Holy Saturday Morning
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Explanation of the Service
by Rev. Demetrios George Kalaris
On the morning of Holy Saturday, the vespers and the Liturgy of St. Basil are celebrated.
It begins as the regular vesper service with the recitation of the 103rd psalm of David, the supplication (Great Ectenis) and the troparia of the First Tone pre-announcing the forthcoming Resurrection and depicting the events that took place in Hades upon the descent of our Lord. The small entrance, as in the regular liturgy, is the procession of the priest with the Holy Gospel and the evening hymn, Gladsome Light, is chanted after the proclamation of sophia orthe. This hymn, which is chanted at every vesper service, is believed to have been composed by the Christians of the 1st century. After the small entrance, the reading from 15 chosen books of the Old Testament takes place. They tell of the most striking symbolic events and prophecies, and prototypes of the salvation of mankind by the death of the Son of God.
These selections are from the Books of Genesis, Isaiah, Exodus, Job, Joshua the Prophet Zephaniah, II Book of Books, IV Book of Kings, the Prophet Jeremiah and the Prophet Daniel. The story of Israel’s crossing the Red Sea and Moses’ Song of Victory over Pharaoh are chanted with the refrain “for He hath triumphed gloriously.” The readings culminate with the account of the three youths in the fiery furnace of Babylon and their song of praise is chanted with the refrain “Sing unto the Lord and exalt Him unto ages of ages.”
The lesson from the Epistle tells us that through Baptism we are entombed with Christ, that we may rise with Him. Before the Gospel lesson, the chanter instead of the customary Alleluia, sings the prokeimenon — “Arise, 0 God, and judge the earth, for thine is the inheritance of all nations,” while the priest wearing brightly colored vestments, disperses bright colored flower petals in a procession through the entire church. This act is the first heralding of the joyful advent of the Resurrection. The Gospel lesson tells Christ’s Resurrection. Instead of the customary Cherubic hymn, the 9th Ode of the Matins Canon is sung: “Let all human flesh keep silence nor think in itself of aught earthly.” Then the liturgy of St. Basil continues in regular order.
Hymn of the three servants
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GOSPEL RESPONSE FOR THE HOLY SATURDAY DIVINE LITURGY
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Gospel Reading
Matthew 28:1-20
After the sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the sepulcher. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. His appearance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. Lo, I have told you." So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, "Hail!" And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see me."
While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sum of money to the soldiers and said, "Tell people, 'His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.' And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." So they took the money and did as they were directed; and this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age. Amen."