Churches of the Chaldean Archdiocese of Erbil Celebrate the Good Friday Service in an Atmosphere of Prayer and Reverence

  • April 3, 2026
  • 15

On the evening of Friday, April 3, the churches of the Chaldean Archdiocese of Erbil celebrated the Good Friday service in a deeply spiritual atmosphere marked by prayer, reverence, and the wide participation of the faithful.

The service began with the evening prayers, as the faithful gathered to offer their prayers and reflect on the mystery of the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was followed by the homily on the Passion, which invited those present to enter more deeply into the mystery of the Cross and to contemplate Christ’s suffering in light of the reality of human life today—marked by pain, fear, and weakness, but also by hope and redemption.

The service then continued with further prayers before reaching a deeply moving moment in the rite of the Deposition from the Cross. This was followed by the “Burial” procession in the churches, carried out in a solemn atmosphere of hymns and meditation, as the faithful accompanied the Lord on His journey to the tomb, recalling the mystery of redemption. At the conclusion of the service, the faithful were given the opportunity to visit the Holy Tomb for personal prayer and reflection.

As is customary, the churches remained open until midnight, welcoming believers from various areas of the archdiocese who came for visitation, moving from one church to another in a living expression of their deep faith and attachment to these liturgical traditions, which reflect the unity and spiritual strength of the community. This tradition has ancient roots in the life of the Church; writings of the pilgrim Egeria in the fourth century indicate that the faithful were accustomed to visiting seven churches on such occasions, as part of a spiritual journey accompanying Christ in His Passion.

These celebrations take place within the journey of Holy Week, which calls the faithful to deepen their reflection on the mystery of the Cross in preparation for the joy of the Resurrection.