Holy Saturday

Today, from the second day of the Orthodox Easter, the Bright Week begins. Until the upcoming Tomina Sunday, each of the days bears the name "bright". The name is associated with the enlightenment that the resurrected Christ brings to humanity.

Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou will attend the midnight Anastasi (Resurrection) Mass on Holy Saturday at the Athens Cathedral tonight, her office said.

On Sunday (Easter Sunday), she will visit the Presidential Guard. 

The Orthodox world is preparing to welcome Easter. Holy Saturday marks the end of Holy Week.
Church services in the morning remind us of the burial of Jesus Christ and his descent into Hell, and at midnight the festive service for the Resurrection of Christ begins.

Today is Holy Saturday - the last day of Holy Week. Orthodox Christians are preparing to celebrate the feast of feasts - the Resurrection of Christ. Church services recall the burial of Jesus Christ and the Savior's descent into Hell.

According to the church hymns, Holy Saturday is overly blessed, because in it Christ, asleep, will be resurrected in three-day period.

On Great and Holy Saturday the Orthodox Church commemorates the burial of Christ and His descent into Hades. It is the day between the Crucifixion of our Lord and His glorious Resurrection. The Matins of Holy Saturday is conducted on Friday evening, and while many elements of the service represent mourning at the death and burial of Christ, the service itself is one of watchful expectation.

In Eastern Orthodoxy this day, known as Holy Saturday, is also called The Great Sabbath since it is on this day that Christ "rested" physically in 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.

For Orthodox Christians, this is normally a time of reflection and communal mourning followed by joyful release, of centuries-old ceremonies steeped in symbolism and tradition.

But this year, Easter - by far the most significant religious holiday for the world's roughly 300 million Orthodox - has essentially been canceled.

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 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.

Thousands of fireworks and flares were exchanged during the annual "rocket war" in Chios, a Greek custom observed by the residents of two parishes in the village of Vrontado on the night of Orthodox Holy Saturday. The custom is attended by locals, tourists and municipal officials. [ANA-MPA]

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 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.