Good Friday is a unique and solemn day in the Christian calendar, commemorating the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. This year, it falls on April 3 for Catholics and Protestants, and April 10 for Orthodox Christians. Across denominations, services include centuries-old traditions, such as elaborate processions and unique liturgical practices.
For Catholics, Good Friday is the only day without a Mass, as the Eucharist is not celebrated. Orthodox Christians also refrain from the Eucharist on what they call Great and Holy Friday. Most mainline Protestant and Evangelical denominations hold special services, often focusing on Jesus' last words, though fasting is less strictly observed.
Church services typically begin at 3 p.m., the traditional hour of Jesus' death, and last over an hour. Despite being a workday in the US, churches are often packed. Manuel León, a 22-year-old member of Miami's Corpus Christi Catholic Church youth group, will carry a statue of the crucified Jesus in a procession through the Wynwood neighbourhood. 'Pushing that statue from the back and seeing how torn up he is, what he did for us really becomes real,' he said.
Ancient liturgical practices define the Catholic Good Friday service, according to the Rev. John Baldovin, a professor at Boston College. Priests prostrate themselves before the altar, and extensive prayers of the faithful include intentions for the pope, Jewish people, and non-believers. The highlight is the adoration of the cross, where the faithful line up to kiss or touch it, a tradition dating back to the 4th century.
Processions with life-sized statues of Jesus and the Virgin Mary are held worldwide, notably in Seville, Spain, and Antigua, Guatemala. In Miami, the procession from Corpus Christi church features statues carried over intricate sawdust and flower carpets. 'On Good Friday, we feel the pain of Mary, Jesus' pain, his surrender for love,' said Silvia Armira, a participant.
