Holy Saturday

Friday night, the Matins for Holy Saturday are served. This service contains the “Lamentations (also “Praises”) of the Mother of God” over her crucified Son, taken down from the Cross and laid in the tomb.

Thou who art the Life wast laid in a tomb, O Christ; and the hosts of angels were amazed and glorified Thy self-abasement.

O Life, how canst Thou die? How canst Thou dwell in a tomb? Yet Thou dost destroy death’s kingdom and raise the dead from hell.

From the “Lamentations”

Burial of Christ. Source: webphoto.ro

On Saturday Morning, The Vesperal Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great

Noble Joseph, taking down Thy most pure body from the Tree, wrapped it in clean linen with sweet spices, and he laid it in a new tomb.

Going down to death, O Life immortal, Thou hast slain hell with the dazzling light of Thy divinity. And when Thou hast raised up the dead fro their dwelling place beneath the earth, all the power of heaven cried aloud: “Giver of Life, O Christ our God, glory to Thee.”

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.

Troparia

Scriptural References:

Genesis: 1:1-13

Jonah 1:1-16, 2:1-11, 3:1-10, 4:1-11

Daniel 3:1-57

Romans 6:3-11

Matthew 28:1-20

On Great and Holy Saturday morning, the Orthodox Church commemorates Christ’s decent into Hades and the releasing of the souls of all who were held captive by death. It is important for us to remember that humankind had been removed from Paradise, since the time of Adam and Eve, and that man was subject to death. Upon the death of all from the time of Adam and Eve to the moment of Christ’s voluntary death on the cross, all the souls of those who lived were "held captive by death" in a place called Hades. Hades, not to be confused with hell, was a jail of sorts for souls—a place where they were held prisoner.

When Jesus died on the Cross, Hades accepted His soul thinking that it was accepting the soul of a man, only to find out that it had accepted God, the uncontainable, into its midst.

Immediately, an explosion takes place. The Hymns tell us that "Hades lets out a groan" as the doors to Hades are blown open the "locks and chains" used to imprison the souls tossed aside and rendered useless as Christ raises all the dead and resurrects them.

The following Hymns show us the magnitude of this event:

Today Hades lets out a groan: "Would that I had not received the son of Mary: for when He came upon me He dissolved my power; He shattered the gates of bronze; the souls I had held captive, as God He raised up." Glory, Lord, to Your Cross and Your Resurrection.

Today Hades lets out a groan: "My sovereignty is destroyed. I received Him as a mortal, one among the dead; but this One I am powerless to contain; instead with Him I lose all I had governed. I had held the dead for ages, but behold, He resurrects all." Glory, Lord, to Your Cross and Your Resurrection.

Today Hades lets out a groan: "My might is swallowed up: the shepherd was crucified but raised up Adam. All I ruled over I have lost; all I was able in my power to consume, I have disgorged. The crucified One has emptied the graves. The sway of death is no more." Glory, Lord, to Your Cross and Your Resurrection.

This event is commemorated in spectacular fashion, with the priest chanting the following verses from Psalm 81/82 while [in the Greek tradition] scattering bay leaves (the symbol of victory) throughout the church.