In the Maltese Islands, Good Friday processions involving a majority of the whole community are organised each year. This Gozo photogallery illustrates one of such amazing Good Friday processions on the island of Gozo yesterday – on Friday late afternoon 14 April 2017 at 6.00pm.
In brief, it is a perfect reenactment of the Bible history from the Old Testament to the New Testament reaching its climax in the Passion and Death of Jesus Christ. During the procession too, about eight large statues illustrating important moments from the fourteen stations of the Cross, are carried shoulder high in the main streets of the towns and villages.
In the Christian faith, Good Friday is the final day of pain and agony before Vigil Saturday and Easter Sunday liturgy changes completely to a highly festive event with cheerful music, bell ringing and whole communities sharing local Easter delights such as the sweet figolli.
On Good Friday, several men (seen dressed completely in white) carry either heavy wooden crosses or chains. They do it for two reasons – one as a thanksgiving to the Lord and secondly as an obligation for what they promised to do in favour of the health of one of their family members. It is truly an external act of faith, carrying such a weight barefoot for more than two hours.
