"Good friday" service of St Stephen's Orthodox Church
Sunday, March 27, 2016
The "good friday" service of St Stephen's Orthodox Church was celebrated in a blessed manner at the Indian Community School Auditorium, Khaitan. Orthodox Christian Youth Movement Vice-President Rev. Fr. Philip Tharakan (Thevalakkara) was the chief celebrant and parish Vicar Rev. Fr. Sanju John the co-celebrant of the service. The Good Friday is otherwise known as "Dukha Velli"in Malayalam is an important service of Orthodox Church.Like every year three important rituals remained unchanged.Good Friday is observed as a day of prayer, penance and fasting to commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ nearly 2000 years ago.
The most important event associated with the service was the seven times prayer , a re-enactment of the passion of Jesus after he was arrested at night at Gethsemane and the two processions a re-enactment of the travel Christ's Journey to Mount Calvary from Pilate's Palace and procession before Jesus's burial .
The second significant ritual in all churches is the drinking of Choruka, a decoction made of bitter gourd juice and vinegar.
This symbolises the incident when Jesus, while on the cross, called out, and hearing his cries some of those watching the event took a piece of cloth, dipped it in cheap wine, put it on a piece of stick and lifted it to his mouth and tried to make him drink.
Yet another equally important event on Good Friday is the drinking of Kanji immediately after the long service.
The steaming hot gruel made of watery rice called Kanji is served with pulses and pickle. Everyone who comes to the church makes it a point to have at least one serving of this gruel.
The Good Friday service begins around 7.30 am in the morning and the longest service is for the Orthodox Church where it ends at 2.30pm
A lot of orthodox church members from various part of Kuwait came to Indian Community School,Khaithan forthe service.
The Easter service will be held at Indian Community School,Khaithan from Saturday 26th march , 6.00 PM onwards
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