of the Orthodox community is situated in Russia, however, Orthodox Good Friday is observed all across the globe.
Some Orthodox Churches in the United States hold evening liturgies throughout Holy Week, along with special afternoon liturgies for children on Good Friday. Some Orthodox Churches begin observing it on Thursday night when the 12 sections of the Gospels are read and some churches have a Good Friday liturgy in the evening.
Many priests remove icons of Jesus Christ from the crosses and wrap them in linen to reenact the burial rites. Moreover, some Bulgarian churches allow people to pass under a table in the middle of the church to light a candle after the ringing of the Church bell.
The Council of Nicaea establishes the Easter date for churches according to the Gregorian calendar, however, Orthodox Churches choose to follow the Julian calendar. The World Council of Churches proposes a reform to solve the Easter date difference between Western and Orthodox Churches, albeit in vain.
While the day marks the same event in history, they are observed on different days as one follows the Gregorian calendar and Orthodox churches follow the Julian calendar. Families attend a church service, they read gospels and sing hymns, a strict fast is observed, and they take time for reflection and introspection.
Unless you have medical concerns, you can observe a strict fast on Orthodox Good Friday to mourn the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Attend a nearby church service with your family and partake in liturgies, gospel readings, and worship.
Orthodox Good Friday is a day of mourning and you can observe it by helping someone in need, either by donating clothes, preparing meals, or helping out at a local shelter. Many countries have their own traditions, however, the citizens of Bermuda fly kites on Good Friday to commemorate the resurrection.
In Ireland, which is a major Catholic country, the sale of any type of alcohol is banned on Good Friday. In the Philippines, volunteers are actually nailed to the cross to recreate the crucifixion of Jesus and they remain on the cross till they believe that their sins are cleansed.
Orthodox Good Friday encourages people to spend time alone and reflect on their deeds and actions, and confess if required. It can help to bring about clarity and purity in the mind and increase spiritual well-being. Orthodox Good Friday is a solemn day to commemorate the time leading up to and of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
These are presented with tenderness; we feel the depth of the boundless compassion for the suffering of the Savior as we go through this experience. It is difficult to explain; we just have to experience it. On Good Friday, we get a full picture of the redeeming suffering of the Lord beginning with the bloody sweat in the Garden of Gethsemane If you have seen Mel Gibson's movie, Passion of Christ, recall the blood oozing from Jesus instead of sweat due to the intensity of passion up to the crucifixion on Golgotha.
Towards the end of the day, we are standing at the foot of the cross listening to the conversation of the thieves.
We see the savior entrusting the care of his mother to his best loved disciple, only one to be found anywhere - the rest of them had disappeared. We hear the Lord asking for a drink and served with bitter. We experience earthquakes and the curtain in the synagogue splitting into two when Jesus dies. And finally, we stand near the cross and watch Nicodemus and Arimathea Joseph lowering the body of Jesus from the cross.
We are present as if we are standing among the quivering spectators watching all the torture of the Savior unfolding on that day. Here is how it unfolds: Morning: We start at the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus is praying.
He is betrayed and was arrested. He was taken to the High Priest for trial with false witnesses. The Chief Priest finds him guilty and sends him to Pilate for sentencing.
The morning worships begins with the questioning of Jesus by the high priest. Jesus is taken to Pilate. Pilate does not find any punishable crime. He does not want to get involved as his wife told him not to. But he was afraid of the Jews. He was relieved when he heard that Jesus may fall under the jurisdiction of Herod. He want to pass the buck! Jesus is taken to Herod. Herod does not want to get involved either. So, Jesus is taken back to Pilate.
Third Hour Pilate tried to get away from murder by having Jesus beaten. The mob is not buying it. Pilate offers to release Jesus as they normally pardon one criminal person during the high festivals.
The crowd chants for the release of Barabbas, and ask that Jesus be crucified. Pilate had no choice. He reluctantly sentences Jesus to be crucified. The soldiers put a wooden cross on the shoulders of Jesus and take him to Golgotha to be crucified. In Orthodox Liturgy this journey is represented by a procession. The Priest takes down the cross from the Golgotha.
It is stripped off all the decorations. He places the cross in a cloth and carries it on his shoulder with the tip of the cross on his right shoulder and the base held by his hands. The people follows him as they did on Jesus' journey to Golgotha. The heart breaking scene is when St. Mary cries like a dove asking Jesus why he has allowed these bad people to do these to you?
She cannot control herself. May be she remembers what Simeon prophesied when she took Jesus to the church on Ma'altho that a spear will penetrate her heart. The priest also reminds people that Jesus didn't have any energy to carry the heavy cross and the soldiers asked Simon, Cyrenian, to help Jesus carry the cross. Note: The procession conducted in this occasion is very different from the other processions in our liturgy. Visually and verbally it may look similar to a casual observer.
For example, the procession starts from the south door of the church and moves clockwise to the west, and finally enters the church by the north door. There the similarity ends. In all our processions we used symbols and sounds to show the respect to the triune God and the presence of angels. This procession, however, depicts the most sorrowful moments of the passion week.
When Jesus was taken to Calvary, the Jews and Satan showed no respect to the divinity of Jesus; he was insulted and mocked. So, in this procession, no symbols showing respect to the trinity will be used. You will notice that only the priest who carries the wooden cross covered in the cloth will be wearing the vestments. Deacons or other assisting priests may wear their black vestment kuppayam. No decorations that show respect to the divinity or presence of angels will be carried in the procession.
The Madbaha depicting heaven will be kept closed during this procession. After the procession, all the lights will be turned off depicting the darkness that surrounded the earth when Jesus was on the cross.
Only two unlighted candles will be placed on either sides of the cross. Remember, Jesus was sinless. He had done all these so that we can be saved. He was the lamb that took away all the sins of the world and got slaughtered. This ends the third hour. Usually there is a break at this time.
Some people stays in the church and sings hymns and meditates. At the end of the break, we may have a short reflective talk based on the time. This will be followed by the Noon Prayers. At Golgotha, Jesus was crucified in the midst of two thieves.
Ninth Hour On the ninth hour service, there is a reflection of the conversation between the thief at the left and the one at the right. The thief at the right asks Jesus to remember him when He comes in His glory. Jesus tells him that he will be with him in paradise. It is as simple as that. Ask and you shall be given. It is all paid for. Jesus asks for a drink and then dies. The soldiers come to check if they have died.
To be sure, they plunge a sphere on to Jesus' heart. Blood and water pours out from the wound. Jesus was dead. Sometimes there is a short break here followed by a short reflective speech if there is time available. Some faithful stays in the church and meditates by singing songs. Veneration of the Cross This is a full service. The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America observes with the Passion of the Christ, his final moments on the cross—a lengthy and heavy service. Greeks do not do any chores on Good Friday in order to honor the day of mourning.
The procession of the Epitaphios of Christ carries a symbolic coffin through the community, which is later decorated with flowers and other accessories. Flags are also flown at half-mast. Depending on their proximity, some Orthodox Christians celebrate the holiday in Jerusalem.
Travel Science. Low Carb Diet. Caffeine In Drinks. Holiday History. Contact Us. Orthodox Good Friday This celebration of Good Friday by the Orthodox Christian church observes the religious day according to the Julian calendar, which takes place after most other celebrations of Easter in April or May.
After the later, Jesus was arrested and jailed. Royal Hours takes place before noon, where observers gather for a prayer celebration, scripture readings, and hymns. In the afternoon, the Vespers of the Taking-Down from the cross takes place to honor when Jesus was taken down from the cross.
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