HOLY & GREAT FRIDAY
THE CRUCIFIXION OF OUR SAVIOR
• St. Hilarion the New
FAST DAY
March 28/ April 10 ns 2026
Kecharitomene
~`Full of Grace`~
commemorates the supreme sacrifice of Christ on the Cross. The priest unnails Christ from the Crucifix, wraps His Body in white linen, and places It on the altar symbolizing His burial by Joseph of Arimathea.
THE EVENING
includes the Hymn of the Lamentations which are chanted to reflect our sorrow, to proclaim Christ's descent to Hades, and to herald His expected Resurrection.
In a grave they laid Thee, O my Life and my Christ;
and the armies of the angels were sore amazed,
as they sang the praise of Thy submissive love.
.
How, O Life, canst Thou die?
Or abide in a grave?
For Thou dost destroy the kingdom of death, O Lord,
and Thou raisest up the dead of Hades’ realm.
St. John the Wonderworker: Concerning the Reception of the Holy Mysteries on Pascha
“The Lamb of God communicates with us on the holy and light-bearing night of Resurrection. We pray for this when we are just beginning to prepare for Lent, and afterwards many times during the course of the Great Fast: that the lord would vouchsafe us to partake of the Holy Mysteries on the night of Holy Pascha. At that time the grace of God acts in a special way upon men’s hearts. We partake of the Christ Resurrected, we become partakers of His Resurrection. Of course, we must prepare ahead of time, and, having already communed during Great Lent, receive again the Holy Mysteries. Before Paschal Liturgy there is no time for a proper confession; this must be done earlier. And then, on that light-bearing night, having received general absolution, to draw near to the Divine Lamb, the pledge of our resurrection. No one should leave the Church prematurely, rushing away to eat the meat of animals instead of receiving the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.”
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