's the holiest time of the year for the hundreds millions of Christians the world over; the time when Jesus Christ gave up his life for mankind/
Holy Week! It's the holiest time of the year for the hundreds millions of Christians the world over; the time when Jesus Christ gave up his life for mankind; when his ultimate sacrifice changed the meaning of religion forever.
On Good Friday, more than 2000 years ago, the ruling Romans crucified Christ on the cross. On Sunday - Easter - Christ rose from the grave and the prophecy of the Scriptures was fulfilled.
Christians commemorate this world-changing event in a variety of ways. It is preceded by Maundy Thursday, when Christ washed the feet of his 12 disciples, as a symbol of his humility, followed by Holy Saturday - which is a day of praying and keeping vigil for his resurrection.
On Saturday night, Christians will keep vigil at churches - at Ignatius Loyola Church (and the many other churches in the city and world over) the lights will go out at 11.30 pm and the parishioners will hold candles till midnight, when the lights will come on again to signify Christ's resurrection and herald Easter the feast of joy.
On the spiritual significance of this day, Fr Melquides Guedes SJ, parish priest of St Ignatius Loyola Church, Ahmedabad said, "Good Friday - the death of Jesus Christ on cross - gave the human race a ray of new life." On Easter Sunday's relevance, Fr Guedes said, "Easter Sunday signifies that death is not the end but the beginning of a new life."
Speaking on the importance of Good Friday and Easter, Bishop Thomas Macwan, bishop of Ahmedabad Catholic Church said, "Jesus Christ died for humanity on cross. Humanity has been saved because of Jesus' crucifixion on cross. The bridge which was broken between man and God (because of man's sins) was reinstated with Jesus' death. It is a day to reconcile all the differences that men have among them."
Robin Rajaji, a devotee said, "Good Friday is ironically when the death of a saviour (leader) is taken to be good. Hope of life after death in heaven is Good Friday's hidden message."
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