rachelh@myweeklysentinel.com
CANTON — For many years now on Good Friday, local Canton Christians gather to remember the reason for the Easter season.
Beginning at the Church of Christ, they take turns carrying a cross throughout town, to symbolize Jesus carrying the cross himself before his crucifixion. The Christian holiday Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus and his death for human sin. Three days later, on Easter Sunday, he rose.
The tradition started about 30 years ago, an original idea of the Canton Ministerium, with the Church of Christ hosting the event.
Canton Church of Christ member Ted Bown helps organize this event.
“We followed the stations of the cross depicted in the Roman Catholic faith. 12 stops. We do have holy week-related readings that we share at 9 different spots during the walk,” noted Bown.
During the walk, Bown says participants switch off carrying the cross.
“People are welcome to carry the cross if they want, but they aren’t required to. Even children are allowed to carry too, if they would like.”
Their mile-long path will take them through some of the hardships Jesus faced that fateful week. At 10:30 a.m., the journey starts at the Church of Christ, goes up W. Union Street to Troy Street, down Troy Street to the red light, turning left onto East Main Street to the cemetery. At the cemetery, the group cuts through and then makes another left back on to Union Street and back to the church. Along the way, the group will stop and recite readings about the physical and mental toll Jesus went through on this day.
“It (the reading) goes along with what Jesus may have been experiencing on the cross and during holy week,” said Bown, noting that Jesus was physically and mentally exhausted and feeling as a human being. “We try to bring that to light and keep that on our minds too.”
Once the event is over, the cross is stored at the church for the remaining of the year.
Bown says he would like to thank local fire police and Chief Seeley for helping to keep the group safe during this walk.
“We really appreciate it.”