Kerala - Kollam   

Fasting, prayers mark Good Friday

Photos: C. SURESH KUMAR & Leju Kamal

COMMEMORATING THE PASSION: The faithful taking part in the Way of the Cross ritual organised by Thope Saint Stephens Parish Church in Kollam on Good Friday, and (right) a procession in Thiruvalla town. –

KOLLAM: With fasting and prayers Christians all over the district observed Good Friday by commemorating the passion and crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

While the church ceremonies began in the evening, the faithful arrived at the churches in the morning itself to engage themselves in prayers.

The Way of the Cross ritual was one of the highlights of the Good Friday observance. The ritual organised by many of the parishes was held through the streets with the faithful symbolically erecting the 14 Stations of the Cross en route. Those participating in the ritual stood at each station for prayers and hymns.

Two of the most conspicuous Way of the Cross ritual held in the city were those organised by the Thope Saint Stephens parish and the one jointly organised at Tangasseri by the Holy Cross parish and the Infant Jesus Cathedral parish.

At each station of the Way of the Cross organised by the Thope parish church and at Tangasseri, there were sermons. Kollam Bishop Stanley Roman delivered a sermon each for the Tangasseri and Thope Way of the Cross rituals.

Episcopal Vicar Paul Mullassery, priests, nuns and others from the laity also delivered sermons at various stations.

Many among the faithful also engaged in the traditional custom of visiting several churches after the conclusion of the formal ceremonies at their respective parishes.

Good Friday is followed by the celebration of Easter Sunday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Easter ceremonies will begin with mid-night mass on Saturday at most churches.

Pathanamthitta Staff Reporter writes:

Good Friday was solemnly observed with prayers and processions in Pathanamthitta district on Friday.

The faithful turned out in large numbers at churches across the region and took out ‘Way of the Cross’ processions, commemorating the crucifixion of Christ.

Special prayer sessions and retreats were held at various churches and the faithful were served with rice gruel in the afternoon.

The devout thronged the St. Johns Cathedral attached to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Thiruvalla for Lent and to listen to the sermons.

Processions were carried out at Parumala St. Peter’s and St Paul’s Church; St. Thomas Orthodox Cathedral in Adoor; Vanchitra Mar Behahnania Orthodox Church, near Kozhencherry; Kadambanad St. Thomas Cathedral, near Adoor; St. Stephens Cathedral in Pathanamthitta; Vallamala St. Mary’s Orthodox Church; Kallooppara St. Mary’s Orthodox Church; St. Peters Catholic Church and Mary Matha Feronna Church in Pathanamthitta.

Various churches also organised joint processions at Seethathode, Adoor, Vadasserikkara, Seethathode and to the Kurisumala Mount at Chunkappara as part of the Good Friday observance.

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