Orthodox Christians celebrate Good or Good Friday. This day is the most mournful of all those that occur during Holy Week and the penultimate day of Lent. On Good Friday, Christians again and again remember the last earthly day of the life of Jesus Christ. In particular, in their memories they rely on the sufferings of the cross and death.

On Good Friday it is prescribed to observe very strict fast, up to complete abstinence from eating food. This is precisely the concept that church ministers adhere to exactly until the end of the service, which on Friday is of a special nature. IN Orthodox traditions preserved large number accepts and customs, as well as prohibitions that are relevant for Good Friday.

When in 2018 Good Friday

In 2018, Good Friday falls on April 6th. This is the day when the Passion of Christ is remembered. If we rely on the Gospel, then it was on this day that Jesus was put on trial, committed way of the cross to Golgotha, where he was crucified. On Good Friday, the earthly life of the Savior of mankind ended.

Worship on Good Friday

Special services begin on Maundy Thursday, which is also called Maundy Thursday. On this day in all Orthodox churches The service, which is called the Sequence of the 12 Gospels, ends. During this process, believers stand in the temple with lit candles. During the service, twelve passages from the Gospel are read, which are dedicated to the suffering, torment of the cross and death of Christ.

In total, three services are held on Good Friday. In the morning the Hours are served, then, as on Maundy Thursday, the Gospel of the Passion of Christ is read. In the afternoon they serve vespers with the rite of removing the shroud. Then follows the evening service, which is called Matins of Great Saturday with the rite of burial of the Shroud.

Good Friday 2018: what to do

Good Friday is the most strict day Holy Week Great Lent. According to ancient legends, on this day it is better to completely give up food, allowing yourself some bread with cold water. This should happen in the evening - after the ceremony of removing the Shroud takes place.

Good Friday has always been especially revered in the folk Christian tradition. A large number of traditions and customs have been preserved to this day and are observed by true Christian believers.

For example, in villages in Rus' throughout Holy Week peasants burned bonfires on high hillocks, which paid tribute to the memory of the god of fire Perun to protect the fields from evil spirits and all kinds of evil spirits. People tried to ward off evil spirits with the help of loud screams and noise. They also specially drove horses around the village in order to scare away evil spirits with horse stomping. Brooms and whips were used to protect against the “evil one,” which were taken into the hands of a variety of segments of the population. In the other hand they held lit candles or a torch.

If we rely on the later Christian tradition, then after reading the 12 Gospels in churches, believers preferred to carry lit candles home to save their home from evil spirits. They placed splinters next to the icons.

On Good Friday there are a large number of prohibitions that apply to all Orthodox Christians. The following prohibitions have survived to this day:

• On this day it is not customary to do anything around the house. According to legend, good housewife must finish all the work in Maundy Thursday, and before Easter there should be no housework.
• In memory of the incredible torment of Christ that he endured, it was believed that on Good Friday one should not pierce the ground with iron, since this is a great sin that leads to troubles. Simply put, on Friday it was impossible to harrow, plow, and the like.
• On Good Friday, any fun is prohibited. In particular, it was forbidden to laugh loudly, talk, walk or sing. Those who decide to break this tradition, according to ancient legend, will be tearful all year.
• Also on Friday, women were not allowed to sew, cut and wash, while men were prohibited from chopping wood, as well as all work with an ax and any other metal equipment.

Good Friday 2018: signs and customs

On Good Friday, it was customary to observe a large number of customs, while people built their future on the basis of signs. The following have survived to this day:

• According to an ancient superstition, on Good Friday you can find out if there are “charmed” things in the house. To do this, you should go around all the rooms with lit candles. And if it starts to crack, it means there is a “charmed” object nearby that you need to get rid of as quickly as possible.
• It is believed that the ring, which is consecrated on Good Friday, protects against various diseases.
• The folk calendar indicates that if on Good Friday the night is starry and the morning is clear, then a good harvest can be expected from wheat, while if the morning is cloudy, then the field will be overgrown with weeds.
• Despite the fact that it was not customary to work on Good Friday, there is a belief that parsley or cabbage sown on this day gives a double harvest.
• It was believed that bread or Easter cake baked on Good Friday never becomes moldy and generally has healing properties. Such a cake was stored for a whole year, and sometimes even used as a remedy for illnesses.
• Good Friday, according to ancient belief, is considered a great day for weaning babies. In this case, children grow up healthy, strong and happy.

