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Christians observe Good Friday

Christians in the country joined the rest of the world yesterday, Good Friday, to hold the Way of the Cross.

Catholics, Anglicans, Presbyterians and other Christians walked in solemn commemoration of the annual event after Jesus Christ was betrayed by Judas to Golgotha where he was nailed to a cross until His death.

Chilima takes his turn to carry the cross

Christians believe that through that painful death, Jesus Christ saved mankind from all the sins for all believers.

In Blantyre, Catholics from St. Pius X and Chilobwe parishes started their Way of the Cross from St Pius to Chilobwe—covering about five kilometres.

The Catholics from the two parishes, with women dressed in their purple and white colours and led by St Pius Parish priest Father George Kaliati,  observed the 14 Stations of the Cross.

The 14 devotions or stations focus on specific events of Jesus’ last day, beginning with His condemnation.

At each station the Christians recalled and meditated on a specific event from Christ’s last day, citing specific prayers.

In Limbe, Archbishop of Blantyre Thomas Luke Msusa led Limbe Cathedral faithful from Chichiri Primary School while Saint Matthews Anglicans were led by Bishop Alinafe Kalemba.

In his speech, Msusa called on Malawians to love one another and desist from gender-based violence.

Said the Archibishop: “We are all Malawians and we have to respect one another and we should not abuse other people’s rights. As Christ suffered for our shortcomings, so should we also forgive our friends when they wrong us.”

In Lilongwe, Vice-President Saulos Klaus Chilima led scores of Christians on the Way of the Cross  which started at around 9am from St. Patrick’s Parish up to Area 18 Anglican Church, where the symbolic cross was laid together with wreaths.

Chilima, a devout Catholic, took turns with other faithful in carrying the cross while both women and men sang solemn hymns.

Hundreds of onlookers lined up along the way to catch a glimpse of the cross and to pay respect to the delegation.

It was the same in Mzuzu, where the Catholic Church, in partnership with Anglican and the Lutheran churches, also joined hands in remembering the suffering of Jesus Christ.

The event started at St Albert’s Parish near the Catholic Bishop’s Residence via Chibavi Township, up to the Anglican Church near the Mzuzu Courthouse.

—Reporting by John Chirwa, Precious Kumbani, James Chimpweya and Ntchindi Meki.

 

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