The Сhurch celebrates Good Friday

The painting by V. Vereshchagin "Night on Golgotha". Photo: Wikimedia

On April 18, 2025, Orthodox Christians celebrate Great Friday – one of the most significant and sorrowful days in the church calendar. On this day, the suffering, crucifixion, and death of Jesus Christ are remembered.

According to the Gospel narrative, this day marks the last hours of the Savior's earthly life. After a night trial before the high priests Annas and Caiaphas, Jesus was brought in the morning to the Roman governor Pontius Pilate. Although Pilate found no guilt in Jesus, under pressure from the crowd and the high priests, he sentenced Him to crucifixion.

Christ was subjected to scourging and humiliation: a crown of thorns was placed on His head, He was dressed in a scarlet robe, slapped, and mocked, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" Then Jesus was forced to carry His cross to Mount Golgotha, where He was crucified between two robbers.

According to the Gospel, at noon, when Christ was already on the cross, darkness covered the earth and lasted until three o'clock in the afternoon. At that moment, Jesus cried out, "My God, My God! Why have You forsaken Me?" and then said, "It is finished!" and "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." After this, He breathed His last.

At the moment of Christ's death, there was an earthquake, the veil of the Jerusalem temple was torn in two from top to bottom, and many righteous people were raised from the dead.

In the evening of that same day, Joseph of Arimathea, a secret disciple of Jesus, received permission from Pilate to take the body of the Savior down from the cross. Together with Nicodemus, they wrapped Jesus’ body in linens with spices and laid it in a new tomb, hewn in the rock.

Services of Great Friday

Today, special services are held in the churches. In the morning, the Royal Hours are celebrated, during which prophecies about the sufferings of the Messiah and Gospel narratives about the Passion of Christ are read.

In the afternoon, Vespers is served with the procession of the Shroud – an image of the Savior lying in the tomb. The Shroud is taken out of the altar and placed in the center of the church. After the procession, the faithful approach it with reverence for veneration.

In the evening, the Matins of Great Saturday is celebrated with the rite of the burial of the Shroud, during which a cross procession around the church with the Shroud takes place.

On Great Friday, the strictest fast is observed. Traditionally, many believers completely abstain from food until the Shroud is taken out.

Great Friday precedes the celebration of Easter, which this year falls on Sunday, April 20.

Earlier, the UOJ described the events of Holy Week day by day.

Read also