Saturday before Easter. Liturgy of Holy Saturday

Divine services in churches on Great (Holy) Saturday

In all Christian churches on this day, the service begins in the morning and lasts all day, moving into the solemn Easter Matins.

In the center of the temple, on a raised platform, there is an Icon of Jesus Christ lying in a tomb, decorated with flowers. This icon symbolizes the Shroud with which his body was covered. The Canons are sung glorifying Christ, who conquered death.

Easter basket on Holy Saturday

Traditionally, on Holy Saturday, housewives collect Easter basket. Dyed and painted eggs, Easter cakes, and Easter cottage cheese are placed in it.

The Easter basket also traditionally contains baked pork, a piece butter and salt. Salt symbolizes the energy of life, oil symbolizes prosperity, and pork symbolizes fertility.

Holy Saturday is a time of Christian repentance

On this day, believers try to realize their sins and find peace of mind. You need to try to forgive all offenses and ask for forgiveness from those to whom you have offended. Holy Saturday is a day of helping needy and poor people.

Because the Lent ends only on Sunday; on Saturday it is recommended to eat only bread, raw vegetables, fruits and water.

Signs on Holy Saturday

Signs related to weather:

*If it is a clear day on Holy Saturday, this means a dry and clear summer.

* If there is bad weather on this day, summer promises to be cold and cloudy.

Holy Saturday - what not to do?

You cannot eat dishes that you prepare for Easter, since Lent is still ongoing.

On Holy Saturday you cannot wash, sew, iron things, do cleaning, work in the garden, do heavy housework, such as chopping wood, or do construction.

You shouldn't do handicrafts.

On Holy Saturday you cannot use foul language, swear, offend loved ones, laugh loudly, have fun, sing and dance - this is a great sin.

No alcoholic drinks are allowed, only a little red wine is allowed.

You should refrain from intimacy.

You can visit the cemetery on this day and clean the graves - you can, but you shouldn’t do a wake.

It is best to devote this day to rest, reconciliation and prayer.

Saturday before Easter - what can you do?

As mentioned above, Easter services in churches begin on Holy Saturday evening. If you cannot attend the all-night vigil, still do not go to bed. On this night, be sure to light a candle in front of the icon of Jesus Christ and pray.

It is believed that if you don’t sleep on the night from Saturday to Sunday, you can attract happiness for the whole year, because it is on this night that happiness “wanders” among people, and it is very important not to oversleep it.

The main ritual of Holy Saturday is decorating and coloring eggs and baking Easter cakes. Please note that in the room where the dough is rising, you cannot swear, use foul language or talk loudly. Easter cakes should be prepared in peace and love.

Holy Saturday is a day of reconciliation, kindness and forgiveness. Be sure to ask for forgiveness from your family, loved ones, and friends. Make peace with everyone with whom you were in a quarrel. And don’t forget to give alms to those in need and prepare Easter gifts for your loved ones.

Remember that on Holy Saturday you cannot celebrate birthdays, weddings and various celebrations.

On Holy Saturday you cannot take anything out of the house. People say that you can give away your well-being and wealth.

Easter greeting. What should you say on Easter?

Priests in churches greet all parishioners with the words: “Christ is risen!” in order to receive the answer: “Truly he is risen!” This is how it is customary to greet each other on Easter.
Greeting with the words “Christ is risen!” expresses joy similar to the joy of the apostles who learned about the resurrection of Christ.

The last day of Lent before Easter - Holy Saturday - falls on April 7 in 2018. This is the day when Christians remember Christ's stay in the tomb after the crucifixion, when His soul descended into hell to bring the righteous out of it.

The fast lasted 48 days, and during this time believers had time to think about their lives, remember the deeds of Jesus Christ when he was on earth, and prepare for Easter.

If the preparations have not yet been completed, then Holy Saturday is the time to complete all the preparatory work.

For believers, Great Saturday before Easter is both a mournful and a joyful day: Christ still lies in the tomb, the Resurrection has not yet arrived, but everything is already filled with pre-Easter joy.

Great Saturday is popularly called Silent Saturday, since on this day it is not customary to have fun and have fun, and it is worth refraining from various quarrels. Great sin Foul language and swearing are considered bad on this day, so you need to watch your language. Another name for Great Saturday – Dyeing Saturday – suggests that it’s time to start preparing dyes for Easter.

Biblical tradition

According to the Bible and church teaching, on this day the Lord descends into hell and overthrows the power of death over humanity. He enters paradise with the prudent thief, who was crucified with him and, as the Son of God, sits on the Divine Throne with God the Father and the Holy Spirit.

After the Crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ, Joseph bought a shroud - a long cloth in which the Jews buried their dead, came to Pilate and began to ask him for a body for burial.

It should be noted that according to the custom of the Romans, the bodies of the crucified remained on the crosses and became prey for birds, but with the permission of the authorities they could be buried.

The body of Christ was taken down from the Cross, anointed with incense, wrapped in a shroud and placed in a new burial cave that belonged to Joseph. The Pharisees, who knew Christ's prophecy about His Resurrection, feared the body would be stolen and placed a guard at the tomb. This circumstance became an indisputable proof of the truth of Christ's Resurrection.

