The Friday before Easter Day, on which the church commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus. It is a day offasting and special acts of discipline and self-denial. In the early church candidates for baptism, joined byothers, fasted for a day or two before the Paschal feast. In the west the first of those days eventually acquired the character of historical reenactment of the passion and death of Christ. The liturgy of the day includes John's account of the Passion gospel, a solemn form of intercession known as the solemn collects (dating from ancient Rome), and optional devotions before the cross (commonly known as the veneratio nof the cross). The eucharist is not celebrated in the Episcopal Church on Good Friday, but HolyCommunion may be administered from the reserved sacrament at the Good Friday service.

The BCP appoints readings for Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer on Good Friday. See Altar of Repose; seeBidding Prayer; see Cross.