View source for Good Friday

{{Short description|Christian holiday}}
{{About|the holiday|other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}{{Use Oxford spelling|date = January 2025}}

{{Infobox holiday
| holiday_name        = Good Friday
| image               = File:Cristo_crucificado.jpg
| caption             = A depiction of Jesus's crucifixion by [[Diego Velázquez]], named "[[Christ Crucified (Velázquez)|Christ Crucified]]", 1632
| date                = The Friday immediately preceding [[Easter|Easter Sunday]]
| date{{LASTYEAR}}    = {{Unbulleted list
| {{Moveable date |holiday = Good Friday |format=infobox |year={{LASTYEAR}}}} (Western)
| {{Moveable date |holiday = Good Friday (Eastern) |format=infobox |year={{LASTYEAR}}}} (Eastern) }}
| date{{CURRENTYEAR}} = {{Unbulleted list
| {{Moveable date |holiday = Good Friday |format=infobox |year={{CURRENTYEAR}} |cite=y}} (Western)
| {{Moveable date |holiday = Good Friday (Eastern) |format=infobox |year={{CURRENTYEAR}}}} (Eastern) }}
| date{{NEXTYEAR}}    = {{Unbulleted list
| {{Moveable date |holiday = Good Friday |format=infobox |year={{NEXTYEAR}}}} (Western)
| {{Moveable date |holiday = Good Friday (Eastern) |format=infobox |year={{NEXTYEAR}}}} (Eastern) }}
| date{{NEXTYEAR|2}}  = {{Unbulleted list
| {{Moveable date |holiday = Good Friday |format=infobox |year={{NEXTYEAR|2}}}} (Western)
| {{Moveable date |holiday = Good Friday (Eastern) |format=infobox |year={{NEXTYEAR|2}}}} (Eastern) }}
| duration            = 
| frequency           = 
| observances         = [[Church service|Worship services]], prayer and [[Vigil (liturgy)|vigil]] services, [[Fasting in religion#Christianity|fasting]], [[almsgiving]]
| celebrations        = Celebration of the Passion of the Lord
| type                = Christian
| significance        = Commemoration of the [[Crucifixion of Jesus|crucifixion]] and the death of [[Jesus Christ]]
| observedby          = [[Christians]]
| relatedto           = [[Passover]], [[Christmas]] (which celebrates the [[Nativity of Jesus|birth]] of Jesus), [[Septuagesima]], [[Quinquagesima]], [[Shrove Tuesday]], [[Ash Wednesday]], [[Lent]], [[Palm Sunday]], [[Holy Wednesday]], [[Maundy Thursday]], and [[Holy Saturday]] which lead up to Easter, [[Easter Sunday]] (primarily), [[Divine Mercy Sunday]], [[Ascension of Jesus Christ|Ascension]], [[Pentecost]], [[Whit Monday]], [[Trinity Sunday]], [[Corpus Christi (feast)|Corpus Christi]] and [[Feast of the Sacred Heart]] which follow it. It is related to the Feast of the [[Exaltation of the Holy Cross]], which focuses on the benefits, graces, and merits of the Cross, rather than Jesus Christ's death.
}}
'''Good Friday''', also known as '''Holy Friday''', '''Great Friday''', '''Great and Holy Friday''', or '''Friday of the Passion of the Lord''',<ref>{{cite book |author1=Franklin M. Segler |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fSRHbo_RfLoC&pg=PA226 |title=Christian Worship: Its Theology And Practice |author2=Randall Bradley |publisher=B&H Publishing Group |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-8054-4067-6 |page=226 |access-date=13 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003004835/https://books.google.com/books?id=fSRHbo_RfLoC&pg=PA226 |archive-date=3 October 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Gilman |first1=Daniel Coit |title=The New International Encyclopaedia |last2=Peck |first2=Harry Thurston |last3=Colby |first3=Frank Moore |date=1903 |publisher=Dodd, Mead and Company |page=77 |language=en |quote=Good Friday is also known as Black Friday in the Western Church, because on that day clerical vestments and altar draperies are black.}}</ref> is a solemn Christian holy day commemorating the [[crucifixion of Jesus]] and his death at [[Calvary]] (Golgotha). It is observed during [[Holy Week]] as part of the [[Paschal Triduum]].

Members of many [[Christian denominations]], including the [[Catholic]], [[Eastern Orthodox]], [[Lutheran]], [[Anglican]], [[Methodist]], [[Oriental Orthodox]], [[United Protestant]] and some [[Reformed tradition]]s (including certain [[Continental Reformed]], [[Presbyterian]] and [[Congregationalist]] churches), observe Good Friday with [[Fasting in religion#Christianity|fasting]] and [[church service]]s.<ref name="RipleyDana1883">{{cite book|last1=Ripley|first1=George|last2=Dana|first2=Charles Anderson|title=The American Cyclopaedia: A Popular Dictionary for General Knowledge|year=1883|publisher=D. Appleton and Company|language=en |page=101|quote=The Protestant Episcopal, Lutheran, and Reformed churches, as well as many Methodists, observe the day by fasting and special services.}}</ref><ref name="Pfatteicher1990"/><ref name="JacobsHaas1899"/> In many Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican and Methodist churches, the [[Three Hours' Agony|Service of the Great Three Hours' Agony]] is held from noon until 3{{nbsp}}p.m.—the hours the [[Bible]] records [[crucifixion darkness|darkness]] covering the land until Jesus' death on the cross.<ref>{{cite web |title=What is the significance of Good Friday? |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/lifestyle/what-is-the-significance-of-good-friday |publisher=[[The Free Press Journal]] |access-date=3 April 2021 |language=English |date=2 April 2021 |archive-date=3 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003013129/https://www.freepressjournal.in/lifestyle/what-is-the-significance-of-good-friday |url-status=live }}</ref> In the Catholic, Lutheran and Anglican traditions of Christianity, the [[Stations of the Cross]] are prayed in the evening of Good Friday, as with other Fridays of Lent.<ref name="Hill2025">{{cite book |last1=Hill |first1=Wesley |title=Easter: The Season of the Resurrection of Jesus |date=4 February 2025 |publisher=InterVarsity Press |isbn=978-1-5140-0037-3 |language=en |quote=Many Christians are familiar with the so-called Stations of the Cross. If you walk into a Catholic, Lutheran, or Anglican parish church, you are likely to see a series of icons or small carvings set up along the north and south walls of the nave. Each one depicts a moment of Jesus' passion—Jesus' sentencing, his shouldering his cross, his meeting the women of Jerusalem, his stripping, his being nailed to the cross, and so on, continuing through his being laid to rest in the tomb. Originally pilgrims observed these "stations" in Jerusalem, on the Via Dolorosa, the "sorrowful way" from the fortress Antonia in Jerusalem to Golgota outside the city gates, but they exported them around the world so that even those who could not make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land could still pray through them during Lent and Holy Week especially.}}</ref> Communicants of the [[Moravian Church]] have a Good Friday tradition of [[God's Acre|cleaning gravestones in Moravian cemeteries]].<ref name="WSJ2020"/>

The [[Computus|date of Good Friday]] varies from one year to the next in both the [[Gregorian calendar|Gregorian]] and [[Julian calendar|Julian]] calendars. [[Eastern Christianity|Eastern]] and [[Western Christianity]] disagree over the computation of the date of [[Easter]] and therefore of Good Friday. Good Friday is a widely instituted [[public holiday|legal holiday]] around the world.<ref>{{cite book|title=Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Volume 36, Issue 214|year=1868|publisher=Harper & Brothers|page=521|quote=In England Good-Friday and Christmas are the only close holidays of the year when the shops are all closed and the churches opened.}}</ref> Some predominantly [[Christian countries]], such as Germany, have laws prohibiting certain acts—public dancing, horse racing—in remembrance of the sombre nature of Good Friday.<ref name="Petre"/><ref name="Stevens"/>

==Etymology==
The term ''Good Friday'' comes from the sense '[[wikt:pious|pious]], holy' of the word ''good''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.yourdictionary.com/good-friday |title=Good Friday – Definition of Good Friday in the American Heritage Dictionary |publisher=Yourdictionary.com |date=4 April 2014 |access-date=23 April 2014 |archive-date=30 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430172455/https://www.yourdictionary.com/good-friday |url-status=live }}</ref> Less common examples of expressions based on this obsolete sense of ''good'' include 'the good book" for the Bible, 'good tide' for Christmas or [[Shrovetide]], and [[Good Wednesday]] for the Wednesday in Holy Week.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/79925#eid2855682 |title=Home: Oxford English Dictionary |publisher=Oed.com |access-date=23 April 2014 |archive-date=27 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211227231406/https://www.oed.com/start;jsessionid=AC6A96D110D79C6AD2FEA1CCDC2A0C2C?authRejection=true&url=%2Fview%2FEntry%2F79925#eid2855682 |url-status=live }}</ref> With regard to the usual sense of the word ''[[wikt:good|good]]'', "Christians believe that Jesus's death on the cross was the ultimate sacrifice for humanity's sins, saving mankind from death."<ref name="Riggleman2025">{{cite web |last1=Riggleman |first1=Heather |title=What is Good Friday and What is the Meaning of "Good"? |url=https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/easter/why-is-it-called-good-friday.html |website=[[Crosswalk.com]] |access-date=18 April 2025 |language=en |date=11 April 2025}}</ref> 

A common [[folk etymology]] analyses ''Good Friday'' incorrectly as a corruption of ''God Friday'', of a type similar to the (linguistically correct) derivation of ''[[wiktionary: goodbye|goodbye]]'' from a contraction of 'God be with ye'.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MptAAAAAYAAJ&dq=good+friday&pg=PA295 | title=Chambers's Encyclopaedia: A Dictionary of Universal Knowledge | last1=Chambers | first1=Robert | date=7 April 1890 }}</ref> In Old English, the day was called ''Long Friday'' ({{lang|ang|langa frigedæg}} {{IPA|ang|ˈlɑŋɡɑ ˈfriːjedæj|}})—referring to the lengthy observances of fasting and religious services, making it a day of extended devotion—and equivalents of this term are still used in Scandinavian languages and Finnish.<ref>{{cite web |website=runeberg.org |title=Svensk etymologisk ordbok 434 |url=https://runeberg.org/svetym/0522.html |access-date=April 2, 2021 |archive-date=25 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025212047/http://runeberg.org/svetym/0522.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Biblical accounts==
{{main|Passion (Christianity){{!}}Passion|Crucifixion of Jesus|Sayings of Jesus on the cross}}
[[File: Gustave Doré - The Holy Bible - Plate CXLI, The Judas Kiss.jpg|thumb|upright|''The Judas Kiss'' by [[Gustave Doré]], 1866]]
{{Death of Jesus|Holy Week}}
According to the accounts in the Gospels, the royal soldiers, guided by Jesus' disciple [[Judas Iscariot]], [[Arrest of Jesus|arrested]] Jesus in the [[Garden of Gethsemane]]. Judas received money ([[30 pieces of silver]]) <ref>{{Bibleverse||Matthew|26:14–16|KJV}})</ref> for [[Bargain of Judas|betraying Jesus]] and told the guards that whomever [[Kiss of Judas|he kisses]] is the one they are to arrest. Following his arrest, Jesus was taken to the house of [[Annas]], the father-in-law of the [[Cohen Gadol|high priest]], [[Caiaphas]]. There he was interrogated with little result and sent bound to Caiaphas the high priest where the [[Sanhedrin]] had assembled.<ref>{{Bibleverse||John|18:1–24|KJV}}</ref>

Conflicting testimony against Jesus was brought forth by many witnesses, to which Jesus answered nothing. Finally the high priest adjured Jesus to respond under solemn oath, saying "I adjure you, by the Living God, to tell us, are you the Anointed One, the Son of God?" Jesus testified ambiguously, "You have said it, and in time you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Almighty, coming on the clouds of Heaven." The high priest condemned Jesus for [[blasphemy]], and the [[Sanhedrin Trial of Jesus|Sanhedrin concurred with a sentence of death]].<ref>{{Bibleverse||Matthew|26:57–66|KJV}}</ref> Peter, waiting in the courtyard, also [[Denial of Peter|denied Jesus]] three times to bystanders while the interrogations were proceeding just as Jesus had foretold.

