All Saints Vernon

The Great Vigil of Easter is held in the evening of Holy Saturday. Ancient tradition treats sundown as the beginning of the next day, which makes the Vigil the first formal Easter service.

Our Vigil is a liturgical service that is about an hour and a quarter in length. It begins in darkness with the lighting of the New Fire, from which the Paschal Candle is lit. The Paschal Candle is then formally processed into the church, accompanied by traditional chants, as the handheld candles of the congregation are lit. A chanted prayer follows by candlelight, and then there are a number of scripture readings that recount the Biblical history of salvation (at a certain point in that process the lights are turned on and the handheld candles extinguished). After the scripture passages are concluded we renew our baptismal promises together and the congregation is sprinkled with blessed water. The service concludes with the Eucharist.

This evocative service, with its candles, chants, and rich liturgical traditions, is a highlight of the church year.