Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu recently conveyed heartfelt blessings on the occasion of Good Friday, recognizing its profound significance in the Christian faith. Good Friday stands as a solemn reminder of the ultimate sacrifice, boundless love, and divine redemption embodied by Jesus Christ.
Good Friday, also known as Holy Friday, Great Friday, or Black Friday, holds a central place in Christian tradition, commemorating the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ at Calvary. Observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum, it serves as a time of reflection, repentance, and spiritual renewal for believers worldwide.
Members of various Christian denominations, including Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran, Anglican, Methodist, and others, mark Good Friday with fasting, solemn church services, and meditative rituals. In many churches, such as Lutheran, Anglican, and Methodist, the Service of the Great Three Hours’ Agony is held, spanning from noon until 3 pm—the duration of darkness recorded during Jesus’ crucifixion.
Even within Arunachal Pradesh, the Moravian Church has its unique tradition of cleaning gravestones in Moravian cemeteries on Good Friday, underscoring the reverence and significance of the day.
The date of Good Friday varies each year according to the Gregorian and Julian calendars, reflecting the nuanced computations of Easter, with which it is intricately linked. Despite the divergent traditions within Eastern and Western Christianity, Good Friday holds a universal observance as a day of mourning and spiritual contemplation.
Recognizing its significance, many countries worldwide, including most Western nations and several U.S. states, designate Good Friday as a legal holiday. In countries like Germany, where it is observed solemnly, certain activities like public dancing and horse racing are prohibited as a mark of respect for the somber nature of the occasion.
As believers around the world engage in prayer, reflection, and acts of compassion on Good Friday, Chief Minister Pema Khandu’s message serves as a poignant reminder of the timeless themes of sacrifice, love, and redemption embodied by Jesus Christ, inspiring hope and renewal for all.
