PETALING JAYA, Malaysia — Christians throughout the country marked the start of the Holy Week by attending Good Friday services at churches.
Parishioners watched solemnly as the journey Jesus took through the streets of Jerusalem while carrying his cross to the site of his crucifixion at Calvary more than 2,000 years ago was replicated yesterday.
Holy Week is the final week before Easter Sunday and the last week of the 40-day Lent period of sacrifice.
Good Friday is also a day of strict fasting for Catholics and some other Christians.
Church services in the country began as early as 8 a.m. as Christians, many dressed in black, marked the day Jesus died on the cross.
Writer Rachel Au, 25, said Good Friday was a day to reflect on forgiveness.
IT professional Emmanuel Joseph, 31, described the service held at St Anne’s Church in Port Klang as “solemn and sombre.”
“But the priest also spoke of hope because we look forward to Easter when Jesus was resurrected. To me, it means being reborn as a better person,” he added.
For student Katrina Foo, 21, Good Friday was a time of reflection.
“I attended the Stations of the Cross service with my family and it was an extremely moving experience,” she said at the Church of St Francis of Assisi in Cheras.
In George Town, the Church of Divine Mercy in Sungai Ara was packed with parishioners.
They lined up for the “adoration of the cross” towards the end of the service to bow and kiss the crucifix.
Anne Rowena David, 43, said it was customary for her family to attend Good Friday mass.
“If we do not remember Jesus’ sacrifice for us, then it would have been in vain,” she said.
In Kota Kinabalu, churches were also packed as solemn ceremonies such as the reading of the Passion (final journey of Jesus) were held.
“In kneeling before the crucifix and kissing it, we are paying the highest honour to our Lord’s cross as the instrument of our salvation,” said Elizabeth Nicholas at St Michael’s Church in Penampang.