Years ago most churches had Good Friday services. Even where I worked we got a half day off with pay because so many people left anyway to go to church.
Are the Catholics the only ones left who hold services on Good Friday?
It’s not a Mass — just a very solemn prayer service.
Readings from the Old and New Testament and Gospel — The Passion from John are all read.
Communion is distributed and the Church is left dark. Everyone leaves in silence. After all — Christ is in the tomb.
The hour of 3:00 in the afternoon is significiant, for that supposedly was the time of the Lord’s death.
Also the Divine Mercy Novena starts on Good Friday and goes through Mercy Sunday — the Sunday after Easter. It’s a beautiful prayer — meditating on the Passion of Christ.
I was able to visit the home church of St. Faustina in Poland to whom this awesome prayer was given when I went to Eastern Europe three plus years ago. My how time flies.