Today is Greek Orthodox Good Friday … the Epitaphios and this | Lord James Goddard

Today is Greek Orthodox Good Friday … the Epitaphios and this Holy Friday, or Good Friday, is a profoundly mournful day in Greece and Cyprus which commemorates the Passion of Christ with the traditional Epitaphios processions.

This is the procession in Nicosia, Cyprus tonight

It recalls the moments leading up to and including the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, as told in the New Testament of the Bible.

Even the most remote churches honor the tradition of the Epitaphios (Bier of Christ), creating a pious atmosphere full of tradition.

The word ‘epitaphios’ is an adjective meaning “funerary, happening on a grave;” it is the Greek title for Thucydides’ famous “Pericles’ Funeral Oration,” and the origin of the word epitaph.

Within a liturgical context, this is also the name of an icon, usually made of cloth and richly embroidered, depicting the body of Christ being laid in the grave, often by the Virgin Mary and several disciples.

On the morning of Good Friday, the Epitaphios is decorated with spring flowers—mostly white, red, and purple—until it is entirely covered.

The Tomb is often sprinkled with flower petals and rosewater, decorated with candles, and ceremonially censed as a mark of respect.

The priest and faithful then venerate the Epitaphios as the choir chants hymns, called the “Epitaphic Lamentation.”

Epitaphios processions on Holy Friday march into the sea

The epitaph procession begins around the streets of the city with bells ringing the funeral toll, commemorating the burial procession of Christ. Accompanying the solemn procession are the people of the congregation, who continuously chant the Lamentations.

At the end of the procession, the Epitaphios is brought back to the church. Occasionally, after the clergy carry the Epitaphios back into the church, they might stop just inside the entrance to the church and hold the Epitaphios above the door, so that all who enter the church pass under it.

The faithful continue to visit the tomb and venerate the Epitaphios throughout Holy Saturday.

These practices vary according to regional traditions.

Perhaps most impressive is that in some coastal towns, most notably on the islands of Hydra and Tinos, the Epitaphios is carried to the beach and the men carrying it march right into the sea until they are at least waist-deep in water where they may remain for several minutes, often holding the bier over their heads to protect it.

During this time, prayers are said for the welfare and safe return of the many seafarers returning from those communities.