March 29/April 11 ns 2026 †GREAT SATURDAY †THE BURIAL OF THE DIVINE BODY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST • Holy Martyrs Mark, Bishop of Arethoúsa, et al.; St. Diádochos ~ Fast day ~ St. John the Wonderworker: Concerning the Reception of the Holy Mysteries on Pascha

HOLY & GREAT SATURDAY
 †THE BURIAL OF THE DIVINE BODY

OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

• Holy Martyrs Mark,

Bishop of Arethoúsa, et al.;

St. Diádochos 

FAST DAY

March 29/ April 11 ns 2026

GREAT Saturday Morning commemorates the Blessed Sabbath as a day of waiting.  The Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil is served as we anticipate Christ's victory over death in Hades and His Glorious Resurrection. Saturday Evening, at 11:30 p.m., we sing the Paschal Matins service. As midnight approaches, in a darkened church, we begin the Resurrection service. At the appointed moment, the priest comes forth from the altar with a candle symbolizing the Light of Christ and proclaims "Christ is Risen!" The Paschal Liturgy and Homily of Saint John Chrysostomos invites us to share in His Resurrection through Holy Communion.

Kecharitomene

~`Full of Grace`~

St. John the Wonderworker: Concerning the Reception of the Holy Mysteries on Pascha

“The Lamb of God communicates with us on the holy and light-bearing night of Resurrection. We pray for this when we are just beginning to prepare for Lent, and afterwards many times during the course of the Great Fast: that the lord would vouchsafe us to partake of the Holy Mysteries on the night of Holy Pascha. At that time the grace of God acts in a special way upon men’s hearts. We partake of the Christ Resurrected, we become partakers of His Resurrection. Of course, we must prepare ahead of time, and, having already communed during Great Lent, receive again the Holy Mysteries. Before Paschal Liturgy there is no time for a proper confession; this must be done earlier. And then, on that light-bearing night, having received general absolution, to draw near to the Divine Lamb, the pledge of our resurrection. No one should leave the Church prematurely, rushing away to eat the meat of animals instead of receiving the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.”