Around the world, Christians came together in observance of Good Friday, which they believe was the day Jesus was crucified.
Pope Francis washed the feet of 12 elderly and disabled people Thursday - women and non-Catholics among them - in a pre-Easter ritual designed to show his willingness to serve others like a "slave." Francis' decision in 2013 to perform the Holy
Pope Francis' annual Maundy Thursday foot washing took place at the Don Gnocchi Center in Rome, where he included a woman and a Muslim in the the Holy Week ritual, just as he did last year.
Penitents of the 'Jesus Yacente' brotherhood take part in a Holy Week procession in Zamora, northern Spain Friday, April 18, 2014.
Worshipers pray by the Stone of Unction, where according to Christianity Jesus was laid after he was crucified.
Easter Sunday is a day of celebration of the resurrection of the Christ. Ethiopian Christian tourists pray during the Washing of the Feet ceremony inside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, traditionally believed by many to be the site of the
A Christian Catholic pilgrim lights a candle inside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, traditionally believed to be the site of the crucifixion of Christ, in Jerusalem's Old City. Less than 2 percent of the population of Israel and the Palestinian
Good Friday is followed by Holy Saturday, which marks the Easter vigil. Christian nuns pray during the Washing of the Feet ceremony inside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, traditionally believed by many to be the site of the crucifixion and burial
Officials collect polling stationery from a distribution centre in Thrissur on Wednesday. (Photo: ANUP K VENU)
According to Baltimore Catechism, “Good Friday is good because the death of Jesus Christ, as terrible as it was, led to the Resurrection on Easter Sunday, which brought new life to those who believe.”
The familiar image of Jesus actually comes from the Byzantine era, from the 4th Century onwards, and Byzantine representations of Jesus were symbolic - they were all about meaning, not historical accuracy. They were based on the image of an
While many look forward to the long Easter weekend, Good Friday as we all know of was previously called Black Friday. The original title to the day also went by other names as Holy Friday, Silent Friday, and Great Friday before it was changed to
Patiala: Teachers and school children during an awarness candle march to observe Earth Hour 2014 in Patiala, on Saturday. The aim of the march was to send the message to all to save power. As a first step towards saving power, as appeal was made to
Syrian Christians take part in the Good Friday pocession at St Fransis school, Hyderabad on Good Friday.
A Palestinian Christians woman kisses an effigy of Jesus Christ covered by flowers, during a symbolic funeral as part of their services marking Good Friday in the West Bank village of Al-Zababedah near Jenin.
An actor is silhouetted hanging on a cross during a performance in Trafalgar Square in London. The play called 'The Passion of Jesus' was a free performance depicting the betrayal, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.
Masked penitents from La Santa Vera Cruz brotherhood, take part in an Easter procession known as 'Los Picaos' in the small village of San Vicente de la Sonsierra, northern Spain on Friday, April 18, 2014.
Penitents take part in Laguna on the Spanish Canary Island of Tenerife on April 19, 2014. Christian believers around the world mark Easter in celebration of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
A Filipino devotee with his feet nailed to the cross is lifted as they try to re-enact the crucifixion of Jesus Christ in San Juan village, northern Philippines on April 18.
An altar boy carries a statue of Jesus Christ during a Good Friday procession in Panama City, Friday, April 18, 2014. Holy Week commemorates the last week of the earthly life of Jesus Christ culminating in his crucifixion on Good Friday and his
Former Students of all saints high school enacting the crucifixtion play of jesus Christ on the occasion of Good Friday at the school premises in Hyderabad.
Pope Francis delivers his speech as he celebrates a new year's eve vespers Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. (Photo: AP)
Here are some more photos from Good Friday commemorations in India and around the world: A Christian devotee enacts the crucifixion of Jesus Christ to mark Good Friday in Gauhati, India.
They end at the ancient Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. Tradition says the church was built on the site where Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected.
In the Holy Land, Christians marked the day with prayers and processions, with thousands of pilgrims crowding along the Via Dolorosa, or "Way of Suffering," carrying wooden crosses. Seen here, Christian devotees re-enact the crucifixion of Jesus
Hyderabad High Court. (Photo: DC/File)
Undeterred, some penitents participate in the practice year after year.
Devotees have themselves nailed to wooden crosses, rituals that church leaders do not condone but that draw huge crowds.
In the Philippines, Asia's largest Roman Catholic nation commemorated the occasion by re-enacting the crucifixion.
Filipino policemen kneel beside wooden crosses as they reenact the suffering of Jesus Christ as part of their observation of lent along a road in suburban Quezon city, north of Manila, Philippines during Holy Wednesday.
