Good Friday

Good Friday, the Friday before Easter is the day on which our Lord's crucifixion is commemorated. Together with Easter Day it took the place of the Jewish Passover under the new, dispensation, and was named Pascha Staurosimon (Greek, "the paschal day of the crucifixion") by the early Church, who observed it as a day of fasting and prayer. In the Roman Catholic Church none but sick persons and the priest who ministers to them are allowed to partake of the sacrament. The priests and acolytes are clothed in black, the altar remains bare as on the preceding day, and special prayers are offered up for all orders in the Church, as well as heretics, Jews, and pagans. In the Anglican Church proper psalms and special collects, including a prayer for all Jews, Turks, infidels, and heretics, are ordained for Good Friday. In England and Ireland public business is suspended in accordance with legal regulations, but this practice does not extend to Scotland or the United States.