SAINT LUKE THE EVANGELIST GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH april 16, 2017

HOLY AND GREAT PASCHA the life-bearing resurrection of our lord, god and savior jesus christ

e call the present Feast ‘Pascha’, which in Hebrew means ‘Passing Over’; for this is the day on which WGod from the beginning brought the world out of nonexistence. On this same day he also made the people of Israel pass over the Red Sea and snatched them from the hands of Pharaoh. Again it was on this day that he came down from heaven and dwelt in the womb of the Virgin. And now he has snatched the whole of humanity from the vaults of Hell and made it pass upwards to heaven and brought it to its ancient dignity of incorruption. But when he descended into Hell he did raise all, but as many as believed in him were chosen. He freed the souls of the Saints since time began who were forcibly held fast by Hell and made them all ascend to heaven. And so we, rejoicing exceedingly, celebrate the Resurrection with splen- dor as we image joy with which our nature has been enriched by God’s compassionate mercy. Likewise, to demonstrate the abolition of the enmity and the union with God and the Angels, we give one another the customary kiss. The Lord’s Resurrection took place as follows. While the soldiers were guarding the tomb, at around midnight there was an earthquake, for and Angel came down and took the stone from the door of the grave. The guards on seeing this fled and then came the arrival of the Women, late on the Sabbath, that is around midnight on the Sabbath. The Resurrection was known first to the Mother of God, who was sit- ting, as St Matthew says, opposite the tomb with the Magdalene. But that there might be no doubt of the Resurrection, because of its appropriateness to his Mother, the Evangelists say, ‘He appeared first to Mary Magdalene.’ She also saw the Angel on the stone and leaning down again she saw the ones inside the grave, who proclaimed the Lord’s Resurrection. ‘For, they said, he has risen. He is not here. See the place where they laid him’. On hearing this she ran and came to the leaders of the Apostles, Peter and John, and brought them the good news of the Resurrection. As she was returning with Mary Christ met them and said ‘Re- joice!’; for it was necessary that the sex which had first heard, ‘In pains you will bear children’ should be the first to hear also of the joy. But they, overcome with longing, came forward and touched his most pure feet,

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apolytikion of the feast. Mode 5. Ἀπολυτίκιον της εορτης. Ἦχος πλ. α. hrist is risen from the dead, by death he has tram- ριστὸς ἀνέστη ἐκ νεκρῶν, θανάτῳ θάνατον Cpled down upon death, and on those in the tombs Χπατήσας, καὶ τοῖς ἐν τοῖς μνήμασι, ζωὴν He is bestowing life. χαρισάμενος. apolytikion of the feast. Mode 4. Ἀπολυτίκιον της εορτης. Ἦχος δ. hen the women with Mary had come before ρολαβοῦσαι τὸν ὄρθρον αἱ περὶ Μαριάμ, Wdawn and they found that the stone had been Πκαὶ εὑροῦσαι τὸν λίθον ἀποκυλισθέντα rolled away from the sepulcher they heard from the τοῦ μνήματος, ἤκουον ἐκ τοῦ Ἀγγέλου, τὸν ἐν Angel, ‘Why do you seek among the dead as a mor- φωτὶ ἀϊδίῳ ὑπάρχοντα, μετὰ νεκρῶν τί ζητεῖτε tal man the One who exists in everlasting light. See ὡς ἄνθρωπον; βλέπετε τὰ ἐντάφια σπάργανα, the grace clothes in the sepulcher, run and proclaim δράμετε, καὶ τῷ κόσμῳ κηρύξατε, ὡς ἠγέρθη ὁ to the world that the Lord has risen and put death to Κύριος, θανατώσας τὸν θάνατον, ὅτι ὑπάρχει Θεοῦ death for He is the Son of God who saves the human Υἱός, τοῦ σῴζοντος τὸ γένος τῶν ἀνθρώπων. race.’ Kontakion. Mode 8. Κοντάκιον. Ἦχος ΠΛ δ´. hough You went down into the tomb O Immortal ἰ καὶ ἐν τάφῳ κατῆλθες ἀθάνατε, ἀλλὰ τοῦ ᾍδου TOne yet You brought down the dominion of Ha- Εκαθεῖλες τὴν δύναμιν, καὶ ἀνέστης ὡς νικητής, des and You rose as the victor O Christ our God and Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, γυναιξὶ μυροφόροις φθεγξάμενος, You called out ‘Rejoice,’ to the Myrrh-bearing women Χαίρετε, καὶ τοῖς σοῖς Ἀποστόλοις εἰρήνην and gave peace to Your Apostles O Lord who to the δωρούμενος ὁ τοῖς πεσοῦσι παρέχων ἀνάστασιν. fallen grant resurrection.

