Services of the Cross (Holy Friday)

The Orthodox commemoration of our Lord's death on the cross begins on Holy Thursday at 5:30 PM with the reading of Twelve Passion Gospels. This is a long, solemn service, in which the cross is carried into the church and an icon of Christ is hung upon it.

On Holy Friday we repeat some of the hymns and readings from the night before during Royal Hours of Holy Friday at 9 AM. After this service, the children begin preparing the funeral bier for Christ.

At the 3 PM, we celebrate Vespers of the Unnailing, in which the icon of Christ is taken down from the cross and laid on the funeral bier. Immediately after this service, parishioners begin a vigil, reading the psalms at the tomb of Christ.

At 5:30 PM, we celebrate the service of Lamentations in which we carry the bier in procession around the church with mournful lamentation hymns that beautifully look forward to the Resurrection.

Visitors are always welcome. You can find pictures and learn more about all of our Holy Week and Easter services here: https://www.orthodoxjackson.com/Holy-Week

You may also like the following events from St. Nicholas Orthodox Christian Church:

• This month, 22nd February, 09:00 am, Clean Week 2026 in Jackson
• Next Friday, 6th March, 05:30 pm, Akathist Hymn - Fridays of Lent in Jackson
• This April, 11th April, 10:30 pm, Great and Holy Pascha (Easter) in Jackson