Great and Holy Friday

Byzantine tradition calls Good Friday, Holy and Great Friday, or just simply Great Friday. On this day the service of the four Royal Hours is celebrated in the morning. This service consists of hymns, psalms, and readings from the Scriptures related to Christ's passion. There is no Divine Liturgy (Eucharist) celebrated on this day.

In the afternoon, around 3pm, the great Vespers are celebrated, the accounts from the Gospels regarding the crucifixion and death of Jesus is read, special attention is given to the role Joseph of Armatea in securing the body of Jesus for burial. During the readings of the passion at the moment when Jesus' body is taken from the cross, the priest removes the icon of Jesus' body (soma) from the cross. This liturgical action is called Apokathelosis which means "taking down from the cross" and carries the icon of Jesus' body to the sanctuary wrapped in a white cloth and places it on the holy table. 

After the reading of the Passion, the priest, accompanied by the deacon and acolytes, brings out he epitaphios, and carries it around the church and places the epitaphios in the sepulcher (tomb) decorated with flowers also known as (the kouvouklion). The epitaphois is an embroidered cloth with the icon of Jesus' body, after being taken down from the cross, depicting the body of Christ ready for burial.

On Friday evening, the orthros (matins) of Holy Saturday are celebrated. This service consists of the Lamentations (hymns of praise intercalated with psalm 118 used during funerals) sung by the congregation. During this service the Epitaphios icon is carried in procession around the church. In some parishes the entire flower-bedecked Sepulcher, symbolizing the Tomb, is carried in the procession.