The Easter weekend is upon us and this evening, the Holy Easter Vigil will be taking place in churches across Gozo.

Easter is known as the greatest feast in the Christian calendar since it commemorates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, a festival celebrating the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the programme of events that have been taking place during Holy Week across the island includes various religious and traditional activities, such as processions, pageants, exhibitions and folklore.

Today, Holy Saturday, the parishes of Gozo, as in Malta, will this evening gather the faithful in their churches for a solemn religious service and the traditional rituals of the blessing of water and fire.

The church lights will be turned off, and each of the congregation will then light a candle from the Pascal Candle, resulting in the whole church being bathed in the glow of flickering candles

Bells will ring out across the island and the scriptures are read and sermons delivered before the celebrant blesses the Holy Water that is used for baptisms and the whole congregation confirms their faith by reciting the baptismal vows.

Following the service the congregation may linger for a while in the church for a drink, or to take a piece of the traditional Figolla (Maltese almond Easter cake).

Celebrations will be both seen and heard on Easter Sunday, which is welcomed with bells ringing out across the islands, a traditional march with the statue of the Risen Christ will take place in some parishes following the service.

These marches are usually accompanied by local bands and their popularity has remained undimmed through several centuries.

Easter Sunday Gozo processions of the Risen Christ are as follows:

St George’s Basilica, Victoria at 8.45am

Nadur at 9.15am

Xewkija at 9.30am

Cathedral, Victoria at 11.00am

Fontana at 11.00am

Qala at 11.00am

Zebbug at 5.00pm

Gharb at 6.00pm

Xaghra at 6.00pm

Kercem at 6.45pm

File photo: Gozo News/Alain Salvary

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