Behavior on Good Friday Orthodoxy. Great Friday of Passion Week of Lent
Friday of Holy Week, Good Friday, is the remembrance of the Saints and Saviors. On this day the Lord Himself offered Himself as a sacrifice for the sin of the world.
All evangelists talk in detail about the Passion of Christ on Good Friday, so the services of this day are full of relevant readings.
Liturgical features of Good Friday
Removal of the Shroud
The texts of Good Friday services are masterpieces of Byzantine spiritual poetry, accompanied by soulful melodies.
Good Friday. Antiphon 5:
The Teacher’s disciple agreed on the price, / and sold the Lord for thirty pieces of silver, / betraying Him / to death as a wicked man with a flattering kiss.
The disciple negotiates the price of the Teacher / and for thirty pieces of silver he sold the Lord, / with an insidious kiss, betraying Him / to the wicked to death.
Good Friday. Antiphon 15:
Today he hangs on a tree, Who hung the earth on the waters: He is crowned with thorns, Like the King of angels: He will clothe himself in a false scarlet, Clothing the sky with clouds: He is accepted to be strangled, He who freed Adam in the Jordan: The Bridegroom of the Church was nailed with nails: The Son of the Virgin was pierced with a copy. We worship Your Passion, O Christ. We worship Your Passion, Christ. We worship Your Passion, O Christ. Show us also Your glorious Resurrection.
Today the One who hung the earth on the waters is hanged on a tree, the King of angels is crowned with a crown of thorns, the One who dresses the sky with clouds is dressed in a false scarlet robe, receives slaps in the face. The One who freed Adam in the Jordan, the Church Bridegroom is nailed with nails, pierced with a spear Son of the Virgin. We worship Your Passion, O Christ. We worship Your Passion, O Christ. We worship Your Passion, O Christ. Show us also Your glorious Resurrection.
Good Friday. Prokeimenon, tone 4:
Dividing My garments for myself and casting lots for My clothing.
Verse: O God, My God, consider Me, where have you forsaken Me?
Good Friday.Exapostilary:
You have vouchsafed the prudent thief in one hour to heaven, O Lord, and enlighten me with the tree of the cross and save me.
The prudent thief has been vouchsafed to heaven at the same time, O Lord, and enlighten and save me with the tree of the cross.
Good Friday.Stichera:
Thou art two and wicked, O my firstborn son Israel: / Leave me the fountain of living waters, / and make for myself a broken treasure: / Crucify me on the tree, / Ask for Barabbas, and let him go. / The sky was horrified at this, and the sun’s rays were hidden: / but you, Israel, were not put to shame, / but you gave Me over to death. / Leave it to them, Holy Father, / for they do not know what you have done.
/ My firstborn son Israel committed two evil deeds: / he forsook Me, the Fountain of living waters, / and dug for himself a broken well; / He crucified me on the Tree, / and begged Barabbas and freed him. / At this the sky was amazed / and the sun hid its rays. / But you, Israel, were not ashamed, but you put Me to death. / Forgive them, Holy Father, / for they do not know what they have done.
Today it hangs on the Tree
Today he hangs on a tree, Who hung the earth on the waters: He is crowned with thorns, He who is the King of Angels: he dresses in a false scarlet, he clothes the sky with clouds: he is accepted to be strangled, He who freed Adam in the Jordan: the Bridegroom of the Church is nailed with nails: the Son of the Virgin has been pierced with a spear. We worship Your Passion, Christ: we worship Your Passion, Christ: we worship Your Passion, Christ, show us Your glorious Resurrection.
“Now He hangs on a tree, He who hung (established) the earth on the waters; crown of thorns the King of Angels is covered; The one who dresses the sky with clouds dresses in clownish purple; the one who liberated (from sin) Adam in the Jordan accepts strangulation (slapped); the Bridegroom of the Church is nailed; The Son of the Virgin is pierced by a spear. We worship Your sufferings, Christ, we worship Your sufferings, Christ, we worship Your sufferings, Christ, show us Your all-glorious Resurrection.”
Don't cry for me, Mati(Women's choir. Disc “Time of Fasting and Prayer”)
Do not weep for Me, Mother, Mother, seeing in the tomb, Whom in your womb without seed you conceived the Son: for I will arise and be glorified, and will exalt with glory unceasingly like God, magnifying You with faith and love
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The Prudent Robber(Women's choir. Disc “Time of Fasting and Prayer”)
You have made the prudent thief worthy of heaven in one hour, O Lord, and enlighten me with the tree of the cross and save me
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Holy Saturday:
Noble Joseph(Stichera for the kissing of the Shroud) Valaam Choir
“Blessed Joseph, I took down Your Most Pure Body from the tree, entwined it with a clean shroud, and stank(incense) put it in a new tomb, covering it" Gloriously be glorified (Choir of St. John's Monastery)
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Rise up, God(Women's choir. Disc “Time of Fasting and Prayer”) 2
Arise, O God, judge the earth, for You have inherited in all nations
Video about Good Friday
Sermons for Good Friday
Saint Luke Voino-Yasenetsky on Good Friday
St. Luka (Voino-Yasenetsky)
The sacrifice was not needed to appease God, but the terrible sacrifice was made by Christ because God was merciful and had mercy on us.
Come, blessed Peter the Apostle, and add your sacred a word to what we just heard from the great Apostle John. “He also came, and we hear his holy word: “You were not redeemed with corruptible things, silver or gold, from the futile life handed down to you from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19).
You explained to us, Saint Peter, from what exactly we were redeemed by the Blood of Christ - from the vain life that we inherited from our fathers, from life in worldly vanity, from a life of the soul, not spiritual, in oblivion of the greatest tasks of our life.
Let us now dare to turn to the Lord Jesus Christ Himself and hear from Him the words incomprehensible to the world and hidden: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; And the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world... Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you will not have life in you. He who eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For My Flesh is truly food, and My Blood is truly drink. He who eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood abides in Me, and I in him” (John 6:51, 53-56).
This is the deepest and sacred meaning the sacrifice of Christ: He gave His flesh to be killed and shed His Blood so that in the great sacrament we would eat His Flesh and drink His Blood; so that the molecules of His Body become the molecules of our flesh and His Holy Blood, together with our blood, flows in our veins; so that in this way we become involved in God-manhood and He resurrects us on the last day as His children.
How will we, the poor, repay Him for His immeasurable love and His terrible sacrifice - what? He Himself answered this question for us: “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” Let us pour out our love and our tears onto His dead body, which lies before us on the Holy Shroud, and let us direct all the strength of our soul, first and foremost, to keeping His commandments.
Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh on Good Friday
Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh
How difficult it is to connect what is happening now and what once was: this glory of the removal of the Shroud and that horror, human horror that gripped all creation: the burial of Christ on that one, great, unique Friday.
But today is Good Friday - a day of great sorrow and deep thought. “Let all human flesh be silent and think of nothing earthly within itself.” On Good Friday, all humanity from Adam to the last earthly being must stand before the shroud with their heads bowed. It was through their sin that death entered the world, their crimes created the Calvary execution. It is scary to recognize oneself as a criminal, it is unbearable to see oneself as the culprit of death - a murderer. And this is a fact! All of us, without exception, are involved in this death. For our salvation, Christ the Son of Man died. By the death of the Son of God on the cross, death is trampled upon and the mercy of God is bestowed on people. Death speaks of an unparalleled deed that God has created -... The coffin, containing the source of life, has become life-giving and carries a silent sermon, and humanity is called to hear it in order to live. The word about the Creator’s love for His creation is heard in this sermon, love for a sinful and ungrateful person. Let us listen, dear ones, to what the silent Savior tells us: “For you, for your salvation, I died. And there is no greater love than that which laid down one’s life for one’s friends. The thought of you, sinner, the desire to save you gave Me the strength to endure the unbearable. You heard how, in My humanity, I grieved and grieved in the Garden of Gethsemane on the eve of suffering. The heart without words cried out to the Heavenly Father: “Let this cup pass by me. But the memory of you, your eternal death, compassion and mercy for God’s perishing creation overcame the fear of temporary inhuman torment. And My will merged with the will of My Father and His love with My love for you, and with this power I overcame the unbearable. “The sins of the whole world are burdened upon Me.” I have taken upon myself your burden, which is too much for you.”
