GEORGE TOWN: Good Friday celebrations are back in full form at churches in Penang with thousands of parishioners converging at their respective churches for the services.
At the 237-year-old Church of the Assumption in Lebuh Farquhar, the service was the first to be held since the Covid-19 pandemic.
Some 300 parishioners joined the two-hour service which started at noon and ended at about 2pm, led by Rev Stephen Lim.
Besides observing the 14 Stations of the Cross to commemorate Jesus Christ's last day on Earth as a man and represent events of His passion and death, they also observed the rites of Liturgy of the Word followed by a general intercession to pray for the well-being of the church and all around.
The service culminated with the Veneration of the Cross, but instead of the traditional practice of kissing it, parishioners now bowed and knelt before it.
Good Friday services were also held in neighbouring churches, such as at Church of Our Lady Of Sorrows in Jalan Macalister at 4pm and at St. Francis Xavier's Church in Penang at 7pm.
Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary.
After Good Friday, Christians will mark Holy Saturday on April 8 followed by Easter celebrations on April 9.
