Holy Saturday
Traditionally this Liturgy used to be late in the afternoon, around 16:00, I think. Now it is done at 10:00 in most churches.We start off in dark colors. Normally at our parish Fr. John and I wear black and the Altar servers wear purple. I obtained my black vestments in 1986. I own my own vestments. The purpose brought a set of gold and a set of blue for me, but usually I leave them to the adults since they can't get into the robes purchased for them. Fr. John said that in Russia [where we got out vestments] they make deacon's vestments wider than vestments for other altar servers.
This year the old calendar feast of the Annunciation and Holy Saturday both fall on the same day. Black would then be inappropriate.
The rubrics call for 12 Old Testament readings. We normally have the children read them. Some of them are really good. We all were impressed with Emmanuel.
During the reading of the Epistle we change from dark to light. Most parishes change to white, but some change to gold.
After Liturgy we have bread and wine. In the early days, people would fast all day until they receive Communion and then they would stay in church for the midnight service, but have some bread and wine to sustain themselves.
