12 Facts About Easter Vigil

1.

Easter Vigil, called the Paschal Vigil or the Great Vigil of Easter, is a liturgy held in traditional Christian churches as the first official celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus.

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2.

In Eastern Orthodox churches, Oriental Orthodox churches, and other traditions of Eastern Christianity, the extremely festive ceremonies and Divine Liturgy which are celebrated during the Easter Vigil are unique to that night and are the most elaborate and important of the liturgical year.

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3.

Original twelve Old Testament readings for the Easter Vigil survive in an ancient manuscript belonging to the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

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4.

Outside the church the Easter Vigil fire was lit and blessed, and five grains of incense were blessed.

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5.

Easter Vigil separated the blessing and lighting of the Candle from the Exsultet to the beginning, the present position.

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6.

An order for the Easter Vigil was published in 1936, and several Lutheran congregations in Hannover observed the Easter Vigil in 1937.

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7.

Since then the Easter Vigil has experienced a revival in many parishes throughout Germany.

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8.

The most recent agenda for the Easter Vigil was published by the "Vereinigte Evangelisch-lutherische Kirche" in 2008.

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9.

The order for the Easter Vigil is comparable to the order of service used by American Lutherans.

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10.

In North America the Lutherans, similarly to the Anglicans, have in many places returned to the observance of the Easter Vigil [including the restoration of the blessing of the new fire].

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11.

Easter Vigil Procession follows, in which the entire congregation, holding lighted candles, participates with the celebrants and the altar servers.

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12.

The Easter Vigil Cross is set on its head, and the whole structure looks like a Patriarchal Cross.

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