Wollongong - The Serbian Orthodox Church and its parishioners today, 10 April 2026, commemorated Good Friday at the Church of St John the Baptist in Wollongong. Good Friday is the day that symbolises the suffering of Jesus Christ and his crucifixion on Golgotha. It is the day of greatest Christian mourning, as on Good Friday Jesus was taken from the house of the high priest Caiaphas to the Roman governor Pontius Pilate, who sentenced him to be crucified.
Inside the church, the Epitaphios was displayed, symbolising the cloth in which Jesus was wrapped after being taken down from the cross. The Epitaphios was placed on a specially decorated table in front of the altar, representing Christ’s tomb. After the evening service, a procession followed, joined by parishioners from St Elias Church of the Antiochian Orthodox Church.
Good Friday is observed as a day of deep sorrow and strict fasting. On this day, Easter eggs are dyed, mainly in red, symbolising joy and the Resurrection. The tradition of dyeing Easter eggs is one of the oldest Christian customs and is linked to the day when Mary Magdalene travelled to Rome to spread the Gospel. She even reached Emperor Tiberius, to whom she presented a basket of eggs as a gift. Although this day marks sorrow over Christ’s death, it also serves as an introduction to the greatest Christian joy – Easter. The Serbian Orthodox Church and Orthodox Christians this year will celebrate Easter on 12 April.