Like many of his fellow Christians, Vinod Noronha, resident of Mahim, too makes it a point to fast until he has attended the evening mass on Good Friday. Part of the Holy Week, Christians across the world observe this day to mark the crucifixion of Christ.
"It is the day Jesus was crucified. But the reason why we call it Good Friday is because through his death we have been saved," said Fr. Nigel Barrett, spokesperson of the Archdiocese of Bombay. To mark the day, Christians observe three traditional rituals.
The first is the remembrance of his last journey to Golgotha hilltop where he was crucified, which is commonly knows as Way of the Cross. The second is the 'three hours of agony', marking the three hours that Jesus spent hanging on the cross and the last seven statements he made at that time, and the third is the evening service in the church.
"We fast, pray and do penance on this day. The day starts early, with prayers and a visit to the church where we take part in the Way of the Cross," said Alphi D' Souza, a Vakola resident.
The Way of the Cross (Way of the Station) is the most important ritual on Good Friday. People who attend church take part in it. Children are particularly encouraged to take part as it's an education for them on the sufferings endured by Christ. Many churches make it a point to organise it in a big way.
"Way of the Cross is all about the 15 (it varies from 7 to 30 depending on the sect) important scenes during Jesus' last journey—Jesus being arrested, being sentenced by Pontius Pilate, falling down while walking, Jesus meeting the women of Jerusalem, his mother and disciples, Veronica wiping Jesus' face before he was crucified, etc," said Joseph Dias, general secretary, Catholic Secular Forum (CSF) that organises this programme in Kaline area.
In the evening, more prayer services are held to mark Christ being brought down from the cross. Holy Saturday follows Good Friday, and the day is observed mourning the death of Christ. "The next day is Easter Sunday when the community celebrates his resurrection," said Barrett.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}