01holy Pascha
01holy Pascha
01holy Pascha
The Holy and Great Sunday of Pascha
Mary Magdalene, and the other women who were present at the burial of
our Saviour on Friday evening, returned from Golgotha to the city and prepared
fragrant spices and myrrh, so that they might anoint the body of Jesus.
On the morrow, because of the law which forbids work on the day of the
Sabbath, they rested for the whole day. But at early dawn on the Sunday that
followed, almost thirty‐six hours since the death of the Life‐giving Redeemer,
they came to the sepulchre with the spices to anoint His body. While they were
considering the difficulty of rolling away the stone from the door of the
sepulcher, there was a fearful earthquake; and an Angel, whose countenance
shone like lightening and whose garment was white as snow, rolled away the
stone and sat upon it. The guards that were there became as dead from fright and
took to flight. The women, however, went into the sepulchre, but did not find the
Lord’s body. Instead, they found two other Angels in the form of youths clothed
in white, who told them that the Saviour was risen, and they sent forth the
women, who ran to proclaim to the disciples these gladsome tidings. Then Peter
and John arrived, having learned from Mary Magdalene what had come to pass,
and when they entered the tomb, they found only the winding sheets. Therefore,
they returned again to the city with joy, as heralds now of the supernatural
Resurrection of Christ, Who in truth was seen alive by the disciples on this day
on five occasions.
Our Lord, then, was crucified, died and was buried on Friday, before the
setting of the sun, which was the first of His “three days” in the grave; observing
The Holy Orthodox Metropolis of Boston
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The Holy and Great Sunday of Pascha
the mystical Sabbath, that “seventh day” in which it is said that the Lord “rested
from all His works”(Gen. 2:2‐3). He passed all of Saturday in the grave; and He
arose “while it was yet dark, very early in the morning” on Sunday, the third
day, which, according to the Hebrew reckoning, began after sunset on Saturday.
As we celebrate today this joyous Resurrection, we greet and embrace one
another in Christ, thereby demonstrating our Saviour’s victory over death and
corruption, and the destruction of our ancient enmity with God, and His
reconciliation toward us, and our inheritance of life everlasting. The feast itself is
called Pascha, which is derived from the Hebrew word which means “passover”;
because Christ, Who suffered and arose, has made us to pass over from the curse
of Adam and slavery to the devil and death unto our primal freedom and
blessedness. In addition, this day of this particular week, which is the first of all
the rest, is dedicated to the honour of the Lord; in honor and remembrance of the
Resurrection, the Apostles transferred to this day the rest from labour that was
formerly assigned to the Sabbath of the ancient Law.
All foods allowed during Renewal Week.
Troparion of Pascha
C
hrist is risen from the dead by death hath He trampled down death, and
upon those in the graves hath He bestowed life.
Hypakoë Fourth Tone
W HEN they who were with Mary came, anticipating the dawn, and found
the stone rolled away from the sepulcher, they heard from the Angel, Why
seek ye among the dead, as though He were mortal man, Him Who abideth in
everlasting light? Behold the grave‐clothes. Go quickly and proclaim to the world
that the Lord is risen, and hath put death to death. For He is the Son of God, Who
saveth the race of man.
Kontakion. Plagal of Fourth Tone
T HOUGH Thou didst descend into the grave, O Immortal One, yet didst Thou
destroy the power of Hades, and didst arise as victor, O Christ God, calling
to the myrrh‐bearing women, Rejoice, and giving peace unto Thine Apostles, O
thou Who dost grant resurrection to the fallen.
Text: The Great Horologion © The Holy Transfiguration Monastery Brookline, Massachusetts 02445
First icon courtesy of The Holy Transfiguration Monastery Brookline, Massachusetts 02445
The Holy Orthodox Metropolis of Boston
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The Holy and Great Sunday of Pascha
The Holy Orthodox Metropolis of Boston
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