The Ultimate Symbolism Of Good Friday

Good Friday is a Christian holy day that commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. It is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum. The most important symbol of Good Friday is the crucifix, or cross, which represents the way in which Jesus died. Other symbols include black cloth used to cover the cross, paintings and statues in churches and some homes to signify mourning, and the removal of flowers and shiny objects from churches and homes.

The cross

The Apostle Paul also speaks of the cross as a symbol of salvation in his first letter to the Corinthians: "For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God" (1 Corinthians 1:18).

The veneration of the cross is a Good Friday tradition in the Catholic Church. This practice involves showing reverence to a wooden cross as a physical symbol of the instrument upon which Christ was crucified. During the ceremony, the congregation is invited to show reverence to the cross by touching it, kissing it, or bowing before it.

The colour purple

Purple is a significant colour in the Christian tradition, and it holds a special meaning during Good Friday observances. Purple is associated with royalty, majesty, and penance. It represents the kingship of Jesus Christ and his sacrifice for humanity.

During Holy Week, which begins on Palm Sunday and leads up to Easter Sunday, many churches cover crosses, statues, and other sacred depictions with purple veils or cloths. This practice, known as "veiling" or "covering," is done to remind Christians that without Jesus' sacrifice and resurrection, their faith and everything sacred related to it would not exist.

In addition to its religious significance, purple is often used during the Lenten season, which starts on Ash Wednesday and lasts for 40 days until Easter. During this time, clergy wear purple vestments, and Christian churches adorn their alters, lecterns, and pulpits with purple cloth.

The use of purple during Good Friday and the Lenten season emphasizes the themes of penitence, remembrance, and spiritual wealth associated with this solemn day in the Christian calendar. It serves as a visual reminder of the profound sacrifice made by Jesus Christ for the redemption of humanity.

The Last Supper

Good Friday is a Christian holy day that commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary. It is observed during Holy Week, which begins on Palm Sunday, and is part of the Paschal Triduum.

The date of Good Friday varies from year to year in both the Gregorian and Julian calendars, as Eastern and Western Christianity disagree over the computation of the date of Easter and, consequently, Good Friday.

The term "Good Friday" comes from the sense of "pious" or "holy" attached to the word "good". In Old English, the day was called "Long Friday".

According to the Gospels, Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, guided by his disciple Judas Iscariot, who received 30 pieces of silver for his betrayal. Jesus was interrogated by the high priest Caiaphas, condemned for blasphemy, and sentenced to death.

The next morning, Jesus was brought before the Roman governor Pontius Pilate, who authorised the Jewish leaders to judge and sentence Jesus according to their law. However, as the Jewish leaders were not allowed to carry out a death sentence, Pilate was called upon to pass the final judgment. Despite finding no basis for sentencing Jesus, Pilate ultimately handed him over to be crucified to prevent a riot.

Jesus carried his cross to the site of execution, assisted by Simon of Cyrene, and was crucified alongside two criminals. He agonised on the cross for six hours, and during the final three hours, darkness fell over the land. With a loud cry, Jesus died, and there was an earthquake. A Roman soldier on guard at the site declared, "Truly this was God's Son!"

Jesus' body was taken down from the cross by Joseph of Arimathea, a secret follower and member of the Sanhedrin, who, along with Nicodemus, wrapped it in linen and placed it in a new tomb.

Good Friday is observed by many Christian denominations, including Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran, Anglican, Methodist, Oriental Orthodox, United Protestant, and some Reformed traditions. The day is marked by fasting and church services, such as the Service of the Great Three Hours' Agony, held from noon to 3 pm, recalling the hours of darkness during Jesus' crucifixion.

Symbols associated with Good Friday include purple veils draped over statues and crosses in churches, as well as bread and wine, recalling the Last Supper and Jesus' institution of the Holy Eucharist. The imagery of a towel is also significant, recalling Jesus' act of washing his apostles' feet at the Last Supper.

Leonardo's masterpiece is housed in the refectory of the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, Italy. The painting measures 460 cm × 880 cm and covers an end wall of the dining hall at the monastery. Leonardo worked on the painting intermittently, and it is known for its innovative use of materials, mastery of perspective, and complex portrayal of human emotion.

The painting also showcases Leonardo's skill in handling space and perspective, drawing attention to the face of Christ, who is located at the vanishing point for all perspective lines. The use of a single-sided table ensures that none of the apostles have their backs to the viewer.

The crown of thorns

Mockery and Royalty

Futility and Pain

Thorns are a biblical symbol of futility and pain, representing the withdrawal of God's blessing and the presence of his curse. They evoke images of unfruitfulness, desolation, and the choking of good plants. In the Bible, thorns are linked to the Fall of Man, when God cursed the productive world he had made in response to Adam and Eve's rebellion.

Love and Sacrifice

Jesus, as the Son of God, took on the symbol of thorns to end the story of thorns at the cross. Out of love and mercy, he chose to suffer the wrath of God in place of humanity, enduring the physical and emotional pain of the crown of thorns. By wearing the crown, Jesus brought an end to the reign of thorns, rescuing believers from sin's curse and bringing them into his kingdom.

The Stations of the Cross

The typical stations are small plaques with reliefs or paintings placed around a church nave. Modern minimalist stations can be simple crosses with a numeral in the centre. The images are usually mounted on the inside walls of a church or chapel but may also be erected in cemeteries, corridors of hospitals and religious houses, or on mountainsides.

The 14 stations are as follows:

• Jesus is condemned to death
• Jesus takes up his Cross
• Jesus falls the first time
• Jesus meets his Mother
• Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry the Cross
• Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
• Jesus falls for the second time
• Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
• Jesus falls for the third time
• Jesus is stripped of his garments (sometimes called the "Division of Robes")
• Jesus is nailed to the Cross
• Jesus dies on the Cross
• Jesus is taken down from the Cross
• Jesus is laid in the tomb

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