The last Friday before Easter is called Holy Friday because it was on this day that the traitors crucified Jesus Christ. Of course, all Christians treat this memorable date with great respect and even trepidation.

Over the centuries, Good Friday has acquired quite a few interesting folk signs and beliefs. They are remembered today and used before Easter so that all next year was happy and full. Let us remind you that in 2018 Good Friday is celebrated on April 6th.

• Folk signs and beliefs
• Conspiracies for Good Friday
• Birthday on Good Friday - signs
• Signs for Holy Saturday before Easter
• What not to do on Good Friday and Saturday
• Lent on Good Friday: what to eat
• Signs and customs of the Friday before Easter: video

As for the popular signs of Good Friday, they have even survived to this day:

1. If on this day you bake a loaf of bread (including Easter cake), it will not become moldy for many days. And besides, it can also charge a person with healing energy that saves from various diseases.
2. If you go to church on Good Friday and bless silver ring, it will serve as an amulet against accidents and help protect your health.
3. On this day you should not pierce the ground with iron (shovel, pitchfork, etc.) - it is believed that this is a great sin and a bad sign. Those who take such risks may incur adverse consequences(up to wounds and blood).
4. On this day, it is better for women to postpone some household chores. So, you don’t need to sew, knit, clean the house, or do laundry. It is also better to refrain from cutting hair and beauty.
5. If the baby is already approaching the age when it is customary to wean, it is necessary to do this on Good Friday. Then the child will grow up strong and healthy.
6. There is also an interesting observation: if on Friday night it is so clear that you can see the entire starry sky, then this year’s harvest will be good and the wheat will be grainy.
7. A dream from Maundy Thursday to Good Friday predicts the future. Usually such a dream is filled with accurate predictions.
8. On Good Friday, after the church service, you need to bring home 12 burning candles, which are not allowed to burn out completely. According to legend, such Friday candles bring prosperity and happiness to the house where they are kept.

On the special day of Good Friday, a special spell is read to improve the health of those suffering from depression. To do this, you need to take three Easter colored eggs and put them in water. At this time you need to read a special spell:

Strengthen mine true words, Lord, strengthen, Christ, the servant of God (name). Just as people rejoice at the bright Easter, so may the servant of God (name) be rejoice in life. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Amen. Amen.

The patient must then wash himself with this enchanted water.

It is also believed that during Holy Week, rituals can be performed to get rid of drunkenness and alcoholism. It is on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday that they have special power.

So what you need to do:

• Ashes are taken from the oven on Good Friday.
• the ash is taken out of the house and dumped at an intersection where there are no cars..
• At the same time, the plot is read three times:

Just as this ash will not sprout, and the sprouts will not produce petals, and the petals will not produce fruit, so the slave (name) will not take wine into his mouth: neither on Sunday, nor on Saturday, nor on Friday, nor on Thursday, nor on Wednesday, nor on Tuesday, and not on Monday. Amen. Just as this ash does not fill with a spring, does not sing like a nightingale, so the slave (name) will not drink green wine. Amen.

Just as this ash will not farrow or whelp, so the slave (name) will say goodbye to wine forever. He will not drink: neither on Sunday, nor on Saturday, nor on Friday, nor on Thursday, nor on Wednesday, nor on Tuesday, nor on Monday, nor on weekdays, nor on Holy Days. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Amen. Amen.

On Good Friday, it will be useful for women and girls to learn about a special ritual and conspiracy to strengthen peace and harmony in the family. What you need to do for this:

• On Good Friday you need to bake a small loaf of bread.
• Say the words of the spell over the bread (read below).
• Then divide the bread in half. One half must be eaten by the one who performs the ritual.
• The other half of the kolobok should be kept behind the icons all year round.

Lord, save, preserve, defend. Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Sometimes parents worry: what fate awaits a child born during Holy Week, and especially on Good Friday?

• In the old days it was believed that if a child was born on Good Friday, then he certainly had to be taken to his grandmother - so that she would reprimand him from future troubles and from a difficult fate.
• There is no need to worry about this today: the tragedy of this day will in no way affect the fate of the baby.
• By the way, church representatives have their own opinion on this matter. The troubles that will happen in the life of a child born on Good Friday will ultimately turn into great joy.
• But if your birthday falls on Good Friday, then it is better to postpone the lavish celebrations and congratulations, or celebrate as modestly as possible.

