On the Saturday after the crucifixion, the chief priests and Pharisees came to Pilate to ask him to set a guard at the tomb of Christ. They did this because they were afraid that one of Christ’s disciples would steal His Body, and thus the people would believe that Jesus had risen, as He had announced, “After three days I will rise” (Matt. 27:63). “Pilate said to them, ‘You have a guard; go and make it as secure as you know how.’ So they went and made the tomb secure with a guard and sealed the stone” (Matt. 27:65-66). On Holy Saturday, with his body in the tomb and his soul in Hades, Christ broke down the gates of hell. Death, which until then had ruled over departed souls, fled from the Savior. Then the Lord brought the souls of the righteous from hell into the heavenly abodes.

Saint Mark the Confessor. Venerable John the Hermit. Saint Eustathius the Confessor, Bishop of Bithynia. Holy Martyrs Jonah, Barachisius and those with them. Easter Lent.