Holy Saturday

Definition and Meaning

Holy Saturday is the Saturday of Holy Week, the day immediately before Easter. It commemorates the day on which Jesus lay buried in the tomb after his death on the cross. The day is understood as one of both sorrow and expectation, and church tradition has kept it as a day of quiet and silence spent awaiting the Resurrection.

Biblical and Historical Background

The Gospels record that Jesus died on Friday and was buried in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. On the following day the women rested on the Sabbath "according to the commandment" (Luke 23:56), while the chief priests and Pharisees sealed the tomb and set a guard (Matthew 27:62-66). This is nearly all that Scripture directly reports about the day.

The belief in the Descent into Hell, which holds that after his death Jesus went down to the realm of the dead, is also associated with this day. The belief draws on passages such as 1 Peter 4:6 and Ephesians 4:8-10. The original Latin text of the Apostles' Creed contains the clause "he descended into hell," but the version of the Apostles' Creed long used in Korean Protestant churches omits it. The interpretation of this clause varies among denominations and theologians.

In the early church, believers fasted before Easter while awaiting the Resurrection. It is also reported that there was a tradition of administering baptism during a vigil service that ran from Saturday night until the dawn of Easter Sunday.

Practice in Korean Churches

• The Catholic Church and the Anglican Church of Korea: No Eucharist is celebrated during the daytime on Holy Saturday; after sundown the Easter Vigil is held. This liturgy combines the Service of Light, readings from Scripture, and baptism or the renewal of baptismal vows. The Lutheran Church in Korea also belongs to the tradition that follows the liturgical calendar.
• The Orthodox Church: The day is called Great Saturday, and the Paschal service begins at night.
• Most Protestant churches, including Presbyterian, Methodist, Holiness, Baptist, and Full Gospel churches: Holy Saturday is rarely observed with a distinct liturgy. Many churches continue their Holy Week special early-morning prayer meetings through Saturday, or members prepare for Easter through personal fasting and meditation. Some churches hold an Easter Eve prayer meeting or service on Saturday evening. Thus the form of observance differs by church and denomination.