The Office of Tenebrae at Christ Church Bronxville

Wednesday of Holy Week ? April 4th at 7:00 P.M.

If you are looking for a little respite during Holy Week, please
join us at Christ Church for Tenebrae, an extended musical and prayerful meditation upon the events in our Lord?s life between the Last Supper and the Resurrection.

For directions and more information see our website at www.ccbny.org

The name Tenebrae (which is the Latin word for darkness or shadows) has for centuries been applied to the ancient monastic night and early morning services of the last three days of Holy Week. In the current Episcopal Tradition these services are abbreviated and occur only on Wednesday evening.

The most striking feature of Tenebrae is the gradual extinguishing of candles and other

lights until only a single candle remains ? a symbol of our Lord. Toward the end of the service this candle is hidden, illustrating the apparent victory of the forces of darkness. Then, at the darkest moment of the service, a loud noise is made, symbolizing the earthquake at the time of the Resurrection (Matthew 28:2). The hidden candle is restored and by its light all depart in silence.