instead of holy god… hine, shine O New Jerusalem for the glory of s many of you as were baptized into Christ, have Sthe Lord has risen upon you; dance now and Aput on Christ, alleluia. be glad Zion and do you exult O pure Theotokos in the arising of Him Whom you did bear. σοι εἰς Χριστὸν ἐβαπτίσθητε, Χριστὸν ἐνεδύσασθε, communion hymn. TONe 1. ὍἈλληλούϊα. eceive the Body of Christ, taste the immortal Ósee ees Kreestón evap-teé-sthee-teh, Kreestón en- Rfount. etheé-sas-theh Allelúia. instead of: instead of it is αχιον εστιν… ‘we have seen the true light,’ & The angel cried to her who is full of grace: O pure Vir- ‘blessed be the name of the lord,’ gin rejoice, and again, I say: Rejoice; for your Son has hrist is risen from the dead… risen from the dead on the third day. C THE READINGS OF THE DAY

epistle reading gospel reading Acts of the Apostles 1:1-8 John 1:1-17

e first book I wrote, Theophilus, dealt with all n the beginning was the Word, and the Word was that Jesus did and taught from the beginning, with God, and the Word was God. This one was Tuntil the day in which he was taken up, after Iin the beginning with God. All things came into giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the being through him, and without him, nothing came apostles whom he had chosen. After he suffered, into being that has come into being. In him was life, he also presented himself alive to them by many life that was the light of mankind. The light shines proofs,1 appearing to them over a period of forty in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome days, and speaking about God’s Kingdom. Being it. There came a man, sent from God, whose name assembled together with them, he commanded was John. John came as a witness, to bear witness to them, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the the light, so that all might believe through him. He promise of the Father, which you heard from me. was not the light, but [he was sent] to bear witness Indeed, John baptized in water, but not many days to the light. The true light who enlightens everyone from now, you will be baptized in the Holy Spir- was coming into the world. He was in the world, it.” Therefore, when they had come together, they and the world had come into existence through asked him, “Lord, are you now restoring the king- him, and the world did not recognize him. He came dom to Israel?” Jesus told them, “It is not for you to his own [people], and those who were his own to know the times or seasons which the Father has did not receive him. But as many as received him, set by his own authority. However, you will receive to them he gave the ability to become God’s chil- power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, dren, to those who believe in his Name. They were and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” of the will of man, but of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We beheld his glory, glory as a Father’s uniquely-begotten son, Now our Lord permitted the deaf full of grace and truth. John testified about him; to hear up to the time he was cruci- he cried out, saying, “This was the one of whom fied, so that when He was crucified, I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me all ears would hear and believe in His because he was before me.’” And from his fullness, “resurrection. His truth first came to we have all received grace upon grace. For the law our hearing by the mouths of deaf- was given through Moses, [but] grace and truth mutes which were opened, so that our came through Jesus Christ. hearing would not be in doubt about the proclamation of the account of His Resurrection. —st. ephrem the syrian” announcements Saturday, January 25, Great Vespers, 5pm

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen! Χριστὸς ἀνέστη! Ἀληθῶς ἀνέστη! upcoming church services: Holy Pascha, April 16, Agape Vespers, 3pm Bright Monday, April 17, Divine Liturgy, Orthros / Div. Liturgy, 9am Bright Friday - The Lifegiving Fountain, April 21, Orthros / Div. Liturgy, 9am Bright Saturday, April 22, Great Vespers, 5pm

