Good Friday - The Festival of Tenebrae

To impress upon the minds and hearts of believers the awful consequences of sin and the magnitude of the Savior's sacrifice, the ancient Church held a special service called Tenebrae on Good Friday.

Tenebrae is the Latin word for darkness. During this service candles are extinguished after a number of Scripture readings - a pair of candles after each reading. As the candles are extinguished they symbolize the fading loyalty of the disciples and friends of Jesus. The also portray the fading light of the World as Christ was departing from it, remining us of the events that led to utter darkness on Good Friday.

By the end of the service, all lights will have been turned off. The sanctuary will be in darkness except for the light of the wall cross. It will remain burning through the prayers to symbolize that even in the midst of death and darkness, the forces of hell could not prevail against the Light of Christ. During this time a bell will toll nine times to remind is that Jesus died the ninth hour, which is 3:00pm. Then the lighted wall cross will also be turned off and the Christ candle will be removed from the sanctuary. The church will then be in total darkness and the "strepitus" will be heard. The strepitus is a loud and harsh noise that symbolizes the sealing of the door to the tomb by Pilate's soldiers. Shortly thereafter, the wall cross will be relit and the Christ candle will returned to the sanctuary and placed in the midst of the congregation. It reminds us that even though Satan and wickedness had their hour, yet the light of God's love continues to burn among us throughout all eternity!

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