Good Friday

 Lima – Good Friday

 

A very solemn day, which begins with, since rather recently, a procession of the Lord of Miracles from the monastery of the Nazarenes, which is followed by the service of the Three Hours’ Agony, or the Last Seven Words, which had its origins in Lima under the monarchy in 1660, and has now expanded to the greater part of the Catholic world.

The Lord of Miracles

Lignum Crucis

In the afternoon, there are three additional processions; once again the Lord of Miracles is brought out, along with the Lignum Crucis, carried by members of the archconfraternity of the True Cross, and Our Lady of Loneliness.

In olden times, there was also, from the Church of Mercy, another procession with the image of the Holy Sepulcher, in which the aristocracy of the city featured prominently.

Arequipa  - Good Friday

Also a very solemn day, in which the majority of activities center on the convent of St. Dominic. The image of Christ from the Holy Sepulcher is hung on the cross, and the service of the Three Hours’ Agony takes place, with the images of St. John the Apostle, and the Virgin of Sorrows surrounding the cross. The Liturgy having concluded, the body of Christ is lowered, during which the faithful approach the image to touch it, while it is taken back into the convent to prepare it for the later procession in a glass urn.

The Holy Sepulcher

Our Lady of Sorrows

At night, depart towards the Cathedral the image of the Holy Sepulcher, the Most Holy Cross with the Shroud, the Holy Face in the Veil, the Relics of the Crucifixion, the Lignum Crucis (gifted by Pope Pius XII,) St. John the Apostle, St. Mary Magdalene, and Our Lady of Sorrows. The people follow along with green candles, and the Miserere is sung in Spanish and Latin, until very late at night.