Tenebrae is Latin for shadows. I was in a Tenebrae Good Friday service yesterday, a symbolic visualization of the Easter narrative.
Seven lit candles were gradually extinguished between scriptures, poetry, and music, symbolizing the imminent death of Christ. Ultimately only the centre flame, the Christ candle, was burning. Momentarily, it too was snuffed out.
“Then [Peter] began to curse and swear, ‘I do not know the man!’ And immediately a rooster crowed.” — Matthew 26:74
Total darkness.
Later, the single Christ candle was relit… the resurrection, light illuminating darkness again. The solitary flame is in the lower left in the above photo.
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Saturday Snapshot is hosted by Alyce of At Home With Books. These two photos were taken from where I sat, using my iPhone.
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Ripple Effects 
What a moving service that must have been. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Here’s my Saturday Snapshot.
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readerbuzz,
Thanks for stopping by and leaving us with a link to your snapshot. 😉
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http://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/2013/03/book-ish-me.html
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That’s really beautiful…what a great way to demonstrate the resurrection.
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Sheila,
Yes, a gentle but powerful way to visualize the Easter narrative. Thanks for your comment.
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Arti,
This was a lovely Easter time post and photo spread. . . the church did a great job telling a story with incorporating candles and light. thank you for sharing as always.
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Hedda,
It was a moving service, leaving us with much to think about. Thanks for visiting and writing your comment.
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Sounds like it was a beautiful service. Thanks for sharing the story. I love the images it leaves me with…
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Michelle,
Images indeed were with us as we left, walked out slowly in the near darkness. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thought.
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Sharing your photos of the service with your brief explanations allowed me to “enter in, “thus enabling me to
experience Good Friday; I wasn’t able to attend a service.Thank you.
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Micheline,
Glad you can visualize it. Thanks for stopping by and leaving your comment.
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I like the idea of including art in your service. We had images showing on a screen between readings, but not poetry or music. I may share that idea with our Pastor. Did you have an evening service that the candles showed up so well? Our service was in the morning, with plenty of light streaming in. Sounds like a meaningful service. Thanks!
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Storygal,
It was in the morning. But because the sanctuary received no natural light so we could achieve total darkness. It’s probably one of the rare occasions when one would appreciate a windowless space. Instrumentals were kept at a minimum… one acoustic guitar, a violin, and a single hand drum, which has a useful effect when the (imaginary) rock is rolled to seal the tomb.
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I’ve not heard of a service like that before, but it sounds very beautiful, and very powerful and moving, and I could visualise it quite clearly from your phoograph and description. My Snapshot is at http://goo.gl/AnAv3
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Christine,
Yes I’ve been to your snapshot post and left a comment. Very impressive handiwork. Thanks for sharing.
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How Beautiful. Happy Easter – It is beginning to feel more like Spring:)
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Diane,
Yes, it’s almost spring here, even though we still have snow in the forests. I’ll be starting a Spring Birdwatching Course next week! Looking forward to it. Thanks for stopping by.
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This looks like a moving service. In the Catholic church, the Paschal candle is extinguished on Good Friday and isn’t lit again until Easter to symbolize the days in the tomb, the days without hope. Here’s Mine
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Paulita,
That’s even more realistic, in real time. Guess this one is a condensed version… but still quite effective. Thanks for stopping by and leaving your comment, as well as sharing the link to your post. 😉
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Sounds like a very spiritual service.
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irene,
Somehow, we need to be reminded of the meaning behind Easter in a quiet and meditative way. 😉 Thanks for visiting.
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Great photos. Very atmospheric.
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Thanks Louise!
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Your photograph beautifully captures the solemnity and grace of His death for us. I’ve never been to a Tenebrae service.
Happy Easter! Today He is risen!
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He is risen indeed! Happy Easter to you too, Bellezza!
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Arti, this is such a meaningful and beautiful post. I love the bunnies and color and spring and the fun of it all, along with a bit of irreverence now and then. But the underlying reason of the holiday remains and in your post, it is powerful. Happy Easter!
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What a thought provoking way to commemorate the darkness before the Dawn.
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I’ve always loved the Tenebrae service – it’s very meaningful, and it was a traditional part of my Methodist upbringing.
Once I became Lutheran, I learned to love the Easter vigil – the extinguishing of the Christ Candle on Good Friday, and its re-lighting at midnight on Easter. My absolute favorite part of the liturgy is called The Exultet, the Easter Proclamation chanted at the time the candle is lighted. You can hear one version here – it’s a little different than the Lutheran version, but one of the best I could find musically. I had the chance to sing it several times, and it was a wonderful experience.
Again, a blessed Easter!
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