Today, Archbishop Dr. Samy Fawzy, Archbishop of the Episcopal/Anglican Province of Alexandria, led the Good Friday prayers known as the “Stations of the Cross” service—a commemoration of the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus Christ—at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Giza, with the presence of Pastor Michel Milad, the church’s priest.
The Archbishop conducted the Good Friday service, which followed a liturgy consisting of fourteen scenes depicting Christ’s journey to the cross. These scenes captured His path from the “Garden of Gethsemane,” through “Judas’ betrayal,” the “Sanhedrin’s condemnation of Jesus,” “Peter’s denial,” and “Jesus’ trial before Pilate,” culminating in His “crucifixion and burial in the tomb.”
In his reflection, the Archbishop said:
“‘It is finished’… was a cry of victory. When Christ uttered these words on the cross, they weren’t merely parting words—they were a glorious declaration that the work was complete. He endured everything, feeling every pain. His body was exhausted, His muscles torn, His heart broken—yet He remained steadfast to bear the suffering of humanity. Those three hours of agony on the cross are moments far beyond what our limited minds can truly grasp.”
He continued:
“Christ completed everything: He fulfilled the prophecies, offered the perfect sacrifice, and obeyed God’s law with perfect obedience. Through His death, all the prophecies foretold in the Holy Scriptures were fulfilled—there wasn’t a single one left incomplete. He was both priest and sacrifice at once, offering Himself not on a stone altar, but on the wood of the cross, sprinkling His pure blood on our behalf. He wore no priestly garments, yet He was the great High Priest who obeyed unto death, ending the era of old sacrifices and ushering in the age of grace and complete salvation.”
The Archbishop concluded:
“The work is done… and all that remains for us is sincere love. Christ drank the cup of suffering to the last drop and paid the debt in full. We don’t need to offer anything to earn God’s favor—the work has been completed. All God wants is your heart—that you love Him genuinely and serve Him faithfully. He doesn’t accept you because of what you do, but because Christ has already done everything for you.”