Christian communities across Otago took part in a mass walk behind a wooden cross on Good Friday.
The procession is a ceremonial act of remembrance called the Stations of the Cross. It commemorates Jesus’ journey to his crucifixion on his last day. Jesus stopped at 14 stations along the way, including to receive the crucifixion sentence from Pontius Pilate, for Veronica to wipe his face with her veil, and when he was nailed to the cross.
Otago Daily Times photographers captured those around Otago commemorating the journey on Friday.
In Dunedin:
Pesamino Tili (left) and Frank Liman carry the cross from the Mosgiel Presbyterian Church during the ecumenical Good Friday Walk of the Cross in Mosgiel. The procession continued to Mosgiel Presbyterian Church, then to Factory Rd Equippers, then Anzac Park Methodist Church before concluding at St Luke’s Church. PHOTO: GERARD O’BRIEN
In Queenstown:
A multi-denominational group walking the cross stops to pray at Queenstown’s Village Green. About 60 members of the Salvation Army, Catholic, Anglican and Presbyterian churches took part in the symbolic procession, which began at St Peter’s Anglican Church. PHOTO: GUY WILLIAMS
In Invercargill:
Children hold the weight of the cross on their shoulders leading about 100 people on a contemplative walk from Wachner Pl to St Mary’s Basilica. The stations for the Invercargill route included St John’s Church, Central Baptist, First Church, The Salvation Army and the final stop ended with a brief prayer service at St Mary’s Basilica. PHOTO: NINA TAPU
In Gore:
Church members gathered at the clocktower just before noon to begin the walk of the cross. 72 Presbyterians, Catholics, Baptists, Calvinists & Anglicans attended with a representative of each denomination reading scripture and leading a prayer, before everyone sang a hymn. The walk started at the clocktower, moving to the courthouse, police station, along the main street towards the war memorial, before finishing at St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church for lunch. PHOTO: GERRIT DOPPENBERG
In Oamaru:
About 70 people walked behind a cross through the town’s central business district of Thames St. The procession set out from St Luke’s Anglican Church with the faithful stopping to reflect on eight stations of the cross at various points along the way with prayers calling to mind various needs in the Oamaru community and wider society. PHOTO: BRENDON MCMAHON
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