In celebration of Passion Friday, the Chaldean faithful gathered at St. John’s Church (rented) in El Cajon, CA, at 5:00 pm, on Friday, April 14, 2017, to celebrate with faith and deep sorrow the suffering and passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, and His crucifixion and death on the cross for the salvation of our souls.
The ceremony began with Ramsha prayer (Vespers), followed by the homily presented by Father Noel Gorgis, who portrait for us the scene that took place on the cross on that Passion Friday, which shook the entire humanity on that day, and how it is connected to us, as believers in Jesus Christ, who at the foot of the cross and before His death, told His Apostle John, the Beloved, to take the Virgin Mary, Jesus’ mother, with him, to be his mother, and as well, she is our mother, to take her and keep her with us.
Following Fr. Noel’s homily, the faithful walked inside the church in a procession carrying the tomb of Jesus and the cross with the crucifix lying on top of the tomb, while the choir chanted many Passion hymns known especially for this sorrowful occasion. At the exit, a taste of wine mixed with vinegar “Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh” Mark 15: 23) was offered for adults.
Wasan Jarbo
