The Sanctuary of Christ the Redeemer, at the top of Corcovado Hill, will be the setting for Good Friday celebrations in the city of Rio de Janeiro. The Way of the Cross will open at 10am, with works of art that describe each of the stations of the Passion of Christ. They include biblical passages, Catholic church traditions and symbolic elements, which help believers to meditate on the meaning of Christ’s death and resurrection.
At 6:30 pm, attention will turn to Arcos da Lapa, in the central region of the city, where the traditional Auto da Paixão will be staged, after the procession of Senhor Morto. This year, the production has the participation of 35 actors/singers.
The show mixes religious music with renowned songs, such as Godspell and Jesus Christ Superstar. The presentation is promoted by the Cultural Association of the Archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro, sponsored by the Cesgranrio Foundation.
On Saturday (30), Catholics hold vigil and, on Sunday (31), in all parishes, there will be Easter mass. At the Metropolitan Cathedral, in the center of Rio, the religious act will be celebrated by Cardinal Archbishop Dom Orani Tempesta, who emphasizes that the meaning of Easter is rebirth…
The Holy Week celebrations began on Palm Sunday and continued throughout the week, with masses, processions and the foot washing ceremony, on Thursday (28), during the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, in the Metropolitan Cathedral.
Dom Orani washed the feet of 12 young seminarians, in reference to what Jesus Christ did with his disciples, in an act of humility before the Last Supper.
