Santa Rosa Pascha vigil a spectacle of color and light

The faithful of all ages and nationalities gathered together shortly before midnight on April 11 to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ at St. Seraphim of Sarov Orthodox Church in Santa Rosa. Along with Orthodox Christians throughout the world, they settled in for three hours of worship, spreading “the light that shines in the darkness” with incense, pagentry, song, sermon and, in some cases, sleep.

Celebrants ranged from the infants who slumbered on their parents’ shoulders to the church’s 102-year-old member, with a special place for weary children to curl up on the floor. The Pascha, or traditional Orthodox Easter vigil, began in the darkness.

“I light a candle on the altar and hold it out to them,” said Father Lawrence Margitich, who led the service. People in front reached forward to light their candles, and the newly made flame spread throughout the room. Then about 320 worshipers settled in for a feast of the senses as the warm room was filled with glow of swaying chandeliers, the smell of sweet incense and the echoing notes of joyous hymns. At about 2:30 a.m., the penitent moved to the church hall for a feast to end the Lenten fast.

“People bring Pascha baskets filled with the foods we have been without for 40 days,” Father Lawrence said. This night they brought traditional meats and cheeses and wine, some Russian dishes and a new American tradition, donuts.