The Nadhrobne (also called the “Lamentations” or “Jerusalem Matins”) is a deeply moving and historically significant service within the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. This service is traditionally celebrated in some churches on Holy Saturday evening or early Sunday morning (before the Resurrectional Matins and Divine Liturgy of Pascha). Its liturgical role and symbolism serve as a bridge between the mourning of Christ’s death and burial and the joy of His Resurrection, which will soon be celebrated during the Paschal Vigil.
Nadhrobne (meaning “near the grave” or “tomb service”) is a funeral-like service held to commemorate Christ’s burial. The faithful gather to mourn the death of Christ while keeping watch by His tomb, awaiting His Resurrection.
The service offers a way to identify with the sorrow of the Virgin Mary, the Myrrh-Bearing Women, and the Apostles, who were grieving the loss of their Lord and Savior after His crucifixion.
While it is a service of mourning, the Nadhrobne is also filled with hope, as it anticipates the coming Resurrection of Christ. The prayers and hymns look forward to the victory over death that will be revealed on Easter Sunday.
This service symbolizes the Church’s wait in faith and longing for Christ to rise from the dead. The hymns are filled with both sorrow and joy, acknowledging the grave while celebrating that Christ will soon overcome it.
The Nadhrobne service is traditionally held at different times, depending on the liturgical customs of the church, but two main timings are common:
In many churches, the Nadhrobne service is held in the evening of Holy Saturday, typically after the Vespers with the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great, which is a solemn service of mourning and anticipation.
This timing is closely tied to the Church’s liturgical transition from the sorrow of Christ’s death and burial to the anticipation of His Resurrection at the Paschal Vigil.
In some parishes, Nadhrobne is celebrated before the Paschal Vigil begins, often in the early hours of Easter Sunday morning (prior to Resurrectional Matins and Divine Liturgy).
The early timing of the service symbolizes the church’s transition from the mourning of Christ’s burial to the joy of His Resurrection, creating a spiritual bridge leading into the celebration of Pascha.
This early service can feel like a final, profound moment of anticipation, where the faithful are called to reflect and pray one last time before entering into the full joy and glory of Christ’s Resurrection.
While the specific order of hymns and prayers can vary slightly between churches, the structure generally follows these key elements:
The service begins with the chanting of Psalms that express mourning, sorrow, and longing for God’s comfort.
Psalms such as Psalm 118 (which is used in funeral services) may be sung, along with other penitential psalms that evoke the sadness of Christ’s burial.
The most significant feature of the Nadhrobne service are the hymns of lamentation, often referred to as “The Lamentations” (Плачі), which include poetic verses that reflect on the descent of Christ into the tomb.
The choir sings these hymns in antiphonal style (alternating sides or groups of singers), evoking the sorrow of Christ’s death while hoping for His imminent victory.
The Lamentations express feelings of grief, mourning, and worship as the faithful mourn Christ’s death but also acknowledge His divine triumph over death.
A procession with the Shroud (Плащаниця), the representation of Christ’s body, is performed during the service. The Shroud is venerated and often placed in the center of the church on a bier, symbolizing the tomb.
The faithful bow and kiss the Shroud as they honor the body of Christ, reflecting on His suffering and death.
Prayers for the departed (for those who have died) are also included, emphasizing the theme of Christ’s victory over death. The faithful are reminded of the connection between Christ’s Resurrection and the salvation of the souls of the departed.
The service concludes with a prayer that prepares the faithful to enter into the Paschal Vigil, marking the moment of transition from mourning to joy.
The faithful leave the service with a renewed sense of anticipation for the upcoming Resurrectional Matins and Paschal Liturgy.
In Ukrainian Christian culture, the Nadhrobne service is particularly emotional and poetic. The focus on the Lamentations and the procession with the Shroud is deeply significant for Ukrainians, many of whom have deep, familial connections to the traditions of Holy Week and Pascha. The service is often observed with great reverence and respect, and the faithful are deeply moved by the connection to Christ’s Passion and the anticipation of the Resurrection.
In some areas, the Nadhrobne may also be referred to as “Jerusalem Matins”, emphasizing the connection to the early Christian practices of Jerusalem, where the faithful gathered at Christ’s tomb to mourn and await the Resurrection.
The Nadhrobne service is a sacred and reflective moment in the Holy Saturday or early Easter Sunday liturgical cycle. Whether celebrated in the evening of Holy Saturday or early on Easter morning, the service is a vigil in which the faithful mourn Christ’s burial but also anticipate His victory over death. It acts as a transition, linking the sorrow of the Cross with the joy of the Resurrection, and helping the Church move from mourning into celebration.
By participating in the Nadhrobne service, the faithful not only remember Christ’s sacrifice but also prepare themselves spiritually for the glorious triumph of Pascha—a triumph over death and sin that will be fully revealed during the Resurrectional Matins and Paschal Divine Liturgy.
