On Good Friday, 6 April 2012, the service of the commemoration of the last days of Jesus’ life came to its conclusion. In the afternoon, the burial vespers service was held with the participation of old and young in front of the ‘tomb of Jesus,’ which was decorated with flowers brought by the faithful. On the ‘tomb’ lay also the reliquorium with a piece of the wood of the cross of Jesus and other liturgical vessels brought from Cilicia.
During the service, His Holiness and the priest took off their cowls knelt in front of the ‘tomb of Jesus’ and performed the funeral service.
In his sermon, His Holiness Aram I said that the tomb of Jesus fills each one of us with a breath of hope, because it is the anticipation of Resurrection. This is the message of hope that we commit ourselves to every year. Addressing the youth, the Catholicos then said, “through the Holy Week you have come to church in large numbers. Your presence among us demonstrates your attachment to the Church, its faith and traditions. You have been the expression of hope that the disciples experienced beyond the empty tomb.
At the end of the vespers His Holiness blessed the people with the reliquorium, and then the faithful passed under the tomb and took a flower from it as a symbol of Christian hope in their lives.
source: cilician catholicosate web site
