Great Sabbath

The Great Sabbath is the Sabbath immediately preceding Passover.[1] It "is commemorated in the Christian calendar as Holy Saturday".[2][3]

Jewish traditions

Known as Shabbat Hagadol (The "Great" or "Big" Sabbath), it is the Sabbath immediately preceding Passover. It is customary for the rabbi to deliver an address to the congregation on this day. The first half of the haggadah (Passover liturgy) is recited in the afternoon. The Haftarah is taken from the prophet Malachi and speaks about the coming of Elijah the prophet to announce the Great Day of God.[1] The Babylonian Talmud, citing Exodus 12:42, states, “That was for the Eternal a night of vigil for bringing them out of the land of Egypt; that same night is a night of vigil for all the Israelites throughout their generations.”[4]

A customary greeting in some Sephardic communities is Shabbat haGadol mevorach, ("a blessed Shabbat haGadol').[5]

Christian traditions
Main article: Holy Saturday

Eastern Orthodox traditions

In Eastern Orthodoxy this day, known as "Holy and Great Saturday", is also called "The Great Sabbath" since it is on this day that Christ "rested" in the tomb. Matins of Holy and Great Saturday (in parishes usually held on Friday evening) takes the form of a funeral service for Christ. The predominant theme of the service is not so much one of mourning, but of watchful expectation:[6]

References
  1. Zivotofsky. Ari Z., "The Great Sabbath", Jewish World Review, March 26, 1999
  2. Bruteau, Beatirce. "The Great Sabbath", The New Blackfriars, March 1990
  3. "Sabbath", The Episcopal Church
  4. Steinger, Lane. "The Great Sabbath: All Sabbaths are great, STL Jewish Light, April 13, 2016
  5. Kitov, Eliyahu. "Shabbat Hagadol", The Book of Our Heritage, ( Nachman Bulman and Dovid Landseman, trans.) Feldheim Publications (Chabad.org)
  6. Ware, Timothy (Kallistos).The Lenten Triodion, South Canaan, Pennsylvania, St. Tikhon's Seminary Press. 2002. p. 63 ISBN 1-878997-51-3
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