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Home > Other Astrological Information > Events / Festivals > Events 2009 > Good Friday On April 10, 2009
Good Friday is celebrated by Christians as a special day. It falls towards the end of the Holy Week and marks Jesus' resurrection. Initially, called God's Friday, Christ's suffering and death on the cross is remembered. 'Good Friday' evolved from 'God Friday'. It occurs between March 20th to April 23rd for this decade. During this year, Good Friday falls on April 10th. Earlier, the Christian Church celebrated only Easter Sunday as a holy day. By the fourth century, each day of the week preceding Easter was established as a holy day including Good Friday. It is believed that 'Good' represents the good gift of salvation brought forth by martyrdom. Celebration of Eucharist is suspended in accordance with the Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Anglican traditions. Liturgical service involves veneration of the cross, the Passion narrative from the Gospel of St. John, and communion using bread and wine consecrated on Maundy Thursday, the previous day. Other forms of observance include prayer and meditation at the Stations of the Cross, a succession of 14 images, usually on wooden crosses, depicting Christ's crucification and the events leading up to it. From the earliest times, the Christians kept every Friday as a feast day. In the Eastern orthodox Churches, it is known as Great Friday.
Since 100 C.E., Good Friday has been observed as a day of simple fasting having no association with Jesus' death. Only from late fourth century, it has been associated with the crucifixion. On this Day, special service prayers are held with readings from the Gospel leading up to the crucification. Mainstream Christian Churches view Christ's crucification as a voluntary and vicarious act, where death itself was conquered by resurrection. Divine Liturgy or Mass is not celebrated in churches on this day. However, Catholics can still receive the Eucharist consecrated the previous day at the Holy Thursday Mass. Instead of the Divine Liturgy, the Orthodox meets up to three times during the day for prayer, in the forenoon, to pray the Royal Hours appointed for that day; in the evening, the Martins of Holy Saturday. Many Protestant Churches hold special services on this day as well.
Catholic Good Friday services include readings from Scripture, with the priest, one or more readers and the congregation all taking part. A crucifix is presented, with the people given an opportunity to venerate it. Some Congregation also re-enact the role of Jesus' in a ritual called the Stations of the Cross. Hence, Good Friday is observed as a day of sorrow, mourning and fasting.