In fact, Friday smoothly turns into Saturday, and both of these days on the eve of Easter Sunday have a very similar atmosphere. Late on Friday evening, the body of Jesus Christ was taken down from the cross, and throughout Saturday it lay in the tomb. Therefore, this day is also called quiet: of course, it is strictly forbidden to make noise, have fun, and especially conflict.

And most importantly, the people have developed a tradition that is in many ways similar to Forgiveness Sunday (the last day before the onset of Lent). It is customary to simply ask for forgiveness and make peace with those people with whom you may have disagreements.

Let it be a temporary and even a very modest compromise. But any business begins with the first decision, just as a road of a thousand miles begins with the first step.

Of course, signs before Easter, as well as popular beliefs, call us to take some action or, at a minimum, to observe nature. On the other hand, it is useful for a believer to know what cannot be done on Good Friday, so that a clear picture of the rules can be formed.

Here's what you should pay attention to first:

1. Obviously, on Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Bright Resurrection itself, you shouldn’t get irritated, swear, and therefore don’t need to start a showdown. There are other days for this - why then darken the memory of Christ and the Easter holiday?
2. You should not drink alcohol or take part in feasts or parties.
3. Spouses are advised to refrain from mutual pleasures. There is no strict prohibition on intimate intimacy, but it is intuitively clear that memories of Jesus Christ and participation in his suffering do not imply carnal pleasures and lovemaking.
4. Of course, it is worth excluding any idle talk, gossip, empty news, gossip, lengthy discussions, jokes. It is clear that Good Friday is a day of remembrance and mourning for Jesus. And any lively communication can simply dispel the situation sacred veneration deceased Savior.

Finally, those who observe Lent know that on Good Friday it is forbidden to consume any food until the removal of the shroud from the temple (this happens around 15:00, i.e. after lunch). And then you can only eat any bread throughout the day (but not sweet pastries) and drink water.

This ban lasts until Sunday night, when after the service the believers joyfully exclaim with the news: “Christ is risen! Truly risen!”

Of course, such a strict ban does not apply to people with poor health, children, the elderly, as well as those who work physically and may simply lose strength from starvation. Comments on this issue can be heard from representatives of the Orthodox Church:

Thus, folk signs and the customs on Good Friday and Holy Saturday before Easter are directly related to the events that occurred on these days 2 thousand years ago.

Of course, whether to trust these popular ideas or not is a personal matter for everyone. In any case, if a sign helps a person to sincerely believe in a miracle and tune in to a new bright wave of change, this is much better than not believing in anything and expecting nothing.

The article talks about what Good Friday is and what customs and rituals are associated with this important day.

From the article you will learn why the Friday before Easter was called Holy, what rituals and signs exist of this important day before Christ's Sunday.

Easter in relation to Good Friday

One of the strictest fasts of the year ends at the end of Holy Week (Holy Week), during which believers remember the events that led Jesus Christ to death: the culmination of the Savior’s physical life was spiritual and physical torment.

On Good Friday, laity read about the Last Supper, the taking of Christ into custody, the trial of the Divine Prisoner, the scourging and execution of the death sentence, which ended with the crucifixion. The last six days of Lent are called “Great” or “Passionate”. During Holy Week, special services are held, and the Orthodox adhere to a particularly strict fast.

Holy Week is spent for the laity in memories of the last days spent on earth by Jesus.

On Maundy Monday In churches they read the Gospel parable about the roadside fig tree cursed by the Lord. Symbolism and spiritual meaning The image of a barren fig tree is revealed in detail:

• the roadside fig tree personifies one who is perishing in unrepentance, whose soul does not bring faith, prayer and good deeds
• the moment when the tree withered from the words of the Lord shows the Divine power of the Savior, the censure of people who outwardly create the appearance of performers God's commandments, but from which it is impossible to expect good fruits

On Maundy Tuesday Believers devote themselves to reading the parables that the Son of God spoke in the Temple of Jerusalem: about the resurrection, about the trial of the Savior, about the ten virgins.