We hear and see words and deeds of love from the tomb of the Savior. God's Love is unchangeable and Its Sun shines on the good and the evil, and salvation is prepared for all who desire salvation. She does not cease even now, but always hopes, endures everything in anticipation of our conversion. But do we all respond with love to this boundless Love? Isn’t there a desire in our time among some people to spit on, trample and even kill her, and among others to simply forget about her? The Lord dispelled the darkness of darkness that prevailed in the world before His coming, illuminated the path to the Kingdom of Heaven, but even today the enemy of God has his part in unbelievers, pagans, and sinners who do not know repentance. Just as during the ministry of Christ, his fellow tribesmen replaced God’s Truths with lies and turned into hypocritical ritualists, so now are we not repeating their errors. In words, “Lord, Lord”! and in life: “have me renounced.” Doesn’t the bitter experience of humanity’s life clearly demonstrate its continued captivity to the atheist – the enemy of the human race? The Lord has given us the joy of eternal life, but we prefer the illusory joys of temporary existence. Christ the Savior, by his feat of self-sacrifice, “deprived of the power of him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,” and the meaning of His sacrifice is the restoration of the Kingdom of God, which is perishing on earth, stolen by the enemy from our ancestors. But it is in our power to choose the path of imaginary freedom, essentially obedience to the enemy of God, or the path of life following Christ. The grace of God is inexhaustible in the Church of God.
Let us, dear ones, live by the Church and in the Church, and let us remember that Christian life is the life of the Holy Spirit. The meaning of our earthly life lies in the acquisition of the grace of the Holy Spirit. And today, and every year, in the silence of Great Heel, the voice of God sounds to humanity: “Save yourself, save yourself, My people!” The Creator recreates His creation into a new life of grace, let us recognize God as our Father, we will feel the need for salvation and mercy, and the Lord, the Source of grace, will have mercy and save us.
Prot. Valentin Amphitheatrov about Good Friday
Archpriest Valentin Amfitheatrov
Mysterious, incomprehensible hour! The Son of God is filled with internal and external sorrows to the last degree, to the last breath. And do not console, and do not grieve. The joy of Israel, the friend and patron of all the oppressed, forgotten, unfortunate and rejected, has been abandoned by all. He, the Savior, cried out to God the Father: My God! My God! where you have left Me (Matthew 27:46). The healer of broken hearts experienced the pain of strangling, bearing thorns, and scourging. He cried out with a strong cry, with tears, because he saw that it was impossible to remove suffering. But what does this pain mean in comparison with the mental suffering experienced by Jesus Christ at the sight of the heartlessness of the environment around Him? The Divine soul was incurably ill with these sorrows until the moment when it surrendered itself into the hands of God the Father. The betrayal of Judas, the sleep and flight of the disciples, the denial of the beloved, most sincere Peter, the mockery of the servants of the high priest, the senseless cries of the ungrateful mob, ridicule from Herod, mockery from the soldiers, comparison with a robber, unjust condemnation, crucifixion through the streets of a crowded capital, the shame of exposure among the self-righteously ignorant spectators, gloating, abuse of the fellow-crucified villain... Oh, truly our beloved Savior bore upon Himself the punishment and sins of the whole world. But can eternal torment be equal to the incurable disease that the heart of the Lover of Humanity experienced?
The Chief of Life, the Miracle Worker, who brought others back to life, is doomed to death. He dies. Died. He died for our sins!
The Eternal Word of the Father, which created all things and proclaimed to the world boundless mercy towards sinners, fell silent.
The sun of truth, which shone to the world to dispel the deep, dead darkness of perverted deeds and to reveal to everyone the truth of God, bright like light... and like noon, set in the impenetrable darkness of slander, even with reproaches of blasphemy. This is a terrible, incomprehensible hour! Our mortal eyes see one image of the Divine and life-giving body of our Lord Jesus Christ, a silent and lifeless body. He has no form, no glory, no kindness, belittled, disgusted, desecrated.
Listen and watch! Behold, the King of kings and Lord of lords has a crown on His head, not precious stones decorated, but woven from thorns. Who wove this painful crown for the Giver of Life? Human pride, insane vanity. Oh, if we really love our Savior, then in meekness, humility and patience we will preserve the law of faith and obedience to His word all the days of our life, while the life of our heart beats within us. If we love our Christ the Savior, if the day of remembrance of Good Friday and the suffering of Jesus seems terrible to us, then do not add the thorns of your sins and iniquities to His painful crown of thorns.
Saint Elijah Minyaty on Good Friday
My soul is sorrowful unto death (Matthew 26:38).
St. Ilya Minyatiy
Humanity had to see two great and glorious miracles on earth: first, God descended to earth to take on human nature; the second miracle is that of the God-man ascending to the cross to die on it.
The first was a matter of supreme wisdom and strength, the second - of extreme philanthropy. Therefore, both of them took place under different circumstances. In the first miracle, when God took on the nature of man, all creation triumphed: angels in heaven sang joyful praise, shepherds on earth rejoiced at the saving gospel and the great joy that had taken place, and kings from the east came to worship the newborn Lord with gifts.
In the second miracle, when the God-man died on the cross, as a condemned man in the midst of two thieves, then the world above and below burst into tears, the sky was covered with the deepest darkness, the earth shook from its foundations with trembling, the stones cracked. That night was a bright night, bringing worldwide joy and joy, but this day was gloomy, like a day of sadness and sorrow. That night God showed man all the good he could, and on that day man showed all the iniquity he could do before God.
You have the right to say, God-man and sad Jesus: My soul is sorrowful even to death, for many are Your passions, great is Your sorrow. The suffering is so great that human patience has never endured; sadness is so unbearable that the human heart has never experienced. And truly, listeners, the more I try to find another similar example in human life, the more I am convinced that His illness in passion and sadness in illness are incomparable. Great was the envy of Cain against his brother, but much greater was the envy of the bishops and scribes against the Savior; and the unrighteous murder of Abel is not comparable to Jesus’ death on the cross.
Great was the patience of Isaac when he was preparing to be sacrificed by Abraham his father; but incomparably more patience is in Jesus, Who was truly betrayed from His Heavenly Father as a sacrifice to the hatred of His enemies. Great were Joseph's misadventures when he was sold by his brothers, slandered by Potiphar's wife and, as a guilty man, was thrown into prison; but much more numerous is the suffering of Jesus, when He was sold by His disciple, accused by the whole host, dragged from court to court as a criminal. Great was the humiliation of David when he was overthrown from the royal throne by his son, when his subjects abandoned him; when his own servants chased him, when he ran barefoot to the Mount of Olives, when they threw stones at him and showered him with curse words.
But what happened to Jesus when the apostles abandoned Him, the soldiers bound Him, crowned them with thorns, burdened them with a cross, when the inhabitants of the whole city saw Him off with blasphemous slander, when He ascended to Golgotha to accept a shameful death between two thieves - all this is not a more sorrowful sight?!
