Easter fires , also called Paschal fires , are typically bonfires lit at Easter as part of liturgical and cultural celebrations.
80-695: Used in solemn Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Reformed, Anglican, and Methodist celebrations of the Easter Vigil held after sunset on Holy Saturday , concluding the Paschal Triduum . Such a fire might be used to light a Paschal candle or other candles used symbolically before or during Mass or other religious celebration. As a sacrament in remembrance of the Resurrection of Jesus , the Catholic Mass according to Roman rite begins with
160-518: A big celebration of light ( Lucernarium ): an open fire is lighted outside the church and blessed by the priest; when the Paschal candle is lit, the community ceremoniously enters the dark church chanting Lumen Christi and Deo gratias . The Easter Vigil liturgies of the Roman Catholic , Lutheran , Anglican , Methodist and Presbyterian Churches are nearly identical. According to
240-626: A contraction of 'God be with ye'. In Old English, the day was called Long Friday ( langa frigedæg [ˈlɑŋɡɑ ˈfriːjedæj] ), and equivalents of this term are still used in Scandinavian languages and Finnish. According to the accounts in the Gospels, the royal soldiers, guided by Jesus' disciple Judas Iscariot , arrested Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane . Judas received money ( 30 pieces of silver ) for betraying Jesus and told
320-464: A member of the Sanhedrin and a secret follower of Jesus, who had not consented to his condemnation, went to Pilate to request the body of Jesus. Another secret follower of Jesus and member of the Sanhedrin named Nicodemus brought about a hundred-pound weight mixture of spices and helped wrap the body of Jesus. Pilate asked confirmation from the centurion of whether Jesus was dead. A soldier pierced
400-607: A riot. The sentence written was "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews." Jesus carried his cross to the site of execution (assisted by Simon of Cyrene ), called the "place of the Skull", or " Golgotha " in Hebrew and in Latin "Calvary". There he was crucified along with two criminals. Jesus agonized on the cross for three hours, from noon to 3 pm, darkness fell over the whole land . In
480-571: A sentence of death . Peter, waiting in the courtyard, also denied Jesus three times to bystanders while the interrogations were proceeding just as Jesus had foretold. In the morning, the whole assembly brought Jesus to the Roman governor Pontius Pilate under charges of subverting the nation, opposing taxes to Caesar, and making himself a king. Pilate authorized the Jewish leaders to judge Jesus according to their own law and execute sentencing; however,
560-742: A special exemption is granted for rare solemn or grave occasions by the Vatican or the local bishop . The only sacraments celebrated during this time are Baptism (for those in danger of death), Penance , and Anointing of the Sick . While there is no celebration of the Eucharist, it is distributed to the faithful only in the Celebration of the Passion of the Lord , but can also be taken at any hour to
640-709: A troparion is read, similar to hthe ones read at the Sixth Hour throughout Lent, focusing on the purpose of Christ's burial. A series of prokimena and readings are then said: At the end of the service, a final hymn is sung as the faithful come to venerate the Epitaphios. In Latin, the name used by the Catholic Church until 1955 was Feria sexta in Parasceve ("Friday of Preparation [for the Sabbath]"). In
720-587: Is Ode 9, which takes the form of a dialogue between Christ and the Theotokos, with Christ promising His Mother the hope of the Resurrection. This Canon will be sung again the following night at the Midnight Office. Lauds follows, and its stichera take the form of a funeral lament, while always preserving the hope of the Resurrection. The doxasticon links Christ's rest in the tomb with His rest on
800-704: Is also known as Black Friday , Holy Friday , Great Friday , Good Friday of the Passion of the Lord , Great and Holy Friday (also Holy and Great Friday ). Members of many Christian denominations , including the Catholic , Eastern Orthodox , Lutheran , Anglican , Methodist , Oriental Orthodox , United Protestant and some Reformed traditions (including certain Continental Reformed , Presbyterian and Congregationalist churches), observe Good Friday with fasting and church services . In many Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican and Methodist churches,
880-573: Is celebrated, marking the official start of the Easter season . In the Moravian Church , people decorate the graves in God's Acre with flowers; the sunrise service , the first liturgy of Paschaltide, begins before dawn of Easter Sunday. In the predominantly Catholic Philippines , the day is legally and colloquially known as Black Saturday , given the colour's role in mourning. It commemorates
SECTION 10
