Holy Saturday: Pascha

Saturday 19th April 2025 - 10:30pm

Good Shepherd’s Chapel, Abbotsford

The evening began with a quiet reflection from Metropolitan Raffaele about the Lord’s descent into hell. He spoke of how Isaiah prophesied that the people who were held in darkness would have a Great Light among them.

Father Mark soon joined him to perform the Midnight prayers of the hours. They took turns in gently chanting the prayers as Father Matthew prepared the Gifts at the prothesis.

The Metropolitan reminded us that during the final prayer of the evening, the monks at the monastery would ask for each other’s forgiveness so that they could go to sleep and be at peace with their brothers. No-one really knows which day will be their last. Metropolitan Raffaele asked us to be present and live in the moment. He then asked for forgiveness in the final prayer of the hours.

Emma from Le Pine gave everyone prayer cards and rosary beads as the clergy moved to the Epitaphios. They began prayers for our recently departed loved ones, reading out the names of those who had passed in the last year.

The Metropolitan explained that we are never alone, even in the moment of death. That we are accompanied by the Lord in all moments. Then Server Ayden and Server Luke prepared the Epitaphios and carried it back to the main altar.

The Metropolitan read the Paschal prayer with the congregation and then Emma thanked everyone, especially the Metropolitan, for their support and spiritual guidance. Then everyone collected candles in preparation for the ceremony of light.

We waited in darkness and quiet contemplation for the light of the resurrection. The clergy entered and Metropolitan Raffaele lit the Paschal candle - the trikarion.

The congregation came forward and lit their own candles from the trikarion. We then went outside in a procession and listened to the Metropolitan read the Resurrection Gospel.

The Metropolitan proclaimed “Christ is Risen!” and banged on the door with his staff. The doors opened and we entered a fully illuminated church. The clergy sang “Christ is Risen from the dead” in beautiful harmonies.

Once everyone settled, the Metropolitan spoke about the meaning behind the illuminated church. He described the tunnel people report seeing when near death - at the end is a light. He said that Jesus brought eternal life: there is no death, only life and light.

Father Mark returned to the organ and the Entrance Hymn was sung. The Holy Gifts were brought to the altar in a joyous procession.

The Creed was spoken and the Sanctus was sung. The clergy prayed for the Holy Gifts to be transfigured before Hail Mary was recited and a hymn to the Theotokos was sung.

We recited the Our Father prayer and then the clergy shared communion. Then the congregation were invited to share in communion together.

The Metropolitan sang the thanksgiving hymn while Father Matthew performed the purification rites (ablutions). The Holy Mysteries were returned to the prothesis and the last Paschal hymn was sung. The Metropolitan blessed the congregation with the relics of the True Cross and invited everyone to join in a celebratory feast in the cloister.

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