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Udupi: With fasting and daylong prayer services in churches, the district observed Good Friday, marking the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
Devotees congregated in large numbers in churches of various denominations across the district.
Among the key religious ceremonies listed for the day in churches is the ‘Way of the Cross’. The 14 stations on Christ’s Journey to Mount Calvary from Roman governor Pilate’s palace are re-enacted with the worshipers moving to each station singing hymns as the story of the betrayal, arrest, trial and crucifixion of Christ is narrated by the priest.
Good Friday in the district started with the ‘Way of the Cross’ in all the churches. Some of the churches like Pangla, Barkur, Kundapur, and others held solemn processions, where they took a life-size statue of Jesus in prayerful worship.
In the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church Kolalgiri, parish members organised live enacting of the ‘Way of the Cross’ in the church premises under the leadership of the Parish priest Fr Wilfred Frank.
Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop of Udupi Diocese, took part in the religious ceremony organised at the Milagres Cathedral Kallianpur.
In his message, the bishop said, “We should take inspiration from the life of Jesus Christ who sacrificed everything in the path of truth and dedicated his life in the service of humanity. We should also tread on the path of truth.”
The solemn church liturgy on Good Friday included the dramatized reading of the ‘Passion of the Cross’ from the Gospel of St John, followed by the veneration of the Cross and finally the distribution of communion.
With the completion of Good Friday, Christians prepare to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday.
Dying you destroyed our death;
Rising you restored our lives;
Lord Jesus come in glory.