The Solemn Liturgy of Good Friday

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Above: The Sacred Ministers kneel before the wooden cross, shortly after they carry it down the center aisle and just before they lie prostrate in the chancel.

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The Solemn Liturgy of Good Friday begins silently. The altar remains bare, stripped the previous night at the end of the Solemn Liturgy of Maundy Thursday. Because there are no extra ornamentations in the church whatsoever—no flowers and no colorful falls hanging on the pulpit or lectern—the church is as unadorned as you will ever see it. Even the crosses used in procession are simple black and red. There are no torches flanking the crosses.

After the priests, choir and acolytes enter in silence, the Celebrant says a collect. This, too, is stripped to its core. Normally, the Celebrant sings the Collect, but not on this day.

The Old Testament Lesson is read. Then, the Psalm is sung, the same Psalm you heard sung at the stripping of the altar on Maundy Thursday. The Epistle is read, and you notice there is no “Word of the Lord” and “Thanks be to God” at the end. The word stands entirely on its own.

The congregation then sings a hymn, and during the last two verses, three cantors come forward from the ranks of the gentlemen of the choir, they are blessed by the Rector, and then they move into position to sing the Passion according to Saint John. At the words, “And they took Jesus and led him away,” all stand. At the words, “And he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost,” all kneel in silence, then stand.

A period of silence follows and a homily is given.

The Solemn Collects are said by the Celebrant at the Canterbury stone at the center of entrance to the chancel. These solemn intercessions are chanted for the Church, the world, the suffering, the unconverted, and the departed. At the conclusion of each bidding, the Deacon directs the congregation to kneel briefly, singing, “Let us bow the knee.” Then the Subdeacon sings, “Arise.” The congregation stands and a collect is sung.

During the singing of the next hymn, the three Sacred Ministers walk down the center aisle to the Narthex, where they take hold of the large wooden Cross. After the hymn, they carry it down the center aisle, stopping at the exact same places the Sacrament stopped in procession on Maundy Thursday and the Light of Christ will stop in procession at the Great Vigil. At each stop, a cantor sings ‚ÄúBehold the Wood of the Cross, whereon was hung the world’s salvation.‚Äù And the people respond, ‚ÄúO come, let us worship.‚Äù

The Cross is carried through the chancel to its place on the High Altar, at which point all kneel, and the three Sacred Ministers prostrate themselves in the chancel.

The Reproaches are sung by the choir.

Then, as the congregation remains kneeling, the choir sings a Motet, and the Sacred Ministers go into Sanctuary and kiss the High Altar. Meanwhile, two acolytes go to the Altar of Repose, where the Sacrament was taken the night before, to ready themselves to carry back the candles to the High Altar.

During the singing of the hymn, the Deacon and Subdeacon are escorted to the Altar of Repose. They then carry the Sacrament back to the High Altar in a procession led by the acolytes carrying the candles.

In the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, the congregation confesses its sins and says the Lord’s Prayer. All baptized Christians come forward to receive communion.

The Postcommunion Prayer is said by all kneeling and a motet is sung: He was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; he suffered and was buried.

The clergy, choir, and acolytes depart in silence, followed by the congregation.

A retiring collection is taken, with the money given for the Church’s work in the Holy Land.

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