Good Friday Tenebrae Service
Many of our parishes will use the Tenebrae this Good Friday. This is a very powerful service whose beauty lies in its evocative simplicity.
The word Tenebrae is Latin for "shadows" or "darkness", and this part of the service has roots going back to at least the ninth century. It uses simple symbolism to draw us into the Passion narrative found in scripture. Thirteen candles are lit and their flames extinguished one by one as the reader leads us on the journey to the cross. It is a profound experience. When Christ breathes his last, the final candle is put out and the church is plunged into darkness...
If you are unable to get to a church for worship, Bishop David and Hilary McClay recorded this Tenebrae service in Knocknagoney Church during the first lockdown in 2020.