#1732775633600960-432: Is excerpted by the author of Hebrews: "today if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts." The entire Psalm 95 is read on Friday afternoon every week in synagogue prayers immediately before receiving the sabbath in rabbinic Judaism. Eastern Orthodoxy 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
1040-761: Is formally known as The Order of Holy and Saving Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ , begins on Thursday night with the Matins of the Twelve Passion Gospels . Scattered throughout this Matins service are twelve readings from all four of the Gospels which recount the events of the Passion from the Last Supper through the Crucifixion and burial of Jesus. Some churches have a candelabrum with twelve candles on it, and after each Gospel reading one of
1120-469: Is honored on this day under the title Our Lady of Solitude , referring to her grief at the death of her son. Matins of Holy and Great Saturday (in parishes usually held on Friday evening) takes the form of a funeral service for Christ. The entire service takes place around the Epitaphios , an icon in the form of a cloth embroidered with the image of Christ prepared for burial. The first part of
1200-606: Is recalled on this day, the Divine Liturgy (the sacrifice of bread and wine) is never celebrated on Great Friday, except when this day coincides with the Great Feast of the Annunciation , which falls on the fixed date of 25 March (for those churches which follow the traditional Julian Calendar , 25 March currently falls on 7 April of the modern Gregorian Calendar ). Also on Great Friday, the clergy no longer wear
1280-772: Is required to jump over the flames of Easter ( Serbian Cyrillic : Крљавештице , romanized : Krljaveštice ). Holy Saturday Holy Saturday ( Latin : Sabbatum Sanctum ), also known as Great and Holy Saturday (also Holy and Great Saturday ), Low Saturday , the Great Sabbath , Hallelujah Saturday (in Portugal and Brazil), Saturday of the Glory , Sábado de Gloria , and Black Saturday or Easter Eve , and called "Joyous Saturday", "the Saturday of Light", and "Mega Sabbatun" among Coptic Christians ,
1360-687: Is somewhat more festive in character, and derives its name of "Royal" from both the fact that the Hours are served with more solemnity than normal, commemorating Christ the King who humbled himself for the salvation of mankind, and also from the fact that this service was in the past attended by the Emperor and his court. In the afternoon, around 3 pm, all gather for the Vespers of the Taking-Down from
1440-600: Is the final day of Holy Week , between Good Friday and Easter Sunday , when Christians prepare for the latter. The day commemorates the Harrowing of Hell while Jesus Christ's body lay in the tomb . Christians of the Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, Anglican and Reformed denominations begin the celebration of the Easter Vigil service on Holy Saturday, which provides a transition to the season of Eastertide ; in
1520-646: The Ascension . 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. In the Catholic Church , the altar remains stripped completely bare (following the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Maundy Thursday ). The celebration of the Sacraments is extremely limited: Holy Communion is given only as Viaticum to
1600-656: The Book of Common Prayer refers to the day as Easter Even . Although the term Easter Saturday is usually applied to the Saturday in Easter week , in English-speaking countries it is sometimes applied to Holy Saturday, including in legislation in the Australian states of New South Wales and Queensland , and by Australian government agencies. In the Catholic tradition, the Blessed Virgin Mary
1680-720: The Burning of Judas on Holy Saturday is still common. Easter fires also exist in the Netherlands . In Fredericksburg, Texas , each year the residents have Easter Fires the night before Easter, commemorating a peace treaty with the Comanche Indians . In 1847 when the original treaty was signed, the Comanches lit signal fires on the area hills. Amongst South Slavs ( Serbs , Montenegrins , Slovenes , Croats , Bulgarians , Macedonians , Bunjevci and Šokci ), it
SECTION 20
#17327756336001760-610: The Eastern Orthodox tradition of the Holy Fire , worshippers light candles from the Paschal trikirion during service at Saturday Midnight, while the troparion is sung. Though not documented before the 16th century, the custom presumably is based on Saxon , pre- Christian traditions, that are still performed each year. There are several explanations of the meaning of these fires. The Saxons probably believed that around
1840-577: The First Hour , as usual, but with a special dismissal by the priest: May Christ our true God, Who for the salvation of the world endured spitting, and scourging, and buffeting, and the Cross, and death, through the intercessions of His most pure Mother , of our holy and God-bearing fathers , and of all the saints , have mercy on us and save us, for He is good and the Lover of mankind. The next day, in
