Good Friday & the Annunciation

The day began with traditional Vespers. The antiphons during the psalms alternated between the Annunciation and Holy Friday. After the Joyful Light hymn the readings again merged the two days.

The Gospel merged both the Annunciation lesson and the Passion into one. In accordance with Byzantine practice the melded text was only attributed to the first one read, in this case St. Luke.

Following the Gospel the rite turned into the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, beginning with the Litany of Fervent supplication. After Communion Great and Holy Friday services resumed and, as is the Slavic tradition, a funerary procession circled the church thrice before Christ was buried in the tomb, akin to the medieval Latin sepulcher. In the Greek and Arabic customary, the icon of Christ would have been deposed from a crucifix and laid in the epitaphios.

The priest mentions both the Annunciation and the Crucifixion in the blessing at the dismissal. After the Divine Liturgy the faithful "creep" to the tomb and prostrate before adoring the buried Savior.