Today the Orthodox Church observes Great and Holy Friday, the fifth
Today the Orthodox Church observes Great and Holy Friday, the fifth day of the Holy and Great Easter Week, culminating in two days with Pascha, as Easter Sunday is called by the Church – from the Aramaic word for “Passover”.
Orthodox faithful around the world today commemorate the Holy Passion of Christ, as it is referred in the Liturgy and Orthodox tradition.
At the Vespers service on Friday evening the image of Christ is removed from the Cross and wrapped in a white cloth. Another icon, one that depicts the body of Christ removed from the Cross, appears on the Epitaphios – which is an icon typically consisting of a large, embroidered and richly adorned cloth, bearing an image of the dead body of Christ and known as “The Extreme Humility”. The latter is carried and placed in the Tomb during this solemn and reverent service.
Orthodox Churches also display an icon of the Crucifixion of Christ — shown nailed to the Cross. His right side is pierced and from the wound flows blood and water. At the foot of the Cross is a skull. (Golgotha, the Mount of the Crucifixion (Calvary), means “the place of the skull.”) Tradition related
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