Easter Vigil

[[File:Ibaan Easter Vigil (Paschal Candle and Fire) 2024-03-30.jpg|thumb|A [[Catholic priest]] in front of the [[Easter fire]] while [[altar server]]s hold a [[Paschal candle]], which is to be lit from the fire.]]

[[File:Ibaan Easter Vigil (Paschal Candle and Fire) 2024-03-30.jpg|thumb|A [[Catholic priest]] in front of the [[Easter fire]] while [[altar server]]s hold a [[Paschal candle]], which is to be lit from the fire.]]

The '''Easter Vigil''', also known as the '''Paschal Vigil''', the '''Great Vigil of Easter''', or '''Holy Saturday at the Easter Vigil on the Holy Night of Easter,''' is a [[Christian liturgy|liturgy]] held in [[Christian worship#Sacramental tradition|traditional]] [[Christianity|Christian]] churches as the first official celebration of the [[Resurrection of Jesus]]. Historically, it is during this liturgy that people are [[baptism|baptized]] and that adult [[catechumen]]s are received into full communion with the Church. It is held in the hours of darkness between sunset on [[Holy Saturday]] and sunrise on [[Easter Day]] – most commonly in the evening of Holy Saturday or midnight – and is the first celebration of Easter, days traditionally being considered to begin at sunset.

The '''Easter Vigil''', also known as the '''Paschal Vigil''', the '''Great Vigil of Easter''', or '''Holy Saturday at the Easter Vigil on the Holy Night of Easter,''' is a [[Christian liturgy|liturgy]] held in [[Christian worship#Sacramental tradition|traditional]] [[Christianity|Christian]] churches as the first official celebration of the [[Resurrection of Jesus]]. Historically, it is during this liturgy that people are [[baptism|baptized]] and that adult [[catechumen]]s are received into full communion with the Church. It is held between sunset on [[Holy Saturday]] and sunrise on [[Easter Day]] – most commonly in the evening of Holy Saturday or midnight – and is the first celebration of Easter, days traditionally being considered to begin at sunset.

Among liturgical [[Western Christianity|Western Christian]] churches including the [[Roman Catholic Church]], the [[Lutheranism|Lutheran Churches]] and the [[Anglican Communion]], the Easter Vigil is the most important [[Christian worship#Types of Christian worship|liturgy of public worship]] and [[mass (liturgy)|Mass]] of the [[liturgical year]], marked by the first use since the beginning of [[Lent]] of the exclamatory "[[Alleluia]]", a distinctive feature of the [[Eastertide|Easter season]].<ref name="Steenwyk">{{cite web |last1=Steenwyk |first1=Carrie |title=Easter Vigil |url=https://www.reformedworship.org/article/december-2005/easter-vigil |publisher=[[Christian Reformed Church in North America]] |access-date=3 April 2021 |language=English|quote=The Easter Vigil, also referred to as the Paschal Vigil or the First Service of Easter, is held either on the Saturday evening before Easter or very early Easter morning.}}</ref>

Among liturgical [[Western Christianity|Western Christian]] churches including the [[Roman Catholic Church]], the [[Lutheranism|Lutheran Churches]] and the [[Anglican Communion]], the Easter Vigil is the most important [[Christian worship#Types of Christian worship|liturgy of public worship]] and [[mass (liturgy)|Mass]] of the [[liturgical year]], marked by the first use since the beginning of [[Lent]] of the exclamatory "[[Alleluia]]", a distinctive feature of the [[Eastertide|Easter season]].<ref name="Steenwyk">{{cite web |last1=Steenwyk |first1=Carrie |title=Easter Vigil |url=https://www.reformedworship.org/article/december-2005/easter-vigil |publisher=[[Christian Reformed Church in North America]] |access-date=3 April 2021 |language=English|quote=The Easter Vigil, also referred to as the Paschal Vigil or the First Service of Easter, is held either on the Saturday evening before Easter or very early Easter morning.}}</ref>

[[File:Praecentor.JPG|thumb|right|A Lutheran deacon with an Easter candle]]

[[File:Praecentor.JPG|thumb|right|A Lutheran deacon with an Easter candle]]

[[File:Gemeinde osternacht.JPG|thumb|right|A congregation with small Easter candles]]

[[File:Gemeinde osternacht.JPG|thumb|right|A congregation with small Easter candles]]