It is impossible not to admit that the illness in Job was great when, having lost his children and estates, he sat on rot, with wounds from head to toe; however, this should be recognized only as a prototype and, as it were, a shadow of those grave sufferings and wounds with which the long-suffering Son of the Ever-Virgin was depressed. The sufferings of those who suffered after Christ and the sufferings of His holy martyrs who imitated Him were not small; however, those sufferings were only physical - amid the suffering, the soul of the martyrs rejoiced; there was death, but there was also honor, there was torment, but there was also a crown. And the passion of Jesus Christ was suffering of both body and soul - suffering without the slightest consolation; His death was one dishonor, His torment was one sorrow, and the sorrow of death. My soul is sorrowful unto death.
Metropolitan Filaret (Voznesensky)
Metropolitan Philaret (Voznesensky) about Good Friday
Remember, beloved: when you and I reflect on what the Lord has done for us, we should never forget that it was for our sins that He ended up in the tomb. On the Cross and in the tomb. We nailed Him to the Cross with our stubborn and unrepentant sins, and because of our sins He now lies, silent and motionless, dead in the tomb. And when you worship Him, kiss His Wounds, do it as if you are unrequitedly guilty of the fact that He is wounded, that He is wounded, that He is tormented, spat on, covered in shame and now lies in the tomb.
Remember that we did this: both I and everyone else through our persistent sins and our lack of correction. It is not for nothing that the Lord himself once, when he felt somehow very painfully the unfaithfulness of the human race, even exclaimed (this is recorded in the Gospel): “O unfaithful and corrupt generation, as long as I will be with you, as long as I will endure you!”* *** This is how hard it was for Him to be with us, but here we, I repeat, were nailed to the Cross by our sins and put in a coffin.
So remember, Christian soul, when you worship the Divine Dead Man lying in the Shroud, when you kiss His Ulcers, do it like an irresponsibly guilty person, because no one except us is to blame for the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ, as the Apostle said, instead of what was set before Him of glory endured this shame and disgrace, and this terrible, shameful and humiliating death on the cross. You and I know that now, after His death, the Cross has become our treasure and shrine, but we nailed Him to the Cross, I repeat, not by soldiers, but by you and me, because if our sins had not been on Him, there would have been no What should he take upon himself, then none of this would have happened. But He went to this terrible superhuman feat. Remember how the Gospel says that He fought until His bloody sweat in the Garden of Gethsemane, during this terrible prayer.
Why was he covered in bloody, terrible sweat? Once Saint Demetrius of Rostov in his inspired sermon said, as if addressing the Savior: “Lord! Why are you covered in blood? Who hurt you? There was no Cross, no scourging - none of this had happened yet; why are you covered in blood? And he himself answers: “Who wounded you? “Love wounded me!” Because the God-man, who loved us sinners so much, knew that if He did not accomplish this terrible feat, then our fate would be forever! - in fiery hell, in terrible, endless and terrible torment, which we cannot even imagine. But He took upon Himself all this terrible burden, this heavy burden of sin, and, thanks to His holy and great Feat, we have the opportunity to hope that we will receive forgiveness of our sins, which were washed away by Him. And then we can hope that He will accept us into the Kingdom of Heaven, just as He accepted the Prudent Thief.
Literature about Good Friday
An excerpt from the novel “Gentlemen Golovlevs” (M. E. Saltykov-Shchedrin) about Good Friday
M. E. Saltykov-Shchedrin
Judushka and Anninka were sitting together in the dining room. Not an hour ago, the all-night vigil, accompanied by the reading of the twelve Gospels, ended, and a strong smell of incense could still be heard in the room. The clock struck ten, the household dispersed to the corners, and a deep, concentrated silence settled in the house. Anninka, taking her head in both hands, leaned her elbows on the table and thought; Porfiry Vladimirych sat opposite, silent and sad.
This service always made a deeply amazing impression on Anninka. While still a child, she cried bitterly when the priest said: “And he wove a crown of thorns, placing it on His head, and a reed on His right hand,” and with a sobbing treble she sang along with the sexton: “Glory to Your long-suffering, Lord! glory to You!” And after the all-night vigil, all excited, she ran to the maiden’s room and there, in the thickening twilight (Arina Petrovna did not give candles to the maiden’s room when there was no work), told the slaves “The Passion of the Lord.”
Quiet slave tears flowed, deep slave sighs were heard. The slaves felt in their hearts their Master and Redeemer, they believed that He would rise, truly rise. And Anninka also sensed and believed. Behind the deep night of torture, vile mockery and nodding, for all these poor in spirit, a kingdom of rays and freedom was visible. The old lady herself, Arina Petrovna, usually formidable, became quiet these days, did not grumble, did not reproach Anninka for being an orphan, but stroked her on the head and persuaded her not to worry. But Anninka, even in bed, could not calm down for a long time, shuddered, tossed about, jumped up several times during the night and talked to herself.
Then came the years of study, and then the years of wandering. The first were meaningless, the second were painfully vulgar. But even here, among the ugliness of the acting nomad, Anninka jealously singled out “holy days” and looked for echoes of the past in her soul, which helped her to be touched and sigh like a child.
Now, when life has been clarified in its entirety, down to the last detail, when the past was cursed by itself, and neither repentance nor forgiveness was foreseen in the future, when the source of tenderness has dried up, and with it the tears have dried up - the impression made by the story we have just heard about the sorrowful journey was truly overwhelming. And then, as a child, the deep night was heavy over her, but behind the darkness she still sensed rays. Now - nothing was anticipated, nothing was foreseen: night, eternal, unchangeable night - and nothing more. Anninka did not sigh, did not worry and, it seems, did not even think about anything, but only fell into a deep stupor.
For his part, Porfiry Vladimirych, with no less accuracy, honored the “holy days” from his youth, but he honored them exclusively from the ritual side, like a true idolater. Every year, on the eve of Good Friday, he invited the priest, listened to the Gospel story, sighed, raised his hands, hit his forehead on the ground, marked on a candle with wax pellets the number of gospels read, and still understood absolutely nothing. And only now, when Anninka awakened the consciousness of the “dead” in him, did he understand for the first time that this legend was talking about some unheard-of untruth that had carried out a bloody judgment on the Truth...
Of course, it would be an exaggeration to say that in connection with this discovery any vital comparisons arose in his soul, but there is no doubt that some kind of turmoil occurred in it, almost bordering on despair. This turmoil was all the more painful the more unconsciously the past that served as its source was lived. There was something terrible in this past, but what exactly it is is impossible for the masses to remember. But you can’t forget either. Something huge, which until now had stood motionless, covered with an impenetrable curtain, and only now moved towards me, threatening to crush me every minute.
If it had really crushed it, that would have been the best; but he is tenacious - perhaps he will crawl out. No, waiting for a solution from the natural course of things is too speculative; we must create a solution ourselves in order to end the unbearable turmoil. There is such a solution, yes. He's been eyeing her for a month now, and now it seems he won't let her go. “On Saturday we will receive communion - we need to go to the grave of our late mother to say goodbye!” - suddenly flashed through his head.
- Let's go, shall we? - he turned to Anninka, telling her out loud about his assumption.
- Perhaps... let's go...
“No, we won’t go, but...” Porfiry Vladimirych began and suddenly broke off, as if he realized that Anninka might interfere.
“But I’m in front of my dead mother... because I tortured her... I!” - wandered meanwhile in his thoughts, and the desire to “say goodbye” flared up more and more strongly in his heart every minute. But “to say goodbye” not in the way one usually says goodbye, but to fall on the grave and freeze in the cries of mortal agony.
