The Night Vigil of Holy Saturday (Abu Ghalmasees) is one of the greatest spiritual vigils in our Coptic Orthodox Church. It raises our souls to heaven to be with the saints whom Christ took to Paradise on that long ago Saturday night. We share with them their joy and happiness at being released from hell and their enjoyment of a happy paradise.

This night is called “Abu Ghalamsees” because we read, among many other passages, the book of Revelation which in Greek is called “Apocalypse” that is a revelation. We pronounce it “Abu Ghalamsees” and the name of part of that vigil is given to the whole ritual.

This night is also called “Saturday of the Light” because on that night, Christ shed His light on those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death. He shed the light of His divinity in hell when he descended to it by way of the cross and released those who had died in expectation of salvation. He raised them to heaven, opened the door to paradise, and admitted the thief on His right so that they would all rejoice there.

It is also called “Saturday of the Light” because on that night, the light emanates miraculously from the Holy Sepulchre every year. Everyone in the Church of the Resurrection on that day is able to light his or her candle from this holy light.

History recounts the story of Ibrahim Pasha, the ruler of Palestine, who was skeptical about this light. However, he believed when he attended mass on that day and saw the light emerging with power from the Holy Sepulchre and going towards where he was standing. He was so scared that he fell to the ground and immediately proclaimed his faith in this marvelous miracle.

This night is also called “Saturday of Joy” because all the saints rejoice as Christ transported them from Hades to Paradise when He was crucified and redeemed man. His soul in unity with His divinity descended and released all the saints from hell and admitted them to paradise.

We keep vigil on that night next to the tomb of our Savior, praising and thanking Him for our marvelous redemption on the cross. With the angels and the saints whom He released, we contemplate with amazement the great work that the Lord has done. That is why on that night, we sing their praises and recite their prayers, remembering their struggles and sharing in their joy at this great salvation. We keep a joyful vigil, for who can sleep on such a day?

The church keeps vigil on that night just like those holy women who watched His death and burial, and who then went back to prepare the spices for His holy body. (Lk. 23:55-56)

The spices we can offer the Lord Jesus on that night are our prayers, praise, thanksgiving, and meditation. We lift our hearts to God in love for and appreciation of the One who died for us in order to save us from the sentence of death, who was buried instead of us in order to bury our sins and transgressions.

The spices we can offer Christ are a pure and sincere repentance which gladdens the heart of God who came into the world to save sinners of whom I am the first.

The spices we can offer the Lord are to share in the carrying of the cross. The wise men offered myrrh at his birth and Nicodemus offered it at His burial. Myrrh symbolizes pain and suffering and Christ suffered so much pain on the cross for us that He cried out, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”. He calls us to carry for his sake, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Mk. 8:34).

On that night, we keep vigil next to our Savior’s tomb asking Him to strengthen us who are weak so that we can fight in order to die to our sin and live for righteousness, “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of his suffering, being conformed to His death” (Phil. 3:10).

The readings and hymns of “Abu Ghalamsees” focus on three important aspect:

1. The Salvation of all humanity that the Lord completed on the cross. That is why He cried out, “It is finished”. We notice that the word “salvation” is frequently repeated in the praise of the prophets.
2. The Living Lord who does not die. Although He died in the flesh on the cross and was buried with the dead, He was alive in His divinity which was not separated from His humanity not even for a second or the twinkling of an eye. He is the living dead and that is why blood and water were poured out of the wound inflicted in his side with the soldier’s spear after His death on the cross. This does not occur with any ordinary dead person for the blood coagulates in his veins. That is why we praise him on that night saying, “Agios, Agios, athanatos nai nan” meaning “Holy, Holy, You who is alive and does not die, have mercy on us” (Psalmody of Holy Saturday).
3. The great joy that the righteous who were in hell experienced as they waited for the wonderful Redeemer to save them. Here he comes to take them away from the dark to His glorious light in paradise.

We notice that the Church gradually transforms the sadness of the believers into joy through its rituals and hymns. This night falls between Good Friday, the day of mourning, and Easter Saturday, the climax of joy. It is hard for man to move from the deepest sadness to the greatest joy at one stroke. That is why the church prepares the believers for the joy of the resurrection. Half the hymns that night are mournful and half are regular in preparation for the joyful and beautiful hymns of the resurrection.

The rituals are truly alive and express the wisdom of the fathers who set them under the guidance of the Holy Spirit working powerfully within them.

This night is a truly awesome night in which sadness and joy intermingle in a unique and indescribable fashion but which can be experienced by the one who observes it. It is truly a night from heaven; its hymns and prayers give the soul a foretaste of eternity while it is still here on earth, making it long for the heavenly Jerusalem that is described in the book of Revelations which is carefully read that night.

Those who inquire about eternal life will find the answers on that night on which the church keeps vigil with prayer and praise. Its heart is lifted up to heaven and it envisions its beauty and wonders and so the hours of the night fly as in a lovely dream.

Words cannot describe the unique and lovely night. It is a night that each individual must experience himself for not one can explain it all; you have to observe it yourself and mediate on its readings, hymns, and amazing ritual.

I urge you not to miss the vigil of “Abu Ghalamsees” no matter how tired you feel and that you remain awake till morning closing it all by attending mass and partaking of the Holy Sacraments. Only then can you realize the value and blessings of this holy night and continue to keep this vigil every year.