Great Saturday is the day before Easter when Orthodox Christians make final preparations for the biggest Christian holiday, and according to Christian doctrine, this day is a day of holy trembling before Christ's resurrection, which exactly on midnight will be marked with the beating of bells and joyous exclamation "Christ is risen-Trully he is risen". 
On Holy Saturday, believers go on liturgy to the nearest church and those who fasted, today can receive Communion, but continue fasting until midnight.
According to the Macedonian Orthodox Church, since the suffering of Christ on the cross of Calvary, each Great Saturday is filled with anticipation of the grace of His Resurrection.
The death of God has already resurrected departed righteous in Jerusalem who appeared to many, and the first that trembled before the possibility to declare that he was raised were his enemies (the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked to be killed). They requested guard by Roman soldiers to keep the body. However, as he innocently and unjustly and Divine suffered humiliation, suffering and death on the cross, he inexorably has risen. Death and hell (demons) not found a way to establish authority over HIM.
Risen Lord appeared to his disciples asHis apostles and evangelists witnessed . Long liturgical day on Great Saturday ends into the night in vigil before Easter. And Holy Fire is celebrated on the life-giving Tomb of the Lord in Jerusalem. This fire of the Holy Sepulcher is transferred to the Holy Land and illuminates all homes. On the day of the great New Testament sacrifice, the sun of righteousness - Christ is flaming up the sacred fire.
This holiday was established by a miracle at the time of the patriarch Narkisos, when in lack of oil, lamps were poured with water and lit by fire that miraculously descended from heaven during the Passover service and burned as with oil.
Ancient Christian testimonies show that eternal flame is kept at the Holy Sepulcher from the early days of Christianity. The vigil before Easter (Resurrection), in Orthodox churches, all believers take light from the candle of the Bishop, because he stands on the place of the image of Christ and he gives blessing and lighting to the lamps.
On Holy Saturday, believers go on liturgy to the nearest church and those who fasted, today can receive Communion, but continue fasting until midnight.
According to the Macedonian Orthodox Church, since the suffering of Christ on the cross of Calvary, each Great Saturday is filled with anticipation of the grace of His Resurrection.
The death of God has already resurrected departed righteous in Jerusalem who appeared to many, and the first that trembled before the possibility to declare that he was raised were his enemies (the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked to be killed). They requested guard by Roman soldiers to keep the body. However, as he innocently and unjustly and Divine suffered humiliation, suffering and death on the cross, he inexorably has risen. Death and hell (demons) not found a way to establish authority over HIM.
Risen Lord appeared to his disciples asHis apostles and evangelists witnessed . Long liturgical day on Great Saturday ends into the night in vigil before Easter. And Holy Fire is celebrated on the life-giving Tomb of the Lord in Jerusalem. This fire of the Holy Sepulcher is transferred to the Holy Land and illuminates all homes. On the day of the great New Testament sacrifice, the sun of righteousness - Christ is flaming up the sacred fire.
This holiday was established by a miracle at the time of the patriarch Narkisos, when in lack of oil, lamps were poured with water and lit by fire that miraculously descended from heaven during the Passover service and burned as with oil.
Ancient Christian testimonies show that eternal flame is kept at the Holy Sepulcher from the early days of Christianity. The vigil before Easter (Resurrection), in Orthodox churches, all believers take light from the candle of the Bishop, because he stands on the place of the image of Christ and he gives blessing and lighting to the lamps.
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