“So you’re saying that Lyubinka died of herself?” - he suddenly asked, apparently in order to cheer himself up.
At first, Anninka didn’t seem to hear her uncle’s question, but obviously it got through to her, because after two or three minutes she herself felt an irresistible need to return to this death, to torment herself with it.
“That’s what she said: drink... you vile one?!” - he asked when she repeated her story in detail.
- Yes... she said.
- Did you stay? didn't you drink?
- Yes... I’m living here...
He stood up and walked up and down the room several times in visible excitement. Finally he approached Anninka and stroked her head.
- Poor you! my poor one! - he said quietly.
At this touch, something unexpected happened within her. At first she was surprised. but gradually her face began to distort, distort, and suddenly a whole stream of hysterical, terrible sobs burst from her chest.
- Uncle! you are kind? tell me, are you kind? - she almost screamed.
In an intermittent voice, amidst tears and sobs, she repeated her question, the same one that she had proposed on the day when, after her “journey,” she finally returned to settle in Golovlevo, and to which he had given such an absurd answer at that time.
- You are kind? Tell! answer! you are kind?
-Did you hear what they read at the all-night vigil today? - he asked when she finally calmed down, - oh, what suffering it was! After all, only through such suffering is it possible... And he forgave! Forgave everyone forever!
He again began to walk around the room with long steps, killing himself, suffering and not feeling how his face was covered with drops of sweat.
- Forgave everyone! - he spoke aloud to himself, - not only those who then gave him otset with bile to drink, but also those who later, now, and henceforth, forever and ever, will bring otset mixed with bile to His lips... Terrible ! oh, this is terrible!
And suddenly, stopping in front of her, he asked:
- And you... forgave?
Instead of answering, she rushed to him and hugged him tightly.
- You must forgive me! - he continued, - for everyone... And for myself... and for those who no longer exist... What is this! what happened?! - he exclaimed almost in confusion, looking around, - where... is everyone?..
Poems about Good Friday
On Strastnaya (from the novel “Doctor Zhivago”)
B. L. Pasternak
B. L. Pasternak
There is still darkness all around.
It's still so early in the world,
That there are no number of stars in the sky,
And each one is as bright as day,
And if the earth could,
She would have slept through Easter
While reading the Psalter.
There is still darkness all around.
It's so early in the world,
That the square lay down for eternity
From the crossroads to the corner,
And until dawn and warmth
Another millennium.
The earth is still naked,
And she has nothing to wear at night
Rock the bells
And echo the singers at will.
And from Holy Thursday
Until Holy Saturday
Water drills the shores
And it creates whirlpools.
And the forest is stripped and uncovered,
And at the Passion of Christ,
How the line of worshipers stands
A crowd of pine trunks.
And in the city, on a small
In space, as if at a meeting,
The trees look naked
In church bars.
And their gaze is filled with horror.
Their concern is understandable.
Gardens emerge from the fences,
The order of the earth is wavering:
They are burying God.
And they see the light at the royal gates,
And a black board, and a row of candles,
Tear-stained faces -
And suddenly towards procession
Comes out with a shroud
And two birches at the gate
We must step aside.
And the procession goes around the yard
Along the edge of the sidewalk
And brings from the street into the porch
Spring, spring conversation
And the air tastes like prosphora
And spring frenzy.
And March scatters snow
There's a crowd of cripples on the porch,
It's as if a Man came out
And he brought it out and opened the ark,
And he gave it all away.
And the singing lasts until dawn,
And, having cried enough,
They come quieter from inside
In vacant lots under street lights
Psalter or Apostle.
But at midnight creation and flesh will fall silent,
Hearing the spring rumor,
It's just clearing weather,
Death can be overcome
With the strength of Sunday.
Remembering the Holy Saving Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Father! forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.
On Great Friday, the holy, saving and terrible suffering and death of the Lord Jesus Christ, which He willingly endured for our sakes, took place and is remembered by the Church.
Celebrating on Good Friday “the following of the holy and saving passions of our Lord Jesus Christ,” the Orthodox Church on this great day marked all times of the sacred events of the salvation of the world with a divine service: the time of the capture of the Savior in the Garden of Gethsemane and the condemnation of Him by the bishops and elders to suffering and death (Matt. 27, 1) – the service of Matins; the time of leading the Savior to Pilate for trial - the Divine Service of the first hour (Matthew 27:2); the time of the condemnation of the Lord at the trial of Pilate - by the completion of the third hour; the time of Christ's suffering on the cross - the sixth hour; time of death - ninth hour; and the removal of the body of Christ from the cross at vespers.
There is no Liturgy on Good Friday, because on this day the Lord Himself sacrificed Himself, and the Royal Hours are celebrated. Vespers is celebrated at the third hour of the day, at the hour of the death of Jesus Christ on the Cross, in remembrance of the taking down of the body of Christ from the cross and His burial. At Vespers, the clergy lift the Shroud (that is, the image of Christ lying in the tomb) from the Throne, as if from Golgotha, and carry it out of the altar into the middle of the temple. The Shroud is placed on the tomb, on a specially prepared table. Then the clergy and all worshipers bow before the Shroud and kiss the wounds of the Lord depicted on it - the perforation of His ribs, arms and legs. The shroud is in the middle of the temple for three (incomplete) days, reminiscent of the three-day stay of Jesus Christ in the tomb.
At the morning service on Good Friday, the Church solemnly proclaims the gospel of the suffering and death of the God-man, divided into 12 Gospel readings, called the Passionate Gospels. The reading of the 12 Gospels on Good Friday originated from the Apostolic tradition. St. John Chrysostom mentions the reading of the 12 Passion Gospels on Good Friday. He says: “The Jews attack Jesus Christ with fury, and on their own they torture Him, bind Him, lead Him away, become the perpetrators of insults inflicted by soldiers, nail Him to the cross, reproach Him, mock Him. Pilate did not add anything on his part here: they do everything themselves. And this is read to us when we are all in assembly, so that the pagans do not say to us: you show the people only the brilliant and glorious, for example, signs and wonders, but hide the shameful. The grace of the Holy Spirit has arranged it in such a way that all this is read in our country on a national holiday - precisely on Maundy Thursday Easter (that is, on Friday of Holy Week), when men and women stand in great multitudes, when the whole universe flocks together, then this is preached with a loud voice; and with such and such public reading and preaching, we believe that Christ is God.” “Now all of us,” said Saint John of Damascus on Great Friday, “have gathered to hear about the cross, we are filling the Church, crowding each other, sweating and exhausting ourselves.”
The readings of the passionate Gospels are preceded and accompanied by the singing: “Glory to Your long-suffering, O Lord.” Indeed, His long-suffering was extreme, His sufferings were terrible. According to the Church and St. John Chrysostom, during the terrible and saving suffering of the Lord, each member of His holy flesh “suffered dishonor for our sake: the head from the crown of thorns and the reed; face from blows and spitting; cheeks from strangulation; mouth from the offering of vinegar mixed with bile; ears from the blasphemies of the wicked; shoulders from beating; the right hand is from the reed that they gave Him to hold instead of a scepter; hands and feet from nails; ribs from copy; the whole body from nudity, scourging, robe, feigned worship and crucifixion.”