In the morning, the whole assembly brought Jesus to the Roman governor [[Pontius Pilate]] under charges of subverting the nation, opposing taxes to Caesar, and making himself a king.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Luke|23:1–2|KJV}}</ref> Pilate authorized the Jewish leaders to judge Jesus according to their own law and execute sentencing; however, the Jewish leaders replied that they were not allowed by the Romans to carry out a sentence of death.<ref>{{Bibleverse||John|18:31|KJV}}</ref>

[[Pilate's court|Pilate questioned]] Jesus and told the assembly that there was no basis for sentencing. Upon learning that Jesus was from Galilee, Pilate referred the case to the ruler of [[Galilee]], [[Herod Antipas|King Herod]], who was in [[Jerusalem]] for the [[Passover]] Feast. [[Jesus at Herod's court|Herod questioned]] Jesus but received no answer; Herod sent Jesus back to Pilate. Pilate told the assembly that neither he nor Herod found Jesus to be guilty; Pilate resolved to have Jesus whipped and released.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Luke|23:3–16|KJV}}</ref> Under the guidance of the chief priests, the crowd asked for [[Barabbas]], who had been imprisoned for committing murder during an insurrection. Pilate asked what they would have him do with Jesus, and they demanded, "Crucify him."<ref>{{Bibleverse||Mark|15:6–14|KJV}}</ref> [[Pontius Pilate's wife|Pilate's wife]] had seen Jesus in a dream earlier that day, and she forewarned Pilate to "have nothing to do with this righteous man."<ref>{{Bibleverse||Matthew|27:19|KJV}}</ref> Pilate had Jesus [[Flagellation of Christ|flogged]] and then brought him out to the crowd to release him. The chief priests informed Pilate of a new charge, demanding Jesus be sentenced to death "because he claimed to be God's son." This possibility filled Pilate with fear, and he brought Jesus back inside the palace and demanded to know from where he came.<ref>{{Bibleverse||John|19:1–9|KJV|}}</ref>

[[File:Ecce homo by Antonio Ciseri (1).jpg|thumb|left|[[Antonio Ciseri]]'s depiction of ''[[Ecce Homo]]'' with Jesus and [[Pontius Pilate]], 19th century]]
Coming before the crowd one last time, Pilate declared Jesus innocent and washed his own hands in water to show he had no part in this condemnation. Nevertheless, Pilate handed Jesus over to be crucified in order to forestall a riot.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Matthew|27:24–26|KJV}}</ref> The sentence written was "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews." Jesus carried his cross to the site of execution (assisted by [[Simon of Cyrene]]), called the "place of the Skull", or "[[Golgotha]]" in Hebrew and in Latin "Calvary". There he was crucified along with two criminals.<ref>{{Bibleverse||John|19:17–22|KJV}})</ref>

Jesus agonized on the cross for three hours, from noon to 3&nbsp;pm, [[Crucifixion darkness|darkness fell over the whole land]].<ref>{{Bibleverse||Matthew|27:45}}; {{Bibleverse||Mark|15:13}}; {{Bibleverse||Luke|23:44}}</ref> In the gospels of Mathew and Mark, Jesus is said to have [[Sayings of Jesus on the cross|spoken from the cross]], quoting the messianic [[Psalm 22]]: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"<ref>{{Bibleverse||Matthew|27:45}}; {{Bibleverse||Mark|15:34}}</ref>

With a loud cry, Jesus gave up his spirit. There was an earthquake, tombs broke open, and the curtain in the Temple was torn from top to bottom. The [[centurion]] on guard at the site of crucifixion declared, "Truly this was God's Son!"<ref>{{Bibleverse||Matthew|27:45–54|KJV}}</ref>

[[Joseph of Arimathea]], a member of the Sanhedrin and a secret follower of Jesus, who had not consented to his condemnation, went to Pilate to request the body of Jesus.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Luke|23:50–52|KJV}}</ref> Another secret follower of Jesus and member of the Sanhedrin named [[Nicodemus]] brought about a hundred-pound weight mixture of spices and helped wrap the body of Jesus.<ref name="Bibleverse||John|19:39–40|KJV">{{Bibleverse||John|19:39–40|KJV}}</ref> Pilate asked confirmation from the centurion of whether Jesus was dead.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Mark|15:44|KJV}}</ref> A soldier pierced the side of Jesus with a lance causing blood and water to flow out,<ref>{{Bibleverse||John|19:34|KJV}}</ref> and the centurion informed Pilate that Jesus was dead.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Mark|15:45|KJV}}</ref>

Joseph of Arimathea took Jesus' body, wrapped it in a clean linen shroud, and placed it in his own new tomb that had been carved in the rock<ref>{{Bibleverse||Matthew|27:59–60|KJV}}</ref> in a garden near the site of the crucifixion. Nicodemus<ref>{{Bibleverse||John|3:1|KJV}}</ref> also brought 75 pounds of [[myrrh]] and [[aloes]], and placed them in the linen with the body, in keeping with Jewish burial customs.<ref name="Bibleverse||John|19:39–40|KJV"/> They rolled a large rock over the entrance of the tomb.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Matthew|27:60|KJV}}</ref> Then they returned home and rested, because [[Shabbat]] had begun at sunset.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Luke|23:54–56|KJV}}</ref>

==Eastern Orthodox==
[[File:Crucifixion by Theophanes the Cretan.jpg|thumb|[[Icon]] of the Crucifixion, 16th century, by [[Theophanes the Cretan]] ([[Stavronikita Monastery]], [[Mount Athos]])]]
Byzantine Christians ([[Eastern Christians]] who follow the [[Rite of Constantinople]]: [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox Christians]] and [[Greek Catholic Church|Greek-Catholics]]) call this day "Great and Holy Friday", or simply "Great Friday".<ref>{{cite book|title=A Concise Dictionary of Theology|author=Gerald O'Collins, Edward G. Farrugia|page=108|publisher=Paulist Press|year=2013|isbn=978-1-587-68236-0}}</ref> Because the sacrifice of Jesus through his crucifixion is recalled on this day, the [[Divine Liturgy]] (the sacrifice of bread and wine) is never celebrated on Great Friday, except when this day coincides with the [[Great Feast]] of the [[Annunciation]], which falls on the fixed date of 25 March (for those churches which follow the traditional [[Julian Calendar]], 25 March currently falls on 7 April of the modern [[Gregorian Calendar]]). Also on Great Friday, the clergy no longer wear the purple or red that is customary throughout [[Great Lent]],<ref>There is a wide variety of uses regarding the [[liturgical colors]] worn during Great Lent and Holy Week in the Rite of Constantinople.</ref> but instead don [[black vestments]]. There is no "stripping of the altar" on [[Maundy Thursday|Holy and Great Thursday]] as in the West; instead, all of the [[antipendia|church hangings]] are changed to black, and will remain so until the Divine Liturgy on [[Great Saturday]].<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VcQ7AQAAQBAJ&pg=PA131 |page=131 |title=Worship for the Whole People of God: Vital Worship for the 21st Century |author=Ruth C. Duck |publisher=Westminster John Knox Press |year=2013|isbn=978-0-664-23427-0 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Holy Saturday |work=Serbian Orthodox Church |access-date=29 March 2024 |url= http://arhiva.spc.rs/eng/holy_saturday.html |language=en}}</ref>

The faithful revisit the events of the day through the public reading of specific [[Psalms]] and the [[Gospel]]s, and singing [[hymn]]s about Christ's death. Rich visual imagery and symbolism, as well as stirring hymnody, are remarkable elements of these observances. In the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] understanding, the events of [[Holy Week]] are not simply an annual commemoration of past events, but the faithful actually participate in the death and the [[resurrection of Jesus]].<ref name="Bulg">{{Cite book
|last = Bulgakov
|first = Sergei V.
|year = 1900
|title = Handbook for Church Servers
|edition = 2nd
|page = 543
|chapter = Great Friday
|place = Kharkov
|publisher = Tr. Archpriest Eugene D. Tarris
|url = http://transfig.orthodoxws.com/files/Bulgakov/0543.pdf
|access-date = 6 April 2015
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160303215940/http://transfig.orthodoxws.com/files/Bulgakov/0543.pdf
|archive-date = 3 March 2016
|url-status = dead
}}</ref>

Great and Holy Friday is observed as an absolute [[Fasting|fast]], and adult Byzantine Christians are expected to abstain from all food and drink the entire day to the extent that their health permits. "On this Holy day neither a meal is offered nor do we eat on this day of the crucifixion. If someone is unable or has become very old [or is] unable to fast, he may be given bread and water after sunset. In this way we come to the holy commandment of the Holy Apostles not to eat on Great Friday." (cf. ''[[Black Fast]]'')<ref name="Bulg"/>

===Matins of Holy and Great Friday===
The Byzantine Christian observance of Holy and Great Friday, which is formally known as '''The Order of Holy and Saving Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ''', begins on Thursday night with the '''Matins of the Twelve Passion Gospels'''. Scattered throughout this [[Matins]] service are twelve readings from all four of the Gospels which recount the events of the [[Passion (Christianity)|Passion]] from the [[Last Supper]] through the [[Crucifixion]] and [[Holy Sepulchre|burial]] of Jesus. Some churches have a candelabrum with twelve candles on it, and after each Gospel reading one of the candles is extinguished.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Matins for Great and Holy Friday|url=https://mci.archpitt.org/sheetmusic/general/Holy_Friday_Matins.pdf|url-status=live|archive-date=3 October 2021|access-date=3 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003013131/https://mci.archpitt.org/sheetmusic/general/Holy_Friday_Matins.pdf}}</ref>
[[File:Agias Triados frescos cross.jpg|thumb|upright|Good Friday cross from the [[Katholikon|Catholicon]] at Holy Trinity Monastery, [[Meteora]], Greece]]

The first of these twelve readings<ref>{{Bibleverse||John|13:31–18:1|KJV}}</ref> is the longest Gospel reading of the [[Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar|liturgical year]], and is a [[concatenation]] from all [[four Gospels]]. Just before the sixth Gospel reading, which recounts Jesus being nailed to the cross, a large [[Christian cross|cross]] is carried out of the sanctuary by the priest, accompanied by [[incense]] and candles, and is placed in the center of the [[nave]] (where the congregation gathers) ''Sēmeron Kremātai Epí Xýlou'':

<blockquote>Today He who hung the earth upon the waters is hung upon the Cross ''(three times)''.<br>He who is King of the angels is arrayed in a crown of thorns.<br>He who wraps the Heavens in clouds is wrapped in the purple of mockery. <br>He who in Jordan set Adam free receives blows upon His face.<br>The Bridegroom of the Church is transfixed with nails. <br>The Son of the Virgin is pierced with a spear.<br>We venerate Thy Passion, O Christ ''(three times)''.<br>Show us also Thy glorious Resurrection.<ref>{{Cite book
|last = Archimandrite Kallistos (Ware) and Mother Mary
|year = 2002
|title = The Lenten Triodion
|chapter = Service of the Twelve Gospels
|page = 587
|place = South Cannan, PA
|publisher = St. Tikhon's Seminary Press
}}</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2QNbTDjvJ0 Today He who hung the earth upon the waters ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211007040503/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2QNbTDjvJ0 |date=7 October 2021 }} Chanted by the Byzantine Choir of Athens</ref>
</blockquote>

The readings are:

# John 13:31-18:1 – Christ's last sermon, Jesus prays for the [[Apostles in the New Testament|apostles]]
# John 18:1–28 – The agony in the [[Garden of Gethsemane|garden]], the mockery and denial of Christ
# Matthew 26:57–75 – The mockery of Christ, [[Saint Peter|Peter]] denies Christ
# John 18:28–19:16 – [[Pontius Pilate|Pilate]] questions Jesus; Jesus is condemned; Jesus is mocked by the Romans.
# Matthew 27:3–32 – [[Judas]] commits suicide; Jesus is condemned; Jesus mocked by the Romans; [[Simon of Cyrene]] compelled to carry the cross
# Mark 15:16–32 – Jesus dies
# Matthew 27:33–54 – Jesus dies
# Luke 23:32–49 – Jesus dies
# John 19:25–37 – Jesus dies
# Mark 15:43–47 – [[Joseph of Arimathea]] buries Jesus
# John 19:38–42 – Joseph of Arimathea buries Jesus
# Matthew 27:62–66 – The Jews set a guard

During the service, all come forward to kiss the feet of Christ on the cross. After the [[Canon (hymnography)|Canon]], a brief, moving hymn, ''The Wise Thief'' is chanted by singers who stand at the foot of the cross in the center of the nave. The service does not end with the [[First Hour]], as usual, but with a special [[dismissal (liturgy)|dismissal]] by the priest:

<blockquote>May Christ our true God, Who for the salvation of the world endured spitting, and scourging, and buffeting, and the Cross, and death, through the intercessions of His [[Theotokos|most pure Mother]], of our holy and [[Holy Fathers|God-bearing fathers]], and of all the [[saint]]s, have mercy on us and save us, for He is good and the Lover of mankind.</blockquote>