The Easter Vigil, like the [[Christmas Eve|Christmas Vigil]], remained a popular festive worship service in the [[Lutheran]] churches during and after the [[Protestant Reformation|Reformation]]. It was often celebrated in the early morning hours of Easter Sunday. As in all Lutheran services of this period, vernacular language was used in combination with traditional liturgical texts in Latin, such as the [[Exsultet]]. Elements which were considered unbiblical and superstitious were eliminated, such as the blessing of the new fire, the consecration of the candles or of water.<ref>Mahrenholz, Christhard: Agende II für evangelisch-lutherische Kirchen und Gemeinden, Lutherisches Verlagshaus, Berlin 1960, pp. 304 - 306; Schmidt-Lauber, Hans-Christoph: Die Zukunft des Gottesdienstes, Calwer Verlag, Stuttgart, 1990, pp. 395 - 396</ref>

The Easter Vigil, like the [[Christmas Eve|Christmas Vigil]], remained a popular festive worship service in the [[Lutheran]] churches during and after the [[Protestant Reformation|Reformation]]. It was often celebrated in the early morning of Easter. As in all Lutheran services of this period, vernacular language was used in combination with traditional liturgical texts in Latin, such as the [[Exsultet]]. Elements which were considered unbiblical and superstitious were eliminated, such as the blessing of the new fire, the consecration of the candles or of water.<ref>Mahrenholz, Christhard: Agende II für evangelisch-lutherische Kirchen und Gemeinden, Lutherisches Verlagshaus, Berlin 1960, pp. 304 - 306; Schmidt-Lauber, Hans-Christoph: Die Zukunft des Gottesdienstes, Calwer Verlag, Stuttgart, 1990, pp. 395 - 396</ref>

Emphasis was placed on the scriptural readings, congregational singing and on the Easter sermon. In [[Wittenberg]] the Easter [[Gospel]] (Matthew 28. 1 - 10; 16 - 20) was sung in the German language in a tone similar to the tone of the [[Exsultet]] - a gospel tone only used for this worship service. The devastation caused by the [[Thirty Years' War]] led to a decline in worship culture in the Lutheran Churches in Germany. The [[rationalism]] of the 18th century also brought about a change in worship habits and customs. The liturgical movement that arose in the German Lutheran Churches after World War I rediscovered the Easter Vigil in its reformational form.<ref>Mahrenholz, Christhard: Agende II für evangelisch-lutherische Kirchen und Gemeinden, Lutherisches Verlagshaus, Berlin 1960, pp. 304 - 306; Schmidt-Lauber, Hans-Christoph: Die Zukunft des Gottesdienstes, Calwer Verlag, Stuttgart, 1990, pp. 395 - 396</ref>

Emphasis was placed on the scriptural readings, congregational singing and on the Easter sermon. In [[Wittenberg]] the Easter [[Gospel]] (Matthew 28. 1 - 10; 16 - 20) was sung in the German language in a tone similar to the tone of the [[Exsultet]] - a gospel tone only used for this worship service. The devastation caused by the [[Thirty Years' War]] led to a decline in worship culture in the Lutheran Churches in Germany. The [[rationalism]] of the 18th century also brought about a change in worship habits and customs. The liturgical movement that arose in the German Lutheran Churches after World War I rediscovered the Easter Vigil in its reformational form.<ref>Mahrenholz, Christhard: Agende II für evangelisch-lutherische Kirchen und Gemeinden, Lutherisches Verlagshaus, Berlin 1960, pp. 304 - 306; Schmidt-Lauber, Hans-Christoph: Die Zukunft des Gottesdienstes, Calwer Verlag, Stuttgart, 1990, pp. 395 - 396</ref>

The church celebrates this most important festival in the church calendar, as per the Gregorian Calendar.

The church celebrates this most important festival in the church calendar, as per the Gregorian Calendar.

Traditionally, the principal liturgy which corresponds to the Easter Vigil in Eastern and Western rites would be conducted in the early hours of the morning, typically at around 3 a.m. on Sunday. In many cities, however, the liturgy is conducted after 6:00&nbsp;p.m. on Saturday; this is also the case for practical reasons in former Christian lands of the Oriental Orthodox rite which now have Muslim majorities.

Traditionally, the principal liturgy which corresponds to the Easter Vigil in Eastern and Western rites would be conducted in the early morning, typically at around 3 a.m. on Sunday. In many cities, however, the liturgy is conducted after 6:00&nbsp;p.m. on Saturday; this is also the case for practical reasons in former Christian lands of the Oriental Orthodox rite which now have Muslim majorities.

Easter marks the change in the set of prayers said and sung before the Eucharist. From Easter to the [[Feast of the Cross]] on September 14, the prayers follow the Liturgy of Easter.

Easter marks the change in the set of prayers said and sung before the Eucharist. From Easter to the [[Feast of the Cross]] on September 14, the prayers follow the Liturgy of Easter.