This service includes the reading of the Twelve Passion Gospels, recounting the events leading up to and including Christ’s crucifixion. The faithful participate in the service by standing and making prostrations, showing their reverence and sorrow for Christ’s suffering.
On Friday morning, the Royal Hours are chanted, which include readings from the Old Testament prophecies and the Gospels relating to Christ’s crucifixion. The Vespers service in the afternoon focuses on the unnailing of Christ from the Cross and His burial in the tomb. The faithful venerate the Epitaphios, a decorated cloth representing Christ’s burial shroud, and process around the church in remembrance of His burial.
Throughout these services, the Church invites the faithful to enter deeply into the mystery of Christ’s death and to reflect on the significance of His sacrifice for our salvation. The icons and hymns of Great and Holy Friday help us to meditate on the extreme humility and love of Christ, who willingly suffered and died for our sins.
As we commemorate Great and Holy Friday, let us remember the profound significance of Christ’s death on the Cross and the hope and redemption that it brings to all who believe. May we enter into the mystery of His passion with reverence and awe, knowing that through His death, we find new life and the promise of eternal salvation. The Matins service on Great and Holy Friday is a unique and solemn service in the Orthodox tradition. It consists of twelve Gospel readings that narrate the events leading up to Christ’s Crucifixion and burial. The service begins with Christ’s discourse at the Last Supper and ends with His burial.
During the service, the priest reads passages from the Gospels that recount Christ’s last instructions to His disciples, the prophecy of His Crucifixion, and His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. After the fifth Gospel reading, a procession with the Crucifix takes place around the church, with the priest chanting a hymn of worship and reflection on Christ’s Passion.
Orthodox Christians kneel and venerate the Cross during the procession, praying for their spiritual well-being and following the example of the thief on the Cross who confessed his faith in Christ. The faithful then approach to kiss the Crucifix as a sign of reverence and devotion.
On Friday morning, the Royal Hours are observed, with readings from the Old Testament, Epistles, and Gospels. The Vespers service in the afternoon continues the theme of mourning and remembrance, with the removal of Christ’s body from the Cross and its placement in a symbolic tomb.
The readings and hymns during the services reflect on the suffering and sacrifice of Christ, as well as the hope and anticipation of His Resurrection. The faithful participate in the rituals of the service with reverence and humility, acknowledging the significance of Christ’s Passion and death for their salvation.
Overall, the Matins and Vespers services on Great and Holy Friday are a time of reflection, prayer, and devotion for Orthodox Christians as they commemorate the events of Christ’s Crucifixion and burial in preparation for the celebration of His Resurrection on Easter Sunday.
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