We Are God's Children Through His Resurrection

Imagine what a great event has taken place. Humankind once enjoyed the ideal place to live but lost it and became subject to the passions of a physical life where death always looms in our mind. Losing a perfect life in Paradise humans became self-centered and sinful unable to fulfill the ideals God planned for them. We are all made in His image and called to love our neighbor as we love ourselves and to love God with our whole heart and soul. But fearful of death and sinful, we struggle to fulfill this ideal. We may appear rich on the outside, we have a large house, fine clothes, a beautiful automobile, but on the inside our souls are unclean.

After a long period of time from the event of our creation, and after many attempts to prod us to reclaim our place in Paradise, a great day came. A king came, not an earthly king, but the true king of the universe, He who created all we know out of nothing and Who directs the universe. This king we lovingly know a Jesus Christ.

Christ is the king who saw our unclean state of our soul and our suffering and self-centered way of life. He had compassion for His creation and cleansed us with His priceless blood He shed for us on the Cross and clothed us anew with the robe of resurrection, and made us His children.

A good child is one who loves his parents and who obeys their instruction. A good parent loves and cares for His children. Christ and His Father, who is our father, are the perfect parents and want to raise us as their perfect children. In this way, God is glorified.

When Christ was resurrected after His cruel crucifixion we were raised from darkness to light and from a miserable state to paradise. Here is how Holy Scripture describes th effect of His Crucifixion and Resurrection: "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe" (John 1:12).

Christ seeks all of us. He does not want to discriminate. When we believe in Christ and are baptized we become true children of God. We are transformed and protected by His grace. We are nurtured in His Church as we strive to become like Him, to become good children and glorify His name. This is a path that is open to everyone no matter what their nationality, no matter what time they live, no matter what their language, nor their sex. All can become His adopted children.

With the Resurrection and our faith we become a Child of God! We no longer have the fear of death which most people in the world fear. Knowing the future of our resurrection if we follow Him, death offers no fear. Christ has conquered death by His death and Resurrection. We have become a blessed child of God. Now, we too can have eternal life with Him and return to Paradise.

Let's give thanks for this great blessing that has been given to us through His death on the Cross and His glorious Resurrection. We worship and we glorify Him now and forever unto the ages of ages.

Christ is Risen! Truly He has Risen!

How Did Tradition of Dyed Red Eggs Begin?

Mary Magdalene’s trip to Rome

Shortly after the ascension of our Lord and after the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, Mary Magdalene received the strong desire to go to Rome to expose the unjust actions of the Governor Pilate and the High Priests Annas and Caiphas. She obtained permission from the Theotokos and booked a sailing vessel for Rome. Once in Rome she went immediately to the palace of Caesar. There she was initially refused but as she was about to depart up came a high ranking official Puplius who was very familiar with the situation. He showed her a letter that he wrote to the Caesar. In part it read, “ The truth be told, there are some astonishing things concerning this Christ. Miracles abound: He raises the dead and heals the sick with but a word. He is a man of average height, handsome of countenance with an air of majesty. Those that encounter him are enjoined either to love him or fear him. His hair is the color of walnut, which extends to his shoulders and glistens. He belongs to the group known as Nazarenes. His forehead is smooth and calm. His face is without wrinkles or blemishes. His nose and lips are regular. His beard is dense and the same color as his hair. It is not long, but it separates in two at the middle. He has a serious look that can excite fear. He possesses a power like a ray of the sun...His manner of addressing is pleasing. His mother is also a beautiful woman, the most beautiful I might add, so that some say she looks like a goddess…. He often walks barefooted and without a head covering. Some laugh at him, while others tremble in his presence from their astonishment. He never preaches anything to promote himself in the world...this Christ has never urged anyone to do anything displeasing, but rather he exhorts the people to perform good deeds…"

His knowledge of the situation led Mary to tears. He told her that Caesar had received his letter and that even Caesar respected Jesus.

After hearing Mary’s plea for justice in this matter Puplius committed to have Caesar to issue an oder to call Pilate, Annas and Caiaphas to Rome for a trial. He asked her to give him two months to recall them. Mary thanked him and took up residence in Rome establishing the first house church there where they gathered almost every night praying and discoursing.

Three months after her first arrival the trial was set to begin. It was known that Caesar was incensed with the three who had been recalled because they killed a wonderful man who worked many miracles to benefit the people. As the trial began “Mary appeared marvelous as she walked in the midst of the court toward the autocrat. She was clad in a brown tunic, with a leather belt. She wore a long orange-colored veil the inner kerchief was a deep orange. Her whole appearance created a marvelous impression.”

“Orthodox tradition and iconography also maintains that when Saint Mary appeared before tiberius Caesar Augustus, she presented him with an egg dyed red, greeting him with the words: “Christ is risen! This is a custom that has since spread among Orthodox Christians throughout the world. The prayer read at the blessing of the eggs says near the end, “Thus have we received from the holy fathers, who preserved this custom from the very time of the holy apostles; therefore the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Mary Magdalene first showed believers the example of this joyful offering.”

The trial proceeded and Mary clearly explained how Pilate had conducted the trial in Jerusalem against Jesus Christ.. On hearing the case Caesar said “Those who are guilty will be punished.” Caesar asked for advice from his counsel Claudius who confirmed that he (Pilate ) “acted not only in an irregular manner but even unlawfully by condemning to death this man whom he found no reason in our penal code that deserved death.”

Mary then gave further testimony about the tortures that took place. She said, “When they arrested my Teacher in the garden on the mount of Olives, they brought him bound to Annas, and then to Caiaphas, .. they thrashed Jesus pitilessly and inhumanely throughout His holy body. They brought him to the Praetorium, to the Roman GOvernor Pilate…” She continued, “The instruments of torture, O Caesar, they used to scourge my Teacher was a bullwhip, rods with knots, and ropes with iron stars and hooks positioned at a short distance from each other. These lacerated His flesh to the bones. Sixty soldiers struck again and again. The virginal and noble flesh of the God-Man was shred to pieces….when they saw his bones and blood running like a river from His veins, they were rejoicing and laughing among themselves with inexplicable satisfaction…. the executioners were as dogs, and bulls, and tigers, and wild animals. ”And she went describing the horrible treatment He had received. As she finished, the crowd at the trial began to chant: “Death! Death to the god-slayers! Death!”

Caiaphas never made it to the trial as he died on the trip to Rome. Tiberius Caesar sentenced Annas to a tortuous death and imprisoned Pilate who was eventually killed. Mary Magdalene remained in Rome for several years until the death of Pilate. She then returned to Jerusalem after having established an energetic church in Rome.

Source: Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church - July pp 945-968
Download complete excerpt from The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church (pdf)

Be a Partaker of the Resurrection

Leo the Great of Rome  reminds us that we must all become partakers in Christ's Resurrection life.

“We must strive to be found partakers also of Christ's Resurrection, and 'pass from death unto life' while we are in this body. We must die, therefore, to the devil and live to God: we must perish to iniquity that we may rise to righteousness. . . . As we have borne the image of the earthy, so let us also bear the image of Him Who is from heaven, we must greatly rejoice over this change, whereby we are translated from earthly degradation to heavenly dignity through His unspeakable mercy, Who descended into our estate that He might promote us to His.” Thus has Christ fulfilled Adam’s quest for restoration.

St. Leo continues: 

“Let God's people then recognize that they are a new creation in Christ, and with all vigilance understand by Whom they have been adopted and Whom they have adopted. These thoughts, dearly beloved, must be kept in mind not only for the Paschal festival, but also for the sanctification of the whole life... so that rising ever anew from all downfalls, we may deserve to attain to the incorruptible Resurrection of our glorified flesh in Christ Jesus our Lord. . .”.

This day’s celebration of the Resurrection must be a daily celebration for those who put their hope in God. This hope gives us joy in our daily lives. Our daily lives lead us to eternal life. Eternal life is bestowed on us by him who said: “I am now going to open your graves and raise you from your graves, my people. And I shall put My spirit in you, and you will live...it is the Lord God who speaks.” Amen!

(Homily 71: On the Lord's Resurrection, Great and Holy Saturday) 

Christos Anesti - Christ is risen!

Christos Anesti - Greek Chant
Christos Anesti - Irene Papas & Vangelis
"Christos Anesti (Resurrection)" performed by Vangelis and sung by actress Irene Papas. Released as part of the 1986 Vangelis CD "Rapsodies".

Christ, the central figure of the icon, is robed in white to show His divinity. The aureole (elongated halo) around Him also symbolizes this brilliant Light. At His feet are the demolished gates of Hades (in some icons these gates are the coffin lids of Adam and Eve and are depicted as a Cross on which Christ stands), with their broken keys and locks. Christ holds the hands of Adam (Heb: man) and Eve (Heb. Life), depicted to his right and left, as he pulls them from their tombs. Adam is in old man, recalled to his primordial innocence; Eve is also depicted as elderly, and is set free from her sin in Eden by the Incarnation. Behind Christ are aligned the Righteous of the Old Testament (to the left, including Solomon and David) and the New Testament (to the right, including John the Baptist and Joseph the Guardian).

