CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN! GREAT AND HOLY PASCHA, MAY 1, 2005

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/chrysostom-easter.html ^ | 400 AD | St. John Chrysostomos

[Kolokotronis]

The Pascal Sermon of St. John Chrysostomos

Is there anyone who is a devout lover of God? Let them enjoy this beautiful bright festival! Is there anyone who is a grateful servant? Let them rejoice and enter into the joy of their Lord!

Are there any weary with fasting? Let them now receive their wages! If any have toiled from the first hour, let them receive their due reward; If any have come after the third hour, let him with gratitude join in the Feast! And he that arrived after the sixth hour, let him not doubt; for he too shall sustain no loss. And if any delayed until the ninth hour, let him not hesitate; but let him come too. And he who arrived only at the eleventh hour, let him not be afraid by reason of his delay.

For the Lord is gracious and receives the last even as the first. He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour, as well as to him that toiled from the first. To this one He gives, and upon another He bestows. He accepts the works as He greets the endeavor. The deed He honors and the intention He commends.

Let us all enter into the joy of the Lord! First and last alike receive your reward; rich and poor, rejoice together! Sober and slothful, celebrate the day!

You that have kept the fast, and you that have not, rejoice today for the Table is richly laden! Feast royally on it, the calf is a fatted one. Let no one go away hungry. Partake, all, of the cup of faith. Enjoy all the riches of His goodness!

Let no one grieve at his poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed. Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again; for forgiveness has risen from the grave. Let no one fear death, for the Death of our Savior has set us free. He has destroyed it by enduring it.

He destroyed Hades when He descended into it. He put it into an uproar even as it tasted of His flesh. Isaiah foretold this when he said, "You, O Hell, have been troubled by encountering Him below."

Hell was in an uproar because it was done away with. It was in an uproar because it is mocked. It was in an uproar, for it is destroyed. It is in an uproar, for it is annihilated. It is in an uproar, for it is now made captive. Hell took a body, and discovered God. It took earth, and encountered Heaven. It took what it saw, and was overcome by what it did not see. O death, where is thy sting? O Hades, where is thy 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 forever and ever. Amen!

The icon is from Atelier Saint Andre

[monkfan]

Indeed He has risen!

[monkfan]

I get up now and go cook for 75 for dinner! LAMB!!!!!!

Cool! I'll be right over. hehe

I seem to be stuck in an infinite loop over here. All that food was so good it calls for a cigarette. I pause to remember where my cigs are and realize I don't smoke anymore. Then I go back to what I was doing. Few minutes later it occurs to me that a cigarrete would be in order and the cycle repeats. :)

Changing the subject again...

I sat at a table with a friend (we got catechized together) and got into talking about the dewberries that grow wild in these parts. Church property is simply drowning in them. She's been turning them into jam. I mentioned I've been thinking about brewing them into beer or maybe even wine. On that prompt, her mom recommends making wine (and adds that the beer would likely suck) and starts telling me about all of the wine her family has made from them over the decades (nearly a century). So I got good food AND a good education. Try and top it! ;)

[monkfan]

I thought I'd pass out like you, but as usual, I fell asleep around 4:30, and my eyes popped open at 8:30, unable to sleep further.

Sucks to be you; I slept 'til noon. No, but seriously, that is what usually happens to me too. I was pretty exhausted though. I tried to squeeze in a nap yesterday and only pulled off about 20 minutes or so. Unlike some people we know who got 3 hours *cough cough*!

When I let my dog out into the bright, cool morning, he did his usual "joy-run" around the back-yard. It seemed a little more joyous today than usual!

Perceptive dog! I can top it. ;) We have Easter lillies at church that waited until Holy Week to bloom.

Oh, and one more thing...

Christ is Risen!!!

[Campion]

Greetings and best wishes on Holy Pascha to the Orthodox FReepers!

/The Lord is risen, Alleluia! He is risen indeed and has appeared unto Simon, Alleluia!/

[toothfairy86]

Vistina Voskrese!

[conservonator]

Christ Is Risen PING!

Indeed he has!

[eleni121]

Christ is risen --- Xristós Anésti
Truly He is risen --- Alithós Anésti

[FormerLib]

I get up now and go cook for 75 for dinner!

That was my job yesterday. Man, that is one killer test of willpower!

Indeed He is risen!

[newberger]

Indeed He is risen!

....Voistinu Voskrese!

........Alethos Anesti!

WHat a glorious Pascha it has been. I invited non-Orthodox
friends (as I usually do) and they really enjoyed it, too.

I've come to the conclusion that we do Pascha hymns like
Western Christians so Christmas carols.

The Gospel was read in 14 languages. Orthodoxy is often
dismissed as "ethnic" but our parish is hte most multi-ethnic
church I've ever beenh part of.

I ate too much :-(

I've had less than two hours sleep but I'll catch up.

I ***LOVE*** Pascha

[Kolokotronis]

"I ate too much :-("

I have a terrible stomach ache...happens every year and I never learn!

"I've had less than two hours sleep but I'll catch up."

I'm off to bed in the next few minutes, after a good shower (I stink of lamb!).

[The_Reader_David]

Indeed He is Risen!

(My family stayed at a hotel near our mission's mother parish after the Paschal Liturgy and breaking of the fast, had a day outing to a botanical
garden, then back for Agape Vespers and a lamb dinner).

[MarMema]

Thank you. Hugs to you!

[MarMema]

Hope you are sleeping now or have caught up!