On April 14, on the Holy and Great Friday we had two special services in our parish temple. This day is the most sorrowful day in Christian calendar. On Holy Friday we commemorate crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ, His death on the Cross, as well as His burial. St. George Church’s Rector, Archpriest Igor Tarasov served Vespers with the procession of the Shroud at 4:00 PM. .

At the end of this service holy Shroud had been solemnly carried out from the altar to the middle of the church and placed there for veneration.

Following the dismissal the Rector preached a homily. He stressed that Holy and Great Friday is the saddest and most sorrowful day of the year because on this day the Son of God died on the cross. “God is dead”, – such was a statement made by some non-religious philosophers. But on Good Friday we observe that God who became Man truly died. Further Fr. Igor called the faithful to be with Jesus always, not just on the joyful days of His triumph but also during the Holy Week when He suffered.

At 7:00 PM Fr. Igor celebrated Matins on the Lord’s Tomb. Most of this service was performed before the Shroud placed in the middle of the church. After the Great Doxologion the priest, the altar server and parishioners performed the procession around the church. The Rector carried the holy Shroud resembling burial of the Lord.