Today we have arrived at Holy Friday—the heart of Holy Week and the most solemn day of the year. Today we witness the fearful mystery of the Crucifixion of the King of Glory. Today we behold the Passion and death of the Lord.
The three services of Holy Friday—Matins, the Royal Hours, and Vespers—are dominated by the Gospel accounts of the Passion. At Matins of Holy Friday the priest reads twelve Gospel readings.1 Each of the Royal Hours has an appointed Gospel reading; we hear the Passion accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John at the first, third, sixth, and ninth hours, respectively. Then at Vespers a composite Gospel of Matthew, Luke, and John is read. A complete list of the readings for the day can be found on the OCA website.
I find myself without much to say about Holy Friday. The Gospel readings and hymns speak for themselves. So instead of doing any analysis, I’ll simply offer the texts and recordings of three prominent hymns of Holy Friday.
First is Antiphon 15 at Holy Friday Matins, which is repeated at the ninth hour of the Royal Hours:
Today He who hung the earth upon the waters is hung on the Tree.
Today He who hung the earth upon the waters is hung on the Tree.
Today He who hung the earth upon the waters is hung on the Tree.
The King of Angels is decked with a crown of thorns.
He who wraps the heavens is clouds is wrapped in the purple of mockery.
He who freed Adam in the Jordan is slapped on the face.
The Bridegroom of the Church is affixed to the Cross with nails.
The Son of the Virgin is pierced by a spear.
We worship Thy Passion, O Christ!
We worship Thy Passion, O Christ!
We worship Thy Passion, O Christ!
Show us also Thy glorious Resurrection!
While my parish sings this hymn normally, in ordinary obikhod tone 6, in the Byzantine tradition it is sung slowly and solemnly. Here is a recording from the Boston Byzantine Choir.
Second is the exapostilarion of Holy Friday Matins, which is sung three times:
The Wise Thief Thou didst make worthy of Paradise
in a single moment, O Lord.
By the wood of Thy Cross,
illumine me as well,
and save me!
Third is the troparion the Noble Jospeh, sung at Vespers of Holy Friday and Matins of Holy Saturday:
The noble Joseph,
when he had taken down Thy most pure Body from the Tree,
wrapped it in fine linen and anointed it with spices,
and placed it in a new tomb.
Here is a recording in Bulgarian Chant.
Show us also Thy glorious Resurrection!
John 13:31-18:1; John 18:1-28; Matthew 26:57-75; John 18:28-19:16; Matthew 27:3-32; Mark 15:16-32; Matthew 27:33-54; Luke 23:32-49; John 19:25-37; Mark 15:43-47; John 19:38-42; Matthew 27:62-66.