Holy Saturday is the last day of Holy Week and Great Lent. At midnight on Holy Saturday to Easter Sunday, the Resurrection of Christ is celebrated, according to the Orthodox ritual.
Eva Metis Koutoumanou
It is the only Saturday of the year during which oil is also fasted. In the morning, the first Resurrection is celebrated in the church, during which the "Risen God, who judges the earth, is chanted, that you will inherit it in all the nations".
In the morning, Easter vespers is celebrated. The service has a resurrection and solemn character. It is the so-called First Resurrection.
"An earthquake became great," as the Myrrh-bearers approached the Tomb of Jesus. Arriving at the spot, instead of the body of Jesus, they see an angel in their place who announces to them that the "Lord is Risen".
The Myrrh-bearers rush to announce the good news to the Apostles and the resurrected Jesus appears on their way. At the gathering of the eleven disciples, Jesus appears before them, commanding them to "go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
At midnight from Saturday to Sunday, the Service of the Resurrection and the Matins and the Liturgy of John Chrysostom take place. "Come, receive light..." and the candles are lit.
The customs of Holy Saturday
The custom of the Easter candle begins in early Christian times when newly converted Christians were always baptized on Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday, after a period of preparation. The candle they held in their hand symbolized the new light of Christ that would now illuminate the soul of the newcomer. The candle is lit for the first time on the night of the Resurrection. When the priest appears at the Beautiful Gate offering the Holy Light saying "Come, Receive Light". is carried home. With the "Holy Light" of candles, people make the shape of the cross over the main door of the house for good luck.
In Chios, when the priest reads the Gospel and says: "And the earthquake became great" and Christ the Risen is chanted, the atmosphere vibrates with the ringing of bells, the shooting, the crackling of firecrackers and fireworks. Sometimes the target of the firecrackers that are thrown is the priest himself.
In Koroni, Messinia, a real pandemonium takes place in the streets, where many break clay jugs, as in Zakynthos, "for the grace of Christ and the procession of the Jews", but in essence, for the intimidation of the demons who fight against the Resurrection of the Savior.
At Sinope, the faithful do not forget their passion against Judas, and when the priest says "Christ is Risen", then everyone will take a laurel leaf from under it to burn it, because the laurel is a cursed tree. (Judas was hung from the laurel)
In Corfu, on Holy Saturday, a bucket of water is filled in the market and decorated with greenery and flowers. Whoever passes through it must throw a coin into the mastela. And as soon as the bells of the Resurrection ring, those who happen to be near there take water from the bucket and wash their faces and hands. to be cleansed from all filth and sin. At the same time, women bite, in their homes, any iron object they find on hand, (a key in Zakynthos), saying "My head is iron!".
In Fthiotida, on the night of the Resurrection, a Commissioner of the Church takes a scythe (a reed of spruce) sanctified by the sanctification of the Lights, climbs the bell tower high and lights it to protect the entire area from hail. The place where the light of this scythe will be seen is not in danger of hail. The Holy Light of the Resurrection, which will illuminate the reed sanctified by the Lights, has the power to protect the entire area that will be illuminated by the light of the Resurrection.
