Holy Saturday

Arise O God - The First Resurrection

Saturday morning comes again with a paradox. Jesus is dead in the tomb. Meanwhile, we are outside, waiting. In many other Christian traditions, this Saturday is called Silent Saturday, as a somber day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Today in the Orthodox Church, there is no silence. We live in the paradox of mourning and celebration…looking for God to be victorious in the face of ever present horrors in our lives.

The service began with celebrating the baptisms of 13 new individuals. This was an exciting moment and that enough was reason to be in a joyous mode. The entire service is called, “Arise O God,” with the idea of praying to God for victory, victory over death. I don’t remember the exact prompting, but everyone was invited to begin shouting with voices and noisemakers (pots and pans, cowbells…anything) to say, “ARISE O GOD!!!! Have Victory!!!” All of the Silent Saturdays I’ve experienced with crying were somehow overshadowed by a sense of urgency and hope, that the living God hears us in our misery and is actively doing something about it.

With the noises and shouting, bay leaves in huge quantities are then thrown all over the church. Bay leaves are laurel leaves (think ancient wreaths as trophies for the victors) signifying victory.

One of the main readings for the service is the entire book of Jonah.

“The Lord was awakened as one out of sleep, and arose delivering us”