In a first, a Church has asked its people to keep away from the cyber world on Good Friday. (Source: Express Archive) In a first, a Church has asked its people to keep away from the cyber world on Good Friday. (Source: Express Archive)

The Kerala-based Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church is observing cyber fast on Good Friday, in a bid to dissuade faithful from the negative use of cyber media and mobile phone.

It is a practice among the Christian churches to observe a fast on Good Friday, the day on which the crucifixion of Christ is commemorated. Besides, the faithful go for a 50-day Lent before the Easter Sunday, during which they are asked to shun mainly non-vegetarian food and liquor. It is the first time that a Church has asked its people to keep away from the cyber world on Good Friday.

Fr P A Philip, director, ministry of human empowerment in the Orthodox Syrian Church, said cyber fast is being observed to discourage the faithful from becoming addicts to social media.

Accordingly, on Good Friday, the members of the Church are asked not to watch TV, or use internet, mobile phone and social media apps like WhatsApp, Facebook, twitter and LinkedIn. The 24-hour cyber fast would begin from the evening of the Maundy Thursday and would end on Good Friday evening.

Fr Philip said the Church was introducing the cyber fast as an innovative idea of sacrifice before a generation which is absorbed in social media and cyber world. The faithful would be positively responding to the Church call, he said.

Various Church bodies have shut their facebook pages as part of the cyber fast during the Passion Week.

Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church is prominent Non-Catholic segment in Kerala.

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