Tuesday, March 23, 2010 | 11:11:00 PM
The Good Friday celebration starts by kissing a plank of wood depicted on the cross of Christ. After this ritual people perform other practice which starts from 3 o’clock where narratives read out four gospels from the holy book and latter on general communion service is performed at midnight after which a burial takes place. On Good Friday particularly, the bells of the church remains silent (which rather on other days doesn’t) because this day is marked as a SAD DAY for Christians.
People follow the example of Jesus Christ and keep fast on this day as according to one story – Christ fasted in desert to overcome the Evil One for forty days before the beginning of His teachings. However, this period of forty days is popularly known as ‘Ash Wednesday’. This ends on ‘Lent’ also known as ‘Good Friday’ following the other day i.e. Easter Sunday.
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Many people even today perform a three-hour service on Friday in remembrance of the death of Christ in which one service includes seven distinct elements stating seven utterances of Christ when he was hanged on cross. This incident is famously depicted in the small town near Goa (in India) called Panjim which celebrates Good Friday in large spirit. Many people gather there to take part in the celebrations which is held in full bloom in the churches.
Famous Mass held in Konkani (a village in Goa) is attended by large numbers of people and is considered to be the attraction of Christian community throughout India and abroad. People visit the church dressed in all good clothes and accessories to pay homage to Christ.
Ceremony
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Ceremonial worship of the holiday follows closely to the events described in the scriptures. Some congregations still hold a three-hour service on Friday representing the three hours He was hanged on the cross. A typical service includes seven distinct elements representative of Christ's seven utterances while on the cross. A popular ceremony takes place on Good Friday which is popularly known as ‘the Way of The Cross’. The ritual is performed by the clergymen along with the crowd following and carrying a large wooden cross-representing the cross on which Jesus was hanged and nailed down to death
Good Friday’s Message – The message of Good Friday is that evil can never be conquered by evil, but only by goodness, violence by non-violence, hatred by love for the enemy |
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