1920-612: The Gospels , and singing hymns about Christ's death. Rich visual imagery and symbolism, as well as stirring hymnody, are remarkable elements of these observances. In the Orthodox understanding, the events of Holy Week are not simply an annual commemoration of past events, but the faithful actually participate in the death and the resurrection of Jesus . Great and Holy Friday is observed as an absolute fast , and adult Byzantine Christians are expected to abstain from all food and drink
2000-484: The Latin Church , a fast day is understood as having only one full meal and two collations (a smaller repast, the two of which together do not equal the one full meal) – although this may be observed less stringently on Holy Saturday than on Good Friday. The Roman Rite has no celebration of Mass between the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday) evening and the Easter Vigil unless
2080-665: The Moravian Christian tradition, graves are decorated with flowers during the day of Holy Saturday and the celebration of the sunrise service starts before dawn on Easter Sunday. Whereas the Great Sabbath in Jewish liturgy occurs the sabbath before the Feast of Unleavened Bread , the sabbath in the midst of the feast is celebrated as a Special Shabbat § Shabbat Chol Hamoed Pesach . In Hebrews 4 , Jewish Christians are admonished to make every effort to enter this sabbath and every sabbath in repentance, and Psalm 95
2160-579: The Paschal greeting , "Christ is risen!", is not exchanged until after midnight during the Paschal Vigil since this service represents the proclamation of Jesus' victory over death to those in Hades. The Resurrection has not yet been announced to those on earth, which takes place during the Paschal Vigil. The Gospel reading is Matthew 28:1-20, St. Matthew's account of the Resurrection. While
2240-603: The Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America , provision is made for a simple Liturgy of the Word on this day, with readings commemorating the burial of Christ. Daily Offices are still observed. In the Moravian Church , the day is known as Great Sabbath. In the Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican and Methodist traditions, Holy Saturday lasts until nightfall, after which the Easter Vigil
2320-739: The Service of the Great Three Hours' Agony is held from noon until 3 p.m.—the hours the Bible records darkness covering the land until Jesus' death on the cross. Communicants of the Moravian Church have a Good Friday tradition of cleaning gravestones in Moravian cemeteries . The date of Good Friday varies from one year to the next in both the Gregorian and Julian calendars. Eastern and Western Christianity disagree over
2400-669: The Syriac Church, which is also a day where Syriac Christians remember their departed. Syriac Christianity In the Syriac Christian tradition , this day is known as ܫܲܒܬ݂ܵܐ ܕܢܘܼܗܪܵܐ šábbṯā d-núhrā or the Saturday of Light . In Western traditions, the day is usually called Holy Saturday , although in the Moravian Church , the day is referred to as the Great Sabbath and in the Anglican Communion ,
2480-553: The clergy strew laurel leaves (a symbol of victory) and flower petals all over the church to symbolize Jesus' triumph over death, often accompanied – especially in Cypriot custom – by the congregation making a loud noise by stamping their feet, banging on pews and sticks, and even clanging pots and pans, all to symbolize Christ shattering the gates and breaking the chains of hell. The liturgical atmosphere changes from sorrow to joy at this service. The faithful continue to fast and
Easter fire - Misplaced Pages Continue
2560-483: The tomb . But it is also believed that it was on this day he performed in spirit the Harrowing of Hell and raised up to Paradise , having liberated those who had been held captive. Oriental Orthodoxy In the Coptic , Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox Churches, this day is known as Joyous Saturday , otherwise known as the night of light and joy. It is known as the Saturday of Good Tidings or Gospel Saturday in
2640-529: The 1955 reform of Holy Week, it was renamed Feria sexta in Passione et Morte Domini ("Friday of the Passion and Death of the Lord"), and in the new rite introduced in 1970, shortened to Feria sexta in Passione Domini ("Friday of the Passion of the Lord"). The Catholic Church regards Good Friday and Holy Saturday as the Paschal fast, in accordance with Article 110 of Sacrosanctum Concilium . In
2720-643: The Communion part of the rite when violet was used. If a bishop or abbot celebrates, he wears a plain mitre (mitra simplex) . Before the reforms of the Holy Week liturgies in 1955, black was used throughout. The Vespers of Good Friday are only prayed by those who could not attend the Celebration of the Passion of the Lord. The Three Hours' Devotion based on the Seven Last Words from
