Photos: Maronite church celebrates Good Friday in Central Maine

Holy Week, at Saint Joseph Maronite Catholic Church in Waterville and other Maronite churches, is considered an independent Liturgical Season within the Season of Lent. According to Maronite heritage, it starts with "Naheero," or the "Coming to the Harbor" on Palm Sunday evening and is over on Easter Sunday. Some may consider one week too short to be considered an independent season. However, Maronites say the intensity of ceremonies and celebrations, and the deep spirituality found in old Syriac texts, prayers and hymns in that week, make it worthy to be the most important week of the year. Photos by Morning Sentinel photojournalist Michael G. Seamans.

Posted April 8, 2023

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The Rev. James Doran, center, guides the shrouded statue of Christ during a Good Friday service at Saint Joseph Maronite Catholic Church in Waterville. The service is part of the church’s Holy Week observances.

The Rev. James Doran places a statue of Jesus Christ onto a shroud with flowers symbolizing his crucifixion during a Good Friday service at Saint Joseph Maronite Catholic Church in Waterville. The service is part of the Holy Week observances leading up to Easter Sunday, which celebrates Jesus’ resurrection.

Lorenzo Michaud lights the candle on the right side of the altar Friday to symbolize the deliverance of the criminal to the right of Jesus Christ during his crucifixion. Michaud was part of the Good Friday service, one of the Holy Week observances at Saint Joseph Maronite Catholic Church in Waterville.

Altar servers Michael Carter, bottom left, and Sara Nappi, carry candles as they lead a procession with the Rev. James Doran, carrying a statue of Christ, around the church during a Good Friday service at Saint Joseph Maronite Catholic Church in Waterville.

Parishioners of Saint Joseph Maronite Catholic Church walk under a statue of Jesus Christ carried in a shroud during a Good Friday service, one of the Holy Week observances for the Waterville congregation.

Michael Carter, an altar server, kisses the feet of Jesus Christ during a Good Friday service at Saint Joseph Maronite Catholic Church in Waterville.

The Rev. James Doran, back right center, kneels and prays after placing the shrouded statue of Jesus Christ into the tomb symbolizing his crucifixion during a Good Friday service at Saint Joseph Maronite Catholic Church in Waterville.

The Rev. James Doran prostrates at the feet of a statue of Jesus Christ during a Good Friday service recognizing Christ’s crucifixion.