Today is Good Friday. This isn't the type of picture I originally had in mind for this thread, but I figured it was rather pertinent:
Along with this icon of the Sorrowful Mother taking Christ down from the Cross, some text from the Vespers of Good Friday:
GREAT AND HOLY FRIDAY VESPERS
Today the blameless Virgin
saw You suspended upon the Cross, O Word.
She mourned within herself and was sorely pierced in her heart.
She groaned in agony from the depth of her soul.
Exhausted from tearing her hair and cheeks and beating her breast,
She cried out, lamenting:
“Woe is me, O my divine Child!
Woe is me, O Light of the world!
Why have You departed from mine eyes, O Lamb of God?”
Then the bodiless hosts were seized with trembling and cried:
“O incomprehensible Lord, glory to You!”
We see a strange and fearful mystery accomplished today:
He Whom none may touch is seized.
He Who looses Adam from the curse is bound.
He Who tries the hearts of men is unjustly brought to trial.
He Who closed the abyss is shut in prison.
He before Whom the Hosts of Heaven stand with trembling stands before
Pilate.
The Creator is struck by the hand of His creature.
He Who comes to judge the living and the dead is condemned to the
Cross.
The Conqueror of Hell is enclosed in a tomb.
You, Who have endured all these things in Your tender love,
have saved all mankind from the curse.
O long-suffering Lord, glory to You!