What not to do on Holy Saturday before Easter

It’s good to get into the atmosphere of Holy Saturday and find out a short history what lies in the traditions of this day and what it means. Then it will become clear what exactly should not be done during such dramatic hours.

First of all, this is a day on which you need to try to restrain all earthly passions. It is unacceptable to swear, much less use foul language and generally get irritated. This means that it is better to leave all the clarification of the relationship for later. After all, Easter is coming, and it’s time to tune in to the bright waves of the holiday.

If possible, it is better not to devote time to fun parties, and to postpone the celebration of any dates. It is not advisable to practice homework, hard work. It is better to plan your time in such a way as to complete routine duties before the hour of sorrow.

Of course, there is no need to laugh and have fun uncontrollably on the Saturday before Easter. After all, we probably wouldn’t do this on the days of remembrance of our loved one. And if we are talking about the fact that a good half of humanity remembers the suffering and death of Jesus Christ, it is clear that this only increases our responsibility.

Great and Holy Saturday is a time of Christian repentance

On this day, all believers try to realize their sins, try to find the meaning of life, and find peace of mind. On Holy Saturday, it is necessary to forgive everyone’s offenses and ask for forgiveness from those who have been offended.

Lent ends on Sunday, so on Saturday it is recommended to eat only bread, water and raw vegetables and fruits.

Sleepless night on Holy Saturday

Orthodox Christians stay awake on the night from Saturday to Sunday. Even if you were unable to get to the temple, at home you should light a candle in front of the icon of Jesus Christ and devote some time to prayer.

The last Saturday before Easter is the day of helping the poor and needy. You can and should give out treats to friends and strangers, as well as provide charitable assistance money. And relatives need to prepare Easter gifts.

Signs, rituals and beliefs of Holy Saturday

The Orthodox firmly believe that the days before Easter are prophetic. And this is what was noticed by our ancestors:

What the weather will be like on Holy Saturday, this is how it will mostly be in the summer of this year.

To be born on this day, as on Easter, means to be healthy, happy and self-sufficient. If a child was born on Great

Saturday before Easter, he often has unique abilities.

To die on Easter and on the eve of the Holy Day means to be marked by God. These souls go straight to Heaven.

If dogs howl, it means war.

If before Easter you wash all the rooms (especially the children's room) with water from a well, all evil slander, bad emotions and negative energy will be "washed away".

Riding on a swing will help “blow away” all sins from a person.

Celebrating Easter for everyone Orthodox people is the brightest and important event per year. They always prepare for it in advance, bringing cleanliness and order not only to their homes, but also to their souls. In addition, people believe in the signs of Easter night and observe the customs associated with this great church holiday. On the eve of Easter night, any work is prohibited, except for preparing Easter cakes and painting eggs. People on this day usually pray in anticipation of Christ's Resurrection.

Signs and customs on the night before Easter

On the night before Easter, there are signs and customs that will bring peace and tranquility to your home. So, for example, you cannot perform any work: washing and ironing clothes, cleaning, and handicrafts are also prohibited. Celebrating an event is also considered bad omen on the eve of Easter.

Another unfavorable omen is to swear or quarrel on the eve of the Easter holiday. Another belief says that if the Saturday before Easter is sunny, then the summer will be warm. And if the weather is cloudy, summer will be cold and rainy.

On Holy Saturday you can eat only vegetables, fruits and... A strict diet on this day is replaced by an abundant breaking of the fast on Easter night. As a rule, on Saturday, Easter products are illuminated: Easter cakes, eggs, sweets.

What should you not do on Easter night?

The question of what not to do on the night before Easter worries many believers. This partly happens because over time, people tend to forget their original traditions. But on Easter night I want to do everything according to the rules or something, so that You can become closer to Jesus on this holy holiday.

So, you cannot throw the shell of a peeled, colored egg out the window onto the street. It is believed that Christ and the apostles walk the streets and you can accidentally get into him. You cannot visit or speak with the departed on the night of Easter. For this purpose, there is a day called Krasnaya Gorka, a week after Easter.

There are signs for girls: if you get your period on Easter night, then it is not recommended to enter the temple. You can ask someone to come in and light a candle for you, or just stand outside the temple itself. As a rule, the lighting of Easter products does not take place in the church itself, but on the street. You can also stay here on critical days.

The only fast Saturday of the year is named after the Great Saturday. The Saturday before Easter is dedicated to the memory of Christ's descent into hell. Arriving at the place of torment, the Savior freed those who were there and destroyed the eternity of death.

Great Saturday before Easter is a day of silence. The seal on the tomb of Christ is like a seal on the lips of humanity. In silence the mystery of Salvation occurs. The Savior’s body is guarded by guards on earth, and His soul goes to the same place where all the dead went before. He leaves in order to lead all those who are there with Him to a place of rest.

Here the secret of Salvation is revealed. No human righteousness by itself is capable of avoiding hell. Only the hand of Christ shows the way from there. Only God Himself can destroy hell. And He did it on this great day.

