Christ is Risen!  Truly He is Risen!

“Christ is risen, releasing from bondage Adam the first-formed man and destroying the power of hell. Be of good courage, all ye dead, for death is slain and hell despoiled; the crucified and risen Christ is King. He has given incorruption to our flesh; he raises us and grants us resurrection, and He counts worthy of his joy and glory all who, with a faith that wavers not, have trusted fervently in him.” ~Triodion Hymn from the Praises of Orthros on the Saturday of Meatfare Week

My Dear Spiritual ‘Ohana,

CHRIST IS RISEN!  TRULY HE IS RISEN!

I greet you with these most utterly joyful salutations as we have entered into the celebration of our Lord’s Holy Resurrection!  May the joy of His Resurrection be true and real in your hearts, every day of your lives!

What does the celebration of the Resurrection mean for you, personally, in your daily walk through life?  I hope and pray that It is very real and deeply meaningful for you.

We just completed our annual journey through Great Lent and the celebration of Holy Week.  Our Holy Orthodox Church returns, year after year, to celebrate these special times lest we totally forget our purpose as human beings, of being made in His Image and Likeness and constantly being aware of our built-in and natural need for His fulfilling Presence in our lives.  Through the services of the Church, most especially through Holy Week, the Holy Spirit takes us on a spiritual journey, as we walk with Christ as He goes through the cruelly persecuting trials, Crucifixion, Descent into Hades and to His Holy Resurrection.  The age-old hymns, readings and sacred symbols of the services mystically transport us through all He has done and endured for our sakes.

We are, indeed, beyond blessed that in our Orthodox worship, our experience is a total body one, externally and internally.  I would simply like to share a few of the hymns, symbols and icons used especially during Holy Week thru Pascha, as all of our senses are meant to be immersed in the celebrations.

Christ our Bridegroom

“Behold, the Bridegroom is coming in the middle of the night; and blessed is the servant He shall find awake and watching; unworthy is the other He shall find being lazy. So beware, O soul of mine, be not overcome by sleep, so that you not be handed over to death and be shut out from the Kingdom. Come to your senses and cry aloud: Holy, holy, holy are You our God. Through the Theotokos have mercy on us.”

Holy Passion & Crucifixion

“When You, O God, stood before Caiaphas, and You, the Judge, were delivered to Pilate, the heavenly hosts were shaken with fear. Then You were lifted on the Cross between two robbers, and You, the sinless One, were numbered with the lawless, in order to save humanity. O forbearing Lord, glory to You!”

The Paschal Light

“Come receive the light, from the never-setting light; and glorify Christ who has risen from the dead.”

The Paschal Egg

“Christ is risen from the dead, by death trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs He has granted life.”

I wish you utmost joy in our Lord’s Resurrection!

Have a Blessed & Holy Pascha!

With Love in Christ,

+Fr. Alexander