What is the Easter Vigil?
Quick answer
The Easter Vigil is the ancient nighttime worship that bridges Holy Saturday into Easter Sunday — beginning in darkness, lighting the Paschal candle, reading the great story of salvation, and bursting into Easter joy at the first hour of resurrection day.
It is one of the oldest Christian liturgies — celebrated by Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Lutheran, and other liturgical churches.
Often the night includes baptisms — new believers enter the family on the night of resurrection.
For Christians who keep it, the Easter Vigil is the most moving worship of the year: passing from darkness to light, death to life, exile to home.
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Original BibleDawn answer · reviewed 2026-06. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy.