Good Friday (Great Friday)

Crucifixion of Jesus

The theme of each canonical hour in the Good Friday prayers are provided below. 

• Midnight Prayers - Second Qauma - Jesus seized at the Garden of Gethsemane
• Morning Prayers - Jesus delivered to Pontius Pilate
• Third Hour - Pilate releases Barabbas and delivers Jesus to be crucified; 1st Procession - procession outside the church recalling Jesus' journey to Golgotha. Once the procession enters the church, all the lights and candles are put out showing darkness engulfed the earth from the sixth hour until noon.
• Sixth (Noon) Hour - Jesus crucified
• Ninth Hour - Jesus gave up His spirit and died on the cross
• Veneration of the Cross - Everyone venerates the cross before the burial service
• Exaltation of the Cross - 2nd procession - inside the church - recalling the event of Joseph of Arimathea taking down Jesus' body from the cross for burial
• Burial Service - Burial service conducted behind closed sanctuary

Good Friday

• Evening

Many bulls have surrounded me; fierce bulls of Bashan have encircled me (Psalm 22:13)

• St. Luke 22:1-30
• Midnight
• First Qauma

For dogs have surrounded me; A band of evildoers has encompassed me (Psalm 22:17)

• St. Matthew 26:31-46
• Second Qauma

For dogs have surrounded me; A band of evildoers has encompassed me (Psalm 22:17)

• St. Mark 14:27-52
• Third Qauma

For dogs have surrounded me; A band of evildoers has encompassed me (Psalm 22:17)

• St. John 18:12-15
• St. Matthew 27:1-14

• Fourth Qauma

For dogs have surrounded me; A band of evildoers has encompassed me (Psalm 22:17)

• St. Luke 22:31-62

• Morning
• Leviticus 4:1-7, 16:3-34
• Numbers 19:1-11
• Acts 22:30-23:16
• I Corinthians 1:18-31
• Hebrews 9:11-14

My friends and companions stand aloof from my affliction, and my kinsmen stand far off (Psalm 38:12)

                         Gospel Readings (combined)

• St. Matthew 27:3 -10
• St. Mark 15:1-10
• St. Luke 22:63-71

• Third Hour (9 a.m.)

I will cast my shoes upon Edom and I will shout over Philistia (Psalm 60:8)  

                         Gospel Readings (combined)

• St.Luke 23:2-3
• St.John 18:28-40
• St. Mark 15:12-15
• St.Matthew 27:12-14
• St.Luke 23:4-16
• St.Matthew 27:15-21
• St.Luke 23:22
• St.Matthew 27:24-25
• St.Luke 23:23-25
• St.Matthew 27:26-31

• Noon (12 p.m.)

They also gave me gall for my food, And for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink (Psalm 69:22)

                            Gospel Readings (combined)

• St. Luke 23:26-34
• St. Matthew 27:34.
• St. John 19:23-24.
• St. Matthew 27:36-37,39-43
• St. Luke 26:36-37
• St. John 19:25-27

• Ninth Hour (3 p.m.)

All who see me mock me; they curl their lips and jeer; they shake their heads at me (Psalm 22:8)

                            Gospel Readings (combined)

• St. Matthew 27:45-47
• St. John 19:28-29
• St. Matthew 27:49
• St. John 19:30
• St. Luke 23:46
• St. John 19:30
• St. Matthew 27:51-56
• Veneration of the Holy Cross
• Genesis 22:1-14
• Exodus 17:8-14
• Isaiah 52:13-53:12
• I Peter 2:19-25
• Galatians 2: 20-3: 14, 6:11-18

They divided My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots, Halleluiah.. (Psalm 22:18)

                            Gospel Readings (combined)

• St. John 19:31-42
• St. Matthew 27:60
• St. Luke 23:55-56