Believers spend Good Friday in remembrance of the passions that save Christians

Great Wednesday Believers devote themselves to reading the parable of the precious ointment poured on the head of the Savior by sinners. In this way they prepared him for his rest. On this day, the greed for money and the betrayal of Judas are condemned and cursed. It also talks about the destined fate of the two different people: Judas, who betrayed the Lord and thereby destroyed his soul, and the harlot Mary Magdalene, who repented and accepted salvation.

On Maundy Thursday several events occurred: Jesus’ establishment of the sacrament of the Eucharist at the Last Supper, the Savior’s prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Good Friday Believers devote them to memories of the saving passions and death of Jesus on the cross for churchgoers.

Holy Saturday the laity devote themselves to reading about the burial of the Savior and how his body remained in the tomb. Holy Fire, which is taken out on this day from the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem - a symbol of the Resurrection of the Lord.

Holy Week Believers devote themselves to preparing for Easter: cleaning is carried out, Easter cakes are baked, Easter eggs are painted.

During Holy Week, believers prepare for the holiday of the Holy Resurrection of Christ

With Easter cakes and krashankas, believers go to the Divine Service on Holy Saturday, where the products are blessed.

Holy Week ends with the celebration of Easter - Christ's Resurrection.

Good Friday - the essence of what it is, what it means, what happens on Good Friday

Good Friday is the day the Son of God was crucified. During the Divine Service, the clergy remember that event three times, reading the Gospel:

• at Matins there is a service of the 12 Gospels, excerpts from which recall the saving suffering and crucifixion of Jesus, which occurred on Friday
• The Great (Royal) Hours are spent reading the narratives of the four evangelists
• Great Vespers takes place with the reading of the composite Gospel

On Good Friday we remember the torment of Jesus Christ and his crucifixion

Video: GREAT LENT. PASSIONATE WEEK. GOOD FRIDAY

When is the Shroud taken out on Good Friday?

• There is no liturgy in the church on Good Friday. However, on the day that Good Friday falls on the Annunciation, the service of St. John Chrysostom takes place.
• On Good Friday, the canon “On the Crucifixion of the Lord” is performed in the church, and the clergy also take out the Shroud - a symbolic funeral shroud with the full-length body of the Savior depicted on it, which lies in the coffin.

There are no bells in the church on Good Friday. On this day the Shroud is taken out

• Iconographic image of the Savior in the tomb - required attribute services of two last days Holy Week: Good Friday and Holy Saturday.

Priests in black robes carry out the Shroud

• The Shroud is placed on a special elevation, symbolizing the Holy Sepulcher, in front of Royal Gates. At the same time, the Savior’s Head is turned to the north, and his feet are turned to the south. Incense is applied to the Shroud and flowers are laid out. These actions symbolize the anointing of the Body of the executed Savior with incense by the myrrh-bearing women.
• The service on the day of special repentance begins at two o'clock in the afternoon. The shroud is taken out an hour after the start of the service - at the moment of Jesus’ death on the cross.

What can you do on Good Friday?

On Good Friday, those who served in the service carry home 12 burning candles, which are not allowed to burn out completely. These candles bring prosperity and happiness to the house where they are kept. On this day you can sow a vegetable garden or field. Dill and peas sown in small quantities are the key to a good harvest.

All preparations for the celebration of Easter are made before Maundy Thursday

Can I bake on Good Friday?

Baking Easter cakes on Good Friday is allowed. Baked Easter cakes should be covered with sacred willow. Such willow branches are then used as a talisman against evil spirits.

Is it possible to get married on Good Friday?

Believers spend strict fasting on Good Friday in prayer, and also attend the mournful service (Lamentation of the Virgin Mary). If you decide to get married in April, then it is better to wait another 2 weeks after Easter. Go to church, and at the end of Lent you can get married and have a fun wedding.

In Orthodoxy it is allowed to get married after Red Hill (Antipascha)

What does a wedding on Good Friday mean?

During Easter week, the biggest and most punishable holiday, you cannot walk and have fun. Therefore, it is better to postpone the wedding date. Consider whether it's worth starting family life with a great sin and how the wedding on Good Friday will then turn out for both of you, because this is the time to prepare for the resurrection of the Savior.

On Easter week on Good Friday no one gets married and no one marries newlyweds in church

What should you not do on Good Friday?