Filipino policemen carry wooden crosses to reenact the suffering of Jesus Christ as part of their observation of lent along a road in suburban Quezon city, north of Manila, Philippines on Holy Wednesday, April 16, 2014. Devotees practice different
Hooded penitents flagellate themselves in a ritual to atone for their sins in observance of Holy Week at Pili township, Camarines Sur province, south of Manila, Philippines. The all-male practice is being discouraged by the Catholic Church.
Masked penitents take part in the procession to seek forgiveness for their sins during the holy week.
There is some doubt about the genuineness of an ordinance attributed to Roman Emperor Constantine, in which abstinence from public business was enforced for the seven days immediately preceding Easter Sunday, and also for the seven which followed it
Spanish Law Requires that the faces of minors are masked in publications within Spain. Seen here, penitents of the "La Merced" brotherhood take part during a Holy Week procession in Cordoba, southern Spain.
The days between Palm Sunday and Holy Thursday are known as Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday, and Holy Wednesday. The Gospels of these days recount events not all of which occurred on the corresponding days between Jesus' entry into Jerusalem and his Last
Penitents of the "La Vera Cruz" brotherhood take part during a Holy Week procession in Cordoba, southern Spain.
Holy Week begins with what Roman Catholics, Presbyterians, and Methodists call Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord. In the Roman Rite, before 1955 it was known simply as Palm Sunday, and the preceding Sunday as Passion Sunday.
"Ensacados," or masked penitents take part in the procession of the "Silencio del Santisimo Cristo del Rebate" brotherhood, during Holy Week in Tarazona, northern Spain.
Inmates perform Jesus Christ Superstar inside the Sarita Colonia prison in Callao, Peru.
Inmates perform Jesus Christ Superstar inside the Sarita Colonia prison in Callao, Peru, Tuesday, April 15, 2014. Domestic and foreign prisoners put the play on for an audience of prison authorities during Holy Week for the third year in a row.
Penitents take part in the "Procesion del Silencio" by the "Cristo de las Injurias" brotherhood, during the Holy Week in Zamora, Spain.
Holy Week in the Christian year is the week immediately before Easter. The earliest allusion to the custom of marking this week as a whole with special observances is to be found in the Apostolical Constitutions, dating from the latter half of the
In Christianity this is the last week of Lent and the week before Easter. Associated with it is the religious holiday of Friday of Sorrows, while the week itself includes Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday), Good Friday, and Holy Saturday.
Penitents from the brotherhood of "Cristo de la Buena Muerte" take part in a procession in Zamora. Hundreds of processions take place throughout Spain during the Easter Holy Week.
These nazarenos, or penitents, wear costumes that hide their identities so they can repent in public without being recognized as self-confessed sinners, according to the Telegraph. The pointed hoods are called capirotes.
Children play in the background as a penitent watches a a procession in Zamora, Spain.
Holy Week began on April 13, and the processions that are characteristics of the celebrations in Seville, Spain, are already in full swing. The week leading up to Easter is known as Semana Santa de Sevilla, and celebrated with decorated floats,
An anti-government demonstrator lies on a cross covered by a map of Venezuela in the colors of Venezuela's flag during Holy Week in Caracas, Venezuela.
A hooded Filipino penitent has two pointed wooden sticks tied to his arms as he joins others in Maundy Thursday rituals to atone for sins in suburban Mandaluyong, Philippines. The bizarre ritual is frowned upon by church leaders in this
The Catholic Church in the country disapproves of the rituals and warns such expressions of faith could actually take away from the real meaning of Lent. According to UCANews.com, Catholic bishops in the Philippines this week warned penitents not to
The barefoot penitents walk through the streets whipping themselves or with pointed wooden sticks tied to their arms as they take part in the rituals to atone for their sins, seek a better life or give thanks. Every year thousands of foreign and
Blood flows from the back of a hooded Filipino penitent as he flagellates himself as part of Maundy Thursday rituals to atone for sins on April 17.
An actor dressed as a demon from Mount Gethsemane takes a break inside a home as he partakes in the reenactment of Jesus' crucifixion in a "Via Crucis," or 'Stations of the Cross' procession during Holy Week.
Actors reenact Jesus' crucifixion in a "Via Crucis," or Stations of the Cross procession as part of Holy Week celebrations in the indigenous neighborhood of Monimbo in Masaya.
It riled traditionalist Catholics, who pointed to the Vatican's own regulations that the ritual be performed only on men since Jesus' 12 apostles were men. But as archbishop of Buenos Aires, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio frequently performed the
Most striking photos of Holy week rituals around the world