Fr. Peter Orfanakos
Rating: 10|Votes: 1
On Thursday evening, the Matins service of Holy Friday is served. This service is also called the Service of the Twelve Gospels, because there are twelve Gospel passages relating to the Lord’s passion and crucifixion.
Bishop Alexander (Mileant)
Rating: 9,7|Votes: 6
The central event in the history of mankind is the coming into the world of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the most important deed—His voluntary suffering and death on the cross, culminating in the glorious Resurrection from the dead.
Rating: 8,4|Votes: 5
On Holy Friday, we recall Christ’s crucifixion with the Service of the Twelve Gospels. At this service the priest reads the twelve Gospels describing Christ’s Passion and Crucifixion, intertwined with other elements of the Matins service.
Receive me today, Son of God, as a partaker of Thy mystical supper; for I will not reveal Thy Mystery to Thine enemies, nor give Thee a kiss as did Judas. But as the thief I confess to Thee: Lord remember me in Thy kingdom.
This kind of Liturgy is reserved for the major feasts of the Lord, but on Holy Thursday we are additionally reminded of Judas’ betrayal at the Last Supper in the upper room, as he dipped his bread into the wine and gave his Master a kiss. This is to instruct us that we must flee Judas’s example and cleanse our conscience through the sacrament of confession before daring to receive Communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ.