Holy Friday The Orthodox Observance of Great And Holy Friday

The commemorations of Holy Friday begin with the Matins service of the day which is conducted on Holy Thursday evening. The service is a very unique Matins service with twelve Gospel readings that begin with Christ's discourse at the Last Supper, and end with the account of His burial: John 13:31-18:1, John 18:1-29, 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 19:38-42, Mark 15:43-47, John 19:38-42, Matthew 27:62-66.

These readings relate the last instructions of Christ to His disciples, the prophecy of the drama of the Cross, the dramatic prayer of Christ and His new commandment. After the reading of the fifth Gospel comes the procession with the Crucifix around the church, while the priest chants the Fifteenth Antiphon:

"Today is hung upon the Tree, He Who did hang the land in the midst of the waters. A Crown of thorns crowns Him Who is King of Angels. He is wrapped about with the purple of mockery Who wrapped the Heavens with clouds. He received buffetings Who freed Adam in Jordan. He was transfixed with nails Who is the Bridegroom of the Church. He was pierced with a spear Who is the Son of the Virgin. We worship Thy Passion, O Christ. Show also unto us thy glorious Resurrection."

With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon

The Golgotha that is Kosovo
The Land that Once was Orthodox

The Monastery of the Holy Archangels in Draganac, is the only thing the local Christians have left to gather around. They are in the woods and isolated and so escaped the persecutions of 1999 and the early 2000s. The Monastery currently has 12 brothers, making it actually the second largest monastic brotherhood in Kosovo, a land which sadly used to have hundreds of Monasteries that were all destroyed by Muslims. This Monastery is among a few of remaining links to this ancient Christian land.

The Monastery tries to support the local Orthodox Christians who remain in isolated villages, both spiritually and materially, but they need help from outside. They make various products like any monastery, but there is little opportunity to sell anything; everyone is poor or Muslim! So they came up with the idea of selling abroad via a website, www.draganacmonastery.com, and so far the response is fairly good, but they need more exposure. Thus, I am posting their website to my readers.