The Easter Vigil, also called the Great Vigil of Easter, is a service held in many Christian churches as the official celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus. Historically, this is the preferred service for people to be baptized. It is held on the night of Holy Saturday. In the Roman Catholic Church, the Easter Vigil includes the first use of the word alleluia since the beginning of Lent and is the most important Mass of the liturgical year as well as the first Eucharist of Easter. In Eastern Orthodoxy its Divine Liturgy is held to be the brightest of all of them and is reflected to a degree in all the others. The Easter Vigil has gained similar regard in many of the churches of the Anglican Communion.

Roman Catholicism

In the Roman Catholic tradition the service normally consists of four parts:

1. The Service of Light
2. The Liturgy of the Word
3. Christian Initiation, or the Renewal of Baptismal Vows
4. The Holy Eucharist

Most parishes do not begin the service until after sundown on Holy Saturday. The service begins in the darkness, often in a place other the main sanctuary, such as a side chapel, or perhaps outside. A

Once the procession concludes, the deacon chants the Exultet, and the people take their seats for the Liturgy of the Word, which consists of between two and ten readings from the Hebrew Scriptures, detailing the history of the People of God. After these readings conclude, the Gloria in Excelsis Deo is sung for the first time since the beginning of Lent. The congregation's candles are extinguished, the church lights are turned on, and bells are often rung. A reading from the Epistle to the Romans is proclaimed. The Alleluia is sung, the Gospel follows, along with a homily.

After the conclusion of the Liturgy of the Word, any catechumens or candidates for full communion are initated into the church, by baptism and confirmation, respectively. After the baptisms, while the newly baptised are being clothed in white baptismal garments, the congregation renews their baptismal vows. Then all adults baptised at the Easter Vigil, and all adult candidates for full communion are confirmed by the

Following the confirmations, the Liturgy of the Eucharist continues as usual.

Anglican Communion

Although the Easter Vigil is not universal in the Anglican Communion, its use has become far more common in recent decades. Formerly it was only common in parishes in the Anglo-Catholic tradition.

The service follows more or less the same form as in the Roman Catholic Church. The current version of the Book of Common Prayer used by the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, for example, begins the service similarly to the description of the Roman Catholic service above, with some differences in names and custom. For example, the lessons from the Hebrew Scriptures number between three and nine.

The traditions differ mainly in that the service of baptism is held immediately after the reading of the lessons. Traditionally, adults who have not yet been baptised are baptised at this service, although children may be as well. Confirmations occur only when the bishop is present, because, in the Anglican tradition, only a bishop may administer confirmation.

After the service of baptism, the celebrant announces the ancient Easter acclamation "Alleluia! Christ is risen!" to which the people respond "The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!" The Gloria in Excelsis, Te Deum or Pascha Nostrum is then sung.

The service of the Holy Eucharist then continues as usual.

Eastern Orthodoxy

In the Eastern Orthodox Church the service runs as follows with some minor local variations:

1. The Midnight Office is served on Holy Saturday shortly before midnight.
2. All the lights in the church are extinguished. A new fire is struck in the altar and distributed to the people. All the clergy and the people exit the church and process three times around it while singing a hymn.
3. Before the front doors of the church, ideally at the stroke of midnight, the chief celebrant gives the exclamation for the beginning of Matins. The clergy followed by the people sing the Paschal troparion and the Paschal greeting "Christ is risen!" "Truly He is risen!" is exchanged for the first time. To the singing of the troparion, everyone enters the church.
4. The rest of Matins is celebrated according to special Paschal rubrics.
5. The Paschal Hours are sung.
6. The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom is celebrated as usual, but with special features in commemoration of the feast.

The candles lit near the beginning are held by the people throughout the entire service, just as is done by the newly baptized. At some convenient moment, normally following Matins, the Easter Homily of St. John Chrysostom is proclaimed. Following the dismissal of the Divine Liturgy blessed eggs dyed red are usually distributed to the people for the breaking of the fast, and baskets of food for the feast that follows are blessed with holy water. The service is generally finished by about 3:00 A.M.