Tricity observes Good Friday with special service at churches

Christians across Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula observed Good Friday with fasting and special prayer services at churches today.

The Christ The King Cathedral in Sector 19 saw the maximum gathering of the devotees, who offered prayers and mourned the death of Jesus Christ. Jesus’ statue was covered with white cloth (shroud) as he was crucified on this day. The altar was not decorated as it was on other days. They chanted hymns along with the priest.

The devotees participated in the “Way of the Cross”, a procession re-enacting 14 moments of Jesus’ sufferings during his crucification. In his Good Friday sermon, the priest urged the faithful to rededicate themselves to follow the teachings of Jesus in true spirit, inculcating the virtues of forgiveness and sacrifice. Concluding the prayer, he reminded the community to remember this “ultimate sacrifice” and to “grow in hope and faith”.

One of the devotees said Good Friday observance started with Ash Wednesday, when a cross of ash was placed on the heads of the participants, symbolising, “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return”. It consists of 40-day fasting as preparation for Easter.

It is followed by Chrism Mass (blessing of oils), Palm Sunday (end of the 40-day fasting and celebration of Christ as a King of the Kings with Palm tree), Maundy Thursday (washing of the feet and last supper).

“On Good Friday, we mourn and keep fast as Jesus died on the cross (holy symbol of Christianity). Saturday is for midnight mass and then on Sunday, Jesus resurrects from death, which is celebrated as Easter,” another devotee shared.

“Christians commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It is observed as the mourning day for the Christians because Jesus sacrificed his own life for the sins of the others. But, it has a positive message because Jesus died to save people from their sins,” the devotees said.

Patiala