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QUESTION:

4/6/2010: The vesperal liturgy of Great Saturday is ancient paschal service of the Orthodox Church. How and when was it replaced by paschal matins of St. John Damascene & liturgy and why it was not abandoned? I love both services but it seems that we celebrate Pascha two times which is a bit odd. Or am I completely wrong?

ANSWER:

This is an interesting question that would require special studies in the origin of both services. Clearly, there are two days being celebrated here, the Sabbath of the Lord (Saturday) and the Lord's Day (Sunday). It would seem that both services did exist from the earliest times, i.e. since the early / mid 300s in Jerusalem. To this day, when celebrated properly, both services are fully complimentary. The Saturday service has a hint (or expectation) of Christ's victory, but it is certainly not another Pascha.

 

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