Good Friday is a Christian holy day that commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary. It is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum. It is also known as Black Friday, Holy Friday, Great Friday, Good Friday of the Passion of the Lord, and Great and Holy Friday. Good Friday is a widely instituted legal holiday around the world, including in most Western countries and 12 U.S. states. Christians observe Good Friday in different ways, but common practices include fasting, Stations of the Cross, Good Friday processions, and prayer and church services.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Date | Friday before Easter |
Other Names | Holy Friday, Great Friday, Black Friday, Great and Holy Friday, Good Friday of the Passion of the Lord |
Observance | Christians |
Observance Denominations | Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran, Anglican, Methodist, Oriental Orthodox, United Protestant, Reformed traditions |
Observance Type | Fasting, church services |
Observance Details | Fasting, church services, Stations of the Cross, Good Friday processions, prayer and Bible readings |
Meaning | Commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus |
Significance | Jesus' death on the cross was the decisive turning point for all creation |
Timing | 12 noon to 3 pm |
Timing Reasoning | Hours Jesus was on the cross |
What You'll Learn
Good Friday is a Christian holy day
Good Friday is a widely instituted legal holiday around the world, including in most Western countries and 12 U.S. states. The date of Good Friday varies from year to year in both the Gregorian and Julian calendars.
Good Friday is a day of mourning and reflection for Christians. It is a time to remember the great sacrifice that Jesus made for all of humanity and the power of God's love and the promise of eternal life. Christians might attend a church service that recounts Jesus's painful crucifixion, and some even refrain from eating (also known as fasting) to show their sorrow.
The liturgical celebration of Good Friday has undergone various changes over the centuries. In the Roman Catholic Church, the mass is not celebrated on Good Friday, though a liturgy is performed. In the Anglican Communion, The Book of Common Prayer provides for a Good Friday reception of the "reserved sacrament", the consumption of bread and wine that was consecrated the previous day.
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It commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus
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. It is also known as Black Friday, Holy Friday, Great Friday, Good Friday of the Passion of the Lord, and Great and Holy Friday.
The day is observed by members of many Christian denominations, including the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran, Anglican, Methodist, Oriental Orthodox, United Protestant, and some Reformed traditions. Many observe the day with fasting and church services.
Good Friday is observed on the Friday before Easter and is preceded by Maundy Thursday, which commemorates the Last Supper. The date varies from year to year in both the Gregorian and Julian calendars.
According to the accounts in the Gospels, Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, betrayed by his disciple Judas Iscariot. He was then taken to the house of Caiaphas, the high priest, where he was interrogated and accused of blasphemy. Jesus was then tried by Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, who sentenced him to crucifixion at the demand of the chief Jewish priests.
Jesus was forced to carry his cross to the place of execution, known as "the place of the Skull" or "Golgotha" in Hebrew and Latin, respectively. He was crucified alongside two criminals, and during his last three hours on the cross, from noon to 3 pm, darkness fell over the whole land. Jesus uttered his final words, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit," and died.
The events of Good Friday are recounted in all four Gospels of the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The day is a time for Christians to reflect on the sacrifice made by Jesus and the power of God's love, offering hope and the promise of eternal life.
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It is a day of fasting and prayer
Good Friday is a Christian holy day that commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary. It is observed as a fast and a day of prayer by many Christian denominations, including Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran, Anglican, Methodist, Oriental Orthodox, United Protestant, and some Reformed traditions.
Fasting on Good Friday is a way to unite one's focus on Christ and to reflect on his suffering and sacrifice. Many Christians abstain from food or other activities to devote that time to prayer. In the Catholic Church, Good Friday and Ash Wednesday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence, with members permitted to eat only one full meal and two smaller meals that do not equal a full meal. The fast is often continued until the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday night to honour the suffering and death of Jesus.
Good Friday is also a day of prayer for Christians. Church services are held, with specific observations sometimes taking place between 12 noon and 3 pm, the hours during which Christ was on the cross. Hymns and songs are sung as an act of worship, and in some traditions, such as the Orthodox and Byzantine Catholic churches, there are specific rituals and processions that take place.
The day is a time for Christians to mourn and reflect on the great sacrifice that Jesus made, as well as to remember the power of God's love and the promise of eternal life. It is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope, as Jesus' resurrection conquered death and opened the way for eternal life for those who believe in him.
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Good Friday is part of Holy Week
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. Holy Week is the most sacred week in the liturgical year in Christianity. It is a moveable observance, falling in either March or April.
Holy Week begins with the commemoration of Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and ends with Christ's rest in death and descent into hell on Holy Saturday. The week marks the betrayal of Jesus, the Mystical or Last Supper, and the Passion of Jesus.
Good Friday is the Friday before Easter and is also known as Holy Friday, Great Friday, and Black Friday. It is a widely instituted legal holiday around the world, including in most Western countries and 12 U.S. states. The date varies from year to year in both the Gregorian and Julian calendars.
Good Friday is a day of fasting and church services for many Christian denominations, including Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran, Anglican, Methodist, Oriental Orthodox, United Protestant, and some Reformed traditions. In many churches, the Service of the Great Three Hours' Agony is held from noon until 3 p.m., marking the hours of darkness that covered the land until Jesus' death on the cross.
Good Friday is also a day of hope and new beginnings, reminding Christians that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope. Through his resurrection, Jesus conquered death and opened the way for eternal life for all who believe in him.
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It is also known as Black Friday
Good Friday, the Friday before Easter, is also known as Black Friday. This Christian holiday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. It is a day of mourning and reflection for Christians, as they remember the sacrifice that Jesus made for humanity and the power of God's love.
The term "Good Friday" is derived from the sense of 'pious' or 'holy' associated with the word 'good'. However, the day itself is marked by sorrow and penance, leading to alternative names such as "Black Friday", which reflect the sombre nature of the occasion. The German name for Good Friday, "Karfreitag", translates to "Sorrowful Friday".
Good Friday is observed with fasting and church services by members of many Christian denominations, including Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran, Anglican, Methodist, and Moravian traditions. The day is also marked as a legal holiday in several countries and territories with a strong Christian tradition.
Good Friday is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope. Jesus' death on the cross was not the end, but rather the beginning of something new. Through his resurrection, Jesus conquered death and opened the way for eternal life for all who believe in him.
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Frequently asked questions
Good Friday is a Christian holy day that commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary.
The origin of the term "Good" is debated. Some believe it developed from an older name, "God's Friday". The term "Good" in this context means holy.
Good Friday is observed on the Friday before Easter Sunday.
Good Friday is a day of somber reflection for Christians. They may attend church services, pray, fast, and/or participate in processions.