Christians across the country are today (Friday, April 10) commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at the Calvary.

The day which is a public holiday, is called “Good Friday” and it is observed during the Holy Week as part of the period of three days that begins with the liturgy on the evening of Maundy Thursday.

However, unlike the usual tradition, whereby the ceremony is characterized by the procession of the cross on the roads, in this year’s event Christians will only congregate in their respective churches and proceed with the prayers.

This has been disclosed by the Episcopal Conference of Malawi’s Secretary General, the Very Reverend Father Henry Saindi.

Father Saindi said: “This year what the Bishops have recommended is that we will not hold the Way of the Cross as we normally do in the rest of the years but instead we will only congregate in the churches.”

He further said this year’s prayers the church will also pray for those infected by the coronavirus.

The congregants have also been advised to observe the precautionary guidelines that the Bishops and the country’s head of state issued because the coronavirus outbreak “is a matter of life and death”.

According to the tradition, Good Friday which is also known as Holy Friday or Great Friday or Black Friday, is characterized by worship services, prayer and vigil services, fasting and almsgiving.

Members of many Christian denominations, including the Catholic, Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran, Methodist, Oriental Orthodox and Reformed traditions, observe Good Friday with fasting and church services.