The following actions are prohibited:

• washing
• sticking iron objects into the ground
• drinking alcohol
• fun

If a person spends this day having fun, he will shed tears all year long.

On this day women are not allowed to:

• spin
• clean the house

On this day men are not allowed to:

• chop wood
• use a cleaver, plane
• plant trees

Women are not allowed to sew on Good Friday

What does a dream on Good Friday mean on Saturday: signs

A dream from Thursday to Friday predicts the future, but the dream takes on special significance on Good Friday. Usually such a dream is filled with accurate predictions. Seeing prophetic dream, wait for its execution until noon (lunch) of the same day.

Dream on Good Friday

What does it mean if a child is born on Good Friday?

This day will not affect the fate of a child born on Good Friday.

What does it mean if a child is born on Good Friday?

What does a birthday on Good Friday mean?

• In the old days, it was believed that a baby born on Good Friday should be taken to his grandmother so that she would reprimand him from future troubles, and so that the child would not suffer a difficult fate.
• But the clergy have a different opinion on this matter: all the troubles that will happen in the life of such a child will ultimately turn into great joy. That's why you shouldn't count bad sign the birth of a baby on a mournful day.

What does Birthday on Good Friday mean?

What does bread baked on Good Friday mean?

It is believed that if you bake bread on Good Friday, it will remain fresh for a long time and will not become moldy. This bread is used as a remedy to relieve illness. The sailors took the bun baked on Good Friday with them on long journeys, using it as a talisman. If you store such a bun at home, it will become a talisman against fires.

Is it possible to bake bread on Good Friday?

What does it mean to die on Good Friday?

Anyone who leaves this world on Good Friday will experience the torment of life with the Savior and will be resurrected with him.

What does it mean to die on Good Friday?

Lent - Good Friday: what can you eat?

Food is not consumed on Good Friday until the Shroud is taken out. But even after this, only bread and water are allowed.

Good Friday: what conspiracies, rituals and prayers to read?

A conspiracy against alcoholism, drunkenness and relief from extreme melancholy

• Furnace ash is taken from the oven on Good Friday.
• It falls at an intersection where there are no cars.

The plot is read three times:

Just as this ash will not sprout, and the sprouts will not produce petals, and the petals will not produce fruit, so the slave (name) will not take wine into his mouth: neither on Sunday, nor on Saturday, nor on Friday, nor on Thursday, nor on Wednesday, nor on Tuesday, and not on Monday. Amen. Just as this ash does not fill with a spring, does not sing like a nightingale, so the slave (name) will not drink green wine. Amen. Just as this ash will not farrow or whelp, so the slave (name) will say goodbye to wine forever. He will not drink: neither on Sunday, nor on Saturday, nor on Friday, nor on Thursday, nor on Wednesday, nor on Tuesday, nor on Monday, nor on weekdays, nor on Holy Days. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Amen. Amen.

• Repeat the ritual two Fridays in a row.
• Hide the remaining ash and use it at times when the temptation to drink is great.

Good Friday spell for stress and depression

• To perform the ceremony you will need three easter eggs, which must be lowered into a container of water, over which the following magical text is read:

Strengthen my faithful words, Lord, Strengthen, Christ, the servant of God (name). Just as people rejoice at the bright Easter, so may the servant of God (name) be glad of life. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Amen. Amen.

• A person suffering from depression should wash his face with this water.

• On Good Friday you need to bake a small loaf of bread.
• One half is eaten by those who perform the ritual, and the other is kept all year behind the icons. But before you put the bread behind the icons, you need to say:

“Lord, save, preserve, defend. Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen".

Prayers for Good Friday:

Prayer for others

O Jesus, have mercy on your holy Church; take care of him.
O Jesus, have mercy on poor sinners and save them from hell.
O Jesus, bless my father, my mother, my brothers and sisters, and all that I have to pray.
O Jesus, have pity on the souls in purgatory and bring them to your heavenly rest.

