Orthodox Good Friday
Holy (or Good) Friday is the Christian celebration of the death of Jesus Christ prior to his resurrection on Pascha or Easter.
Holy (or Good) Friday is the Christian celebration of the death of Jesus Christ prior to his resurrection on Pascha or Easter.
Renee Harleston
Reviewer URLName: Orthodox Good Friday, Holy Friday
Holy (or Good) Friday is the Christian celebration of the death of Jesus Christ prior to his resurrection on Pascha or Easter.
Origin
In the Christian tradition, Jesus Christ died on the cross on Holy Friday for the sins of mankind after a series of tribulations, including being hectored by a large crowd and made to wear a crown of thorns. He was nailed to the cross by the Romans and left to die with other criminals.
Good Friday is a solemn holiday dedicated to this physical suffering and death of Jesus Christ. This differs from the celebratory nature of Pascha or Easter, when Jesus was resurrected.
When it is observed
Eastern Orthodox faiths use the Julian calendar to calculate religious holidays. Good Friday is calculated relative to the date of Pascha, or Easter. Good Friday is observed the Friday prior to Easter.
Origin
The celebration of Holy Friday begins on Thursday prior to the holiday and begins with Matins, a 12-part religious service, on Friday. The priest reads Bible passages beginning with the Last Supper (the last meal Jesus ate with his apostles) through his burial in the tomb where he would lay prior to his resurrection.
Friday begins an all-day religious service where Jesus' final moments are reenacted by the church. Many fast on Good Friday.
As a solemn holiday, Good Friday is one of the only religious holidays where it is not traditional to receive the eucharist.