Each reading of the Gospel is heralded with good news, and at each reading those present light lamps: this significantly indicates the triumph and glory that accompanied the Son of God even during His extreme humiliation among reproach and suffering and testifying to His highest holiness and Divinity. The Lord, going to voluntary suffering and death, Himself predicted: now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. If God was glorified in Him, then God will glorify Him in Himself, and will soon glorify Him (John 13:31-32), that is, “along with the cross,” says John Chrysostom. The Lord's suffering for our sins was as painful as it was glorious for the Lord. Enemies go to take Him to suffering and death - and they fall before His Divine omnipotence and are healed of their wounds. They are angry against the Savior, but His innocence and highest holiness triumphs over their blinded malice. Those who, either out of fear or greed, have renounced the Lord, confess their sin against Him either with tears of repentance, or with the death of despair. The Apostle Peter washes his renunciation of Christ with bitter tears of sincere repentance. Judas the traitor, seeing that the Lord was condemned to death, gives in to despair and returns 30 pieces of silver to the high priests, saying: he sinned by betraying innocent blood. The high priests, instead of consoling the person who served them, only increase his despair and show their weakness and indecisiveness before the truth, saying to Judas: “What is that to us? take a look yourself". “Are these not the words of those who themselves testify to their villainy and madness, covering themselves with a meaningless mask of feigned ignorance”? Desperate Judas threw the pieces of silver into the church and hanged himself. But the pieces of silver, as the price of blood, on the advice of the high priests, were not put into the church treasury. “Do you understand,” says St. John Chrysostom, “how they are condemned by their conscience? They themselves see that they bought the murder, and that’s why they didn’t put it in the corvan.”
God-man on the cross; one of the thieves crucified with Him, denouncing the other for blasphemous words, confesses Jesus Christ as Lord, and His innocence and Divinity. Finally, for the glory of the Crucified One, terrible signs follow one after another, announcing the atoning suffering and death of the Most Holy Saints and admonishing the crucifiers (1 Cor. 2:8). In the Temple of Jerusalem, the curtain is torn in two, showing that with the death of the universal Sacrifice on the cross, the end of the ancient tabernacle came and the way to the sanctuary itself was opened for everyone (Heb. 9:8).
Archpriest G.S. Debolsky,
"Days of Worship Orthodox Church", vol. 2
Hymns from the service on Friday of Holy Week of Great Lent
Today he hangs on a tree, Who hung the earth on the waters: He is crowned with thorns, He who is the King of Angels: he dresses in a false scarlet, he clothes the sky with clouds: he is accepted to be strangled, He who freed Adam in the Jordan: the Bridegroom of the Church is nailed with nails: the Son of the Virgin has been pierced with a spear. We worship Your Passion, Christ: we worship Your Passion, Christ: we worship Your Passion, Christ, show us Your glorious Resurrection.
“Now He hangs on a tree, He who hung (established) the earth on the waters; The King of Angels is covered with a crown of thorns; The one who dresses the sky with clouds dresses in clownish purple; the one who liberated (from sin) Adam in the Jordan accepts strangulation (slapped); the Bridegroom of the Church is nailed; The Son of the Virgin is pierced by a spear. We worship Your sufferings, Christ, we worship Your sufferings, Christ, we worship Your sufferings, Christ, show us Your all-glorious Resurrection.”
Gospel of Luke
They also led two villains with Him to death. And when they came to a place called Lobnoye, they crucified Him and the villains there, one on the right, the other on the left. Jesus said: Father! forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. And they divided His garments by casting lots. And the people stood and watched. The leaders also mocked them, saying: He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ, God's chosen one. Likewise, the soldiers mocked Him, coming up and offering Him vinegar and saying: If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself. And there was an inscription over Him, written in Greek, Roman and Hebrew words: This is the King of the Jews. One of the hanged villains slandered Him and said: if You are the Christ, save Yourself and us. The other, on the contrary, calmed him down and said: Or are you not afraid of God, when you yourself are condemned to the same thing? and we are condemned justly, because we accepted what was worthy of our deeds, but He did nothing bad. And he said to Jesus: remember me, Lord, when you come into your kingdom! And Jesus said to Him, “Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
Now it was about the sixth hour of the day, and there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour: and the sun was darkened, and the curtain of the temple was torn in the middle. Jesus cried out with a loud voice and said: Father! I commit My spirit into Your hands. And having said this, he gave up the ghost. The centurion, seeing what was happening, glorified God and said: Truly this man was a righteous man. And all the people who had gathered to see this spectacle, seeing what was happening, returned, beating their chests. Yet those who knew Him, and the women who followed Him from Galilee, stood in the distance and looked at this.
OK. 23, 32-49
And all the people who had gathered to see this spectacle, seeing what was happening, returned, beating their chests.
OK. 23, 48
What kind of spectacle was there that left the audience completely bewildered? What was that spectacle that captured the lips of the spectators with silence, and at the same time shook their souls? They came to the spectacle to satisfy their curiosity; they left the spectacle, hitting their chests and taking with them terrible bewilderment... What was this spectacle like?
Not only people looked at this spectacle: all the Angels of God looked at it with horror and deepest reverence; celestial objects no longer attracted their attention; their gazes were directed, riveted to the spectacle that opened on the ground. The sun saw something it had never seen, and, unable to bear what it saw, it hid its rays, just as a man closes his eyes at a sight unbearable to him: it was clothed in deep darkness, expressing with darkness a sadness as deep as death is bitter. The earth shook and shook under the event that took place on it. The Old Testament Church tore its magnificent veil to pieces; This is how the most precious clothes are tormented and not spared in the face of an inevitable, decisive disaster. And all the people who had gathered to see this spectacle, seeing what was happening, returned, beating their chests... What kind of spectacle was this?
There was a spectacle that we now contemplate in memory, in the church service performed, in the sacred Image before our eyes. The spectacle was the Son of God, descending from heaven, becoming human to save men, cursed, killed by men.
What feeling, if not a feeling of horror, should completely embrace the heart at this sight? What state, if not a state of complete bewilderment, should be the state of mind? What word can be uttered at this sight? Will not every human word die in the mouth before it comes out of the mouth? And all the people who had gathered to see this spectacle, seeing what was happening, returned, beating their chests.
Those who came to look at the Savior, who hung on the tree of the cross, like ripe and scarlet fruit, returned in bewilderment and horror, who came to look with a testing mind, out of pompous and false conceit. Faith was silent in them. The darkened sun cried out to them, the trembling earth called out to them, the stones called out to them, parting with a crash and rising above the graves of the dead, suddenly revived by the death of the Savior. Those who were vainly curious returned in horror: in horror not from the perfect murder of God, but in horror from the menacing gaze and voice of the shuddering, insensitive nature, which expressed its knowledge of God before humanity that did not recognize Him. They returned, beating their chests in fear for themselves, for their flesh and blood, for the sake of which the blood was shed and the body of the God-Man was tormented.
While the Jews, who rested in the Law, boasted of the vast and exact knowledge Law, they were perplexed, looking at the event predicted by the Law and the Prophets, looking at the spontaneous Sacrifice of which they were unconscious priests; while the Jews were perplexed and returned, agitated by fear and a gloomy premonition of their own disaster, a pagan centurion stood before the cross and the Sacrifice, standing without retreat. It was impossible for him to leave, because he commanded the guard guarding the Sacrifice: this happy impossibility was given to him, because hidden in his heart was faith, obvious to the Knower of the Heart. When nature proclaimed her confession of God, the centurion gave an answer to the mysterious voice of nature, gave an answer to the mysterious confession with a confession open and public. Truly He was the Son of God, he said about the executed stranger hanging before his eyes, recognizing God in the executed stranger. The Jews, proud of their knowledge of the letter of the Law and their ritual outward righteousness, were perplexed before the Son of Man and the Son of God crucified on the tree. On the one hand, they were struck by signs - an earthquake, the tearing of the church veil, deep darkness that came at noon; on the other hand, they were blinded and hardened by the carnal mind and proud self-delusion, representing the Messiah in the blaze of earthly glory, a magnificent king, conqueror of the universe, at the head of a large army, among a host of luxurious courtiers. At this time, a warrior, a pagan, confessed the executed wanderer as God; at this time, a criminal confessed Him as God. Come down from the cross! - the blind Jewish bishops and scribes mockingly said to the God-man, not understanding what all-holy Sacrifice, what all-holy and all-powerful Burnt Offering they offered to God, “let him come down from the cross, so that we can see and believe: at that time the rude, ignorant robber recognized Him as God, ascended to the cross because of His Divine righteousness, and not because of His sin. With his bodily eyes he saw a naked man, crucified near him, subject to the same fate as himself, a helpless beggar, condemned by both spiritual and civil authorities, tormented, executed, and still tormented and executed by all expressions of hatred: with the eyes of a humble heart he saw God. The strong, the glorious, the intelligent, the righteous of the world showered God with curses and ridicule; the thief turned to Him with well-intentioned and successful prayer: remember me, Lord, when you come into your kingdom (Luke 23:42).
