Holy Friday Morning / Afternoon

According to the Hebrew custom, the "Royal Hours", four in number, are read on Holy Friday Morning.

These services consist of hymns, psalms, and readings from the Old and New Testaments, all related prophetically and ethically to the Person of Christ.

During this time the Ladies of our Church are decorating the Epitaphion at the Church Hall.

When it is ready they bring it into the Church and place it in front of the Icon Screen and the Royal Doors.

Around that time and as a continuation of the Royal Hours we chant the Service of Vespers of Holy Friday.

During this service, the removal of the Body of Christ from the Cross is commemorated with a sense of mourning for the terrible events which took place.

Once more, excerpts from the Old Testament are read together with hymns, and again the entire story is related, followed by the removal from the Cross and the wrapping of the Body of Christ with a white sheet as did Joseph of Arimathea.

Apostle Paul, interpreting the dreadful event, exhorts the Church: "For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God... we preach Christ crucified... the power of God and the wisdom of God." (1 Cor. 1: 18f).

As the priest reads the Gospel, "and taking the body, Joseph wrapped it in a white cloth," he removes the Body of Christ from the Cross, wraps It in a white cloth, and takes It to the altar.

The priest then chants a mourning hymn: "When Joseph of Arimathea took Thee, the life of all, down from the Tree dead, he buried Thee with myrrh and fine linen... rejoicing. Glory to Thy humiliation, O Master, who clothest Thyself with light as it were with a garment."

The priest then carries the cloth on which the Body of Christ is painted or embroidered around the church before placing It inside the Epitaphion, which symbolizes the Tomb of Christ.

We are reminded that during Christ's entombment, He descends into Hades to free the dead of the ages before His Incarnation.

Holy and Great Friday is the only day in the year on which the Divine Liturgy is not officiated.

On that day, the devoted Christian ponders in his heart the deep meaning of the Seven Last Words of Christ uttered on the Cross, the first Divine Pulpit of Christianity.