===Royal Hours===
[[File:Service of the Royal Hours - Great Friday -- Annunciation, Toronto, 2014.JPG|right|thumb|Vigil during the Service of the Royal Hours]]
{{main|Royal Hours}}
The next day, in the forenoon on Friday, all gather again to pray the '''''Royal Hours''''',<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRSgOFbH-fQ |title=Royal Hours |website=[[YouTube]] |date=26 April 2019 |access-date=30 April 2019 |archive-date=2 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211002232857/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRSgOFbH-fQ |url-status=live }}</ref> a special expanded celebration of the [[Little Hours]] (including the First Hour, [[Third Hour]], [[Sext|Sixth Hour]], [[Ninth Hour]] and [[Typica]]) with the addition of scripture readings ([[Old Testament]], [[Epistle]] and Gospel) and hymns about the Crucifixion at each of the Hours (some of the material from the previous night is repeated). This is somewhat more festive in character, and derives its name of "Royal" from both the fact that the Hours are served with more solemnity than normal, commemorating Christ the King who humbled himself for the salvation of mankind, and also from the fact that this service was in the past attended by the Emperor and his court.<ref>{{Cite web|title=What happened on Good Friday? The Easter story explained|url=https://metro.co.uk/2018/03/30/happened-good-friday-easter-story-explained-7428082/|date=2018-03-30|website=Metro|language=en|access-date=2020-05-27|archive-date=1 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001104530/https://metro.co.uk/2018/03/30/happened-good-friday-easter-story-explained-7428082/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Vespers of Holy and Great Friday===
[[File:Toronto-Apokathylosis-2012-04-13.jpg|thumb|The crucified Christ, just before the [[Deposition from the Cross]] and the placing of the [[Epitaphios (liturgical)|Epitaphios]] in the Sepulchre]]
In the afternoon, around 3&nbsp;pm, all gather for the Vespers of the Taking-Down from the Cross,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTqiy-p7EkA |title=Vespers of the Taking-Down from the Cross |website=[[YouTube]] |date=26 April 2019 |access-date=30 April 2019 |archive-date=2 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211002232858/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTqiy-p7EkA |url-status=live }}</ref> commemorating the [[Deposition from the Cross]]. Following Psalm 103 (104) and the Great Litany, 'Lord, I call' is sung without a Psalter reading. The first five stichera (the first being repeated) are taken from the Aposticha at Matins the night before, but the final 3 of the 5 are sung in Tone 2. Three more stichera in Tone 6 lead to the Entrance. The Evening Prokimenon is taken from Psalm 21 (22): 'They parted My garments among them, and cast lots upon My vesture.'

There are then four readings, with Prokimena before the second and fourth:

* Exodus 33:11-23 - God shows Moses His glory
* The second Prokimenon is from Psalm 34 (35): 'Judge them, O Lord, that wrong Me: fight against them that fight against Me.'
* Job 42:12-20 - God restores Job's wealth (note that verses 18-20 are found only in the Septuagint)
* Isaiah 52:13-54:1 - The fourth [[Servant songs|Suffering Servant song]]
* The third Prokimenon is from Psalm 87 (88): 'They laid me in the lowest pit: in dark places and in the shadow of death.'
* 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:2 - St. Paul places Christ crucified as the centre of the Christian life

An Alleluia is then sung, with verses from Psalm 68 (69): 'Save Me, O God: for the waters are come in, even unto my soul.'

The Gospel reading is a composite taken from three of the four the Gospels (Matthew 27:1-38; Luke 23:39-43; Matthew 27:39-54; John 19:31-37; Matthew 27:55-61), essentially the story of the crucifixion as it appears according to St. Matthew, interspersed with St. Luke's account of the confession of the Good Thief and St. John's account of blood and water flowing from Jesus' side. During the Gospel, the body of Christ (the ''soma'') is removed from the cross, and, as the words in the Gospel reading mention Joseph of Arimathea, is wrapped in a linen shroud, and taken to the [[altar]] in the sanctuary.[[File:Gold embroidery example.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Epitaphios (liturgical)|epitaphios]] ("winding sheet"), depicting the preparation of the body of Jesus for burial]] The Aposticha reflects on the burial of Christ. Either at this point (in the Greek use) or during the troparion following (in the Slav use):

{{blockquote|text=Noble Joseph, taking down Thy most pure body from the Tree, wrapped it in pure linen and spices, and he laid it in a new tomb.<ref name="Ware-1977">{{cite book |last1=Ware |first1=Kallistos |last2=Mother Mary |title=The Lenten Triodion |date=1977 |publisher=St Tikhon's Seminary Press |location=South Canaan, PA |isbn=1-878997-51-3 |page=616}}</ref>}}

An ''[[Epitaphios (liturgical)|epitaphios]]'' or "winding sheet" (a cloth embroidered with the image of Christ prepared for burial) is carried in procession to a low table in the nave which represents the Tomb of Christ; it is often decorated with an abundance of flowers. The epitaphios itself represents the body of Jesus wrapped in a burial shroud, and is a roughly full-size cloth icon of the body of Christ. The service ends with a hope of the Resurrection:

{{blockquote|text=The Angel stood by the tomb, and to the women bearing spices he cried aloud: 'Myrrh is fitting for the dead, but Christ has shown Himself a stranger to corruption.<ref name="Ware-1977"/>}}

Then the priest may deliver a [[homily]] and everyone comes forward to venerate the epitaphios. In the [[Slavic peoples|Slavic]] practice, at the end of Vespers, [[Compline]] is immediately served, featuring a special ''Canon of the Crucifixion of our Lord and the Lamentation of the Most Holy Theotokos'' by Symeon the Logothete.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Good Friday {{!}} Definition, History, & Facts|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Good-Friday|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en|access-date=2020-05-27|archive-date=2 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200502051925/https://www.britannica.com/topic/Good-Friday|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Matins of Holy and Great Saturday===
[[File:Epitaphios Peleka.jpg|thumb|left|The Epitaphios being carried in [[procession]] in a church in Greece]]
On Friday night, the Matins of [[Holy and Great Saturday]], a unique service known as ''The Lamentation at the Tomb''<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2_zMVTcdpg |title=The Lamentation at the Tomb |website=[[YouTube]] |date=26 April 2019 |access-date=30 April 2019 |archive-date=5 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211005142107/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2_zMVTcdpg |url-status=live }}</ref> ''(Epitáphios Thrēnos)'' is celebrated. This service is also sometimes called ''Jerusalem Matins''. Much of the service takes place around the tomb of Christ in the center of the nave.  In Greek communities all over the world, the Epitaphios procession is a ceremonial funeral procession for Christ that takes place in Greek Orthodox and Byzantine Catholic traditions on Good Friday, where a decorated kouvouklion is carried around local cities.  The decorated kouvouklion symbolizes the casket or tomb of Jesus Christ, and when it is fully decorated with flowers, candles, and the special iconographic cloth depicting the dead body of Christ known as the epitaphios cloth, the entire object is referred to as the Epitaphios.<ref>{{Cite web|title=History of Good Friday – Good Friday Story, Eastergoodfriday.com|url=http://www.eastergoodfriday.com/history-of-good-friday.html|website=www.eastergoodfriday.com|access-date=2020-05-27|archive-date=3 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003004835/http://www.eastergoodfriday.com/history-of-good-friday.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Epitaphios.jpg|thumb|Epitaphios adorned for veneration, Church of Saints Constantine and Helen, Hippodromion Sq., Thessaloniki, Greece]]
A unique feature of the service is the chanting of the Lamentations or Praises (''[[Encomium|Enkōmia]]''), which consist of verses chanted by the clergy 9 interspersed between the verses of [[Psalm 119|Psalm 118]] (which is, by far, the longest [[psalm]] in the Bible). The ''Enkōmia'' are the best-loved hymns of Greek Byzantine hymnography, both their poetry and their music being uniquely suited to each other and to the spirit of the day.<ref name="Maunder">{{Cite book |last=Maunder |first=Chris |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NgulDwAAQBAJ&dq=good+friday+possibly+before+the+time+of+St.+Romanos+the+Melodist.&pg=PA159 |title=The Oxford Handbook of Mary |date=2019-08-07 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-879255-0 |language=en}}</ref>
[[File:Holy Friday, Greece.png|thumb|350 px|left|''Holy Friday, Greece'' by [[Théodore Ralli|Théodore Jacques Ralli]] c. 1893, Greek women decorating the kouvouklion with flowers featuring the iconographic cloth known as the Epitaphios.]]
They consist of 185 [[tercet]] [[antiphon]]s arranged in three parts (''stáseis'' or "stops"), which are interjected with the verses of Psalm 118, and nine short ''doxastiká'' ("[[Gloria in excelsis Deo|Gloriae]]") and ''Theotókia'' (invocations to the Virgin Mary). The three ''stáseis'' are each set to its own music, and are commonly known by their initial antiphons: {{lang|grc|Ἡ ζωὴ ἐν τάφῳ}}, "Life in a grave", {{lang|grc|Ἄξιον ἐστί}}, "Worthy it is", and {{lang|grc|Αἱ γενεαὶ πᾶσαι}}, "All the generations". Musically they can be classified as [[strophic]], with 75, 62, and 48 tercet [[stanza]]s each, respectively.<ref name="Maunder"/>

The climax of the ''Enkōmia'' comes during the third ''stásis'', with the antiphon "Ω γλυκύ μου ἔαρ", a lamentation of the Virgin for her dead Child ("O, my sweet spring, my sweetest child, where has your beauty gone?"). Later, during a different antiphon of that stasis ("Early in the morning the myrrh-bearers came to Thee and sprinkled myrrh upon Thy tomb"), young girls of the parish place flowers on the Epitaphios and the priest sprinkles it with rose-water. The author(s) and date of the ''Enkōmia'' are unknown. Their High Attic linguistic style suggests a dating around the 6th century, possibly before the time of [[St. Romanos the Melodist]].<ref name="Maunder"/>
[[File:Epitaph Adelaide.jpg|thumb|The Epitaphios mounted upon return of procession, at an Orthodox Church in Adelaide, Australia]]

The Evlogitaria (Benedictions) of the Resurrection are sung as on Sunday, since they refer to the  conversation between the myrrh-bearers and the angel in the tomb, followed by kathismata about the burial of Christ. Psalm 50 (51) is then immediately read, and then followed by a much loved-canon, written by Mark the Monk, Bishop of Hydrous and Kosmas of the Holy City, with irmoi by Kassiani the Nun. The high-point of the much-loved Canon is Ode 9, which takes the form of a dialogue between Christ and the Theotokos, with Christ promising His Mother the hope of the Resurrection. This Canon will be sung again the following night at the Midnight Office.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Smith |first1=William |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LTb6zWm5PMcC&dq=%22Ode+9%22+%22saturday%22+%22midnight+office%22&pg=PA1446 |title=Encyclopaedic Dictionary Of Christian Antiquities (in 9 Volumes) |last2=Cheetham |first2=Samuel |date=2005 |publisher=Concept Publishing Company |isbn=978-81-7268-111-1 |pages=1446 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Drillock |first1=David |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LD3IFU9NklwC&dq=%22Ode+9%22+%22saturday%22+%22Evlogitaria%22&pg=PR5 |title=Holy Week |last2=Erickson |first2=John H. |date=2005 |publisher=St Vladimir's Seminary Press |isbn=978-0-88141-023-5 |language=en}}</ref>

Lauds follows, and its stichera take the form of a funeral lament, while always preserving the hope of the Resurrection. The doxasticon links Christ's rest in the tomb with His rest on the seventh day of creation, and the theotokion ("Most blessed art thou, O Virgin Theotokos...) is the same as is used on Sundays.{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}

At the end of the [[Great Doxology]], while the [[Trisagion]] is sung, the epitaphios is taken in [[crucession|procession]] around the outside of the church, and is then returned to the tomb. Some churches observe the practice of holding the epitaphios at the door, above waist level, so the faithful must bow down under it as they come back into the church, symbolizing their entering into the death and resurrection of Christ. The epitaphios will lie in the tomb until the Paschal Service early Sunday morning. In some churches, the epitaphios is never left alone, but is accompanied 24 hours a day by a reader chanting from the Psalter.{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}}

When the procession has returned to the church, a troparion is read, similar to the ones read at the Sixth Hour throughout Lent, focusing on the purpose of Christ's burial. A series of prokimena and readings are then said:

* The first prokimenon is from Psalm 43 (44): 'Arise, Lord, and help us: and deliver us for Thy Name's sake.'
* Ezekiel 37:1-14 - God tells Ezekiel to command bones to come to life.
* The second prokimenon is from Psalm 9 (9–10), and is based on the verses sung at the kathismata and Lauds on Sundays: 'Arise, O Lord my God, lift up Thine hand: forget not Thy poor forever.'
* 1 Corinthians 5:6-8; Galatians 3:13-14 - St. Paul celebrates the Passion of Christ and explains its role in the life of Gentile Christians.
* The Alleluia verses are from Psalm 67 (68), and are based on the Paschal verses: 'Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered.'
* Matthew 27:62-66 - The Pharisees ask Pilate to set a watch at the tomb.

