Nations of the cross

Good Friday celebrations for Catholics worldwide

- LARISSAN NOLAN

CRUCIFIXIONS, cross-led processions through the streets, bloodied crowns of thorns and veiled statues. 

These are some of the sights of Good Friday, marked by Christians worldwide today.

From Indonesia to The Philippines to New York, London and across Central America and Africa, it’s observed in different ways.

Devotees come together to mourn the crucifixion of Jesus, and anticipate his resurrection three days later.

This dark day in the religious calendar has the upbeat name of Good Friday – because in this instance, it means pious or holy.

It denotes a day of religious observance for the church.

But what is Good Friday?

Almost 2,000 years after the death of Jesus in Jerusalem, believers recall how he died and rose again for mankind’s sins, promising eternal life.

This biblical history is that Jesus was condemned to crucifixion by Pontius Pilate for claiming to be the son of God and the King of the Jews.