'On Holy Saturday the Church changes its sorrow to rejoicing'

On Holy Saturday several hours separate believers from the greatest event of Christianity – the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, when all the Orthodox Christians who fasted go to the church to confess and receive the Communion, FR Pavel Borsevschi, senior priest at St. Dumitru Church in Chisinau, has told Info-Prim Neo. On Holy Saturday the Church reminds believers that Jesus descended to hell to free all those with faith in God and gift hope to mankind, the priest says. In the morning, Orthodox churches hold the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great, followed by gospels from the Old Testament and the New Testament. Then the choir starts chanting songs anticipating the Resurrection. That is when the Church changes its sorrow that dominated throughout Lent to rejoicing, the priest added. Father Pavel advised believers to attend the mass from evening till morning. The Vigil Mass traditionally starts around 11:00PM.