The Office of Tenebrae:
Wednesday, April 17th, 2019 at 8:30 p.m.
This service anticipates the monastic offices for the last three days of Holy Week, and comprises the chanting of psalms and the singing of the Lamentations of Jeremiah. The word "Tenebrae" is the Latin word for darkness and refers to the gradual extinguishing of candles and lights as the service proceeds, until only one candle remains. Its light, too, is hidden, and then a loud noise is made, symbolizing the death of Christ, his descent to the dead, and the earthquake at the time of the resurrection. Upon the return of the one candle, everyone leaves in silence.