Indore: Christians in a central Indian city donated blood on Good Friday to mark Christ’s death on the cross.
Bishop Chacko Thottumarikal of Indore opened the blood donation camp by donating blood on April 3.
More than 150 members of the community, including priests and nuns, donated blood at Lourdh Mata Mandir, Palasia Grotto premises, in Indore, the commercial capital of Madhya Pradesh state.
The blood donation camp also was a symbolic silent protest against attacks on Christians and their institutions throughout the world, including India.
The camp was held immediately after the Way of Cross, the ritual commemorating the last journey of Christ with cross to Calvary in Jerusalem, where he was crucified.
Christians observe Good Friday to commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus on the cross. They believe the blood of Christ has saved the world.
Donating blood to save lives is a good way to commemorate Christ’s supreme sacrifice, the organizers said.
Jesus, who Christians believe is the Son of God, was born, lived and died in Judea, the present Israel. He was born by divine intervention as a son of carpenter Joseph and of Virgin Mary. He was a social reformer who taught the world the value of love over the value of justice. He taught people to forgive even one’s enemies, which was against the prevailing just system of paying for an eye with an eye.
He set the example by forgiving his persecutor while dying on the cross. “Lord, forgive them for they know not what they are doing,” he prayed.