From now on there is no longer an eternity of hell. God, out of love for people, destroyed her. That is why many Christian saints began to talk about the finiteness of the torment expected by sinners. God's love turned out to be more infinite than any punishment.

It is the event of the descent into hell that is depicted on the icon of the Resurrection, thereby showing the whole meaning of the Easter celebration.

Features of worship

The Saturday liturgical day begins on Friday evening.

At the liturgy, the Cherubic song is replaced by the ancient hymn of the Jerusalem church. It is called “Let all flesh be silent...” This chant can rightfully be considered the hymn of Holy Saturday itself.

After the liturgy in old times people remained in the temple until the Easter Midnight Office. On this day they ate bread and wine distributed in the temple. During this time, everyone present was supposed to read full text Acts of the Apostles. Today, Acts is read on Easter evening, and even then not by everyone.

Customs of this day

Saturday before Easter: what not to do? You cannot end your fast before Sunday morning. As for business, there is no canonical ban on working on the Saturday before Easter. Sabbath rest is characteristic of the Jewish religion, and not of Orthodoxy. If you forbid yourself to work on the Saturday before Easter, you may not have time to prepare for the Feast of Holidays. It is better to finish all your work on this day than to put it off until the days of Easter joy.

The question whether it is possible to work on this day receives the answer “yes”. But the blessed Sabbath is also called the Sabbath of rest. It's about First of all, it’s about peace of mind. If it is easier for the soul to be calm in the absence of things to do, it is necessary to take care of their completion even before the onset of Holy Saturday.

There are very specific things to do for this day:

• it is necessary to clean the temple, decorate it with flowers;
• consecrate Easter cakes and painted eggs - special time is allocated for this in churches;
• watch the convergence broadcast Holy Fire from the Jerusalem Temple;
• for singers - to arrange the last rehearsal before the holiday;
• for those preparing to receive communion, write a confession and read out all the prescribed prayers.

Shortly before midnight, all believers gather in the temple to celebrate Easter. They can allow themselves to fully rejoice only from the moment of the procession on Easter night.

Lent has ended, and with it all sadness has ended. In the name of Resurrected Love, the fasts of Wednesday and Friday will be forgotten for a whole week, and the echoes will be heard in churches for another 40 days.

In fact, Friday smoothly turns into Saturday, and both of these days on the eve of Easter Sunday have a very similar atmosphere. Late on Friday evening, the body of Jesus Christ was taken down from the cross, and throughout Saturday it lay in the tomb. Therefore, this day is also called quiet: of course, it is strictly forbidden to make noise, have fun, and especially conflict.

And most importantly, the people have developed a tradition that is in many ways similar to Forgiveness Sunday (the last day before the onset of Lent). It is customary to simply ask for forgiveness and make peace with those people with whom you may have disagreements.

Let it be a temporary and even a very modest compromise. But any business begins with the first decision, just as a road of a thousand miles begins with the first step.

What not to do on Good Friday and Saturday

Of course, signs before Easter, as well as folk beliefs call us to some kind of action or, at a minimum, to observe nature. On the other hand, it is useful for a believer to know what cannot be done during this period, so that a clear picture of the rules can emerge.

Here's what you should pay attention to first:

• It is obvious that in Good Friday On Holy Saturday and Bright Sunday itself, you shouldn’t get irritated or swear, which means you don’t need to start a showdown. There are other days for this - why then darken the memory of Christ and the Easter holiday?
  You should not drink alcohol or take part in feasts or parties.
• Spouses are advised to refrain from mutual pleasures. Strictly prohibited intimacy no, but it is intuitively clear that memories of Jesus Christ and participation in his suffering do not imply carnal pleasures and lovemaking.
• Of course, it is worth excluding any idle talk, gossip, empty news, gossip, lengthy discussions, jokes.

Folk signs and beliefs

Concerning folk signs this period, they have survived even to this day:

• If you bake a loaf of bread (including Easter cake) on this day, it will not mold for many days. And besides, it can also charge a person with healing energy that saves from various diseases.
• If you go to church on Good Friday or Holy Saturday and bless a silver ring, it will serve as an amulet against accidents and help protect your health.
• These days you should not pierce the ground with iron (shovel, pitchfork, etc.) - it is believed that this is a great sin and a bad sign. Those who take such risks may incur adverse consequences(up to wounds and blood).
• These days it is better for women to postpone some household chores. So, you don’t need to sew, knit, clean the house, or do laundry. It is also better to refrain from cutting hair and beauty.
• If the baby is already approaching the age when it is customary to wean, it is necessary to do this on Good Friday or Saturday. Then the child will grow up strong and healthy.
• There is also an interesting observation: if on Saturday night it is so clear that you can see the entire starry sky, then this year’s harvest will be good and the wheat will be grainy.

Of course, whether to trust these popular ideas or not is a personal matter for everyone. In any case, if a sign helps a person to sincerely believe in a miracle and tune in to a new bright wave of change, this is much better than not believing in anything and expecting nothing.