Good Friday

March 29, Friday

Good Friday (or Passion Friday) is one of the most significant days in the Christian tradition, celebrated on the Friday before Easter. This day is dedicated to the memory of the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. For Christians, this is a time of deep sorrow, prayer, and reflection on the sacrifice that Christ made to atone for the sins of humanity.

Good Friday marks the culmination of Holy Week, which covers the last days of Jesus Christ's earthly life. According to the Gospel accounts, it was on Friday that Jesus was put on trial, scourged, crowned with thorns, and then crucified on Golgotha (Kalvaria). On the cross, Jesus died, sacrificing himself for the salvation of humanity.

Traditions and Customs
Good Friday is celebrated by various Christian denominations around the world, and traditions may vary slightly depending on the church and country.

Church Services. During services on this day, the Gospel stories of the suffering of Jesus Christ, called the Passion, are read. In some churches, the veneration of the cross is performed to honor the sacrifice of Jesus. In some countries, processions are held that re-enact the last hours of Christ's life, including his journey to crucifixion.

Silence and concentration. Good Friday is considered a time of sorrow, and churches on this day are often silent, without the sound of bells or joyful hymns.
Lent. In many Christian traditions, Good Friday is a day of strict fasting, when believers abstain from food, especially meat products, and spend the day in prayer and reflection.

Customs in different countries:
In Latin American countries (for example, in Mexico and the Philippines), Good Friday is often marked by public theatrical performances that recreate scenes from the Way of the Cross of Christ.

In Italy and Spain, religious processions are held, with hundreds of believers carrying crosses and symbols of Jesus' suffering.

In Orthodox countries such as Greece and Russia, the evening of Good Friday is marked by the removal of the Shroud, a ritual symbolizing the burial of Jesus.

Good Friday in Orthodoxy and Catholicism
Orthodox Church. In Orthodoxy, Good Friday is a day of strict fasting. In the evening, the service of removing the Shroud is held, an icon depicting the body of Christ taken down from the cross. The shroud is removed from the altar and placed in the center of the church for veneration. On this night, believers can remain in the church for all-night vigils.

Catholic Church. Catholic churches hold services on Good Friday dedicated to the suffering of Christ. A special place in the service is occupied by the rite of veneration of the cross, as well as a special prayer for the world, the church, and all those who suffer.

Good Friday

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Good Friday in other years

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Good Friday in other countries