pascha flowers God became a human person in or- We are still accepting donations for Pascha flow- der to destroy death and sin and to ers. Please place your donation in the designated box in the Narthex. To those who have already defeat the devil. Christ assumed a given, please accept our sincere thanks for your mortal body, one that was subject to “suffering, in order to overcome death generosity! paschal potluck in His own body. Through His cruci- fixion and resurrection, He defeated Please plan to join us tomorrow for a lamb din- death and gave us the opportunity ner and potluck after the Agape Vespers (3pm). to be united with Him, to overcome Please bring a favorite dish to share. There will also death ourselves in our own life. So af- be an egg hunt for children up to age 12. ter the incarnation of God the Word, pascha bread death changes for Christians, both as If you ordered Pascha Bread, please see Georgia to regards name and orientation: it is pick it up. no longer called death, but dormition give a month towards our future and it becomes a bridge towards life Help offset our additional mortgage payment with eternal. The faithful cross over ‘from a donation of $640. If you would like to sponsor death to life’ (Jn. 5, 24). one month for 2017, please contact Fr. Michael. —Archimandrite Ephraim, Abbot of Vatopaidi Monastery” synaxarion or more accurately, wanted to. The Apostles came When these events had taken place, some of the to the tomb and Peter, having simply leaned down watch came and told the Chief Priests what had near the tomb, went away, but John and in and in- happened. The latter, bribing them with money, spected more closely, and touched both the shroud persuaded them to declare that his disciples had and the napkin. come by night and stolen him. That same evening, Again the Magdalene came around dawn with the disciples being gathered in one place for fear other women to verify what had been seen more of the Jews and the doors being tight shut, Christ accurately. She stood outside grieving, but bending came in to them, because he had an incorrupt down inside the tomb she sees two angels, blaz- body, and gave them customary good greeting of ing with splendor, and, as if rebuking her, saying, ‘Peace’. When they saw him they were overjoyed ‘Woman, why are you weeping? For whom are you and through his breathing on them the received a looking? Are you looking for Jesus the Nazarene, fuller force of the allholy Spirit. the crucified? He has been raised, he is not here’. Understand how the Lord’s Resurrection was on And at once they arose, filled with fear, for they had the third day like this. Thursday evening and Friday seen the Lord. And so she, on turning round, sees (for this is how the Hebrews reckon the space of a Christ standing there; but, imagining him to be a full day) make one day. The Friday night and the gardener (because the grave was in a garden), she whole of the Saturday make another full day; so says, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where this is the second day. The Saturday night and the you have put him and I will remove him’. When she Sunday (for the whole is understood from the part) had again made a sign to the Angels, the Savior said make another full day; so that is the third day. Or it to the Magdalene, ‘Mary’. But she, recognizing the can be calculated as follows. Christ was crucified at sweet and familiar voice of Christ, wished to touch nine o’clock on the Friday, then there was darkness him. But he said, ‘Do not touch me, for I have not from the sixth to the ninth hour, and this can be yet ascended to my Father, as you reckon, under- reckoned as a night. So from nine o’clock to three standing me to be yet a mortal. But go to my breth- o’clock is counted as one full day. Then after the ren and tell them all that you have seen and heard’. darkness a day and the night of Friday. This then And the Magdalene did so. But when daylight makes two full days. The day of Saturday and the came again she came to the tomb with the rest of following night then makes up the three full days. the women. Those with Joanna and Salome came Though our Savior had promised to exercise his when the sun had risen, and, briefly, the arrival of loving kindness towards us on the third day, he ac- the women at the tomb occurred at different times. complished that act of loving kindness more rap- Among them was also the Mother of God, for she is idly. the one whom the Gospel calls ‘Mary of Joses’. This Joses was the son of Joseph. It is uncertain at what time the Lord rose. Some say at the first crowing of the cocks, others when the earthquake took place, and others give different times. The Resurrection in the Orthodox Church by Saint Justin Popovich n the Orthodox Church, the Resurrection is not be resurrected, because Christ rose, and all of us, merely the ‘feast of feasts’, but the all-embracing from Adam to the last person on earth, are in Him, feast,I which is the soul of all the others and is al- in a mysterious way. The Resurrection of Christ ways present in them. In it we find all the divine and the resurrection of the dead are both together and theanthropic powers of the Saviour, which a theanthropic truth. The dead are resurrected be- crush every sin, every death, every devil. Unceas- cause Christ rose; Christ rose and this is why the ing Resurrection, that is continuous Resurrection, dead are raised. is precisely what the life of all Orthodox Christians It is beyond doubt that Christ did not rise for in the Church of the Saviour is: it is my life, your Himself but ‘for our sake and for our salvation’. And life and that of each of us. What is the Orthodox also because the whole of human nature follows Church? It is the risen Christ Who lives forever. So the human nature of Christ as its central core. By we who live in it continually overcome sin, death becoming human, the Divine Word demonstrated and the