Prayer to express sorrow for sins

God my Father,
I am very sorry for turning my back on your friendship.
You showed only love for me.
I sometimes show a little love in return.
Because of you, your only one, Jesus, who died and rose again for me, forgive me all my sins.
Father, not only have I offended you with my sins, but I have also offended your community here on earth.
I promise to show great love to a neighbor in order to make up for my sins.
I can't do anything unless your Holy Spirit helps me lead a life like Jesus, a life spent forgetting about myself in the service of others.
Prayer for Holiness on Good Friday
Lord, I don’t pray for tomorrow and its needs,

Unity Prayer

Heavenly Father,
you are the Father of all men.
We ask you to send the Holy Spirit,
The spirit that unites people
so all people
forget past troubles
put aside unfair opinions,
and work together for the benefit of all,
regardless of their religion,
no matter what their races are,
so in the end
this world
did good men working together,
in the spirit of Jesus and work with you,
may be given to you by your Son,
Unite especially all Christians
so they can be together again soon,
as one flock around the table of the Lord's Supper.
We ask you to unite more closely those of our Church,
so under the guidance of the Spirit towards Thy kingdom,
we can work, pray and live happily together
in love and peace. (Amen)

Prayers for Good Friday

Prayer for Holiness on Good Friday

Lord, I don’t pray for tomorrow and its needs,
Keep me, my God, from the stain of sins,
Let me both work diligently and pray properly,
Let me be kind words and business for others,
Let me not do anything wrong or idle in words, thoughtlessly say,
Set you a lock on my lips
Let me in the season, Lord, be honest, in the season of gays,
Let me be faithful to your grace just for today,
And if today my tide of life should fade,
Oh bet, if I die today, come home today,
So, for tomorrow and its needs, I don't pray,
But hold me, guide and love me, Lord, I pray you.

Conspiracy for the whole year from all enemies

"In the name of the Father and the Son
And the Holy Spirit.
King Herod fights, fights,
Blood is shed, no one
Doesn't regret it
Doesn't let anyone down.
Against evil man There is
Great Sagittarius -
God the Father!
At our Lord's
Jesus Christ
The sun is a bow, the month is an arrow:
There is something to shoot.
The Lord will not give to anyone
To offend me.
The Lord God is ahead of me,
Our Lady is behind
With them I am not afraid of anyone,
With Them I fear no one.
And you, my villainous enemies,
You have a knitting needle in your tongues,
Red-hot pincers in fangs
And in the vile eyes of the sand.
In the name of the Father and the Son
And the Holy Spirit.
Now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Amen".

A conspiracy to ask forgiveness from the deceased

Read on the evening of Good Friday.

“In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
There is no beginning without an end.
In the name of the Creator.
In the name of Jesus Christ.
I will stand up and cross myself.
I'll go out the door
Blessed,
I'll go to the holy church,
To the golden cross
To the Mother of God
And her son Jesus Christ.
I'll beg you with bows
And crosses
I will pay with tears of repentance.
In the dead kingdom
The dead state
Among the darkness
The darkness of dead people.
Kings, executioners,
Judges and sovereigns,
Dashing and kind people
There is one dead soul.
Before this soul
It's my fault.
For the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ.
For His crown of thorns
I ask and beg you to forgive me (name)
And my living soul
Let go of sin.
In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Now and forever
And forever and ever. Amen."

Video: Good Friday. Our Easter is Christ!

The strictest day of Holy Week in 2017 will be Friday. This day is marked by the terrible news of the crucifixion of Christ. On April 14, all Orthodox Christians gather in churches and temples for prayers glorifying the Savior and his sacrifice for those living on earth.

Good Friday is a time of strict abstinence and prohibitions. On this day, there is a lot of advice to ensure that our actions are aimed only at good and do not lead to disastrous consequences.

What to do on April 14

First of all, Orthodox Christians go to worship. After the end of the service, they take home the twelve candles with which they stood during the celebration. They symbolize 12 passages from the Gospel. Candles are placed throughout the house and lit to cleanse the room of negativity and accumulation of negative energy. To identify “bad” places and things in your apartment, you need to take a candle and walk around all the rooms with it. Where the candle begins to crackle, there is the most negative energy. The candles are not extinguished, but left to burn out.
On Good Friday, housewives baked fresh bread. According to popular belief, it does not become stale or moldy and can cure diseases. They also baked a special cross bun, which protected the house until the next Good Friday.
Patience and humility on this day are rewarded a hundredfold. It was believed that if you endure thirst on Good Friday, you can attract good luck and prosperity for the whole year.

