Tenebrae
Tenebrae (—Latin for "darkness") is a religious service of Western Christianity held during the three days preceding Easter, and characterized by gradual extinguishing of candles, and by a "strepitus" or "loud noise" taking place in total darkness near the end of the service. Tenebrae originated as a combined service of matins and lauds on the last three days of Holy Week (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday) celebrated on the evening of the previous day. Outside of religious communities that still use matins and lauds, the service is usually adapted for congregational use. Adaptations include holding the service only once during the three days; holding Tenebrae as an evening service or even at other times of day; a varying number of candles; different commemorations including the Seven Last Words, dramatic readings of the Passion of Jesus, orchestral music written for Tenebrae especially the music of Bach.
Tenebrae liturgical celebrations exist in the Roman rite of the Catholic Church, Anglicanism, Protestantism, and Western Rite Orthodoxy.
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