NEW YORK—On the afternoon of Good Friday at the Church of Saint Nicholas and the Holy Trinity in Staten Island, the religious leader of the community, Father Nicholas Petropoulakos, conducted the service of the Great Vespers, the Apokathelosis, with great solemnity. In a solemn atmosphere, Father Nicholas took the body of Christ from the cross and wrapped it in clean linen. Then, he placed it in the Epitaphios for the faithful to embrace Him with reverence.
At Saint Thomas Church of Cherry Hill, NJ, the faithful participated in the Service of Lamentations, and the Epitaphios procession following the flower-bedecked tomb of Jesus.
Michael Kakias and Steve Lambrou contributed to this report.