2800-536: The Cross, commemorating the Deposition from the Cross . Following Psalm 103 (104) and the Great Litany, 'Lord, I call' is sung without a Psalter reading. The first five stichera (the first being repeated) are taken from the Aposticha at Matins the night before, but the final 3 of the 5 are sung in Tone 2. Three more stichera in Tone 6 lead to the Entrance. The Evening Prokimenon is taken from Psalm 21 (22): 'They parted My garments among them, and cast lots upon My vesture.' There are then four readings, with Prokimena before
2880-423: The Easter baskets", on Holy Saturday, is one of the most enduring and beloved traditions. Baskets containing eggs, ham, bread, sweet breads, horseradish, and lamb cakes or butter lambs are brought to church to be blessed. Good Friday Good Friday is a Christian holy day observing the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary . It is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum . It
2960-424: The First Resurrection Service (Greek: Ἡ Πρώτη Ἀνάστασις ), named so because chronologically it was composed earlier than the Paschal Canon by St. John of Damascus rather than because it occurs earlier liturgically. This is the longest Divine Liturgy of the entire year and is performed later than on any other day of the year, "at the tenth hour of the day". On 'Lord, I call', four of the usual Sunday hymns from
3040-444: The Jewish leaders replied that they were not allowed by the Romans to carry out a sentence of death. Pilate questioned Jesus and told the assembly that there was no basis for sentencing. Upon learning that Jesus was from Galilee, Pilate referred the case to the ruler of Galilee , King Herod , who was in Jerusalem for the Passover Feast. Herod questioned Jesus but received no answer; Herod sent Jesus back to Pilate. Pilate told
3120-401: The Liturgy proceeds as any other Liturgy of St. Basil. After the service, in many places, it is customary to break and bless bread as at a Vigil, but to omit the blessing of oil. Great Lent was originally the period of catechesis for new converts in order to prepare them for baptism and chrismation and when there are converts received, that occurs during the Old testament readings during
3200-407: The Octoechos are sung, followed by four for the day, the doxasticon from Lauds the night before and the usual dogmatikon. After the Little Entrance , there is no Evening Prokimenon, but there are 15 Old Testament readings that recall the history of salvation, many of which relate to Passover, baptism, or the Resurrection (note that book names here are given according to the Septuagint): In place of
3280-406: The Resurrection are sung as on Sunday, since they refer to the conversation between the myrrh-bearers and the angel in the tomb, followed by kathismata about the burial of Christ. Psalm 50 (51) is then immediately read, and then followed by a much loved-canon, written by Mark the Monk, Bishop of Hydrous and Kosmas of the Holy City, with irmoi by Kassiani the Nun. The high-point of the much-loved Canon
Easter fire - Misplaced Pages Continue
3360-404: The Sabbath rest, my Saviour, and restoring strength. Near the end of matins, at the end of the Great Doxology , the Epitaphios is taken up and carried in procession around the outside of the church, while the Trisagion is sung, as is done when carrying the body to the cemetery in an Orthodox burial . On Saturday, a vesperal Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great is celebrated, called
3440-399: The Trisagion, the baptismal hymn 'As many as have been baptised into Christ have put on Christ. Alleluia.' is sung. The Prokimenon is from Psalm 65 (66), made up of verses from the First Antiphon of Pascha: 'Let all the earth worship Thee: sing of Thee and praise Thy Name, O most High.' The Epistle is Romans 6:3-11, St. Paul's explanation of the role of death and resurrection in baptism. This is
3520-404: The Virgin is pierced with a spear. We venerate Thy Passion, O Christ (three times) . Show us also Thy glorious Resurrection. The readings are: During the service, all come forward to kiss the feet of Christ on the cross. After the Canon , a brief, moving hymn, The Wise Thief is chanted by singers who stand at the foot of the cross in the center of the nave. The service does not end with
3600-539: The assembly that neither he nor Herod found Jesus to be guilty; Pilate resolved to have Jesus whipped and released. Under the guidance of the chief priests, the crowd asked for Barabbas , who had been imprisoned for committing murder during an insurrection. Pilate asked what they would have him do with Jesus, and they demanded, "Crucify him." Pilate's wife had seen Jesus in a dream earlier that day, and she forewarned Pilate to "have nothing to do with this righteous man." Pilate had Jesus flogged and then brought him out to