What not to do on Good Friday

The ban applies to any agricultural work: what is planted on this day will not produce a harvest. WITH high probability the sprouts will die. The exception is parsley: planted on this day, it will bring a large harvest.
Do not do housework, sewing, knitting, washing - anything that involves labor. These cases end on Maundy Thursday. According to tradition, on this day people try not to touch sharp metal objects: they don’t even cut bread, but break it with their hands.
Friday is a day of mourning, so the church prohibits entertainment, singing, dancing and having fun in other ways.
Working on a computer and watching television programs also have a negative impact on believers. The exception is films and programs with spiritual themes.
On Good Friday it is necessary to observe a particularly strict fast. Eating is possible only after the ceremonial removal of the Shroud - a canvas on which the buried Jesus Christ is depicted in full size.
Every day of Holy Week is worth spending in preparation for Easter. Spiritual growth through prayer helps everyone to free themselves from their sins and take the righteous path. At this time, try to give love and attention to your loved ones, and show concern for those in need. Alms given voluntarily during this period also exalt the soul of a person.

What date is Good Friday 2018, what rules of behavior are required from believers on this day, what can and cannot be done, will tell you

Good Friday 2018: what date is this day

Great Good Friday in 2018 falls on April 6th. This is the last Friday of Lent. As they say church traditions and folk signs, Good Friday, first of all, is a day of repentance, prayer and reflection on one’s own life.

Good Friday: As Celebrated in Orthodox Christianity

Good Friday is the most mournful day in the Christian year, since it was on this day that Jesus Christ was crucified and suffered martyrdom in the name of the salvation of the entire human race. Good Friday is dedicated to remembering the suffering and death of the Savior. On this day of mourning, priests’ attire should not be light and festive.

There is no liturgy in church on Good Friday. During Vespers, which begins at about three o'clock in the afternoon - at the hour of Christ's death - a shroud with the image of Jesus taken from the cross is taken out of the altar, and is used to cover the table standing in the middle of the temple. Then prayers are read over the shroud, decorated with flowers, candles are lit and parishioners kiss the image of the Savior. This ritual symbolizes the removal from the cross, the position in the tomb and farewell to Jesus Christ.

What not to do on Good Friday: church traditions

You can't work on this day. You cannot sew, wash, cut, clean, dig, plant, cook, or even swim. These prohibitions are imposed on believers not because of laziness, but because of the need to devote time in the family to prayer and reading the Bible.

On Good Friday you cannot sing, have fun, laugh and lead an active, riotous lifestyle, as well as quarrel, shout and swear. This day should be spent thinking about own life, in reflections on the suffering and death of Jesus Christ.

You can't eat food. Good Friday is the strictest day of Lent. Abstinence from food should last until the church service of Vespers and the removal of the shroud. After this, it is allowed to consume bread and water, and some believers continue to fast until Easter.

There is an opinion that pregnant women should not attend church on Good Friday. In fact, there is no such ban. A pregnant woman should rely only on her feelings and not do anything through force or against her will. If she wants to visit the temple and pray, then she can and even needs to do this, regardless of the time and date. On later During pregnancy, it is advisable not to walk alone, but accompanied by someone close to her, so that she can count on their help if necessary.

Good Friday should not pass by as an ordinary, unnoticed day. Every believer should especially keenly try to feel and think about the main thing in his life. Is he going against his conscience when he puts the desire for wealth, profit and a successful career at the top of his priorities instead of mercy and philanthropy? Is he looking around for enemies whom he seeks to condemn? Is he not becoming like the example of those who betrayed Christ to death?

What not to do on Good Friday: popular beliefs

The people believed that from the moment the body of Jesus Christ was placed in the tomb until the moment of His resurrection, all evil spirits possesses special power and feels his impunity, so he comes into our world, wanders the earth, scares the righteous inhabitants.

By popular belief If at this time a person sees something terrible, he must say three times: “May God rise again, and let His enemies be scattered,” in order to protect himself from evil spirits.

Also, you cannot fall asleep while reading the holy scriptures, otherwise the evil spirit will carry you to hell.

On this day you cannot do work, especially sewing, washing, digging, sticking sticks into the ground and hammering nails.

On Good Friday you cannot laugh and rejoice. Whoever laughs on this day will cry all year.