Good Friday

On the Good Friday Christ was crucified.

"Crucifixion"
Romanian Icon, Nicula naive style (early 19th c.)


"Now when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying: "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" which is translated "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last. So when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, "Truly this Man was the Son of God!" (selected verses from Mark 15:33-15:41)


Good Friday is an aliturgical day; the only service is in the evening, called "The Burial of Christ". Also, during this day, the Holy Epitaph, an embroidery depicting the scenes of Christ's laying in the Holy Tomb, is taken out and laid on a table in front of the altar. The faithful come, kiss the embroidery, go under the table, and cross the icon of Christ. They repeat this three times. At the end of the service, the priests take the Epitaph and surround the church three times, followed by the entire congregation.




On Good Friday the Orthodox also observe the "black fast", which means abstaining from any food or drink from dawn till dusk.


"The Burial of Christ"
Romanian Icon on glass
Painted by Savu Moga (1864)