What is Holy Saturday? Holy Saturday is the day during Holy Week that Christians observe the time that Jesus was in the grave. This is always the day before Easter Sunday.
What Happened on Holy Saturday?
The Bible does not give us much information about the days that Jesus was in the grave.
While Jesus was on the cross, he said, “It is finished.” The work of atoning for the sins of the world was accomplished.
After Jesus death on the cross on Good Friday, he was placed in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathaea. (See this post about Good Friday for further details about the day Jesus died.) A large stone was placed in front of the tomb.
Pilate ordered that the stone be sealed and soldiers guard the grave.
Because it was Sabbath, and a high holy day, the women did not make preparations on Saturday, but would plan to go to the tomb on Sunday morning.
Read about this day in the Bible here: Matthew 27:59-60; Mark 15:46; Luke 23:53-54; John 19:39-42.
How Can You Honor Holy Saturday?
Some churches host a worship service on Holy Saturday. This is typically a somber service as worshipers remember the time that Jesus spent in the grave.
However, it is not as solemn as Good Friday. People begin to look forward to Easter Sunday when Jesus rose from the grave.
An Easter Vigil, also called the Pascal Vigil or Great Vigil, is a service of keeping watch. This service is to be held during the hours of darkness between Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday. This service would be the first service each year to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.
Traditionally, this service is the pinnacle of the church year. During this service baptisms and sometimes confirmations were held.
The service often involves candlelight, special readings, and Holy Communion.
Some churches do not hold a full Easter Vigil service, but begin their Easter morning Sunrise service outside, or at the church cemetery, in a similar way to the Easter Vigil. Then they come inside and continue joyful Easter worship.
Personal prayers and devotions also add meaning to this time during Holy Week.
How do you honor Holy Saturday? Share in the comments below.
Other Posts for Lent and Holy Week
How Do You Know When is Easter?
What is the Meaning of Palm Sunday?
Why You Should Honor Holy Week Before Easter
What Does Mandy Thursday Mean?
What is the Meaning of Good Friday?
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Linda Lake says
What you call Holy Saturday, we call Sabbath. I go to church on Saturday because it is biblical and Sunday church attendance is not. While God welcomes worship every day of the week, He set aside the seventh day as a special day of rest. This day is called the Sabbath and corresponds with Saturday. It was given to humankind at creation, about 2,000 years before the Jewish people exited (Genesis 2:1-3). Jesus said the Sabbath was made for man-not just for Jews (Mark 2:27). There is a good bible study on this. Have a blessed day.