Christ Pantocrator, Cefalù Cathedral, Polermo, Italy, 12th century. Found on www.edgeofenclosure.com. Notice that the halo is also a cross.

O God of unchangeable power and eternal light: [...] let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

That prayer is part of the Proper Liturgy for Good Friday, which I attended at my parish yesterday.  I will admit that I spent most of the service on the verge of tears (and parts of it well beyond the verge), but this is the point where I really felt myself brought short…

"Baptizing into Community" by Wayne Lacson Forte

Tomorrow begins the Three Days (also known by its Latin, Triduum) of the Christian church year, the Three Days—Maundy (”Mandate”) Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday—when Christians around the world gather to remember the events that culminated the life of Jesus Christ. This year’s celebration is heightened by the fact that these days coincide with the first three full days of the Jewish celebration of Passover, which begins tonight.

The Triduum is climaxed by the Great Vigil of Easter, the Saturday night celebration when from early times the church baptizes catechumens, enacts the “salvation history” of God from the creation of the cosmos to the resurrection of Christ, unleashes the singing of “Alleluia!” (the word of praise that is not spoken during Lent), and eats and drinks together the meal of Eucharist.

Many churches have creatively revived the celebration of the Easter Vigil, incorporating families as participants,…