Easter Vigil

Definition and Meaning

The Korean term for the Easter Vigil (buhwal seongya) means "the holy night of awaiting the resurrection." It refers to a service held between sundown on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter, and the dawn of Easter Day. In the Catholic Church it is also called the "Easter Vigil Mass," and some Protestant churches call it the "Easter Eve service." In the church year, it is the service that brings Holy Week to a close and ushers in Easter. Churches that observe this service regard it as the most important of all the liturgies (prescribed rites of worship) of the year.

Biblical and Historical Background

The Gospels record that the women went to the tomb early in the morning after the Sabbath and found it empty (Matthew 28:1-6; John 20:1). The custom of keeping watch through the night in anticipation of the resurrection is believed to date back to the early church. The tradition of administering baptism to new believers on this night also goes back to an early period. This is why Romans 6:3-6, which describes baptism as dying and rising with Christ, is frequently read at this service. In the Middle Ages, the service was moved earlier, to Saturday morning. In the mid-twentieth century, the Catholic Church revised the rites of Holy Week and restored the service to the night.

The traditional order is generally as follows:

• Service of Light: A new fire is kindled in the darkened church, and the Paschal candle is lit and carried in.
• Liturgy of the Word: Old Testament passages recounting the history of salvation, such as the Creation and the crossing of the Red Sea, are read in sequence, followed by the Gospel account of the resurrection.
• Liturgy of Baptism: Baptism is administered, or the congregation renews its baptismal vows.
• Liturgy of the Eucharist: The first Communion of Easter is shared.

Practice in Korean Churches

The Catholic Church celebrates the Easter Vigil Mass on the night of Holy Saturday, and catechumens are often baptized at this time. The Anglican Church of Korea and the Lutheran Church in Korea have strong traditions of observing liturgies according to the church year and are known to hold the Easter Vigil as a regular service.

Most Protestant churches, including Presbyterian, Methodist, Holiness, Baptist, and Full Gospel churches, do not hold a separate Easter Vigil. Instead, they commonly commemorate the resurrection with an Easter sunrise service and the Easter Union Service. As part of a movement toward liturgical renewal, some churches hold an Easter Eve service in forms such as a candlelight service. Churches that place greater emphasis on worship centered on the Word and prayer than on prescribed rites often do not adopt it.