Two services are held on Great Friday, the Crucifixion Service and the Burial Service.  This year our parish priest, Fr. Vazken Movsesian, was invited to be the guest preacher at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Glendale, CA for the midday Crucifixion service.  In the evening, St. Mark’s clergy were our guests at St. Peter for the Burial Service of Our Lord. 

On this evening, we set a white tomb in the area surrounding the front of the altar and decorate it with flowers.  At the end of the service the faithful approach the tomb, kiss the Gospel book, and then proceed to go under the tomb.  As they emerge from the other side, they are handed a flower to take home with them.  As Fr. Vazken reminded us, as the faithful go under the tomb, they are to leave all of the sins, hatred, envy, anger and all the difficulties that burden them, and come out renewed to receive a flower, symbolic of the beauty given to us by God.  It is a highly emotional evening, with many people coming out of the tomb in tears.  Below is a slideshow presentation from the Burial Service.