Thousands attend Good Friday services in UAE's churches

Dubai: Thousands of Christians across the UAE from various denominations came together on Friday in prayer and devotion remembering the suffering of Jesus Christ.

Good Friday services were conducted smoothly amid police checks to ensure public safety.

People attending the various churches in Oud Metha seemed to take the measures introduced by Dubai Police in their stride.

The parking lots in and around Rashid Hospital, near Al Nasr Club and Al Nisr Cinema were packed with cars.

At St Mary's Catholic Church, Holy Trinity Church and St Thomas Orthodox Church, gates were designated for entry and exit where people had their bags checked. Barricades were in place to direct the flow of people.

Women and men had separate points of entry. Since there were services in several languages throughout the day, throngs of people were seen moving in and out of the church.

Fasting

Ronald D'Cunha, Vice Chairman of the Ushers Committee at St Mary's Catholic Church, said in the morning around 12 people fainted as they had been fasting and waiting in the heat was too much for them.

The church, which accommodates many communities, had services conducted in Arabic, Tagalog, Sinhalese, Konkani, Malayalam and in English. More than 50,000 people attended.

"I didn't face any significant difficulties other than walking a long way. Although I don't know why there were security check points, I found this year's gathering better organised," said Frederick Simon, one of the worshippers.

Major General Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina, Director of Dubai police's Criminal Investigation Department (CID), had earlier said the security checks were routine.

He said these procedures were usually carried out when there were large gatherings.

Lebanese national Anna Hamto said she was uneasy with the security check points and said she wanted to leave the church as soon as the service was finished. Father Francois Koussaif, Arabic and French priest at St Mary's Church, said: "Many people were surprised to find the security checks. We previously held a number of meetings with Dubai police for the security measures."

Packia Moses and her husband, Moses Asirvataham, were happy to have attended the service and were not bothered by the check points, saying, "The significance of this day was already a humbling and spiritual experience."

Pastor V. Dilkumar, from the King's Revival Church at the Holy Trinity, a compound which houses 120 groups, said Good Friday was the day when Christians believed their sins were forgiven.

- With additional inputs from Randolph Barros, Pages Editor