Holy Saturday (Latin: Sabbatum Sanctum) is the day after Good Friday.It is the day before Easter and the last day of Holy Week, in which Christians prepare for Easter.
This day commemorates the day that Jesus Christ's body lay in the tomb.
Western Observation
In
Roman Catholic Churches, the sanctuary remains stripped completely bare
(following the Mass on Maundy Thursday) while the administration of the
sacraments is severely limited. Holy Communion Is given only as
Viaticum to the dying. All Masses are strictly prohibited. No Mass at
all appears in the liturgy for this day. Many of the churches of the
Anglican Communion as well as Lutheran, Methodist, and some other
Churches observe most of the same; however, their altars may be covered
in black instead of being stripped.
In
some Anglican churches, including the Episcopal Church in the United
States, provision is made for a simple Liturgy of the Word on this day,
with readings commemorating the burial of Christ, but no Eucharist.
Liturgically
speaking, Holy Saturday lasts until dusk, after which the Easter Vigil
is celebrated, marking the official start of the Easter season. In Roman
Catholic observance, during the "Gloria" of the Mass (which is the
first Mass since that of Holy Thursday), the church statues and icons,
in places where they are covered with purple veils during Passiontide,
are dramatically unveiled.
Eastern Observation
In Eastern Orthodoxy this day, known as Holy and Great Saturday, is also called The Great Sabbath
since it is on this day that Christ "rested" physically in the tomb.
But it is also believed that it was on this day he performed in spirit
the Harrowing of Hades and raised up to Paradise those who had been held
captive there.
Matins
of Holy and Great Saturday (usually held on Friday evening so more
people can attend) takes the form of a funeral service for Christ. The
entire service takes place around the Epitaphios (Slavonic: Plashchanitza), an icon in the form of a cloth embroidered with the image of Christ being prepared for burial.
The first part of the service consists of chanting Psalm 118 (the longest psalm in the Bible) with hymns (enkomia) interspersed between the psalm verses.
The predominant theme of the service is not so much one of mourning, but of watchful expectation:[1]
Today Thou dost keep holy the seventh day,
Which Thou has blessed of old by resting from Thy works.
Thou bringest all things into being and Thou makest all things new,
Observing the Sabbath rest, my Saviour, and restoring strength.[2]
Near
the end of Matins, following the Lauds at the end of the Great
Doxology, the Epitaphios is taken up and carried in procession around
the outside of the church, while all sing the Trisagion, exactly as is
done in an Orthodox funeral service.
On
Saturday morning, a vesperal Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great, is
celebrated. This is the longest Divine Liturgy of the entire year and,
traditionally, the latest. After the Little Entrance there are 15 Old
Testament readings which recall the history of salvation. Just before
the Gospel reading (Matthew 28:1-20) the hangings, altar cloths, and
vestments are changed from black to white and the deacon performs a
censing of the church.
In
the Greek tradition the clergy strew laurel leaves and flower petals
all over the church to symbolize the shattered gates and broken chains
of hell and Jesus' victory over death. While the liturgical atmosphere
changes from sorrow to joy at this service, the Paschal greeting,
"Christ is risen!" is not exchanged until after the Paschal Vigil later
that night, and the faithful continue to fast.
The
reason for this is that the Divine Liturgy on Holy and Great Saturday
represents the proclamation of Jesus' victory over death to those in
Hades, but the Resurrection has not yet been announced to those on earth
(this will take place during the Paschal Vigil).
Great
Lent was originally the period of catechesis for new converts in order
to prepare them for baptism and chrismation on Pascha (Easter).
Prior to the composition of the current Paschal Vigil of St. John of Damascus[3]
this day's vesperal Liturgy was the main Easter celebration, and the
traditional time to receive converts is still after the Vesperal Divine
Liturgy.
Later that night (around 11:00 pm), the Paschal Vigil begins with the Midnight Office, during which the Canon of Holy Saturday is repeated.
Then,
all of the candles and lights in the church are extinguished, and all
wait in darkness and silence for the proclamation of the Resurrection
of Christ.