At the end of the service, a final hymn is sung as the faithful come to venerate the Epitaphios.{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}

==Roman Catholic==
[[File:Alessandria - Chiesa di San Giovannino - Venerdì santo.jpg|thumb|Good Friday at San Giovannino church in [[Alessandria]], Italy]]

In Latin, the name used by the Catholic Church until 1955 was ''Feria sexta in Parasceve'' ("Friday of Preparation [for the Sabbath]"). In the 1955 reform of Holy Week, it was renamed ''Feria sexta in Passione et Morte Domini'' ("Friday of the Passion and Death of the Lord"), and in the new rite introduced in 1970, shortened to ''Feria sexta in Passione Domini'' ("Friday of the Passion of the Lord").<ref>{{Cite web |title=Compendium of the 1955 Holy Week Revisions of Pius XII: Part 4.1 - Mass of Presanctified, Good Friday, Mass of the Catechumens and the Solemn Prayers |url=https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2009/04/compendium-of-1955-holy-week-revisions.html |access-date=2024-03-29}}</ref>

===Day of Fasting===
[[File:St.Martin-Karfreitag36.JPG|thumb|[[Crucifix]] prepared for veneration]]
The Catholic Church regards Good Friday and [[Holy Saturday]] as the Paschal fast, in accordance with Article 110 of [[Sacrosanctum Concilium]].<ref name="vatican.va">{{cite web|url=https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19631204_sacrosanctum-concilium_en.html|title=Sacrosanctum concilium|access-date=17 April 2017|archive-date=21 February 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080221180735/https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19631204_sacrosanctum-concilium_en.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In the [[Latin Church]], a [[Fasting and abstinence in the Catholic Church|fast day]] is understood as having only one full meal and two [[Collation (meal)|collations]] (a smaller repast, the two of which together do not equal the one full meal)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year/lent/catholic-information-on-lenten-fast-and-abstinence.cfm|title=Fast & Abstinence|website=United States Conference of Catholic Bishops|language=en|access-date=14 April 2017|archive-date=1 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801042327/http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year/lent/catholic-information-on-lenten-fast-and-abstinence.cfm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.liturgyoffice.org.uk/Resources/Penance/Abstinence.pdf|title=Fasting and Abstinence|date=24 January 1985|website=Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales|access-date=14 April 2017|archive-date=29 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129125503/http://www.liturgyoffice.org.uk/Resources/Penance/Abstinence.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> – although this may be observed less stringently on Holy Saturday than on Good Friday.<ref name="vatican.va"/>

===Services on the day===

[[File:7062Quingua Church Good Friday Veneration and Procession of the Holy Cross 12.jpg|thumb|At the start of a Good Friday service, the [[Holy orders in the Catholic Church|priest and deacon]] (if any) [[prostration|lie flat on the floor]] as a sign of humility, grief and sorrow at the sacrifice of Christ on the [[Christian cross|cross]].]]

The [[Roman Rite]] has no celebration of [[Mass in the Catholic Church|Mass]] between the [[Mass of the Lord's Supper]] on Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday) evening and the [[Easter Vigil]] unless a special exemption is granted for rare solemn or grave occasions by the [[Holy See|Vatican]] or the [[Ordinary (officer)|local bishop]]. The only [[sacrament]]s celebrated during this time are [[Baptism]] (for those in danger of death), [[Sacrament of Penance (Catholic Church)|Penance]], and [[Anointing of the Sick]].<ref>Roman Missal: Good Friday, 1.</ref> While there is no celebration of the Eucharist, it is distributed to the faithful only in the '''Celebration of the Passion of the Lord''', but can also be taken at any hour to the sick who are unable to attend this celebration.<ref>The Holy Week Missal, ''Friday of the Passion of the Lord'' No. 2</ref>

The [[Collection for the Holy Places]] is taken up on Good Friday.

The Celebration of the Passion of the Lord takes place in the afternoon, ideally at three o'clock; however, for pastoral reasons (especially in countries where Good Friday is not a public holiday), it is permissible to celebrate the liturgy earlier,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.catholicliturgy.com/index.cfm/FuseAction/documentText/Index/2/SubIndex/38/ContentIndex/325/Start/319|title=V. Good Friday|website=The Catholic Liturgical Library|access-date=28 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123115108/http://www.catholicliturgy.com/index.cfm/FuseAction/documentText/Index/2/SubIndex/38/ContentIndex/325/Start/319|archive-date=23 January 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> even shortly after midday, or at a later hour.<ref name="The Holy Week Missal">The Holy Week Missal, ''Friday of the Passion of the Lord'' No. 4</ref> The celebration consists of three parts: the liturgy of the word, the adoration of the cross, and the Holy communion.<ref name="The Holy Week Missal"/> The altar is bare, without cross, candlesticks and [[altar cloth]]s.<ref>The Holy Week Missal, ''Friday of the Passion of the Lord'' No. 3</ref> It is also customary to empty the [[holy water]] [[holy water font|fonts]] in preparation of the blessing of the water at the Easter Vigil.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.catholicliturgy.com/index.cfm/FuseAction/LawText/Index/6/LawIndex/46|title=Removing Holy Water During Lent. Letter of the Congregation for Divine Worship|date=14 March 2003|access-date=21 March 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419021227/http://www.catholicliturgy.com/index.cfm/FuseAction/LawText/Index/6/LawIndex/46|archive-date=19 April 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> Traditionally, no bells are rung on Good Friday or Holy Saturday until the Easter Vigil.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.catholic.org/lent/friday.php|title= Good Friday – Easter/Lent|website= Catholic Online|date= 12 January 2018|access-date= 12 January 2018|archive-date= 6 September 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210906014513/https://www.catholic.org/lent/friday.php|url-status= live}}</ref>

The [[liturgical colour]] of the vestments used is red.<ref>The Holy Week Missal, ''Friday of the Passion of the Lord'' No. 5</ref> Before 1970, vestments were black except for the Communion part of the rite when violet was used.<ref>[http://www.musicasacra.com/pdf/missale62.pdf 1962 edition of the Roman Missal] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080326145016/http://www.musicasacra.com/pdf/missale62.pdf |date=26 March 2008 }}.</ref> If a bishop or [[abbot]] celebrates, he wears a plain [[mitre]] ''(mitra simplex)''.<ref>''Caeremoniale Episcoporum'', 315.</ref> Before the reforms of the Holy Week liturgies in 1955, black was used throughout.

Aside from the celebration of the Solemn Liturgy of the Passion the usual offices of the Liturgy of the Hours are said by all those canonically required and celebrated publicly in religious communities. The liturgy consists of the normal major hours of [[Matins]] and [[Lauds|Laudes]] (these first two morning services are often combined to form the office of Good Friday [[Tenebrae]]), the [[Little Hours|minor hours]] of [[Terce]], [[Sext]] and [[None (liturgy)|None]]. It excludes the evening major and minor hours, [[Vespers]] and [[Compline]] respectively, which are only prayed by those who are unable to attend a celebration of the Liturgy of the Passion, giving the days pattern of worship an abrupt conclusion representing Jesus's death.<ref>''The General Instruction on the Liturgy of the Hours'', No. 209</ref>

===Three Hours' Agony===
{{main|Three Hours' Agony}}
The [[Three Hours' Agony|Three Hours' Devotion]] based on the [[Seven Last Words from the Cross]] begins at noon and ends at 3 pm, the time that the Christian tradition teaches that Jesus died on the cross.<ref name="Barron2019">{{cite web |author1=[[Robert Barron (bishop)|Robert Barron]] |title=Tre Ore - The Three Hours' Agony |url=https://www.wofdigital.org/tre-ore-the-three-hours-agony |publisher=[[Word on Fire]] |access-date=18 April 2019 |language=en |quote='The Three Hours' Agony' or Tre Ore is a liturgical service held on Good Friday from noon until 3 o'clock to commemorate the Passion of Christ. Specifically, it refers to the three hours that Jesus hung on the Cross and includes a series of homilies on the seven last words spoken by Christ. |archive-date=1 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001084734/https://www.wofdigital.org/tre-ore-the-three-hours-agony |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Liturgy===
[[File:Karfreitag - Fürbitten.jpg|thumb|The Great Intercessions are sung at [[Heiligenkreuz Abbey]], Austria]]

The Good Friday liturgy consists of three parts: the [[Liturgy of the Word]], the Veneration of the Cross, and the [[Holy Communion]].
* The Liturgy of the Word consists of the clergy and assisting ministers entering in complete silence, without any singing. They then silently make a full [[prostration]]. This signifies the abasement ([[Fall of man|the fall]]) of (earthly) humans.<ref>''Roman Missal'', "Good Friday", Celebration of the Passion of the Lord, n. 5.</ref> It also symbolizes the grief and sorrow of the Church.<ref>''Circular Letter Concerning the Preparation and Celebration of the Easter Feasts'', [http://www.catholicliturgy.com/index.cfm/FuseAction/documentText/Index/6/SubIndex/97/ContentIndex/325/Start/319 V. Good Friday] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402101832/http://www.catholicliturgy.com/index.cfm/FuseAction/documentText/Index/6/SubIndex/97/ContentIndex/325/Start/319 |date=2 April 2015 }}, 16 January 1988, Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship.</ref> Then follows the [[Collect]] prayer, and the reading or chanting of Isaiah 52:13–53:12, Hebrews 4:14–16, Hebrews 5:7–9, and the [[Passion (Christianity)|Passion]] account from the [[Gospel of John]], traditionally divided between three deacons,<ref>Congregation of Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments, ''Paschale Solemnitatis'', III, n. 66 (cf. n. 33)</ref> yet usually read by the celebrant and two other readers. In the older form of the Mass known as the [[Tridentine Mass]] the readings for Good Friday are taken from Exodus 12:1-11 and the Gospel according to St. John (John 18:1-40); (John 19:1-42).
* The Great Intercessions also known as ''orationes sollemnes'' immediately follows the Liturgy of the Word and consists of a series of prayers for the Church, the Pope, the clergy and laity of the Church, those preparing for baptism, the unity of Christians, the Jews, those who do not believe in Christ, those who do not believe in God, those in public office, and those in special need.<ref>Roman Missal: Good Friday, 7–13.</ref> After each prayer intention, the deacon calls the faithful to kneel for a short period of private prayer; the celebrant then sums up the prayer intention with a Collect-style prayer. As part of the pre-1955 Holy Week Liturgy, the kneeling was omitted only for the [[Good Friday prayer for the Jews|prayer for the Jews]].<ref name="Compendium of the 1955 Holy Week Revisions">{{cite web|url=http://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2009/04/compendium-of-1955-holy-week-revisions_03.html|title=Compendium of the 1955 Holy Week Revisions|language=en|access-date=6 April 2020|archive-date=21 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210821081851/https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2009/04/compendium-of-1955-holy-week-revisions_03.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* The Adoration of the Cross has a [[crucifix]], not necessarily the one that is normally on or near the altar at other times of the year, solemnly unveiled and displayed to the congregation, and then venerated by them, individually if possible and usually by kissing the wood of the cross, while hymns and the [[Improperia]] ("Reproaches") with the [[Trisagion]] hymn are chanted.<ref>Roman Missal: Good Friday, 14–21.</ref>
* Holy Communion is bestowed according to a rite based on that of the final part of Mass, beginning with the [[Lord's Prayer]], but omitting the ceremony of "[[Fraction (religion)|Breaking of the Bread]]" and its related acclamation, the [[Agnus Dei (liturgy)|Agnus Dei]]. The [[Eucharist]], consecrated at the evening [[Mass of the Lord's Supper]] on [[Maundy Thursday]], is distributed at this service.<ref>Roman Missal: Good Friday, 22–31.</ref> Before the Holy Week reforms of [[Pope Pius XII]] in 1955, only the priest received Communion in the framework of what was called the [[Mass of the Presanctified]], which included the usual Offertory prayers, with the placing of wine in the chalice, but which omitted the [[Canon of the Mass]].<ref name="Compendium of the 1955 Holy Week Revisions"/> The priest and people then depart in silence, and the altar cloth is removed, leaving the altar bare except for the crucifix and two or four candlesticks.<ref>Roman Missal: Good Friday, 32–33.</ref>

===Stations of the Cross===
[[File:GoodFr CroosWay Colloseo.jpg|thumb|The [[Way of the Cross]], celebrated at the [[Colosseum]] in Rome on Good Friday]]
[[File:Canopy erected at the Temple of Venus and Rome during Good Friday ceremonies.JPG|thumb|Canopy erected at the "Temple of Venus and Rome" during the "Way of the Cross" ceremony in Rome]]

