Good Friday will feature a performance of the Passion of Christ and a procession in the Center | Rio de Janeiro

Rio – The Christian holiday of Good Friday (29) will feature the traditional Auto da Paixão de Cristo in Arcos da Lapa and the procession of the Dead Lord through the streets of the city center. The date commemorates the day Jesus was killed and crucified.

The date, crucial in Holy Week, is celebrated by Christians throughout Brazil and has a direct connection with Easter, which carries the meaning of the day of Jesus’ resurrection.

Also called Good Friday, the date reminds Christians of the trial, passion, crucifixion, death and burial of Jesus Christ, which took place so that the sins of the world could be forgiven.

In the Catholic Church, the celebration is part of the Easter Triduum, considered the most important period of the entire liturgical year.

In Rio, the holiday program begins with the Liturgical Action of the Passion and Death of the Lord, scheduled for 3 pm, which will be followed by the Procession of the Dead Lord through the streets of the Center.

Soon after, the traditional Auto da Paixão de Cristo takes place in Arcos da Lapa, starting at 6:30 pm. This year, the show awaited by the locals will feature the participation of 35 actors/singers.

The role of Jesus Christ will be played by Leonardo Iglesias, while actor Rogério Madruga will take on the role of Herod. Actress Carla Rizzi plays the role of Maria, and Maria Madalena will be played by Tatty Caldeira. Furthermore, the play will alternate between religious songs and Broadway hits, such as Godspell.

The show is free and is organized by the Episcopal Vicariate for Culture, in partnership with the Cultural Association of the Archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro, the Cesgranrio Foundation and with the support of the Rio de Janeiro City Hall.

According to the Archdiocese, the objective is to provide Cariocas with a moment of devotion and closer ties with the Christian faith.

“With this document, we invite the residents of Rio de Janeiro to ‘remember and experience the true meaning of the life of Christ'”, says an excerpt from the invitation.