(The following is a brief reflection on Holy Friday, Holy Saturday and Pascha in the Orthodox Church. Much of the following information was compiled from writings by Fr. Alexander Schmemann and Fr. Thomas Hopko.
NOTE: Because of COVID restrictions, as well as limited personnel available to celebrate the more complicated services, the schedule for the last three days of Holy Week has been modified this year for St. Barbara’s. The decision was not made lightly, and only after a great deal of thought. We hope, however, that these 2021 modifications, as well as a slightly expanded Bright Week schedule will be of benefit, especially to those unable to drive at night.)
“The Cross, Tomb and Resurrection of Christ,” is a liturgical formula frequently heard in Orthodox Christian services. These final events of our Lord’s ministry are inseparably linked to one another. Their commemoration on Friday, Saturday and Sunday of Holy Week form, what has been called, a three-day Pascha. Christ’s crucifixion is His Self-Offering for the sins of the world, His exodus from this life. That which follows is the Tomb, in which the Lord “rested” on the Blessed Sabbath from the work of re-creation. His rest however, was anything but static. The Icon for the day depicts the Savior’s descent into hell, filling all things with His glory, even death itself. And then, our Lord’s Rising on the Third Day signals the resurrection of those who with faith worship His power, who take up their own cross and follow Jesus.
Great & Holy Friday (April 30):
On the one hand, this is the most solemn of days, the day of Christ’s Passion, His Death and Burial. On this day the Church invites us, as we kneel before the tomb of Christ, to realize the awful reality and power of sin and evil in “this world,” and in our own lives as well. It is this power that led ultimately to “the sin of all sins, the crime of all crimes” the total rejection and murder of God Himself (Fr. Alexander Schmemann).
On the other hand, the Church affirms that this day of evil is also the day of redemption. “The death of Christ is revealed to us as a saving death, an offering of love” (Fr. Alexander Schmemann). Holy Friday is the beginning of the Lord’s Pascha, for the One Who is raised, is the One Who is crucified for us and for our salvation. “By death Christ tramples down death…” Thus, the tomb of Christ, placed in the center of the Church, is lavishly adorned with flowers, for from the tomb comes life.
The afternoon service is often referred to as “Burial Vespers.” During its celebration the final events in the life of Christ are brought to mind through the scripture readings and the hymnography. At the conclusion of Vespers, the faithful kneel and the choir sings, in a very slow manner, the troparia for the day which speak of Joseph of Arimethea and Nicodemus burying the Body of Jesus; and the angel’s announcement to the Myrrhbearing Women that, “Myrrh is fitting for the dead, but Christ has shown Himself a stranger to corruption.” As these words are heard the clergy and servers make a procession around the tomb with the “winding sheet” on which is an icon of the crucified Lord. This winding sheet is placed on top of the tomb and venerated by the faithful.
Service for Holy Friday will be celebrated at 3:00 pm.
Great & Holy Saturday (May 1):
On the morning of this day, at 10:00 am, we will celebrate the Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil. This service “inaugurates the Paschal celebration…” On ‘Lord I Call Upon Thee’ certain Sunday Resurrection hymns are sung, followed by special verses for Holy Saturday which stress the Death of Christ as the descent into Hades, the region of death, for its destruction.
"A pivotal point of the service occurs after the Entrance, when fifteen Old Testament lessons are read, all centered on the promise of the Resurrection, all glorifying the ultimate Victory of God…The epistle lesson is that which is read at Baptisms (Romans 6:3-11), referring to Christ’s Death and Resurrection as the source of the death in us of the “old man,” and the resurrection of the new man, whose life is in the Risen Lord (Here we must remember that Pascha has always been the most traditional time for Baptisms of catechumens). During the verses immediately after the epistle reading the dark Lenten vestments and altar coverings are put aside and the clergy vest in their brightest robes. An announcement of the Resurrection is then read from the last chapter of St. Matthew’s Gospel. The Liturgy of St. Basil continues in this white and joyful light, revealing the Tomb of Christ as the Life-giving Tomb, introducing us into the ultimate reality of Christ’s Resurrection, communicating His life to us…” (Fr. Schmemann).
It should be noted that on Holy Saturday every major act of the Vesperal Liturgy takes place in front of the Tomb: all processions, readings and Holy Communion.
Service celebrated at 10 am.
Pascha (May 2):
Because this year is unique, the Main Resurrection service (Matins and Divine Liturgy) will begin at 10:00 am on Sunday morning. During Matins the Paschal Canon will be heard along with “Christ is Risen,” sung many times. the Sermon of St. John Chrysostom will be read. During the Liturgy, the Prologue of St. John’s Gospel will be chanted. We hope to have this done in several languages, symbolic of the universal character of the Christian Faith. A Gospel lesson will be read as well during the Vespers at 5 pm.
Paschal Matins and Liturgy will be celebrated on Sunday May 2, from 10:00 am to 12 noon, followed by the Blessing of Paschal Baskets. Agape Vespers will be celebrated on Sunday, May 2, at 5 pm.