Good Friday Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ===Matins of Holy and Great Friday=== The Byzantine Christian observance of Holy and Great Friday, which is formally known as '''The Order of Holy and Saving Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ''', begins on Thursday night with the '''Matins of the Twelve Passion Gospels'''. Scattered throughout this [[Matins]] service are twelve readings from all four of the Gospels which recount the events of the [[Passion (Christianity)|Passion]] from the [[Last Supper]] through the [[Crucifixion]] and [[Holy Sepulchre|burial]] of Jesus. Some churches have a candelabrum with twelve candles on it, and after each Gospel reading one of the candles is extinguished.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Matins for Great and Holy Friday|url=https://mci.archpitt.org/sheetmusic/general/Holy_Friday_Matins.pdf|url-status=live|archive-date=3 October 2021|access-date=3 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003013131/https://mci.archpitt.org/sheetmusic/general/Holy_Friday_Matins.pdf}}</ref> [[File:Agias Triados frescos cross.jpg|thumb|upright|Good Friday cross from the [[Katholikon|Catholicon]] at Holy Trinity Monastery, [[Meteora]], Greece]] The first of these twelve readings<ref>{{Bibleverse||John|13:31β18:1|KJV}}</ref> is the longest Gospel reading of the [[Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar|liturgical year]], and is a [[concatenation]] from all [[four Gospels]]. Just before the sixth Gospel reading, which recounts Jesus being nailed to the cross, a large [[Christian cross|cross]] is carried out of the sanctuary by the priest, accompanied by [[incense]] and candles, and is placed in the center of the [[nave]] (where the congregation gathers) ''SΔmeron KremΔtai EpΓ XΓ½lou'': <blockquote>Today He who hung the earth upon the waters is hung upon the Cross ''(three times)''.<br>He who is King of the angels is arrayed in a crown of thorns.<br>He who wraps the Heavens in clouds is wrapped in the purple of mockery. <br>He who in Jordan set Adam free receives blows upon His face.<br>The Bridegroom of the Church is transfixed with nails. <br>The Son of the Virgin is pierced with a spear.<br>We venerate Thy Passion, O Christ ''(three times)''.<br>Show us also Thy glorious Resurrection.<ref>{{Cite book |last = Archimandrite Kallistos (Ware) and Mother Mary |year = 2002 |title = The Lenten Triodion |chapter = Service of the Twelve Gospels |page = 587 |place = South Cannan, PA |publisher = St. Tikhon's Seminary Press }}</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2QNbTDjvJ0 Today He who hung the earth upon the waters ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211007040503/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2QNbTDjvJ0 |date=7 October 2021 }} Chanted by the Byzantine Choir of Athens</ref> </blockquote> The readings are: # John 13:31-18:1 β Christ's last sermon, Jesus prays for the [[Apostles in the New Testament|apostles]]. # John 18:1β28 β The agony in the [[Garden of Gethsemane|garden]], the mockery and denial of Christ. # Matthew 26:57β75 β The mockery of Christ, [[Saint Peter|Peter]] denies Christ. # John 18:28β19:16 β [[Pontius Pilate|Pilate]] questions Jesus; Jesus is condemned; Jesus is mocked by the Romans. # Matthew 27:3β32 β [[Judas]] commits suicide; Jesus is condemned; Jesus mocked by the Romans; [[Simon of Cyrene]] compelled to carry the cross. # Mark 15:16β32 β [[Crucifixion of Jesus|Jesus dies]]. # Matthew 27:33β54 β [[Crucifixion of Jesus|Jesus dies]]. # Luke 23:32β49 β [[Crucifixion of Jesus|Jesus dies]]. # John 19:25β37 β [[Crucifixion of Jesus|Jesus dies]]. # Mark 15:43β47 β [[Joseph of Arimathea]] buries Christ. # John 19:38β42 β [[Joseph of Arimathea]] buries Christ. # Matthew 27:62β66 β The Jews set a guard. During the service, all come forward to kiss the feet of Christ on the cross. After the [[Canon (hymnography)|Canon]], a brief, moving hymn, ''The Wise Thief'' is chanted by singers who stand at the foot of the cross in the center of the nave. The service does not end with the [[First Hour]], as usual, but with a special [[dismissal (liturgy)|dismissal]] by the priest: <blockquote>May Christ our true God, Who for the salvation of the world endured spitting, and scourging, and buffeting, and the Cross, and death, through the intercessions of His [[Theotokos|most pure Mother]], of our holy and [[Holy Fathers|God-bearing fathers]], and of all the [[saint]]s, have mercy on us and save us, for He is good and the Lover of mankind.</blockquote> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. 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