Good Friday

Good Friday is a holy day celebrated by Christians on the Friday before Easter or Pascha. It commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus at Calvary. Special prayer services are often held on this day with readings from the Gospel accounts of the events leading up to the crucifixion. Mainstream Christian churches view Christ's crucifixion as a voluntary and act, and one by which, along with his resurrection on the third day, death itself was conquered.

History and observance

In Early Modern English, Good had a meaning of "holy". A "good tide" is, for example, Christmas or Shrove Tuesday.

Related Topics:
Early Modern English - Christmas - Shrove Tuesday

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Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christians treat this day as a fast day. Orthodox Christians spend all this day in fasting from all food, to the extent that their health permits. Catholics also refrain from more than one normal meal, though they may add up to two small meals as required for good health. For High Church Episcopalian and Anglican Catholics who do not follow the Roman Rite, there are no longer fasting rules for Good Friday, although most older congregants, those raised by them or parishioners in formal congregations still observe a fast. As Good Friday is the most holy day in Holy Week, most catholics do not eat meat.

Related Topics:
Roman Catholic - Orthodox - Fast day - High Church - Episcopalian - Anglican - Catholic - Holy Week

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This day is also the only day that the Divine Liturgy or Mass is not celebrated in those churches. Catholics, however, can still receive the Eucharist (reserve sacrament) consecrated the previous day at the Holy Thursday (or Maundy Thursday) Mass.

Related Topics:
Divine Liturgy - Mass - Eucharist - Holy Thursday

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