The Ever-Virgin Mother of God stood at the cross and the Lord crucified on it. Her heart was pierced like a sword with sadness: the prediction of the holy elder Simeon was fulfilled. But She knew that Her Son, the Son of God, deigned to ascend to the cross and offer Himself as a sacrifice of peace for rejected humanity; She knew that the Lord, having completed the redemption of people by death, would resurrect and co-resurrect humanity with Himself; She knew this - and was silent. She was silent before the greatness of the event: she was silent from the abundance of sorrow: she was silent before the will of God that was taking place, against the definitions of which there is no voice.
The beloved disciple of the Lord stood at the cross. He looked at the height of the cross - in the incomprehensible love of a voluntary Sacrifice he contemplated Divine Love. Divine Love is the source of Theology. She is the gift of the Holy Spirit, and Theology is the gift of the Holy Spirit. She revealed to the Apostles the mysterious meaning of atonement. For the love of Christ embraces us, the disciple and messenger of Christ preaches the gospel, reasoning like this: if one died for all, then all died (2 Cor. 5:14). Because of the infinite love that the Lord has for humanity and which the Lord alone is capable of having, all humanity suffered on the cross in the person of the Lord and died in the person of the Lord. If humanity suffered in Him, then it was justified in Him; if it died in Him, it was also made alive in Him. The death of the Lord became the source of life.
Suddenly the voice of the crucified Lord came from the cross to the Ever-Virgin: Wife! Behold, Your Son; then a voice to the beloved disciple: Behold, your Mother. Destroying on the tree sin on the godfather of the forefathers, accomplished by them at the tree of paradise, giving birth to humanity into a new life by life-giving death, the Lord enters into the rights of the Forefather of man, and declares His Mother, according to humanity, the matter of the disciple and all his disciples, the Christian tribe. The Old Adam is replaced by the New Adam, the fallen Eve is replaced by the immaculate Mary. Through the crime of one, the Apostle said, many were subjected to death; how much more does the grace of God and the gift by the grace of one Man, Jesus Christ, abound for many (Rom. 5:15). Through the mediation of our Lord Jesus Christ, countless and ineffable blessings have been poured out on the human race: not only has the redemption of men been accomplished, but their adoption as sons to God has been accomplished.
Enlightened by the contemplation of the great event, let us return, beloved brothers, to our homes, and take with us deep, saving thoughts, striking these thoughts into our hearts. We remembered, we vividly contemplated the act of Divine Love, an act that surpassed words, surpassed comprehension. The martyrs responded to this love with streams of their blood, which they shed like water; The saints responded to this Love by mortifying the flesh with passions and lusts; Many sinners responded to this Love with streams of tears, heartfelt sighs, confession of their sins, and drew healing for their souls from it; Many oppressed by sorrows and illnesses responded to this Love, and this love dissolved their sorrows with Divine consolation. Let us also respond to our Lord’s love for us with the sympathy of His love: by living according to His all-holy commandments. This is the sign of love He requires from us, and only this sign of love will He accept from us. He who loves Me will keep My word; He who does not love Me does not keep My words (John 14, 23, 24). If we do not respond to the Lord’s love for us with love for Him, then the blood of the God-man was not shed for us in vain? Was it not in vain that His all-holy Body was tormented for us? Was it not in vain that the Great Sacrifice was placed on the altar of the cross and sacrificed? Her intercession for us for salvation is omnipotent; Her complaint against those who neglect Her is omnipotent. The voice of the blood of righteous Abel ascended from earth to heaven, and appeared to God with an accusation against the one who shed this blood: the voice of the great Sacrifice is heard in the midst of heaven itself, on the very throne of the Divine, on which the great Sacrifice sits. The voice of Her complaint is at the same time God’s decree, pronouncing eternal punishment on the enemies and despisers of the Son of God. What is the use of My blood: should I never descend into decay? The all-holy Sacrifice speaks, accusing the Christians who were redeemed by Her, who took Her price into themselves, and cast Her along with them into the stench of sin. This terrible crime is committed by everyone who takes the hooks of Christ, their soul and body, redeemed by Christ and belonging to Christ, and creates their hooks of a harlot by various copulations with sin. Do you not know, says the Apostle, that you are the temple of God, and the Spirit of God lives in you? If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will punish him. Amen.
In everyone's life Orthodox Christian the saddest day of the year is coming, the day death on the cross Our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ, also called, according to the Church Charter, Good (Great) Friday.
We must cry and remember on Good Friday not only that people betrayed the Lord and killed Him, that He suffered during the Most Pure Passion with His Human nature. Although deepening into the contemplation of these Sufferings of Christ is wonderful and soul-saving. To do this, at the Matins of Great Friday the Gospel conceptions about the Passion of Christ are read, and on Good Friday itself the Shroud with the image of the Body of Christ laid in the Tomb is worn. All this is done in our churches so that a person can come closer in heart and body and seem to plunge into the Redemptive Feat of the God-Man - into this incomprehensible to our understanding Mystery of God’s salvation of the human race. But the very approach of the human mind and heart to this Mystery, the movement towards It, makes a person a participant in the Divine and penetrates deeply into our souls, as if nailing them to the Cross, forcing them to experience not only the death of Christ, but also the death of their own sin. And in the death of this monster, a wonderful metamorphosis occurs, when from the caterpillar of sin the butterfly of the resurrection of our souls is born; when from the dead petrified grain of wheat of our heart, ulcerated by the vice of the heart, the living green and joyful ear of resurrection, the living vine of salvation, is resurrected.
This is what I think we should think about on Good Friday. Orthodoxy is not a religion of horror, death and fear. No. Orthodoxy is a religion of joy. It was this Easter feeling, the feeling of one’s personal life, one’s personal resurrection in the Risen Christ, that allowed St. Seraphim Sarovsky exclaim such beautiful words: “My joy! Christ is Risen!" And they are also addressed to each of us.
An Orthodox Christian so often in his life goes deep into corruption and evil eyes, into electronic concentration camps! So often in last times man is waiting for the coming of the Antichrist! But is that really the point? Is it really that the heavens are rolled up like a scroll? Not only this. But first of all, our Lord Jesus Christ will appear at His Second Coming to save His faithful. And this will also be Easter. "Getting rid of"
Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, on this Great Heel day let us sing together with the Church: “Glory to Your passion, Lord!”, “Glory to Your long-suffering, Lord!” - and remember that inside the symphony orchestra of sorrow a joyful horn is already sounding (so far only barely, but every moment louder and louder): “Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!”
Priest Andrey Chizhenko
Orthodox Life
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Almost everyone knows what Easter is, but less is known what Good Friday is.
