"Good Friday" on the Gregorian Calendar
Also known as Friday of the Passion in Syriac (Aramaic).
Today is April 7, 2023, and the commemoration of “Good Friday” on the Gregorian calendar. Most Christians follow this calendar, though Christians who follow the Julian calendar will commemorate “Good Friday” next week.
Although this day is known as “Good Friday” in English, in Syriac—the most prolific form of Aramaic in late antiquity—the day is regarded as ܥܪܘܒܬܐ ܕܚܫܐ ˁarūbtā d-ḥašā (sounds like, aruvto dh-Hasho), meaning “The Friday of the Passion,” or ܥܪܘܒܬܐ ܪܒܬܐ ܕܙܩܝܦܘܬܐ ˁarūbtā rabtā d-zqīpūtā (sounds like aruvto ravto dh-zkeefutho) “The Great Friday of the Crucifixion.” I’m not entirely sure why it is called “Good Friday” in English. I am not inclined to do a preliminary internet search and accept whatever first pops up as the answer, but I’m not interested enough as an academic researcher to get to the bottom of it. If anyone knows, place a comment below and I’d love to learn why it is so.
I can understand why we may justify calling it “Good Friday.” The tragedy of an innocent man violently put to death accomplishes an act that is ultimately good—the transformation of death that will culminate in the Sunday of the Resurrection.
I’m not posting today correct anyone’s use of a term or argue for the Syriac version of the terms over the English version. I am however interested in sharing with readers this alternative perspective, which I will culminate with the video posted below. Perhaps by the time people get around to reading the post and viewing the video, it will be time to commemorate this day according to the Julian calendar.