In addition to the prescribed [[Christian liturgy|liturgical]] service, the [[Stations of the Cross]] are often prayed either in the church or outside, and a prayer service may be held from midday to 3.00&nbsp;pm, known as the Three Hours' Agony.<ref>{{Cite web |title=When is Good Friday 2020 - and why is it celebrated? |last=Baddeley |first=Nicole |work=Bracknell News |date= April 2020|access-date=29 March 2024 |url= https://www.bracknellnews.co.uk/news/18350899.good-friday-2020---celebrated/}}</ref> In countries such as Malta, Italy, the Philippines, Puerto Rico and Spain, processions with statues representing the Passion of Christ are held.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Good Friday processions in Malta: What, how and where? |author=Edward |work=MaltaUncovered.com |date= 4 April 2016|access-date=29 March 2024 |url= https://www.maltauncovered.com/culture/good-friday-processions-malta/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Easter Week in Italy |last=Bakerjian |first=Martha |work=Martha's Italy |access-date=29 March 2024 |url= https://www.marthasitaly.com/articles/119/easter-week-italy}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Eight Filipinos nailed to crosses as Easter crucifixion re-enactments resume |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=7 April 2023 |agency=Associated Press |access-date=29 March 2024 |url= https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/apr/07/easter-crucifixion-reenactments-resume-in-philippines-after-three-year-covid-pause}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Voices: 'Jesus is crying!' Memories of my island's 'Viernes Santos' |last=Guadalupe |first=Patricia |work=NBC News |date=14 April 2017 |access-date=29 March 2024 |url= https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/voices-jesus-crying-memories-viernes-santos-island-n746251}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Photos: Holy Week Processions in Spain |last=Taylor |first=Alan |work=The Atlantic |date=5 April 2023 |access-date=29 March 2024 |url= https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2023/04/photos-holy-week-processions-spain/673637/}}</ref>

In Rome, since the papacy of [[John Paul II]], the heights of the [[Temple of Venus and Roma]] and their position opposite the main entrance to the Colosseum have been used to good effect as a public address platform. This may be seen in the photograph below where a red canopy has been erected to shelter the Pope as well as an illuminated cross, on the occasion of the '''Way of the Cross''' ceremony. The Pope, either personally or through a representative, leads the faithful through meditations on the stations of the cross while a cross is carried from there to the Colosseum.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Traditional Via Crucis at the Colosseum in Rome|url=https://www.italymagazine.com/featured-story/traditional-crucis-colosseum-rome|access-date=2021-06-28|website=ITALY Magazine|language=en|archive-date=2 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211002142350/https://www.italymagazine.com/featured-story/traditional-crucis-colosseum-rome|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Plenary indulgence===
In the Roman Catholic Church, plenary [[indulgence]] is obtained if the faithful venerates the cross with [[piety]] in the solemn Celebration of the Passion of the Lord on Good Friday.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/246665/how-to-obtain-a-plenary-indulgence-during-holy-week|title=How to obtain plenary indulgence during Holy Week 2024}}</ref>

===Novena to the Divine Mercy===
The [[novena]] to the [[Divine Mercy (Catholic devotion)|Divine Mercy]] begins on that day and lasts until the Saturday before [[Divine Mercy Sunday]]. Both days are linked in terms of content, as the mercy of God flows from the [[Sacred Heart|Sacred Heart of Jesus]] that was pierced on the cross.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.milosierdzie.pl/index.php/en/the-devotion-to-the-divine-mercy.html |title=Sanctuary of the Divine Mercy |access-date=28 April 2019 |archive-date=15 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210515041244/https://www.milosierdzie.pl/index.php/en/the-devotion-to-the-divine-mercy.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://saint-faustina.net/swieto_milosierdzia/nowenna/novena.htm |title=Saint Faustina |access-date=28 April 2019 |archive-date=28 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428125543/http://saint-faustina.net/swieto_milosierdzia/nowenna/novena.htm |url-status=usurped }}</ref>

===''Collecta Pro Terra Sancta''===
[[Paul VI]] established the ''Collecta Pro Terra Sancta'' to be held on Good Friday, a fundraising that was confirmed by all subsequent popes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cmc-terrasanta.com/en/media/custodia/20828/pro-terra-sancta-collection,-interview-with-cardinal-sandri|title=Pro Terra Sancta Collection, interview with Cardinal Sandri|date=September 7, 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250424124843/https://cmc-terrasanta.com/en/media/custodia/20828/pro-terra-sancta-collection,-interview-with-cardinal-sandri|archive-date=April 24, 2025|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Protestant==
===Lutheran Church===
[[File:Chancel of Grace Lutheran Church on Good Friday.jpg|thumb|The [[chancel]] of this Lutheran church is adorned with black [[parament]]s on Good Friday, the liturgical colour associated with Good Friday in the Lutheran Churches.]]

In [[Lutheranism|Lutheran]] tradition from the 16th to the 20th century, Good Friday was the most important religious holiday, and abstention from all worldly works was expected. During that time, Lutheranism had no restrictions on the celebration of the Eucharist on Good Friday; on the contrary, it was a prime day on which to receive the Eucharist, and services were often accentuated by special music such as the ''[[St Matthew Passion]]'' by [[Johann Sebastian Bach]].<ref name="GassmannOldenburg2011"/>

[[File: 2014-04-18 Apostelkirche Hannover, Karfreitag-Gottesdienst, (005) Johannespassion, William-Byrd-Ensemble, Apostelchor, Andreas Schmidt-Adolf, Erwin Schütterle.jpg|thumb|Good Friday service in a Lutheran church in [[Hanover]], Germany, 2014]]

More recently, Lutheran liturgical practice has recaptured Good Friday as part of the larger sweep of the great Three Days: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Vigil of Easter. The three days remain one liturgy which celebrates the death and resurrection of Jesus. As part of the liturgy of the three days, Lutherans generally fast from the Eucharist on Good Friday. Rather, it is celebrated in remembrance of the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday and at the [[Vigil of Easter]]. One practice among Lutheran churches is to celebrate a [[Tenebrae#Lutheran practice|tenebrae]] service on Good Friday, typically conducted in candlelight and consisting of a collection of passion accounts from the four gospels. While being called "Tenebrae" it holds little resemblance to the now-suppressed Catholic monastic rite of the same name.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.historiclectionary.com/2010/03/a-word-about-tenebrae |title=A Word About Tenebrae &#124; |publisher=Historiclectionary.com |date=22 March 2010 |access-date=23 April 2014 |archive-date=6 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006232713/http://www.historiclectionary.com/2010/03/a-word-about-tenebrae/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Good Friday liturgy appointed in ''[[Evangelical Lutheran Worship]]'', the worship book of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, specifies a liturgy similar to the revised Roman Catholic liturgy. A rite for adoration of the crucified Christ includes the optional singing of the [[Improperia#Lutheranism|Solemn Reproaches]] in an updated and revised translation which eliminates some of the [[Jewish deicide|anti-Jewish overtones]] in previous versions. Many Lutheran churches have Good Friday services, such as the [[Three Hours' Agony]] centered on the remembrance of the "Seven Last Words," sayings of Jesus assembled from the four gospels, while others hold a liturgy that places an emphasis on the triumph of the cross, and a singular biblical account of the Passion narrative from the Gospel of John.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Johnson |first=Maxwell E. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2l93BwAAQBAJ&dq=%22Evangelical+Lutheran+Worship%22+%22good+friday+liturgy%22&pg=PT124 |title=The Church in Act: Lutheran Liturgical Theology in Ecumenical Conversation |date=2015-04-01 |publisher=Fortress Press |isbn=978-1-4514-9668-0 |language=en}}</ref>

Along with observing a general Lenten fast,<ref name="GassmannOldenburg2011">{{cite book|last1=Gassmann|first1=Günther|last2=Oldenburg|first2=Mark W.|title=Historical Dictionary of Lutheranism|year=2011|publisher=Scarecrow Press|language=en|isbn=978-0810874824|page=229|quote=In many Lutheran churches, the Sundays during the Lenten season are called by the first word of their respective Latin Introitus (with the exception of Palm/Passion Sunday): Invocavit, Reminiscere, Oculi, Laetare, and Judica. Many Lutheran church orders of the 16th century retained the observation of the Lenten fast, and Lutherans have observed this season with a serene, earnest attitude. Special days of eucharistic communion were set aside on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.}}</ref> many Lutherans emphasize the importance of Good Friday as a day of fasting within the calendar.<ref name="Pfatteicher1990">{{cite book|last=Pfatteicher|first=Philip H.|title=Commentary on the Lutheran Book of Worship: Lutheran Liturgy in Its Ecumenical Context|year=1990|publisher=Augsburg Fortress Publishers|language=en |isbn=978-0800603922|pages=223–244, 260|quote=The Good Friday fast became the principal fast in the calendar, and even after the Reformation in Germany many Lutherans who observed no other fast scrupulously kept Good Friday with strict fasting.}}</ref><ref name="JacobsHaas1899">{{cite book|last1=Jacobs|first1=Henry Eyster|last2=Haas|first2=John Augustus William|title=The Lutheran Cyclopedia|year=1899|publisher=Scribner|language=en|page=110|quote=By many Lutherans Good Friday is observed as a strict fast. The lessons on Ash Wednesday emphasize the proper idea of the fast. The Sundays in Lent receive their names from the first words of their Introits in the Latin service, Invocavit, Reminiscere, Oculi, Lcetare, Judica.}}</ref> ''A Handbook for the Discipline of Lent'' recommends the Lutheran guideline to "Fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday with only one simple meal during the day, usually without meat".<ref name="ELCA1978">{{cite web|url=http://www.ststephenlutheranchurch.org/pdf/Disciplines%20of%20Lent-%20Handbook.pdf|title=A Handbook for the Discipline of Lent|last=Weitzel|first=Thomas L.|year=1978|publisher=Evangelical Lutheran Church in America|language=en|access-date=17 March 2018|archive-date=17 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180317164940/http://www.ststephenlutheranchurch.org/pdf/Disciplines%20of%20Lent-%20Handbook.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Anglican Communion===
In the Anglican Communion, the [[Black Fast]] has been historically observed by devout believers.<ref name="Armentrout2000">{{cite book|last=Armentrout|first=Don S.|title=An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church|date=1 January 2000|publisher=Church Publishing, Inc.|language=en|isbn=9780898697018|page=139}}</ref> The Black Fast was especially popular during the 19th century as it sought to imitate "the fasting of the ancient church."<ref name="Armentrout2000"/>

The [[Book of Common Prayer (1662)|1662 ''Book of Common Prayer'']] did not specify a particular rite to be observed on Good Friday but local custom came to mandate an assortment of services, including the Seven Last Words from the Cross and a three-hour service consisting of Matins, Ante-communion (using the [[Reserved Sacrament]] in [[high church]] parishes) and [[Evening Prayer (Book of Common Prayer)|Evensong]]. In recent times,{{When|date=April 2017}} revised editions of the Prayer Book and [[Common Worship]] have re-introduced pre-[[Protestant Reformation|Reformation]] forms of observance of Good Friday corresponding to those in today's Roman Catholic Church, with special nods to the rites that had been observed in the Church of England prior to the [[English Reformation|Henrican, Edwardian and Elizabethan reforms]], including Creeping to the Cross.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9KelyELTFVwC&dq=%22Creeping+to+the+Cross%22+%22good+friday+liturgy%22&pg=PA95 |title=Preaching in the Age of Chaucer: Selected Sermons in Translation (Medieval Texts in Translation Series) |date=2008 |publisher=CUA Press |isbn=978-0-8132-1529-7 |pages=95 |language=en}}</ref>

===Methodist Church===
[[File:Minister prostrates at the start of United Methodist Good Friday liturgy.jpg|thumb|A United Methodist minister [[Prostration|prostrates]] at the start of the Good Friday liturgy at Holy Family Church, in accordance with the rubrics in the [[The United Methodist Book of Worship (1992)|Book of Worship]]. The [[processional cross]] is veiled in black, the liturgical colour associated with Good Friday in Methodist Churches.]]
[[File:Chancel of Houston Memorial UMC on Good Friday.jpg|thumb|[[Stripping of the Altar|Altar and cross veiled]] in a Methodist church on Maundy Thursday in preparation for Good Friday]]

Many [[Methodism|Methodist denominations]] commemorate Good Friday with fasting,<ref name="RipleyDana1883"/><ref name="BaysWacker2010">{{cite book|last1=Bays|first1=Daniel H|last2=Wacker|first2=Grant|title=The Foreign Missionary Enterprise at Home: Explorations in North American Cultural History|year=2010|publisher=University of Alabama Press|isbn=978-0817356408|page=277}}</ref> as well as a [[Church service|service of worship]] based on the Seven Last Words from the Cross; this liturgy is known as the [[Three Hours' Agony|Three Hours Devotion]] as it starts at noon and concludes at 3 pm, the latter being the time that Jesus died on the cross.<ref>{{cite book |title=The United Methodist Book of Worship: Regular Edition Black |date=2016 |publisher=United Methodist Publishing House |isbn=978-1426735004 |page=365 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Reflector-Good Friday">{{cite web|url=http://www.reflector.com/local/content/news/stories/2008/03/21/GoodFriday.html |title=Christians mark Good Friday |publisher=The Daily Reflector |access-date=21 March 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080330184414/http://www.reflector.com/local/content/news/stories/2008/03/21/GoodFriday.html |archive-date=30 March 2008 }}</ref>

On Maundy Thursday, the altar and the cross [[Stripping of the Altar|are usually veiled]] in black for Good Friday, as black is the liturgical colour for Good Friday in the United Methodist Church. A wooden cross may sit in front of the bare chancel.<ref>{{cite book |title=The United Methodist Book of Worship: Regular Edition Black |date=2016 |publisher=United Methodist Publishing House |isbn=978-1426735004 |page=363 |language=en|quote=...a plain wooden cross may now be brought into the church and placed in the sight of the people. ... During Silent Meditation and The Reproaches, persons may be invited to come forward informally to kneel briefly before the cross or touch it.}}</ref>

===Moravian Church===
[[Moravian Church|Moravians]] hold a [[Lovefeast]] on Good Friday as they receive Holy Communion on Maundy Thursday.

