Holy Saturday is a day which brings both of joy and sadness for Christians with the close of the seasons of Lent and penance, and the beginning of paschal time. Holy Saturday celebrations in Malta reach their apex on Saturday evening with celebrations of the Easter Vigil held in various churches. In St. John Co-Cathedral, Valletta liturgical celebrations are being led by Archbishop Mgr. Pawl Cremona.
The celebrations of Easter Vigil typically inculde the Blessing of the New Fire, the Liturgy of the Word, the Liturgy of Baptism and the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
On Friday Christians commemorated the crucifixion of Jesus at Calvary. In Malta special Good Friday processions were held and re-enactments of the Crucifixion took place. Archbishop Mgr. Pawl Cremona led the solemn celebration of the Lord’s Passion.
On Holy Saturday, at 20:00CET, the Archbishop will lead the celebration of the Easter Vigil. The celebration will commence with the Blessing of the New Fire and will include the Liturgy of the Word, the Liturgy of Baptism and the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
On Easter Sunday, at 09:15CET, the Archbishop will celebrate together with the Cathedral Chapter the Easter Sunday Stational Mass and at the end imparts the Apostolic Blessing with the Plenary Indulgence.
During the Holy Week and Easter period all the offices of the Archbishop's Curia in Floriana and those of the Ecclesiastical Tribunal in Valletta will be closed from Wednesday, 19 March 2008 and will open again for the general public on Friday, 28 March 2008.
See also MaltaMedia's special feature: Holy Week and Easter in Malta and Gozo.
Also this Easter, MaltaMedia once again launched a set of free e-cards with best wishes for Easter 2008 depicting the traditional aspect of the Holy Week in the Maltese Islands as well as secular themes. So, wish your loved ones a Happy Easter, by sending one of our Easter cards.
