Tonight, we are blessed to hear once again that most beloved hymn of Holy Week that begins: Κύριε, ἡ ἐν πολλαῖς ἁμαρτίαις περιπεσοῦσα Γυνή…
Having completed the soul-profiting Lent and venerated the Lord’s Passion and Cross, behold today we are rendered participants of His glorious Resurrection, radiant through the feast and crying out with ineffable joy the world-saving announcement: “Christ is Risen!”
Great and Holy Pascha
Mary Magdalene, and the other women who were present at the burial of our Saviour on Friday evening, returned from Golgotha to the city and prepared fragrant spices and myrrh, so that they might anoint the body of Jesus. On the morrow, because of the law which forbids work on the day of the Sabbath, they rested for the whole day. But at early dawn on the Sunday that followed, almost thirty-six hours since the death of the Life-giving Redeemer, they came to the sepulchre with the spices to anoint His body. While they were considering the difficulty of rolling away the stone from the door of the sepulchre, there was a fearful earthquake; and an Angel, whose countenance shone like lightning and whose garment was white as snow, rolled away the stone and sat upon it. The guards that were there became as dead from fear and took to flight. The women, however, went into the sepulchre, but did not find the Lord's body. Instead, they saw two other Angels in the form of youths clothed in white, who told them that the Saviour was risen, and they sent forth the women, who ran to proclaim to the disciples these gladsome tidings. Then Peter and John arrived, having learned from Mary Magdalene what had come to pass, and when they entered the tomb, they found only the winding sheets. Therefore, they returned again to the city with joy, as heralds now of the supernatural Resurrection of Christ, Who in truth was seen alive by the disciples on this day on five occasions.
Our Lord, then, was crucified, died, and was buried on Friday, before the setting of the sun, which was the first of His "three days" in the grave; observing the mystical Sabbath, that "seventh day" in which it is said that the Lord "rested from all His works" (Gen. 2:2-3), He passed all of Saturday in the grave; and He arose "while it was yet dark, very early in the morning" on Sunday, the third day, which, according to the Hebrew reckoning, began after sunset on Saturday.
As we celebrate today this joyous Resurrection, we greet and embrace one another in Christ, thereby demonstrating our Saviour's victory over death and corruption, and the destruction of our ancient enmity with God, and His reconciliation toward us, and our inheritance of life everlasting. The feast itself is called Pascha, which is derived from the Hebrew word which means "passover"; because Christ, Who suffered and arose, has made us to pass over from the curse of Adam and slavery to the devil and death unto our primal freedom and blessedness. In addition, this day of this particular week, which is the first of all the rest, is dedicated to the honour of the Lord; in honour and remembrance of the Resurrection, the Apostles transferred to this day the rest from labour that was formerly assigned to the Sabbath of the ancient Law.
All foods allowed during Renewal Week.
“As many of you know, I had an unexpected visit to the hospital last week. Yesterday, by God’s Grace and with the help of a team of tireless physicians and medical workers, I was discharged. I am currently following doctor’s rest orders and I plan to steadily resume my day-to-day responsibilities.
What this Episode is About: Pascha is the start of a new liturgical year in the Church, with new readings from the Acts of the Apostles and the Gospel according to John. It also shows us what it means to be made new in Christ: to find new (and true) life in connection with our Lord. The Gospel and Epistle readings present St John the Forerunner and the first Christians as beautiful examples of what this new life looks like.
On this week's episode of "Live with the Louhs," a radio ministry of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, hosts Fr. Nicholas and his wife, Dr. Roxanne, a Clinical Psychologist, discuss your questions on a special show called, "Ask The Louhs."
To observe the global celebration of Earth Day, which was first held in 1970, the Department of Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical, and Interfaith Relations welcomes its newest addition to the Greening the Parish initiative: The How-to Video Series. Beginning on Earth Day, the Department will be releasing weekly new videos featuring ideas and ways to introduce creation care and sustainability in your parish and home.
With the blessings of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, His Grace Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos, Hierarchal Proistamenos of the St. Photios National Shrine, will be visiting parishes of the Direct Archdiocesan District and the Metropolis of New Jersey during Holy Week.
In commemoration of the bicentennial of the Greek Revolution, the Department of Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical, and Interfaith Relations is hosting a one-hour webinar on “The Place and Role of the Greek Revolution in Today’s Greek Identity.”
Fr Alex Goussetis speaks with Fr Leonard Herrem, a marriage & family therapist and parish priest, on the challenges and opportunities presented by Covid on relationships.