Good Friday is the blackest day of Christianity, which marks the passion, crucifixion and burial of the Savior Jesus Christ. It is a day of black fasting, prayer and deep respect, full of old traditions that are still preserved in many areas of Romania.
What is done on Good Friday
During this day, the faithful participate in special services. In the morning of Good Friday, the Imperial Hours are read, and in the evening there is the Denia Prohodului Domnului, the service in which believers and priests sing together the Prohod, which symbolically marks the burial of Jesus Christ.
An important custom is to remove the Holy Epitaph (also called “Holy Air”) from the altar and place it in the middle of the church. This represents the Tomb of Christ, painted on a cult cloth. After this, the faithful pass under the table on which the Epitaph is located, symbolizing the descent into the grave with Christ to later rise with Him
Until Black Lent is observed on Good Friday
In the Orthodox tradition, Good Friday is known as a day of black fasting, that is, a day when the faithful do not eat and drink only water, as a sign of mourning for the crucifixion of the Savior. The black fast is kept throughout the day of Good Friday, from the morning until after the service of Prohod.
What not to do on Good Friday
Among the people there are many customs and restrictions on this sad day for Christians. They vary by geographic area.
- Nettles and vinegar are not used. According to popular belief, it is not good to consume nettles or vinegar because Jesus was beaten with nettles and his lips were wet with vinegar during the crucifixion.
- There is no work in the fields or in the household.
- Of the preparations for Easter, only the cake and Pasca are baked
These local traditions come more from custom than official church order, and the church’s emphasis is on fasting and prayer on this day.
In some areas eggs are dyed
Even though in most of the country Good Friday is considered a day when eggs are not fried, in some regions and households the custom of dyeing eggs or preparing Easter baskets is still preserved early in the morning.
However, most believers choose to dye eggs on Maundy Thursday. The Orthodox Church does not have a strict rule in this regard. The observance of this custom and the spiritual significance of the gesture remain essential.
Other Good Friday traditions
- Lighting candles at graves. After the Prohod service, the faithful go to the cemetery to light candles in memory of those who are no longer physically among us.
- Processions with the Holy Epitaph. After Denia Prohodului, the council surrounds the church three times with the Epitaph, followed by the faithful.