It's the last Friday before Happy Resurrection(this year this day falls on April 17, 2020). It is also the saddest and, without exaggeration, the most dramatic day of the year.
It was on Friday that Christ was brought to trial, which sentenced him to death. And on the same day the execution took place - the Savior was crucified on the cross. The bitterness of loss, the nagging sense of injustice and at the same time the bright hope that very soon the Lord will rise again...
Good Friday is a whole palette of feelings, and also a unique day in the church calendar, which is associated with many traditions and even prohibitions.
The events of Good Friday will become clear if we rewind time just one day back and plunge into the atmosphere of Thursday (the same Thursday that people called clean).
Let us mentally imagine the Lord's Supper - a kind of farewell evening, which became the last for Christ and his disciples. Of course, none of the 12 apostles had any idea that Jesus would be taken into custody a few hours later.
And only Judas Iscariot was aware of what was happening, because the traitor had already begun his vile game. Having reached an agreement with the Savior’s enemies, he literally sold his teacher for 30 pieces of silver.
By the way, today scientists have made simple calculations that have revealed an amazing fact. The then 30 pieces of silver is today's 6 thousand dollars. It was at this amount that Judas valued the life of the Lord.
Of course, Christ knew about the upcoming torment, because he came to earth in order to die and then be resurrected. Through your atoning sacrifice The Lord had to save all humanity.
But did he know in detail what would happen in a few hours? Hardly. Therefore, immediately after the supper, he went to the Garden of Gethsemane to retire and mentally prepare for the most difficult test. This is what this place looks like today (Jerusalem, Israel).
Meanwhile, Judas was already there with his accomplices. The remaining 11 disciples settled down not far from the Savior. Thursday turned out to be a very busy day, so they fell asleep very quickly - the clean air, sweet silence and sentimental moonlight did their job.
But Christ had no time for sleep. The moment of his suffering and passion is described in great detail in the Bible. The Savior turned his gaze to heaven and simply prayed to God.
Perhaps everyone has heard the expression “the passion of Christ.” This is not only the name of a famous film, but also part of the true biography of the Savior - the event last days his earthly life. Of course, at that moment he was experiencing not carnal, but spiritual passions.
This is what we sometimes call the words “the soul hurts.” Painful thoughts, a feeling of the inevitability of suffering and a terrible, unjust death.
Needless to say, in this mental struggle a person especially needs the support of his loved ones - at least a warm word and a kind look. Obviously, this is exactly what the Lord wanted when he approached his disciples.
But they were already fast asleep, and Christ did not wake them up, did not ask for help, although, of course, he had every right to do so. It’s just that this was not part of his mission - the Savior does not share his suffering, but bears his cross to the end.
A few hours later he will literally carry a huge wooden cross. Together with the raging crowd, representatives of the authorities and a small number of sympathizers, the Lord reached the place called Golgotha (Matthew, chapter 27).
This is what it looks like today (Jerusalem, Israel).
Screaming enemies, laughing soldiers, whispering conspirators - their discordant cries turned into disgusting chaos, which reverberated with a dull, sad noise in the ears of all those gathered. No one thought about what would happen in just a few minutes. The Lord dies in torment and struggle.
At that very second, the unexpected happened. The sky became dark as if night or a total solar eclipse had suddenly fallen. The stones at the foot of the cross cracked, and the curtain in the local temple was torn exactly in half.
The crowd was seriously scared. Those who just recently shouted and mocked the defenseless man hurried to go home. And many soldiers, timid people, felt not only trembling fear, but also deep respect for the deceased. They believed that Christ was truly the Son of God.
A few more hours later, when Calvary was deserted, a rich man named Joseph came to the cross with the body of Jesus. Whether it’s a coincidence or not, the Savior’s earthly father, Mary’s husband, was called exactly the same. He removed the body, embalmed it, swaddled it and buried it, i.e. placed in a stone tomb.
The next day, the traitors were afraid of the already dead Christ. After all, they remembered his promise that in three days he would rise again. Therefore, they decided to move a heavy stone to the entrance to the tomb, put a seal on it, and in addition set up a guard who should stand at his post around the clock.
No, those people did not know that no security could disrupt God’s plans, that Christ’s mission would be completed only when he was resurrected. So, all that remains is to wait for the fulfillment of this promise.
And this was exactly the case when the promised one waits not for three years, but for three days. After all, on Sunday a great miracle will happen, which a good half of humanity still remembers today. We call it a holiday of hope and good changes, the victory of life over death, spring over winter, the forces of light over the forces of darkness.
But the other hero of this story was waiting for the most real death, without the prospect of resurrection. Judas Iscariot never got to enjoy his $6,000. After the death of Christ, he was terribly afraid for his transgression, realizing that he had done something terrible.
Taking a wallet with 30 ill-fated pieces of silver, the traitor went to the conspirators to return the money to them. But the life of the innocently murdered man could not be returned. And the attackers had nothing to do with these bloody coins.
Judas became confused and threw the money right in the temple. The silver pieces rolled across the floor, jingling and bouncing alarmingly. This ominous sound seemed to foreshadow an imminent tragedy. Iscariot ran from the city and hanged himself on the first tree he came across.
The legend says that at first he wanted to hang himself on a birch tree, but it got scared and turned white with fear. Then the traitor committed suicide on an aspen tree. Since then, the aspen bush has been trembling in the wind more than others - apparently, it never recovered from what happened...
From this short story it becomes clear that such an event is a real dramatic story, and Good Friday is called so for a reason.
By the way, all the days of the last week before Easter are called passionate (as is the pre-Easter week itself). For example: (aka Clean), Good Friday, Holy Saturday. And these days are usually called great, because they are the most significant and revered in Christianity.
Thus, Good Friday is, without exaggeration, a great, dramatic day, which even today requires a special attitude and respect from us.
Services on Good Friday: removal of the shroud
On such a day there is no morning service. But during the day at the service at about 3 p.m., when, according to the biblical description, the Savior “gave up the spirit,” i.e. died on the cross, is accomplished.
The Shroud is a rather unusual icon. We are all accustomed to the fact that an image is usually drawn on a hard surface.
However, in the case of the shroud, the image is applied to thick fabric (plate, which is where the name comes from). It depicts Christ laid in a tomb. The icon is carried out by several clergy, dressed in dark-colored clothing as a sign of mourning.
Temples are usually darkened, the light comes only from flickering candles. In such an environment, a special mood is truly created, in which many contrasting emotions merge: grief for the deceased, resentment and annoyance for the betrayal of people who have committed a grave sin.
And perhaps a person can experience the feeling of an approaching holiday, which marks the triumph of life over death. After all, only 2 more days will pass, and we will say: “Christ is risen! Truly risen!”
What to do on Good Friday before Easter
Believers often ask questions about what can and cannot be done on Good Friday before Easter. Indeed, this is a special day of the year, and many will find it useful to learn how to behave appropriately in connection with the events that happened 2000 years ago.
The most important thing to do on Good Friday is not even going to church. After all, many busy people really may not have time left. Moreover, the service with the removal of the shroud is held during the day, when many are still at work. However, everyone can pay tribute to the Lord.
On such a day, it is worth paying attention to reflecting on the feat of Christ and reading the corresponding biblical story(eg Luke 23).
It won’t be superfluous to give alms or do any good deed that will really bring joy to someone. You can visit a loved one with whom you have not communicated for a long time. Reconcile and forgive grievances that have accumulated for a long time and are making themselves felt.
In a word, for modern people there is a certain freedom of choice, which is not denied by representatives of the church. The main thing is good aspirations, a sincere desire to pay tribute to the Lord.