Communicants of the Moravian Church practice the Good Friday tradition of cleaning [[God's Acre|gravestones in Moravian cemeteries]].<ref name="WSJ2020">{{cite web |title=PHOTOS: Cleaning Moravian gravestones, a Good Friday tradition |url=https://www.journalnow.com/news/local/photos-cleaning-moravian-gravestones-a-good-friday-tradition |publisher=[[Winston-Salem Journal]] |access-date=11 April 2020 |language=en |date=10 April 2020 }}{{Dead link|date=December 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

===Reformed Churches===
In the [[Reformed tradition|Reformed]] tradition, Good Friday is one of the [[evangelical feast]]s and is thus widely observed with [[church service]]s, which feature the Solemn Reproaches in the pattern of [[Psalm 78]], towards the end of the liturgy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rca.org/resources/good-friday|title=Good Friday|publisher=[[Reformed Church in America]]|access-date=8 March 2018|archive-date=19 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170619233420/https://www.rca.org/resources/good-friday|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Other Christian traditions===
Many [[Protestant]] churches hold an [[Interdenominational]] [[Church service|service]] with [[Lord's Supper]].<ref>Britannica, ''Encyclopedia of World Religions'', Encyclopaedia Britannica, USA, 2008, p. 309</ref>

==Associated customs==
[[File:Good Friday in St. Pius X Church.jpg|thumb|right|Good Friday service in a Catholic church, Ireland]]
[[File:San Lorenzo Maggiore - Processione del Venerdì Santo 1.jpg|thumb|Good Friday procession in [[San Lorenzo Maggiore]], Italy]]
[[File:Pleureuses de Romont Fribourg CH 01.webm|thumb|Good Friday procession with the mourning women of Romont, Switzerland]]
In many countries and territories with a strong Christian tradition such as Australia, Argentina, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, the countries of the Caribbean, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Malta, Mexico, New Zealand,<ref>Holidays Act 2003 (New Zealand), Section 17 [http://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2003/0129/latest/DLM237120.html Days that are public holidays] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090505010517/http://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2003/0129/latest/DLM237120.html |date=5 May 2009 }}</ref><ref>Shop Trading Hours Act Repeal Act 1990 (New Zealand), Section 3 [http://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1990/0057/latest/DLM212363.html Shops to be closed on Anzac Day morning, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Christmas Day] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090418062410/http://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1990/0057/latest/DLM212363.html |date=18 April 2009 }}</ref><ref>Broadcasting Act 1989 (New Zealand), Section 79A [http://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1989/0025/latest/DLM158495.html Hours during which election programmes prohibited] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110426042920/http://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1989/0025/latest/DLM158495.html |date=26 April 2011 }}, Section 81 [http://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1989/0025/latest/DLM158916.html Advertising hours] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090418061337/http://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1989/0025/latest/DLM158916.html |date=18 April 2009 }}</ref> Peru, the Philippines, Portugal, the Scandinavian countries, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Venezuela, the day is observed as a [[List of holidays by country|public or federal holiday]]. In the United States, 12 states observe Good Friday as state holiday: Connecticut, Texas, Delaware, Hawaii, Indiana, Tennessee, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Jersey, North Carolina and North Dakota. One associated custom is strict adherence to the [[Black Fast]], where believers fast from food and liquids during the day and after sunset, a [[Christian vegetarianism|vegetarian]] meal with water is consumed.<ref name="Cléir2017">{{cite book|last=Cléir|first=Síle de|title=Popular Catholicism in 20th-Century Ireland: Locality, Identity and Culture|year=2017|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing|language=en|isbn=978-1350020603|page=101|quote=Catherine Bell outlines the details of fasting and abstinence in a historical context, stating that the Advent fast was usually less severe than that carried out in Lent, which originally involved just one meal a day, not to be eaten until after sunset.}}</ref><ref name="Butler">{{cite book |last1=Butler |first1=Alban |title=The Moveable Feasts, Fasts, and Other Annual Observances of the Catholic Church |date=1839 |publisher=James Duffy |location=[[Dublin]] |pages=144–146 |language=en|quote=The primitive Christians in Lent broke their fast only after sunset, and then usually only with herbs, roots, and bread. At least all were obliged to abstain not only from flesh meat, but also from fish, and whatever had life; also whatever is derived from flesh, as eggs, milk, cheese, butter, according to the ancient canon. Likewise from wine, which in the primitive ages was no less forbidden on all fasting days than the use of flesh meat itself ... Some mitigations were introduced in part of abstinence in the sixth century ... Fish was in the same age allowed, but not of the dearer and more dainty kinds.}}</ref><ref name="Kiernan">{{cite book |last1=Butler |first1=Alban |title=The Moveable Feasts, Fasts, and Other Annual Observances of the Catholic Church |date=1774 |publisher=C. Kiernan |page=257 |language=en |quote=It is undoubted, that anciently to drink on fasting days was no less forbid than to eat, only in the refection after sunset.}}</ref> St. [[Ambrose]], St. [[John Chrysostom|Chrysostom]] and St. [[Basil of Caesarea|Basil]] attest to the practice.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02590c.htm|publisher=Catholic Encyclopedia|title=The Black Fast|access-date=13 February 2019|archive-date=17 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117155814/https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02590c.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

The processions of the day, hymns "[[Crux fidelis]]" by [[John I of Portugal|King John of Portugal]], and [[Johann Ernst Eberlin|Eberlin's]] "[[Tenebrae factae sunt]]", followed by "[[Vexilla regis prodeunt|Vexilla Regis]]" is sung, translated from Latin as ''the standards of the King advance'', and then follows a ceremony that is not a real Mass, it is called the "[[Mass of the Presanctified|Mass of the Pre-Sanctified]].". This custom is respected also by forgoing the Mass, this is to take heed to the solemnity of the Sacrifice of Calvary. This is where the host of the prior day is placed at the altar, incensed, elevated so "that it may be seen by the people" and consumed. Germany and some other countries have laws prohibiting certain acts, such as dancing and horse racing, that are seen as profaning the solemn nature of the day.<ref name="Petre">{{cite news|last=Petre|first=Jonathan|date=21 March 2008|title=Good Friday gambling anger churches|newspaper=The Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1582366/Good-Friday-gambling-angers-churches.html|quote=Bookmakers estimate that thousands of shops will be operating, even though Good Friday is one of three days in the year when no horse racing takes place.|access-date=5 April 2018|archive-date=11 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111220353/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1582366/Good-Friday-gambling-angers-churches.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Stevens">{{cite news|last=Stevens|first=Laura|date=29 March 2013|title=In Germany, Some Want to Boogie Every Day of the Year|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424127887324685104578387084082724670|quote=Every year on Good Friday, Germany becomes a little like the fictional town in the movie 'Footloose' – dancing is verboten. The decades-old 'Tanzverbot,' or dance ban, applies to all clubs, discos and other forms of organized dancing in all German states.|access-date=13 March 2017|archive-date=11 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170711021814/https://www.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424127887324685104578387084082724670|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Australia===
Good Friday is a holiday under state and territory laws in all states and territories in Australia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.australia.gov.au/about-australia/special-dates-and-events/public-holidays|title=Public holidays – australia.gov.au|access-date=21 February 2016|archive-date=14 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200414132759/https://www.australia.gov.au/about-australia/special-dates-and-events/public-holidays|url-status=live}}</ref> Generally speaking, shops in all Australian states (but not in the two territories of the [[Northern Territory]] and the [[Australian Capital Territory]]) are required to remain closed for the duration of Good Friday, although there are certain shops which are permitted to open and other shops can apply for exemptions. All schools and universities close on Good Friday in Australia, and Good Friday falls within the school holidays in most years in all states and territories except the Northern Territory, although many states now commence their school holidays in early April regardless of Easter. In 2024, for example, when Good Friday fell on 29 March, only [[Queensland]], [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]] and [[Western Australia]] had school holidays which coincided with Good Friday.<ref name="https://www.australia.com/en/facts-and-planning/when-to-go/australian-school-holidays.html">{{Cite web |url= https://www.australia.com/en/facts-and-planning/when-to-go/australian-school-holidays.html |title= Australian school holidays |date= 21 December 2023 |access-date= 31 July 2024 }}</ref> The vast majority of businesses are closed on Good Friday, although many recreational businesses, such as the [[Sydney Royal Easter Show]], open on Good Friday as among non-religious families Good Friday is a popular day to indulge in such activities.

===Canada===
[[File:Apokathylosis - Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral Toronto (2010).jpg|thumb|The descent from the cross, commemorated in [[#Vespers of Holy and Great Friday|Vespers of Holy and Great Friday]], Greek Orthodox Cathedral in [[Toronto]], Canada]]
In Canada, Good Friday is a [[public holidays in Canada|federal statutory holiday]]. In the province of Quebec "employers can choose to give the day off either on Good Friday or Easter Monday."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.statutoryholidays.com|title=Statutory holidays in Canada both national and provincial.|access-date=14 April 2022|archive-date=24 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110624212954/http://www.statutoryholidays.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Cuba===
In an online article posted on [[Catholic News Agency]] by Alejandro Bermúdez on 31 March 2012, [[President of Cuba|Cuban President]] [[Raúl Castro]], with the [[Communist Party of Cuba|Communist Party]] and his advisers, decreed that Good Friday that year would be a holiday. This was Castro's response to a request made personally to him by [[Pope Benedict XVI]] during the latter's Apostolic Visitation to the island and [[Leon, Mexico|León]], [[Mexico]] that month. The move followed the pattern of small advances in Cuba's relations with the Vatican, mirroring Pope John Paul II's success in getting [[Fidel Castro]] to declare [[Christmas Day]] a holiday.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/24658/cuban-authorities-declare-good-friday-2012-a-holiday |title=Cuban authorities declare Good Friday 2012 a holiday |publisher=Catholic News Agency |access-date=23 April 2014 |archive-date=10 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170710000459/http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/cuban-authorities-declare-good-friday-2012-a-holiday/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Both Good Friday and Christmas are now [[Public holidays in Cuba|annual holidays in Cuba]].

===Germany===

In Germany Good Friday is known as ''Karfreitag'' (''kara'' means "sorrow" in [[Old High German]]); it is a ''Stiller Feiertag'' (silent holiday), and there are strict rules banning activities deemed disrespectful to Christians. Rules vary among the sixteen different federal states, but often prohibit dancing and the use of loud appliances such as lawnmowers and leaf blowers. Nightclubs are shut, and films that may be shown in cinemas are restricted.

In recent times the holiday has been informally called ''Carfreitag'' by extreme car enthusiasts, including those from other countries who visit Germany, who [[Car tuning|tune cars]] illegally and hold [[Street racing|illegal races]] on public roads. Police seek to prevent unauthorised tuning, illegal races, noise, and pollution. Offenders can be fined and have points put on their licences, and in some cases lose their licences and have their cars confiscated.<ref>{{cite news| last=Connolly | first=Kate | title=German police crack down on illegal street car tuning as season begins |newspaper=The Guardian | date=18 April 2025 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/18/german-police-crack-down-on-street-car-tuning-as-its-season-begins}}</ref>

===Hong Kong===

In [[Hong Kong]], Good Friday was designated a public holiday in the Holidays Ordinance, 1875.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Holidays Ordinance, 1875 |date=7 July 1875 |url=https://oelawhk.lib.hku.hk/archive/files/868d03477ec3ff8ccc1270c68dd37ed2.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210405051037/https://oelawhk.lib.hku.hk/archive/files/868d03477ec3ff8ccc1270c68dd37ed2.pdf |archive-date=5 April 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> Good Friday continues to be a holiday after the [[Handover of Hong Kong|transfer of sovereignty from the UK to China]] in 1997.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.hk/en/about/abouthk/holiday/|title=GovHK: General holidays for 2007 – 2022|access-date=26 December 2017|archive-date=13 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313145530/https://www.gov.hk/en/about/abouthk/holiday/|url-status=live}}</ref> Government offices, banks, post offices and most offices are closed on Good Friday.

