St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork, returned back to the traditional series of services for the Triduum – the three days before Easter Sunday – and Easter.

The Dean of Cork, the Very Rev. Nigel Dunne commented:

It was wonderful to return to almost normal for the Holy Week and Easter services here at the Cathedral. You know that some of the liturgies have worked well when you hear reports of people leaving in tears in solidarity with Christ’s suffering and those who suffer in the world today. And, even more heartening was the large and diverse turnout on Easter Day and the palpable sense of hope and joy among the worshippers after the services.

The service of Maundy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper, the betrayal of Jesus and ends with the ‘Watch’ in the garden of Gethsemane with the Cathedral in total darkness.

On Good Friday, the choir sang a setting of the Passion of Jesus according to St John by T.L. Victoria at the foot of the cross. In the evening there was further reflection on the crucifixion story using ‘Crucifixus pro nobis’ by Kenneth Leighton and ‘Lo, the Full Final Sacrifice’ by Gerald Finzi.

The Vigil on Easter Eve is a service going from darkness to light, including the lighting of the Paschal Candle and the renewal of baptism vows, followed by the first Eucharist of Easter.

On Easter Sunday itself, Bishop Paul Colton presided and preached at the Festival Eucharist.

Photos by Eoin Murphy @artfotoglobal