What not to do on Good Friday
For a long time in Rus', on such a day they tried to follow very strict rules, for example:
- do nothing around the house;
- do not sew or cut fabric;
- do not cook anything, do not light a fire;
- do not work on the ground, do not dig, etc.
However, it is quite clear that the lifestyle of modern man has changed to such an extent that sometimes we simply have no choice. We need to go to work, dress and feed our children, help our family, do housework, cook dinner, etc. Therefore, everyone acts in accordance with the circumstances.
The corresponding commentary is given by many representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church, for example, Archpriest John Makarenko.
At the same time, it is intuitively clear what exactly should not be done on Good Friday before Easter:
- indulge in any carnal pleasures;
- spend the day having fun;
- drink alcohol;
- watch entertainment programs, performances, etc.
Such behavior in itself is not reprehensible - every person strives for pleasure. But on such a mournful day, a believer cannot rejoice fully.
Indeed, in these hours 2000 years ago, one of the most tragic events in human history took place. And having fun on Good Friday is almost the same as having a party on the day of a funeral or memorial.
NOTE
Among the questions about what can be done on Good Friday, believers are interested in baking Easter cakes and dyeing boiled eggs.
According to tradition, it is better to do this in Maundy Thursday or at least on Saturday. It is not advisable to do such things on Friday, except in situations of extreme necessity.
Fasting on Good Friday
Also, one of the important questions is what you can’t eat on Good Friday before Easter. This time is considered the strictest during the entire Lent. Believers should not eat anything or even drink water until the end of the service and the removal of the shroud.
And then, in the evening, you can drink water and eat bread. There is no need to prepare any dishes - all this time the mourning for the crucified Lord continues.
Quite strict rules continue to apply on Saturday. The better the holiday itself will be - Light Christ's Resurrection, when it is allowed to eat any food, and a few glasses of good red wine are also not forbidden.
At the same time, church representatives say that each person should act according to his own feelings. For example, if someone is sick with the stomach or we are talking about a pregnant woman or a nursing mother. Of course, then you shouldn’t refuse food and water, because we are talking about health.
Here is Archpriest Alexander Ilyashenko’s commentary on this matter:
Folk traditions on Good Friday
Of course, any significant event is reflected in many ways in the mirror of people's history. After several centuries, it turns out that in people’s memory, a memorable date begins to live its own life. Something similar happened with Good Friday.
For example, in Rus' on this day they often baked baked goods, for example, a bun - in the shape of a cross. It was believed that such bread would never become moldy. And the sailors took the buns with them on long voyages and believed that they would be the ship’s talisman and protect them from maritime disasters.
There was one more custom that each of us can add to our collection of good deeds. Rich people certainly treated their loved ones, acquaintances and even ordinary passersby with baked goods, milk, cottage cheese or eggs.
Another interesting custom is that believers tried to bring 12 burning candles from the church, with which they stood at the service. These candles were carried lit, placed in any part of the house and allowed to burn out to the end. It was believed that throughout the year (12 months) there would be peace and prosperity in the house.
Thus, Good Friday is a tragic day dedicated to remembering the earthly death of Christ. However, the holiday will be very soon, because the Lord will certainly rise again.
And when Easter comes, everyone can sincerely rejoice and enjoy this solemn moment, which occupies a central place in the entire Christian religion.
Good Friday is the most mournful day, a day of mourning. Friday is the day of remembrance of the Saving Passion of the Lord. On this day Jesus was handed over to the Jewish authorities, made a religious procession to Golgotha, was crucified and died. Read about the history and traditions of the holiday in our Questions and Answers section.
What is Good Friday?
In order for Jesus Christ to rise again, proclaiming the victory of life over death, he had to be crucified. The events took place on Friday. Jesus was tortured, then tried, then taken to Golgotha and crucified. After this, the body was taken down from the cross and buried in a cave.
The crucifix is an important symbol of Good Friday. Another important symbol that is given attention during the morning and evening services is the shroud. A long cloth with a full-length depiction of Jesus Christ in the tomb.
On Good Friday, clergy wear their darkest vestments and perform three services. In the morning, the so-called “Hours” are served in churches, after which the Gospel of the Passion of Christ is read again. In the middle of the day - Vespers with the rite of removing the shroud, and in the evening they serve Matins Holy Saturday with the rite of burial of the shroud. Don't be surprised by the timing discrepancy, the fact is that church calendar the day begins in the evening.
The shroud is placed on a raised platform in the center of the temple, the Gospel is placed on it, and a censer with incense is placed in front of it, constantly burning incense. Also, in memory of how the myrrh-bearing women brought oils to anoint the body of Christ, the shroud is anointed with incense and decorated with flowers. Believers venerate it, and they are also supposed to bow to the ground in front of the shroud.
All services of Good Friday and Holy Saturday begin and end not at the altar, but in front of the shroud. In addition, Good Friday is a day of strict fasting. Believers should not eat anything until the end of the rite of removing the shroud - until three o'clock in the afternoon. Then you are allowed to eat bread and drink water.
What is the service like on Good Friday?
On Good Friday, three services are held in the Orthodox Church. In the morning, the Hours are served, during which the Gospel of the Passion of Christ is read again, in the middle of the day they perform Vespers with the rite of removing the shroud, and in the evening - Matins of Great Saturday (the day according to the church calendar begins in the evening) with the rite of burial of the shroud.
During the day, at the ceremony of removing the shroud, the canon “Lamentation” is read Mother of God". The evening service is of a funeral nature. This is the burial of Christ Himself. As at a funeral service, everyone in the church stands with lighted candles. At the beginning of Matins, the seventeenth kathisma is read - part of the Psalter, which is usually read at funeral services for the dead or at memorial services. Then the canon of Great Saturday is read This is also a lament for the buried Christ, but a new theme is heard more and more in it - the expectation of the Resurrection, the anticipation of Easter. A quiet procession of the cross with a shroud and candles ends the Matins of Great Saturday. When the procession goes around the temple, everyone sings the funeral song “Holy God, Holy Mighty One.” , Holy Immortal, have mercy on us..." Only a few hours separate this religious procession from the next one, which takes place on Sunday midnight, already Easter.
On Good Friday, it is considered a sin to work in the garden - you cannot stick iron objects into the ground: rakes, pitchforks, shovels. Only parsley can produce a good harvest. Parsley is called the herb of fortune tellers and brings fertility, love and passion.
If you make a sachet with parsley leaves, this will be a good protection for you from physiological or psychological pressure. This day is also considered favorable for grafting trees.
And laundry washed on Good Friday will not be clean; it may become covered with bloody stains. It is not recommended to transport bees on Good Friday, otherwise they will all die. If you consecrate rings in the temple on this day, they can protect you from illnesses for the whole year. Baking on Good Friday, preserved throughout the year, cures whooping cough.
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Which ones exist? folk signs on Good Friday?
On Easter days, they do not take salt so that their hands do not sweat; girls stand on an ax to become strong. All love signs on Easter come true especially true. If a girl hurts her elbow, then her boyfriend remembers her. If you find a fly or cockroach in the soup, wait for a date. If your lip itches - you can’t avoid kissing, if you have an eyebrow - bow to the girl with your sweetheart.
If it is cloudy on Good Friday, then the bread will be covered with weeds. If it is sunny, the wheat will be grainy.
A simple way to identify “spoiled” things in an apartment. So, on Good Friday you go to church and take the half-burnt candle that was in your hands during the service. In the apartment you light it and go through the rooms. Where it crackles, there is a damaged item.
Cutting your nails on Good Friday helps relieve toothache. In a dream on this day, the future groom will appear to the girl.