What Is Tenebrae?

At Hominy, we utilize an ancient Christian tradition called the Liturgical or Festival Calendar, which marks the calendar year with festivals and holy days designed to draw believers to reflect on significant moments in the life of Christ and His church.

"Tenebrae" is the Latin word meaning "shadows." The service of Tenebrae is practiced and observed on Friday evening during Holy Week commemorating the sufferings and death of Christ. Often called a Service of Shadows, the service marks the events of the day Jesus was crucified.  A tradition that dates back to the ninth century, the service is characterized by a series of readings that tell the story of Jesus’ final moments, death, and burial. After each reading, a candle is extinguished to symbolize the world growing darker, and silence is kept to help us feel the story internally.