The Vigil of Easter

The Vigil of Easter is a curious event in the history of Christianity. It appears that it was largely celebrated in the Easter (Greece, Turkey, Middle East, North Africa) and was somewhat unknown among Western European Christians, at least by the time of the Reformation. In the middle of the 20th Century, there was somewhat of a liturgical revival that sought to re-introduce it among Catholic, Lutherans, and Anglicans. As a result, we don't have any unbroken tradition about "how" to celebrate the Vigil of Easter. Some will celebrate on Holy Saturday, some will truly "hold vigil" from Saturday night until daybreak on Sunday. Others will gather in the early hours on Easter Day to begin the feast.

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In the early days of Christianity (and still in some congregations today) the Vigil of Easter was a time when baptism was celebrated, young people were welcomed to the Sacrament of the Altar for the first time, and confirmation was bestowed so that all could begin anew their Christian life with the resurrected Jesus. An historical overview of the Vigil from a Lutheran perspective can be found here.

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The way we do it here at St. John's is probably unique to us. That may rub you the wrong way, but there is a beauty in having local and tribal customs that, even if not perfectly in-step with the rest of Christianity, reflect a diversity in practice that is centered on a unity of doctrine.

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The Shape of the Vigil at St. John's is as follows

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• Gathering outside around a fire before sunrise to hear the story of salvation beginning with Creation

• Praying the Litany of the Resurrection when the sun creeps over the Big Horns

• Processing into the Church shouting "Alleluia! Christ is Risen!"

• Breaking the Liturgical fast by singing the Gloria in Excelsis 

• Hearing the account of the empty tomb (Mark 16)

• Sermon

• Offering

• Prayers

• Service of the Sacrament

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If you'd like to see how other Christians celebrate the Easter Vigil, you can watch some videos here:

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• Redeemer Lutheran in Fort Wayne, IN (LCMS)

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• Concordia Lutheran in Nashville, TN (LCMS)

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• Saint Athanasius Lutheran in Vienna, VA (LCMS)​

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• St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary, Dillwyn, VA (SSPX)

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• Orthodox Patriarchate of Moscow (Russian Orthodox)

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• Saint Patrick's Cathedral, NYC (Roman Catholic)

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• Canterbury Cathedral (Anglican)

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• Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem (Armenian Orthodox)

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Artwork: The Women at the Empty Tomb, Annibale Caracci. Italian, 16th century .From the State Hermitage Museum.