KARACHI: Like elsewhere in the country, special services were offered at churches in the city as members of the Christian community observed Good Friday or Pak Juma, as it is also called in Pakistan, with traditional fervour here.

Unlike the colour of Ash Wednesday at the beginning of the Lent season, which was purple or violet, the symbolic colour on Good Friday was red or crimson, the colour of blood associated with martyrs and Jesus Christ’s crucifixion. Red is the colour of fire, too.

Hence it is also associated with the Holy Spirit. Meanwhile, purple is associated with mourning and so anticipates the pain and suffering of the crucifixion. It is also the colour associated with royalty so is also used in celebrating Jesus Christ’s resurrection and sovereignty.

At the St Anthony’s Church, young actors on Friday played the crucifixion scene followed by parish priest at the church, Father Mario Rodrigues, leading the prayers along with readings from the Bible. The relevance of certain passages in today’s world was also explained.

Later, Father Mario unveiled the cross that had been covered by a purple drape two weeks back to be unveiled on Good Friday. Other crosses placed all over the church were also unveiled as Christians lined up to kiss the feet of Jesus at the cross to the hymn ‘Behold behold the wood of the cross’.

“Traditionally,” it was explained by Father Noman Arif, assistant parish priest at St Anthony’s, “there are no Church bells or lit candles on Good Friday. That happens later on Easter Sunday, which will be the climax of the holy week.”

Good Friday’s service is divided into three parts. First is the ‘Word of God’ or readings from the Bible. Second is the ‘Veneration of the cross’ or the unveiling of the cross with the choir singing and then the ‘Communion’ where the Christians are given a piece of bread and water in memory of the last supper.

Hot cross buns, sweet cinnamon buns with raisins and a cross on top sprinkled with sugar, also made for a popular Good Friday snack. Bakeries across the city sold them by the dozen and not just to Christians as the delicacy is relished by just about everyone.