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The Right Reverend James Jones reveals the little-known story of Holy Saturday – the early Church’s dark night of the soul. And meets people who’ve experienced how it feels to lose all hope and faith – to be stuck in limbo, waiting to transition from darkness to light.

According to Church teaching, Holy Saturday is the day when Jesus rises from his tomb, visits hell and sets the tormented free. It’s also a day when his disciples fall into grief and despair, believing their friend and messiah to be dead and doubting all he has told them. Combining theology with powerful human stories, Bishop James tells the story of Holy Saturday and probes the deep psychological truths at its core.

Bishop James will speak to the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, who’s studied the story and its depiction in Eastern Orthodox iconography, and he’ll visit the National Gallery to meet with Dr Siobhan Jolley, to visualise how the day is depicted in art.

Woven through these theological explorations are encounters with two people who have experienced the doubt and despair of Holy Saturday – Margaret Aspinall whose son James was unlawfully killed at Hillsborough and Lyn Connelly whose son Paul was murdered – to reflect on the day when all that they loved and hoped for was lost.

Details of organisations that can provide support with bereavement and victims of crime are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline

Photo Credit: Juan de Flanders, Christ appearing to the Virgin with the Redeemed of the Old Testament © The National Gallery, London

With thanks to: The Right Reverend James Jones, Rowan Williams, Dr Siobhan Jolley, Margaret Aspinall, Lyn Connolly, Fr. Peter Scally and Canon Rachel Mann.

Technical Producer: Philip Halliwell
Production Co-Ordinator: Pete Liggins
Producer: Alexa Good
Editor: Helen Grady