devil through the Risen Lord. In this way, that we were created so that in Paradise, with a we raise ourselves from every grave, led and guided God-befitting life, there will be an incarnation of always in this task by the saints whom we praise ev- God, a body of God. Now the body of God will be- ery day These are the true victors over death, sin come really divine only if it is not mortal, if it does and the devil through the Risen Lord and are, at not strive to defeat death. But since, because of sin the same time, those who raise us from our graves. and through sin the human body has become en- Because, what is the aim of our Christian life? To slaved to death and has become mortal, this is why defeat sin, death and the devil and thus to guar- the Word of God became a body Himself: so that antee immortality and eternal life in the heavenly He could save it from death, and save it from sin. kingdom of the love of Christ. Because victory over This is the aim of the incarnation of the Saviour, any one of our sins is a victory over death, since ev- which took place because of His love for us. This is ery sin is our spiritual death. By overcoming sin and why, through His Resurrection, the resurrection of death, in reality we defeat the devil, since the devil all the dead has been ensured. The whole history is a being in whom sin and death and identical. But of the human race proves and highlights beyond a we people are human only through the Resurrec- shadow of doubt that the Lord Christ is a perma- tion of the God/Man, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and nent necessity for us in all worlds. Why? Because through His form of immortality. He gives us eternal life, annihilates death and ev- With the Resurrection of Christ, the resurrec- erything mortal. The mortal element within us is tion of each person, you and me, becomes reason- whatever comes from sin, from evil, from the devil. able and natural, because the human element is a Because He alone has and provides for us eter- constituent part of the Theanthropic Being. This nal truth, eternal justice, eternal love, eternal beauty is why, in the Resurrection of the God/Man from and annihilates lies, injustice, hatred and ugliness. the dead, the power and truth of our own resur- Because He gives us Paradise, bliss, joy and the rection from the dead are included (cf. (I Cor. 15, immortal, theanthropic meaning to life and to the 12-16). Indeed, all of us are included in the Lord’s world, in heaven and on earth, to us humans and to theanthropic nature. And each one of us needs to every creature. Because He alone gives us that which ‘will not hells which flow from us people, bearing us away be taken away from us’, either in this world or the with them. Sin is nothing other than life apart from next. the Sinless One, from God. And this is precisely Because sin, death or the devil cannot take what death is: first the death of the spirit and then Christ our God away from us, nor His justice, im- that of the body. Or, to put it better, sin is life lived mortality and eternity if we ourselves consciously continuously in death. Because sin and death are do not want this. That is, provided we keep Christ one and the same thing. Where there is sin, there is our God within us, with faith, prayer, love, fasting, death. And again, where there is death, there is sin. patience, humility, and with the other Gospel vir- But both of them derive from the creator of sin and tues, the invincible ‘armour of God’ (Eph. 6, 11- of death, from the devil… So sin is never alone, but 18). always has death and the devil with it, around it and What is this freedom that Christ gives? Freedom behind it. And the devil is never alone; he always from sin, from death and from Satan. This freedom has death and sin before him. He’s ever-present in is nourished by eternal truth, eternal justice, eter- every sin and every death. This trinity is insepara- nal love and everything that is in Christ, divine and ble. This is why freedom consists of liberation from theanthropic. This is why Christ’s freedom is the this thrice-cursed trinity of sin, death and the devil. only true freedom that we can have in this world. It was precisely because of this that Our Lord Jesus All the other so-called freedoms are artificial, if Christ became the only Saviour of the human race, they’re not freedoms from death. Because sin in- because, through His Resurrection from the dead, evitably enslaves us to death and to Satan. The only He saved us from sin. The Resurrection is the vic- freedom more powerful than death is the freedom tory over death, and hence over sin, and over the of Christ, and all the others are powerless servants devil. Because the Resurrection is the victory of of death. The only freedom more powerful than the Sinless One over sin, of the Immortal One over Satan is the freedom of Christ, and all the others death; of God over the devil. Who else could have are directly or indirectly subservient to the demon. defeated death, except the Immortal One, or the Those who believe in the Risen Lord Jesus with devil if not God? all their heart, with all their soul and with all their mind do not fear death, do not fear sin and, accord- ing to Saint John Chrysostom, ‘are outside the sway of Satan’. Not only this, but they scorn death, scorn TO Him be Glory and the demon, because, within them, they have Christ, our Lord and God, the only victor over Satan and the only One Who raises us from all deaths. Dominion, to the ages Sin is within us and, behold, we’re distorted into monsters. The God-like being in sin! Is that not of ages. hell and horror? From the time when our ancestors were expelled from Paradise, that is from a life that was holy and free from sin, we’ve become the will- ing foundries of iniquity. And what is a foundry of iniquity if not a small-scale hell? The large-scale, eternal hell is merely the confluence of all the small