Great Friday-Royal Hours

On Great Friday, at noon we have a service called Royal Hours. This service can last up to three hours, but we usually only do part of the service. It is celebrating during the time when Christ hung upon the cross, from 12pm-3pm. It is called "Royal Hours" because long ago, in Byzantium, this is the time when the Emperor would attend the service as a sign of his own repentance.

After this service, the Teens usually have quiet prayer and reflection time with confession. One of the things that have been provided for us to read in a packet is a scientific description of what happens when someone is crucified. Many people believe that one dies from a loss of blood. Actually, a person who is crucified dies from asphyxiation. Those who are crucified must pull their bodies up while hanging on the cross in order to take a breath. This is why the legs of the robbers crucified with Jesus were broken, so they would die faster. Because Jesus was already dead, his legs were not broken. This fulfilled what was said through the scriptures "not a bone of it will be broken". Instead the guard pierced Christ's side with a lance and blood and water flowed forth. This also fulfilled what was said in the scriptures "They will look upon him whom they have pieced".

Sometime in the afternoon I leave to go home and get ready for dinner with my family at night. We have a meal of pirohi (or pierogies) and bread. It may be a fasting meal but it is delicious nevertheless. After dinner we all get ready for the vespers service later that night.