St. Augustine, FL: Georgia Giannakakos (age 12) of St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Des Plaines, Illinois, was the recipient of the $250 first prize in the 2022 Annual Children’s Drawing Contest of the St. Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine. St. Augustine, FL: Georgia Giannakakos (age 12) of St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Des Plaines, Illinois, was the recipient of the $250 first prize in the 2022 Annual Children’s.
On Great and Holy Friday the Orthodox Church commemorates the death of Christ on the Cross. This is the culmination of the observance of His Passion by which our Lord suffered and died for our sins. This commemoration begins on Thursday evening with the Matins of Holy Friday and concludes with a Vespers on Friday afternoon that observes the unnailing of Christ from the Cross and the placement of His body in the tomb.