Posted on 05/01/2016 4:01:41 AM PDT by Kolokotronis
If any be a devout lover of God, let him partake with gladness from this fair and radiant feast. If any be a faithful servant, let him enter rejoicing into the joy of his Lord. If any have wearied himself with fasting, let him now enjoy his reward. If any have laboured from the first hour, let him receive today his rightful due. If any have come after the third, let him celebrate the feast with thankfulness. If any have come after the sixth, let him not be in doubt, for he will suffer no loss. If any have delayed until the ninth, let him not hesitate but draw near. If any have arrived only at the eleventh, let him not be afraid because he comes so late.
For the Master is generous and accepts the last even as the first. He gives rest to him who comes at the eleventh hour in the same was as him who has laboured from the first. He accepts the deed, and commends the intention.
Enter then, all of you, into the joy of our Lord. First and last, receive alike your reward. Rich and poor, dance together. You who fasted and you who have not fasted, rejoice together. The table is fully laden: let all enjoy it. The calf is fatted: let none go away hungry.
Let none lament his poverty; for the universal Kingdom is revealed. Let none bewail his transgressions; for the light of forgiveness has risen from the tomb. Let none fear death; for death of the Saviour has set us free.
He has destroyed death by undergoing death. He has despoiled hell by descending into hell. He vexed it even as it tasted of His flesh. Isaiah foretold this when he cried: Hell was filled with bitterness when it met Thee face to face below; filled with bitterness, for it was brought to nothing; filled with bitterness, for it was mocked; filled with bitterness, for it was overthrown; filled with bitterness, for it was put in chains. Hell received a body, and encountered God. It received earth, and confronted heaven. O death, where is your sting? O hell, where is your victory?
Christ is risen! And you, o death, are annihilated! Christ is risen! And the evil ones are cast down! Christ is risen! And the angels rejoice! Christ is risen! And life is liberated! Christ is risen! And the tomb is emptied of its dead; for Christ having risen from the dead, is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
To Him be Glory and Power, now and forever, and from all ages to all ages. Amen!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7tKexc4wSM
A joyous Easter to everyone. He is Risen!
Truly He is Risen!
Feliz Pascua, Uncle K., and all the Greeks at sea!
That was really cute! I hope all those healthy young people have very large families!
Our Balkan Mountain brothers and sisters do have beautiful children, don’t they!
Those little bald babies were adorable, reminded me of my Bill and James.
Thank you for posting such a beautiful video and joyous song!
From the video:
The song is written by Saint Nikolai Velimirovic of Ochrid. Here are the lyrics in English:
People rejoice, all nations listen:
Christ God is risen! Let us rejoice!
Dance all ye stars and sing all ye mountains:
Christ God is risen! Let us rejoice!
Whisper ye woods and blow all ye winds:
Christ God is risen! Let us rejoice!
O seas proclaim and roar all ye beasts:
Christ God is risen! Let us rejoice!
Buzz all ye bees and sing all ye birds:
Christ God is risen! Let us rejoice!
O little lambs rejoice and be merry:
Christ God is risen! Let us rejoice!
Nightengales joyous, lending your song:
Christ God is risen! Let us rejoice!
Ring, O ye bells, let everyone hear:
Christ God is risen! Let us rejoice!
All angels join us, singing this song:
Christ God is risen! Let us rejoice!
Come down ye heavens, draw near the earth:
Christ God is risen! Let us rejoice!
Glory to Thee, God Almighty!
Christ God is risen! Let us rejoice!
Glory to Thee, God Almighty!
Christ God is risen! Let us rejoice!
Christos Voskrese! (Christ is Risen!)
Voistinu Voskrese! (Indeed, He is Risen!)
Christ is Risen!
A Blessed Easter to our Eastern Orthodox FRiends.
Christ is Risen!
For my Orthodox Christian brothers and sisters, a good and blessed Happy Easter!
Christ is Risen!
The Eastern tradition is so beautiful and filled with the spirit of Christ.
Our Priest uses as different language for the Paschal Greeting words of each of these final phrases, ie "Christos Anesi! And life is liberated"
We heard those grand words in Greek, Slavonic, and Arabic.
From the Catechetical lectures of +Cyril of Jerusalem:
O strange and wonderful event!
We were not really put to death,
we were not really buried,
we were not really crucified,
we were not really brought back to life.
But, though the imitation was symbolic,
the salvation is very real!
Christ was truly crucified,
truly buried,
truly raised up.
And all this was given to us by a grace
in order that we might share his sufferings by imitating them,
and thus truly obtain salvation.
How vast God’s love for humanity.
Christ had his utterly pure hands pierced by the nails he suffered;
and yet it is to me,
who share in his sufferings without suffering or experiencing pain,
that he gives the grace of salvation.
Indeed He is Risen!
Khristos anesti!
We had the children’s choir sing St. Nikolaj’s hymn during Divine Liturgy on Pascha at our Serbian Orthodox parish—just like last year!
It’s becoming a welcome, joyful local tradition! And he’s an American Saint, too!!!!
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