3680-402: The body of Jesus wrapped in a burial shroud, and is a roughly full-size cloth icon of the body of Christ. The service ends with a hope of the Resurrection: The Angel stood by the tomb, and to the women bearing spices he cried aloud: 'Myrrh is fitting for the dead, but Christ has shown Himself a stranger to corruption. Then the priest may deliver a homily and everyone comes forward to venerate
3760-434: The body, in keeping with Jewish burial customs. They rolled a large rock over the entrance of the tomb. Then they returned home and rested, because Shabbat had begun at sunset. Byzantine Christians ( Eastern Christians who follow the Rite of Constantinople : Orthodox Christians and Greek-Catholics ) call this day "Great and Holy Friday", or simply "Great Friday". Because the sacrifice of Jesus through his crucifixion
3840-409: The candles is extinguished. The first of these twelve readings is the longest Gospel reading of the liturgical year , and is a concatenation from all four Gospels . Just before the sixth Gospel reading, which recounts Jesus being nailed to the cross, a large cross is carried out of the sanctuary by the priest, accompanied by incense and candles, and is placed in the center of the nave (where
3920-418: The celebration of the Easter Vigil and renews their baptismal promises , which are part of the liturgy of the same Mass. Lutheran, Anglican, Methodist, and other Churches observe many of the same customs as the Catholic Church; however, their altars may be covered in black instead of being stripped. The Anglican Book of Common Prayer uses Easter Even to designate the day. In some Anglican churches, including
4000-410: The computation of the date of Easter and therefore of Good Friday. Good Friday is a widely instituted legal holiday around the world, including in most Western countries and 12 U.S. states . Some predominantly Christian countries , such as Germany, have laws prohibiting certain acts—public dancing, horse racing—in remembrance of the somber nature of Good Friday. The term Good Friday comes from
4080-420: The confession of the Good Thief and St. John's account of blood and water flowing from Jesus' side. During the Gospel, the body of Christ (the soma ) is removed from the cross, and, as the words in the Gospel reading mention Joseph of Arimathea, is wrapped in a linen shroud, and taken to the altar in the sanctuary. The Aposticha reflects on the burial of Christ. Either at this point (in the Greek use) or during
SECTION 50
#17327756336004160-414: The congregation gathers) Sēmeron Kremātai Epí Xýlou : Today He who hung the earth upon the waters is hung upon the Cross (three times) . He who is King of the angels is arrayed in a crown of thorns. He who wraps the Heavens in clouds is wrapped in the purple of mockery. He who in Jordan set Adam free receives blows upon His face. The Bridegroom of the Church is transfixed with nails. The Son of
4240-508: The crowd to release him. The chief priests informed Pilate of a new charge, demanding Jesus be sentenced to death "because he claimed to be God's son." This possibility filled Pilate with fear, and he brought Jesus back inside the palace and demanded to know from where he came. Coming before the crowd one last time, Pilate declared Jesus innocent and washed his own hands in water to show he had no part in this condemnation. Nevertheless, Pilate handed Jesus over to be crucified in order to forestall
4320-504: The day that Jesus lay in his tomb. Traditional taboos from the previous day are carried over and are sometimes broken; swimming is allowed in the afternoon. Most commercial establishments resume operations, with smaller enterprises remaining closed until or before Easter. Television and radio stations broadcast on shorter hours with special programming or remain off-air. In predominantly Catholic Poland, Święconka ( Polish pronunciation: [ɕvʲɛnˈtsɔnka] ), meaning "the blessing of
4400-400: The dying; while Penance , Anointing of the Sick and baptism may be administered because they, like Viaticum, are helpful to ensuring salvation for the dying. The day is the second day of the Paschal fast as outlined in Sacrosanctum Concilium , Article 110. In the Roman Catholic Church, plenary indulgence is obtained if two or more faithfuls pray the Holy Rosary or if the faithful attends
4480-444: The entire day to the extent that their health permits. "On this Holy day neither a meal is offered nor do we eat on this day of the crucifixion. If someone is unable or has become very old [or is] unable to fast, he may be given bread and water after sunset. In this way we come to the holy commandment of the Holy Apostles not to eat on Great Friday." (cf. Black Fast ) The Byzantine Christian observance of Holy and Great Friday, which
4560-451: The epitaphios. In the Slavic practice, at the end of Vespers, Compline is immediately served, featuring a special Canon of the Crucifixion of our Lord and the Lamentation of the Most Holy Theotokos by Symeon the Logothete. On Friday night, the Matins of Holy and Great Saturday , a unique service known as The Lamentation at the Tomb (Epitáphios Thrēnos) is celebrated. This service is also sometimes called Jerusalem Matins . Much of
