KARACHI: No bells rang and no candles were lit as special services and prayers were offered in churches as the Christian community observed Good Friday while listening to various passages from the Bible to remind themselves of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Good Friday is the day of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion, therefore, the solemn atmosphere. The parish choir sang heartfelt hymns. The crosses in St Anthony’s Church were covered with purple and violet cloth. The colour purple is associated with mourning. It is also the colour associated with royalty so is used in acknowledging Jesus Christ’s resurrection and sovereignty. But the prevailing colour at the church on the day was red, which is associated with martyrs.

Reverend Father Arthur Charles, the parish priest of St Anthony’s Church, explained to Dawn that Good Friday service at their church is usually broken into three parts, beginning with an early morning session, at 6am, which is 40 to 45 minutes of prayers while remembering Jesus Christ followed by two lengthy services, one in Urdu and the other in English.

“The third part leads to communion service received by people. It ends in silence. I won’t call it a time of mourning, but a time of reflection on oneself, on how they can bring about change in their lives and how Jesus can be part of their lives. It’s a time of meditation with a firm belief that after suffering and death, there is hope and joy, and resurrection,” he said.

“There are prayers, remembering the passion and death of Lord Jesus Christ as the covered crosses are slowly unveiled at a proper time as people gaze at them lovingly,” said Father Charles.

Associate parish priests Father Asher Iftikhar and Father Sullivan Joshua conducted the Urdu service at the church, which began at 12 noon. Father Iftikhar explained that the service and readings are aimed at showing how Christ took on so much pain for his people.

Moving away from the religious part of Good Friday, there is a tradition of enjoying hot cross buns on the day. The kitchens in many Christian homes bake the delicacy, and if not prepared at home, the popular buns are also bought from bakeries, especially the ones in and around the Saddar area as there are many Christians families residing in that area. Hot cross buns are also relished by the Muslims.

While speaking on the subject, Father Charles said that earlier there used to be a strict fast and people avoided all sweets and food on Good Friday as they do during the other days of Lent. “Even now they don’t have a meal, but they started making these wholesome buns, which are rich with dry fruits. They made them and put a cross on each to remember the cross of Jesus and remember him while eating. It brings to the heart a mixture of joy and sadness though not despair as there is still hope,” he explained.

Published in Dawn, March 30th, 2024