On Holy Saturday, we venerate the symbolic Burial Shroud (in Greek: Epitaphion, in Slavonic, Plashchanitsa) of Christ in the center of the Church. The Matins service takes place traditionally at 1:00 am on Saturday, but in most churches today it is celebrated Friday evening.
Bishop Alexander (Mileant)
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And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, "My God, my God, why has Thou forsaken Me?" The word "God" in Aramaic is pronounced "Eloi" or "Eli," as written by the Evangelists. This cry was the expression of the God-man’s deepest sorrow. In order for the sacrifice for salvation to occur, it was necessary that the God-man drink the full cup of human suffering.
Fr. Peter Orfanakos
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On Thursday evening, the Matins service of Holy Friday is served. This service is also called the Service of the Twelve Gospels, because there are twelve Gospel passages relating to the Lord’s passion and crucifixion.
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The central event in the history of mankind is the coming into the world of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the most important deed—His voluntary suffering and death on the cross, culminating in the glorious Resurrection from the dead.
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On Holy Friday, we recall Christ’s crucifixion with the Service of the Twelve Gospels. At this service the priest reads the twelve Gospels describing Christ’s Passion and Crucifixion, intertwined with other elements of the Matins service.