4640-402: The faithful most bow down under it as they come back into the church, symbolizing their entering into the death and resurrection of Christ. The epitaphios will lay in the tomb until the Paschal Service early Sunday morning. In some churches, the epitaphios is never left alone, but is accompanied 24 hours a day by a reader chanting from the Psalter. When the procession has returned to the church,
4720-506: The first fifteen verses are not read at any other time, the final five verses form one of the Sunday Matins Gospels and are the standard Gospel reading for baptisms. The Cherubic Hymn is replaced by ' Let all mortal flesh keep silence ', an analogous hymn from the ancient Liturgy of Saint James , and the Hymn to the Theotokos is replaced with the irmos from Ode 9 of the Canon the night before, Christ's promise to His Mother that she will be magnified following His Resurrection, but other than that
4800-403: The forenoon on Friday, all gather again to pray the Royal Hours , a special expanded celebration of the Little Hours (including the First Hour, Third Hour , Sixth Hour , Ninth Hour and Typica ) with the addition of scripture readings ( Old Testament , Epistle and Gospel) and hymns about the Crucifixion at each of the Hours (some of the material from the previous night is repeated). This
4880-403: The generations". Musically they can be classified as strophic , with 75, 62, and 48 tercet stanzas each, respectively. The climax of the Enkōmia comes during the third stásis , with the antiphon "Ω γλυκύ μου ἔαρ", a lamentation of the Virgin for her dead Child ("O, my sweet spring, my sweetest child, where has your beauty gone?"). Later, during a different antiphon of that stasis ("Early in
SECTION 60
#17327756336004960-420: The gospels of Mathew and Mark, Jesus is said to have spoken from the cross , quoting the messianic Psalm 22 : "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" With a loud cry, Jesus gave up his spirit. There was an earthquake, tombs broke open, and the curtain in the Temple was torn from top to bottom. The centurion on guard at the site of crucifixion declared, "Truly this was God's Son!" Joseph of Arimathea ,
5040-424: The guards that whomever he kisses is the one they are to arrest. Following his arrest, Jesus was taken to the house of Annas , the father-in-law of the high priest , Caiaphas . There he was interrogated with little result and sent bound to Caiaphas the high priest where the Sanhedrin had assembled. Conflicting testimony against Jesus was brought forth by many witnesses, to which Jesus answered nothing. Finally
5120-401: The high priest adjured Jesus to respond under solemn oath, saying "I adjure you, by the Living God, to tell us, are you the Anointed One, the Son of God?" Jesus testified ambiguously, "You have said it, and in time you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Almighty, coming on the clouds of Heaven." The high priest condemned Jesus for blasphemy , and the Sanhedrin concurred with
5200-404: The morning the myrrh-bearers came to Thee and sprinkled myrrh upon Thy tomb"), young girls of the parish place flowers on the Epitaphios and the priest sprinkles it with rose-water. The author(s) and date of the Enkōmia are unknown. Their High Attic linguistic style suggests a dating around the 6th century, possibly before the time of St. Romanos the Melodist . The Evlogitaria (Benedictions) of
5280-427: The night before Easter of 432AD. The fire is symbolic of the undimmed light of Christ despite the pagan government's attempts to put it out and marked the beginning of the conversion of Ireland to Christianity. This fire reminds Christianity of the Eternal High Kingship of Christ . In Northern Germany , Easter Fires ( German : Osterfeuer ) are lit around sunset on Holy Saturday . In some Old Bavarian regions,
5360-402: The purple or red that is customary throughout Great Lent , but instead don black vestments . There is no "stripping of the altar" on Holy and Great Thursday as in the West; instead, all of the church hangings are changed to black, and will remain so until the Divine Liturgy on Great Saturday . The faithful revisit the events of the day through the public reading of specific Psalms and
5440-431: The second and fourth: An Alleluia is then sung, with verses from Psalm 68 (69): 'Save Me, O God: for the waters are come in, even unto my soul.' The Gospel reading is a composite taken from three of the four the Gospels (Matthew 27:1-38; Luke 23:39-43; Matthew 27:39-54; John 19:31-37; Matthew 27:55-61), essentially the story of the crucifixion as it appears according to St. Matthew, interspersed with St. Luke's account of