===Ireland===
In the [[Republic of Ireland]], Good Friday is not an official public holiday, but most non-retail businesses close for the day. Up until 2018 it was illegal to sell alcoholic beverages on Good Friday, with some exceptions, so pubs and off-licences generally closed.<ref name="ie-wheretolook">{{cite news|title=You can have a pint today – if you know where to look|url=http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/you-can-have-a-pint-today-if-you-know-where-to-look-26646201.html|first=Colin|last=Gleeson|access-date=3 April 2015|work=Irish Independent|date=2 April 2010|archive-date=17 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211217123339/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/you-can-have-a-pint-today-if-you-know-where-to-look-26646201.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Critics of the ban included the catering and tourism sector, but surveys showed that the general public were divided on the issue.<ref name="independent-goodfridayalcohol">{{cite news|last1=Hade|first1=Emma Jane|title=Good Friday alcohol ban still splits public as only half want it abolished|url=http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/good-friday-alcohol-ban-still-splits-public-as-only-half-want-it-abolished-31112720.html|access-date=3 April 2015|work=Irish Independent|date=2 April 2015|archive-date=1 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501215422/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/good-friday-alcohol-ban-still-splits-public-as-only-half-want-it-abolished-31112720.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/times-have-changed-a-lot-one-of-irelands-oldest-barmaids-98-pulls-pints-for-the-first-time-on-good-friday-36759366.html 'Times have changed a lot' – one of Ireland's oldest barmaids (98) pulls pints for the first time on Good Friday] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003004835/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/times-have-changed-a-lot-one-of-irelands-oldest-barmaids-98-pulls-pints-for-the-first-time-on-good-friday-36759366.html |date=3 October 2021 }} independent.ie, 30 March 2018</ref><!-- This is not, strictly speaking, wrong, but it is not a fair summary of what the source actually says -- how many of those who said they think it should stay in place also said they planned on drinking pre-purchased alcohol on the day? --> In [[Northern Ireland]], a similar ban operates until 5&nbsp;pm on Good Friday.<ref name="bbc-restrictionsni">{{cite news|first=Peter|last=Coulter|title=Pub owners frustrated at assembly failure to change Easter opening hours|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-35877628|work=BBC News|date=23 March 2016|access-date=25 March 2016|archive-date=3 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003013126/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-35877628|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Malaysia===
Although Malaysia is a [[Muslim world|Muslim majority country]], Good Friday is declared as a public holiday in the states of [[Sabah]] and [[Sarawak]] in [[East Malaysia]] as there is a significant Christian indigenous population in both states.<ref>{{cite book|last=Ipgrave|first=Michael|title=Building a Better Bridge: Muslims, Christians, and the Common Good : a Record of the Fourth Building Bridges Seminar Held in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, May 15–18, 2005|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O109P8UHP2wC&pg=PA109|year=2008|publisher=Georgetown University Press|isbn=978-1-58901-731-3|page=109|access-date=31 October 2016|archive-date=4 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504123421/https://books.google.com/books?id=O109P8UHP2wC&pg=PA109|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Malta===
[[File:Malta - ZebbugM - Good Friday 202 ies.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Holy Week procession]] in Malta]]
The Holy Week commemorations reach their peak on Good Friday as the Roman Catholic Church celebrates the [[Passion of Jesus]]. Solemn celebrations take place in all churches together with processions in different villages around [[Malta]] and [[Gozo]]. During the celebration, the narrative of the passion is read in some localities, while the Adoration of the Cross follows. Good Friday processions take place in [[Birgu]], [[Bormla]], [[Għaxaq]], [[Luqa]], [[Mosta]], [[Naxxar]], [[Paola, Malta|Paola]], [[Qormi]], [[Rabat, Malta|Rabat]], [[Senglea]], [[Valletta]], [[Żebbuġ, Malta|Żebbuġ (Città Rohan)]] and [[Żejtun]]. Processions in Gozo occur in [[Nadur]], [[Victoria, Gozo|Victoria]] (St. George and Cathedral), [[Xagħra]] and [[Żebbuġ, Gozo]].{{citation needed|date=April 2017}}

===New Zealand===
In New Zealand, Good Friday is a legal holiday<ref>{{Cite web |url= https://www.govt.nz/browse/work/public-holidays-and-work/public-holidays-and-anniversary-dates |title= Public holidays and anniversary dates |publisher= NZ Government |access-date= 17 March 2018 |archive-date= 19 December 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20211219202841/https://www.govt.nz/browse/work/public-holidays-and-work/public-holidays-and-anniversary-dates/ |url-status= live }}</ref> and is a day of mandatory school closure for all New Zealand state and integrated schools.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://education.govt.nz/ministry-of-education/school-terms-and-holidays/more-information-about-setting-term-dates/#must|title= PMore information on setting term dates, holidays and closing days|date= 31 July 2015|access-date= 17 March 2018|archive-date= 15 November 2018|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181115080635/http://www.education.govt.nz/ministry-of-education/school-terms-and-holidays/more-information-about-setting-term-dates/#must|url-status= live}}</ref> Good Friday is also a restricted trading day in New Zealand, which means that unexempted shops are not permitted to open on this day.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.employment.govt.nz/leave-and-holidays/public-holidays/restricted-shop-trading-days/|title=Restricted shop trading days » Employment New Zealand|access-date=17 March 2018|archive-date=5 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105124616/https://www.employment.govt.nz/leave-and-holidays/public-holidays/restricted-shop-trading-days/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Philippines===
In the predominantly [[Roman Catholicism in the Philippines|Roman Catholic]] [[Philippines]], the day is commemorated with street processions, the [[Way of the Cross]], the chanting of the ''[[Pasyon|Pasyón]]'', ''[[Sayings of Jesus on the cross|Siete Palabras]]'' or the Seven Last Words of Jesus on the Cross, and performances of the ''Senákulo'' or [[Passion play]]. Some devotees engage in self-[[Flagellant|flagellation]] and even have themselves [[Crucifixion in the Philippines|crucified]] as expressions of penance despite health risks and strong disapproval from the Church.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/dozens-ignore-warnings-to-reenact-crucifixion-799322.html|title=Dozens ignore warnings to re-enact crucifixion|date=22 March 2008|access-date=23 March 2008|work=[[The Independent]]|location=London|first1=Kathy|last1=Marks|archive-date=11 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111215207/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/dozens-ignore-warnings-to-reenact-crucifixion-799322.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Entombment_of_Christ1.jpg|150px|thumbnail|right|[[Stations of the Cross|Station 14: Jesus is laid in the tomb]] ([[Saint Augustine Parish Church (Baliwag)|Baliwag Church]], 2024)]]
Church bells are not rung and Masses are not celebrated, while television features movies, documentaries and other shows focused on the religious event and other topics related to the Catholic faith, broadcasting mostly religious content. Malls and shops are generally closed, as are restaurants as it is the second of three public holidays within the week.{{citation needed|date=April 2017}}

After three o'clock in the afternoon (the time at which Jesus is traditionally believed to have died), the faithful venerate the cross in the local church and follow the procession of the Burial of Jesus.{{citation needed|date=April 2017}}

In [[Cebu]] and many parts of the [[Visayan Islands]], people usually eat ''[[binignit]]'' and ''[[Cuisine of the Philippines#Merienda|biko]]'' as a form of fasting.<ref>Izobelle T. Pulgo, "[http://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/90044/90044 Binignit: A Good Friday Cebuano soul food] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210515175138/https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/90044/90044 |date=15 May 2021 }}", ''Cebu Daily News'', 23 March 2016.</ref><ref>Deralyn Ramos, "[http://www.thici.com/sites/default/files/news/thibalita_march2013.pdf Holy Week in the Philippines] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327212430/http://www.thici.com/sites/default/files/news/thibalita_march2013.pdf |date=27 March 2018 }}", ''Tsuneishi Balita'', March 2013, p. 4.</ref>

===Poland===
In Polish churches, a tableau of Christ's Tomb is unveiled in the sanctuary. Many of the faithful spend long hours into the night grieving at the Tomb, where it is customary to kiss the wounds on the Lord's body. A life-size figure of Jesus lying in his tomb is widely visited by the faithful, especially on Holy Saturday. The tableaux may include flowers, candles, figures of angels standing watch, and the three crosses atop Mt Calvary, and much more. Each parish strives to come up with the most artistically and religiously evocative arrangement in which the Blessed Sacrament, draped in a filmy veil, is prominently displayed.{{citation needed|date=April 2017}}

===Singapore===
Good Friday is a public holiday in [[Singapore]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/HA1998?ProvIds=Sc-#Sc-|title=Holidays Act (Chapter 126)|date=1999|access-date=5 November 2021|website=Singapore Statutes Online|archive-date=7 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107054157/https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/HA1998?ProvIds=Sc-#Sc-|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/HA1998?ProvIds=xv-#xv-|title=Holidays Act (Chapter 126), Legislative History|date=1999|access-date=5 November 2021|website=Singapore Statutes Online|archive-date=7 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107002000/https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/HA1998?ProvIds=xv-#xv-|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Spain===
[[File:Nazarenosblancos.jpg|thumb|upright|Nazarenos wearing [[capirote]]s, in [[Málaga]], Spain]]
{{main|Holy Week in Spain|Holy Week in Málaga|Holy Week in Seville|Holy Week in Valladolid|Holy Week in Viveiro|Holy Week in Zamora}}

===United Kingdom===
[[File:Hot cross bun.jpg|thumb|[[Hot cross bun]]s are traditionally toasted and eaten on Good Friday in Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8598312.stm|title=How did hot cross buns become two a penny?|first=Finlo|last=Rohrer|work=BBC News magazine|date=1 April 2010|access-date=6 April 2012|archive-date=13 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613213448/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8598312.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>]]
In the UK Good Friday was historically a common law holiday; it is today recognised as an official public holiday<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/LivingintheUK/DG_073741|title = Bank holidays and British Summer Time|publisher = Directgov|access-date = 19 April 2011|archive-date = 15 May 2011|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110515020958/http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/LivingintheUK/DG_073741|url-status = live}}</ref> ([[bank holiday]]). All state schools are closed and most businesses treat it as a holiday for staff; however, many retail stores remain open. [[Northern Ireland Civil Service|Government]] services in Northern Ireland operate as normal on Good Friday, closing instead on [[Easter Tuesday]].

There has traditionally been no horse racing on Good Friday in the UK. However, in 2008, betting shops and stores opened for the first time on this day,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1582366/Good-Friday-gambling-angers-churches.html|title=Good Friday gambling angers churches|work=The Telegraph|first=Jonathan|last=Petre|date=21 March 2008|access-date=6 April 2012|archive-date=11 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111220353/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1582366/Good-Friday-gambling-angers-churches.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and in 2014 Lingfield Park and Musselburgh staged the UK's first Good Friday race meetings.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/horse-racing/24458664|title=Lingfield: £1m Good Friday fixture to be held at Surrey racecourse|work=BBC News|date=9 October 2013|access-date=14 October 2013|archive-date=31 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031075930/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/horse-racing/24458664|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/scotland/top-stories/musselburgh-to-host-historic-good-friday-racing-1-3136748|work=The Scotsman|title=Musselburgh to host historic Good Friday racing|first=Craig|last=Brown|date=11 October 2013|access-date=14 October 2013|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924150559/http://www.scotsman.com/news/scotland/top-stories/musselburgh-to-host-historic-good-friday-racing-1-3136748|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[BBC Radio 4]] 7&nbsp;am News broadcast on Good Friday is traditionally introduced with a verse from [[Isaac Watts]]' hymn "[[When I Survey the Wondrous Cross]]".

