The Easter Vigil, also called the Paschal Vigil, is a liturgy held in traditional Christian churches as the first official celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus.
Historically, it is during this liturgy that people are baptized and that adult catechumens are received into full communion with the Church. It is held in the hours of darkness between sunset on Holy Saturday and sunrise on Easter Day – most commonly in the evening of Holy Saturday or midnight – and is the first celebration of Easter.
The Easter Vigil is the most important liturgy of public worship and Mass of the liturgical year, marked by the first use since the beginning of Lent of the exclamatory “Alleluia,” a distinctive feature of the Easter season. (Photos by Angie de Silva)
