Good Friday (Friday of the Crucifixion)

ELMONT, N.Y. – On Friday, March 29th, His Excellency Mar Eusebius celebrated the Good Friday liturgies at St. John Chrysostom Pro-Cathedral, assisted by Rev. Fr. Abraham Lukose and the parish community.

The liturgical services on Good Friday or the Friday of the Crucifixion (`arubto d’hasho) commemorate the critical moments of our Lord’s life from the prayer in Gethsemane until His burial in the Sepulcher. The canonical prayers of the day draw many parallels to the creation of Adam and his fall to draw a comparison to our Lord’s salvific self-sacrifice on the cross. They speak explicitly of His suffering and agony.

The first procession of the day commemorates Christ’s journey from the Praetorium to Golgoltha – the way of the Cross. The services which follow commemorate the crucifixion and death of our Lord. The clergy and faithful venerate the cross before the exaltation of the cross.

The second procession commemorates Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus taking the body of Christ from the cross and carrying it to the sepulcher. After this procession, the cross is washed with rose water, embalmed with frankincense, covered with cotton, and wrapped in a fine linen cloth before it is buried in a special place underneath the altar or on top of the altar itself.

Following an ancient tradition, the Holy Qurbono is not celebrated on this day. Though not a mere figure, the Eucharist is a figure and representation of the sacrifice of our Lord on the Cross and on the Friday of the Crucifixion, the Church commemorates the Passion as it happened in time. The liturgical services of the Friday of the Crucifixion are a more perfect re-presentation of the sacrifice of the Cross.

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Read His Excellency's Good Friday Message