The tradition of Easter plays includes 1960 Eastertime performance of [[Good Friday: A Play in Verse]] (1916) Artists [[Ursula O'Leary]] ([[Procula]]), and [[William Devlin (actor)|William Devlin]] as [[Pontius Pilate]], perform with the atmospheric sound effects of the [[BBC Radiophonic Workshop]]. The Hugh Stewart production for the [[Home Service]] used soundware such as the [[EMS Synthi 100]] and [[ARP Odyssey l]].<ref name=JMSYT>[[John Masefield Society]]: ''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmp_IDlvzPw Good Friday: A Play in Verse (1916)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211212204952/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmp_IDlvzPw |date=12 December 2021 }}''</ref>

===United States===
In the United States, Good Friday is not a federal government holiday.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.usa.gov/holidays| title = American holidays| date = 6 December 2023| website = USAGov| publisher = U.S. General Services Administration| access-date = 29 May 2024| quote = Many government offices and some private businesses close on annual federal holidays. '''If the holiday falls during the weekend, the government may observe it on a different day.''' [emphasis added]}}</ref> The postal service operates, and banks regulated by the federal government do not close for Good Friday.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.opm.gov/operating_status_schedules/fedhol/2012.asp |title=Federal Holidays |publisher=Opm.gov |access-date=23 April 2014 |archive-date=16 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116022207/http://www.opm.gov/Operating_Status_Schedules/fedhol/2012.asp |url-status=live }}</ref>

Some states, counties, municipalities, and territories observe the holiday. Good Friday is a state holiday in [[Connecticut]],<ref>{{cite web |author=Government of Connecticut |url=https://portal.ct.gov/About/Legal-Holidays-in-the-State/ |title=Legal State Holidays |newspaper=Ct.gov - Connecticut's Official State Website |publisher=CT.gov |access-date=30 March 2018 |archive-date=3 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003011204/https://portal.ct.gov/About/Legal-Holidays-in-the-State/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Delaware]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://delawarepersonnel.com/labor/holidays/2012.shtml |title=Delaware – Office of Management and Budget – State of Delaware Holidays |publisher=Delawarepersonnel.com |access-date=23 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118025425/http://www.delawarepersonnel.com/labor/holidays/2012.shtml |archive-date=18 January 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Florida]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://law2.onecle.com/florida/commercial-relations/683.01.html |title=Title XXXIX Commercial Relations Section 683.01 Legal holidays. |work=onecle.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202113002/http://law2.onecle.com/florida/commercial-relations/683.01.html |archive-date= 2 February 2014 }}</ref> [[Hawaii]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.miraclesalad.com/webtools/holidays.php |title=Hawaii State Holidays for 2014 |publisher=Miraclesalad.com |access-date=23 April 2014 |archive-date=8 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211208192726/http://www.miraclesalad.com/webtools/holidays.php |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Indiana]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.in.gov/sos/2369.htm |title=Secretary of State: 2011 Indiana State Holidays |publisher=In.gov |access-date=23 April 2014 |archive-date=13 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181213021322/https://www.in.gov/sos/2369.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Kentucky]] (half-day),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://personnel.ky.gov/pages/leave.aspx |title=Holidays |publisher=Personnel.ky.gov |access-date=23 April 2014 |archive-date=16 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211216090915/https://personnel.ky.gov/pages/leave.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Louisiana]],<ref>{{cite web |author=Sandra G. Gillen, CPPB |url=http://doa.louisiana.gov/osp/aboutus/holidays.htm |title=2014 State Holidays Calendar Observed by OSP |publisher=Doa.louisiana.gov |access-date=23 April 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201220849/http://doa.louisiana.gov/osp/aboutus/holidays.htm |archive-date=1 February 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> [[New Jersey]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nj.gov/nj/about/facts/holidays/ |title=The Official Web Site for The State of New Jersey &#124; State Holidays |publisher=Nj.gov |access-date=23 April 2014 |archive-date=12 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210912145005/https://nj.gov/nj/about/facts/holidays/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[North Carolina]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ic.nc.gov/ncic/pages/holiday.htm |title=N.C. State Government Holiday Schedule for 2013 and 2014 |publisher=Ic.nc.gov |access-date=23 April 2014 |archive-date=11 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210211000249/http://www.ic.nc.gov/ncic/pages/holiday.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> [[North Dakota]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theholidayschedule.com/north-dakota-state-holidays.html |title=North Dakota State Holidays 2014 |publisher=The Holiday Schedule |access-date=23 April 2014 |archive-date=18 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818004429/http://www.theholidayschedule.com/north-dakota-state-holidays.html |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Tennessee]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tn.gov/state-holidays.html |title=Official State Holidays |publisher=TN.gov |access-date=23 April 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130529191633/http://www.tn.gov/state-holidays.html |archive-date=29 May 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> and [[Texas]],<ref>In addition to holidays where offices are closed, Texas also has "partial staffing holidays" (where offices are required to be open for public business, but where employees may take it off as a holiday) and "optional holidays" (where an employee may take off in lieu of taking off on a partial staffing holiday; Good Friday is an optional holiday).</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tsl.texas.gov/ref/abouttx/holidays.html |title=Texas State Holidays |publisher=The State of Texas |access-date=19 January 2018 |archive-date=13 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413132906/https://www.tsl.texas.gov/ref/abouttx/holidays.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and in the territories of [[Guam]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.qppstudio.net/publicholidays2012/guam.htm |title=Guam Public Holidays 2012 (Oceania) |publisher=Qppstudio.net |access-date=23 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924083620/http://www.qppstudio.net/publicholidays2012/guam.htm |archive-date=24 September 2015 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> [[U.S. Virgin Islands]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.qppstudio.net/publicholidays2012/virgin_islands__u_s_.htm |title=US Virgin Islands Public Holidays 2012 (Americas/Caribbean) |publisher=Qppstudio.net |access-date=23 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924083622/http://www.qppstudio.net/publicholidays2012/virgin_islands__u_s_.htm |archive-date=24 September 2015 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> [[American Samoa]], [[Northern Mariana Islands]] and [[Puerto Rico]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.topuertorico.org/reference/holi.shtml |title=Puerto Rican Holidays |publisher=Topuertorico.org |access-date=23 April 2014 |archive-date=14 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514184108/http://www.topuertorico.org/reference/holi.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>

State and local government offices and courts are closed, as well as some banks and post offices in these states,{{citation needed|date=May 2024}} and in those counties and municipalities where Good Friday is observed as a holiday.

The stock markets have chosen to be closed on Good Friday,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nyse.com/markets/hours-calendars#holidays|title=NYSE: Holidays and Trading Hours|work=nyse.com|access-date=6 April 2015|archive-date=9 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170509070356/https://www.nyse.com/markets/hours-calendars#holidays|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.money-zine.com/Investing/Stocks/Stock-Market-Holidays/ |title=Stock Market Holidays |publisher=Money-zine.com |access-date=23 April 2014 |archive-date=25 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825050658/http://www.money-zine.com/investing/stocks/stock-market-holidays/ |url-status=live }}</ref> but the foreign exchange and bond trading markets open for a partial business day.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cmegroup.com/tools-information/holiday-calendar/files/2015-chicago-trading-floor-holiday-schedule.pdf |title=CME Group Chicago Trading Floor Holiday Schedule for 2015 |work=CME Group |access-date=6 April 2015 |archive-date=1 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001104531/https://www.cmegroup.com/tools-information/holiday-calendar/files/2015-chicago-trading-floor-holiday-schedule.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sifma.org/services/holiday-schedule/#us2015|title=Holiday Schedule|work=sifma.org|access-date=6 April 2015|archive-date=18 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170718090250/http://www.sifma.org/services/holiday-schedule/#us2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Some public schools and universities are closed on Good Friday if it falls within [[spring break]].

In some governmental contexts Good Friday has been referred to by a generic name such as "spring holiday".<ref>[http://www.co.rock.wi.us/current-news/1195-spring-holiday-office-closing-friday-april-18] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140414081148/http://www.co.rock.wi.us/current-news/1195-spring-holiday-office-closing-friday-april-18|date=14 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/iowa-town-renames-good-friday/story?id=10233061|title=Iowa Town Renames Good Friday to 'Spring Holiday'|work=ABC News|first=Russell|last=Goldman|date=29 March 2010|access-date=23 April 2014|archive-date=2 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211002232857/https://abcnews.go.com/US/iowa-town-renames-good-friday/story?id=10233061|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Villarreal |first=Abe |url=http://wnmu.edu/events/spring-holiday/ |title=Spring Holiday – Western New Mexico University |work=Western New Mexico University |publisher=Wnmu.edu |date=17 April 2014 |access-date=23 April 2014 |archive-date=11 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511132128/https://wnmu.edu/events/spring-holiday/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1999, in the case of ''Bridenbaugh v. O'Bannon'', an Indiana state employee sued the governor for giving state employees Good Friday as a day off. The US Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the plaintiff, stating that the government could give state employees a paid day off when that day is a religious holiday, including Good Friday, but only so long as the state can provide a valid secular purpose that coincides with the obvious religious purpose of the holiday.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/good-friday|title=Good Friday in the United States|access-date=27 September 2016|archive-date=3 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190803000248/https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/good-friday|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Calculating the date==
{{see also|Date of Easter}}
{{Dates for Good Friday}}

Good Friday is the Friday before Easter, which is calculated differently in [[Eastern Christianity]] and [[Western Christianity]] (see [[Computus]] for details). Easter falls on the first Sunday following the Paschal Full Moon, the full moon on or after 21 March, taken to be the date of the vernal [[equinox]]. The Western calculation uses the [[Gregorian calendar]], while the Eastern calculation uses the [[Julian calendar]], whose 21 March now corresponds to the Gregorian calendar's 3 April. The calculations for identifying the date of the full moon also differ.{{citation needed|date=April 2017}}

In Eastern Christianity, Easter can fall between 22 March and 25 April on Julian Calendar (thus between 4 April and 8 May in terms of the Gregorian calendar, during the period 1900 and 2099), so Good Friday can fall between 20 March and 23 April, inclusive (or between 2 April and 6 May in terms of the Gregorian calendar).{{citation needed|date=April 2017}}

{{Lent_calendar.svg|none{{!}}400px
}}

==Cultural references==
Good Friday assumes a particular importance in the plot of [[Richard Wagner]]'s music drama ''[[Parsifal]]'', which contains an orchestral interlude known as the "Good Friday Music".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/good-friday-music|title=Good Friday Music – Dictionary definition of Good Friday Music|publisher=Encyclopedia.com: FREE online dictionary|access-date=17 April 2017|archive-date=30 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430061412/https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/good-friday-music|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Memoration on Wednesday of the Holy Week ==
Some [[Baptist]] congregations,<ref>{{cite web |first=L. K. |last=Landis |url=http://www.kjbbc.com/wednesdaycrucifix.html |title=Proof for a Wednesday Crucifixion |publisher=King James Bible Baptist Church, Ladson, South Carolina |date=8 June 1998 |access-date=23 April 2014 |archive-date=22 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090822070329/http://www.kjbbc.com/wednesdaycrucifix.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> the [[Philadelphia Church of God]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thetrumpet.com/index.php?q=4758.3049.102.0 |title=The Resurrection Was Not on Sunday |website=thetrumpet.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090418010828/http://www.thetrumpet.com/index.php?q=4758.3049.102.0 |archive-date=18 April 2009 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> and some [[Non-denominational Christianity|non-denominational]] churches oppose the observance of Good Friday, regarding it as a so-called "[[papist]]" tradition, and instead observe the [[Crucifixion of Jesus]] on Wednesday to coincide with the Jewish sacrifice of the Passover Lamb (which some/many Christians believe is an Old Testament pointer to Jesus Christ). A Wednesday Crucifixion of Jesus allows for him to be in the tomb ("heart of the earth") for three days and three nights as he told the Pharisees he would be (Matthew 12:40), rather than two nights and a day (by [[Counting#Inclusive counting|inclusive counting]], as was the norm at that time) if he had died on a Friday.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thebereancall.org/node/5889 |title=The Cradle & the Cross (original) |publisher=thebereancall.org |date=1 December 1992 |access-date=23 April 2014 |archive-date=4 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100804072020/http://www.thebereancall.org/node/5889 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.factnet.org/discus/messages/3/19941.html |website=factnet.org |title=Cult, Cults, Abuse by Religions, Abuse Recovery Discussion & Resources, Peer-Support, Legal support |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090416103539/http://www.factnet.org/discus/messages/3/19941.html |archive-date=16 April 2009 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><!-- Preparation Day (14 [[Nisan]] on the [[Hebrew calendar]]) – which is the day before Passover (15 Nisan), instead of the Friday morning as the [[Synoptic Gospel]]s refer to the sabbath and they believe this refers to a "high sabbath" (John 19:31) which occurs on feast days, and not the ordinary weekly sabbath.{{huh?|reason=this is an ungrammatical sentence fragment, missing some words; the use of dashes vs commas is also imbalanced/malformed; see talk|date=August 2021}}-->

==See also==
{{portal|Christianity|Holidays}}

{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Good Friday Prayer]]
* [[Good Friday Prayer for the Jews]]
* [[Easter season]]
* [[Passion (music)]]
* [[Ascension of Jesus]]
* [[Life of Jesus in the New Testament]]
* [[Salvation in Christianity]]
{{div col end}}
{{clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book|chapter=[[s:Sermons from the Latins/Sermon 24|Good Friday: The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ.]] |title=Sermons from the Latins|year=1902|publisher= Benziger Brothers|first=Robert|last=Bellarmine|author-link=Robert Bellarmine}}
*{{Cite Catholic Encyclopedia |wstitle=Good Friday |volume=6 |first=Thomas Patrick|last=Gilmartin}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Good Friday}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110607102453/http://www.oca.org/OCchapter.asp?SID=2&ID=74 The Eastern Orthodox commemoration of Holy Friday] (archived 7 June 2011)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160303215940/http://transfig.orthodoxws.com/files/Bulgakov/0543.pdf Great Friday] instructions from S. V. Bulgakov's ''Handbook for Church Servers'' ([[Russian Orthodox Church]]) (archived 3 March 2016)
* [http://www.liturgies.net/Lent/GoodFriday.htm Episcopal Good Friday Service]
* [https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-magazine-monitor-27067136 Who, What, Why: Why is Good Friday called Good Friday?]
* [https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/common/good-friday Good Friday]

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