The aureole depicts that this icon is a dogmatic icon. There were no eyewitnesses to the resurrection. The only “proof” as such was an empty tomb. How one sees the tomb depends on more than the brute physical fact. Some said, “They stole His body.” Others said, “He is Risen.” How one sees the tomb in other words depends on more, in our case the encounter with the Risen Christ — just as the Apostles experienced and testify to us.
Source: http://www.aoiusa.org/blog/2009/04/christos-anesti-greek-chant/

THE PASCHAL HOURS

THE PASCHAL HOURS

From the Holy and Great Sunday of Pascha until the Saturday of Renewal Week, in place of the usual Morning and Evening Prayers, Nocturns, the Hours, Compline, and the Prayers of Thanksgiving after Holy Communion, the following is read:

After the exclamation by the priest, we say:

Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life! (3)

Having beheld the Resurrection of Christ, let us worship the Holy Lord Jesus, the only sinless one. We venerate Thy Cross, O Christ, and we praise and glorify Thy Holy Resurrection, for Thou art our God, and we know no other than Thee: we call on Thy name. Come, all you faithful, let us venerate Christ's holy Resurrection, for behold, through the Cross joy has come into all the world. Let us ever bless the Lord, praising His Resurrection, for by enduring the Cross for us, He has destroyed death by death. (3)

Before the dawn, Mary and the women came and found the stone rolled away from the tomb. They heard the angelic voice: Why do you seek among the dead, as a man, the One who is everlasting Light? Behold the clothes in the grave! Go and proclaim to the world: the Lord is risen! He has slain death, as He is the Son of God, saving the race of man.

O Christ our God, though Thou didst descend into the grave, yet didst Thou overthrow the power of Hades, and rise as an immortal conqueror: Thou didst greet with joy the myrrh-bearing women, and to Thine Apostles hast sent Thy peace, and to the fallen, O Lord, didst bring resurrection.

In the grave bodily; in Hades with Thy soul, though Thou wast God; in Paradise with the thief; and on the Throne with the Father and the Spirit wast Thou who fillest all things, O Christ the Uncircumscribable.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

How life-giving, how much more beautiful than paradise, and truly more resplendent than any royal palace proved Thy grave, the source of our resurrection, O Christ.

Both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Rejoice, O sanctified and divine tabernacle of the Most High; for through Thee, O Theotokos, joy is given to them that cry: Blessed art thou among women, O allimmaculate Lady.

Lord, have mercy. (40)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, thou who without corruption gave birth to God the Word, the very Theotokos thee do we magnify.

At Compline we also say this prayer; otherwise, we proceed with Christ is risen... as set forth below.

A Compline Prayer of St. Basil the Great

Blessed art Thou, 0 Almighty Master, Who hast enlightened the day with the light of the sun and hast illumined the night by the rays of fire, Who hast deemed us worthy to pass through the length of the day and draw nigh to the beginning of the night. Hearken unto Our supplication, and that of all Thy people. Forgive all of us our sins, voluntary and involuntary, accept our evening entreaties, and send down the multitude of Thy mercy and compassions upon Thine inheritance. Encompass us with Thy holy Angels; arm us with the armour of Thy righteousness; surround us with Thy truth; protect us by Thy might; deliver us from every grievous circumstance and from every conspiracy of the adversary. And grant unto us that this evening together with the coming night and all the days of our life may be perfect, holy, peaceful, sinless, without stumbling and vain imaginings; by the intercessions of the holy Theotokos and of all the Saints who, from ages past, have been well-pleasing unto Thee. Amen.

And likewise again: Christ is risen ... (3).

Glory; both now. Lord, have mercy. (3)

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us.

Know that from the Holy and Great Sunday of Pascha until the Feast of Pentecost, the introductory prayers, Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee. Heavenly King, O Comforter … are not said.

And from the Holy and Great Sunday of Pascha until the giving up of Pascha on the eve of the Feast of the Ascension, in place of Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal … and a come, let us worship … we say, Christ is risen from the dead … (3).

Source: http://holycrossonline.org/daily_bread/daily_prayers/paschal_hours/

Holy Fire

An excellent video in Greek with english subtitles.