Deb on the run - Great and Holy Friday Lamentations

Deb on the run

Apr. 7, 2007

Great and Holy Friday Lamentations

Yesterday afternoon and evening were filled again with scripture and hymns. For the first time this week we had a service almost at its "normal" time (whatever that may be). Vespers for Holy Friday was held in the late afternoon remembering the death and burial of the Lord. Towards the end of the service a shroud with an icon of Christ in death, called a Winding Sheet, is brought out and carried above Father's head by four men. The funeral procession begins. Women follow the procession carrying icons of the Myrrh-Bearing Women while the choir sings:

"The noble Joseph, when he had taken down
Thy most pure Body from the tree,
wrapped it in fine linen, and anointed it with spices,
and placed it in a new tomb.
The angel came to the myrrh-bearing women at the tomb and said,
'Myrrh is meet for the dead,
but Christ has shown Himself a stranger to corruption."

At the completion of the service our parish has the tradition of reading the Psalms in Vigil by the Tomb. This will done until the beginning of the Paschal services at 11:30 on Saturday night. I had considered signing up for one of these time slots but I now have 3 sick kids (one for the 2nd time).

Post A Comment! Send to a Friend!

Comments

Apr. 7, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Elizabeth