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CHRISTIANS around the country observe Good Friday today - one of the most sombre days of their calendar, commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary.
Good Friday is part of the Easter Triduum – three holy days that begin with Maundy Thursday and end with the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday, culminating in the celebration of Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday.
It is a time of deep reflection, prayer, fasting and repentance. It is also the only day in the liturgical year when the Mass is not celebrated, emphasising the sorrow and mourning of the Church as it remembers Jesus's death.
The Good Friday service follows Maundy Thursday, which ended with the stripping of the altar, which is a symbolic act of removing all ornaments and linens from the altar to prepare the church for Good Friday.
The stripping of the altar represents the humiliation and barrenness of the cross, reminding worshippers of Jesus’s suffering and death.
The Good Friday service includes the veneration of the cross, where congregants express reverence by bowing or touching the crucifix.
This is an act symbolising faith in Jesus’s triumph over death and his sacrifice for humanity.
Meanwhile, in a Facebook post, National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang extended his wishes for Good Friday to all Malaysians.
The Kanowit MP invited the public to appreciate the universal values of sacrifice and love and hoped the holy day’s blessings would foster peace and strengthen love among all people, regardless of background.
“As Malaysians, let us continue to foster unity and strengthen the bonds of solidarity for a more peaceful and prosperous future,” he said. – April 3, 2026
