by: Maricris Guerrero
It has been a tradition for Filipino Catholics to reflect on their sins and show their everlasting faith to the Creator when the Holy Week, which represents the sacrifice of Jesus Christ in paying our inherited sin, began – be it in a form of fasting, pasyon, or penitensya.
However, some of Filipinos do not know what the Holy Week observances are followed by other faiths; so here is a list consisting of three different religions that tells us if they celebrate the Lenten season or not:
1. United Church of Christ in the Philippines
- The United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), a Protestant Christian denomination, observes the same Holy Week practices as that of Roman Catholicism. They also observe Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Black Saturday.
They also have a senakulo-liked tradition, but it is a Last Supper reenactment and they also do the seven last words. Their Easter Sunday serves as the culmination of the whole Holy Week celebration.
There is not much difference as they also follow what is written in the bible.
2. Iglesia ni Cristo
- Another homegrown Christian sect, Iglesia ni Cristo, does not observe or mark the services of Holy Week as they believe that the customs associated with it was derived from pagan traditions.
The sect’s main activities include worship services, and missionary works. Local congregations in their house of worship usually hold the worship services on Thursdays and Sundays, which consists of prayer, singing and bible study for guide and application in their daily living.
3 . Aglipayan Church
- The Aglipayan Church, also known as the Philippine Independent Church, follows the same services and observances as the Roman Catholics, because they follow the same biblical narrative when it comes to Holy Week.
They also begin the Holy Week with Palm Sunday, while on Maundy Thursday, there would be a washing of feet and celebration of the Eucharist. On Good Friday, they include the seven last words and the processions of the cross, while the Easter Vigil mass is held on the evening of Black Saturday and the Salubong very early on Easter Sunday.
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