5520-417: The sense 'pious, holy' of the word good . Less common examples of expressions based on this obsolete sense of good include 'the good book" for the Bible, 'good tide' for Christmas or Shrovetide , and Good Wednesday for the Wednesday in Holy Week. A common folk etymology incorrectly analyzes Good Friday as a corruption of God Friday , similar to the linguistically correct description of goodbye as
5600-460: The service consists of chanting Psalm 118 , as usual at both Saturday matins and at funerals, but interspersed with hymns ( enkomia or lamentations ) between the verses. The predominant theme of the service is not so much one of mourning, but of watchful expectation: 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
5680-462: The service takes place around the tomb of Christ in the center of the nave. A unique feature of the service is the chanting of the Lamentations or Praises ( Enkōmia ), which consist of verses chanted by the clergy interspersed between the verses of Psalm 119 (which is, by far, the longest psalm in the Bible). The Enkōmia are the best-loved hymns of Byzantine hymnography, both their poetry and their music being uniquely suited to each other and to
5760-520: The seventh day of creation, and the theotokion ("Most blessed art thou, O Virgin Theotokos...) is the same as is used on Sundays. At the end of the Great Doxology , while the Trisagion is sung, the epitaphios is taken in procession around the outside the church, and is then returned to the tomb. Some churches observe the practice of holding the epitaphios at the door, above waist level, so
5840-409: The sick who are unable to attend this celebration. The Celebration of the Passion of the Lord takes place in the afternoon, ideally at three o'clock; however, for pastoral reasons (especially in countries where Good Friday is not a public holiday), it is permissible to celebrate the liturgy earlier, even shortly after midday, or at a later hour. The celebration consists of three parts: the liturgy of
5920-406: The side of Jesus with a lance causing blood and water to flow out, and the centurion informed Pilate that Jesus was dead. Joseph of Arimathea took Jesus' body, wrapped it in a clean linen shroud, and placed it in his own new tomb that had been carved in the rock in a garden near the site of the crucifixion. Nicodemus also brought 75 pounds of myrrh and aloes , and placed them in the linen with
6000-516: The spirit of the day. They consist of 185 tercet antiphons arranged in three parts ( stáseis or "stops"), which are interjected with the verses of Psalm 119, and nine short doxastiká (" Gloriae ") and Theotókia (invocations to the Virgin Mary). The three stáseis are each set to its own music, and are commonly known by their initial antiphons: Ἡ ζωὴ ἐν τάφῳ , "Life in a grave", Ἄξιον ἐστί , "Worthy it is", and Αἱ γενεαὶ πᾶσαι , "All
6080-497: The standard epistle read at baptisms. Unique to this day, the Alleluia is replaced with Psalm 81 (82) being sung: "Arise, O God, judge Thou the earth: for Thou shalt have an inheritance in all the nations" while the deacon performs a censing of the church. In Slavic tradition where the service is begun in dark vestments, the hangings , altar cloths , curtain and vestments are changed to bright . In Greek and Arabic tradition,
6160-465: The time of Easter, Spring becomes victorious over Winter. The fires were supposed to help chase the darkness and winter away. It was also a symbol of fertility, which works in a literal sense in that the ashes were scattered over the meadows and thereby fertilized the soil. Another possible origin of the Easter fire is that of St. Patrick lighting an unquenchable "High King" fire in defiance of the throne on
6240-604: The troparion following (in the Slav use): Noble Joseph, taking down Thy most pure body from the Tree, wrapped it in pure linen and spices, and he laid it in a new tomb. an epitaphios or "winding sheet" (a cloth embroidered with the image of Christ prepared for burial) is carried in procession to a low table in the nave which represents the Tomb of Christ; it is often decorated with an abundance of flowers. The epitaphios itself represents
6320-633: The vesperal divine liturgy. Before the midnight service, the faithful gather in church for the reading of the Acts of the Apostles in its entirety. Preceding midnight the Paschal Vigil begins with the Midnight Office , during which the Canon of Holy Saturday is repeated, toward the end of which the epitaphios is removed from the center of the church and placed on the altar table where it remains until
6400-494: The word, the adoration of the cross, and the Holy communion. The altar is bare, without cross, candlesticks and altar cloths . It is also customary to empty the holy water fonts in preparation of the blessing of the water at the Easter Vigil. Traditionally, no bells are rung on Good Friday or Holy Saturday until the Easter Vigil. The liturgical colour of the vestments used is red. Before 1970, vestments were black except for
#599400