Christ is Risen!
Happy Resurrection of Christ!
Today the Christian world celebrates the resurrection of God's son Jesus Christ on the third day after his crucifixion. Resurrection of Christ, Pascha or Easter - this is the greatest and most solemn holiday that our church celebrates, because it blesses Christ's victory over death, redemption from sin and eternal salvation.
Happy Easter! May we be healthy, happy and successful!
A word of praise for Pascha
St. John Chrysostom
Whoever is pious, who truly honors God and loves Him sincerely, let him enjoy this beautiful and bright celebration of the glorious resurrection of Christ, which we now celebrate and in which the Lord so wonderfully showed both His goodness towards the human race, and His wisdom in redeeming it from eternal perdition, and His power over the enemies of our salvation!
Whoever is a prudent servant and does not hide the talents given to him by God in the earth, let him joyfully enter into the joy of his Lord!
Whoever has labored with fasting, let him now receive his denarius! [Matt.10:10, 20:1-8].
He who has worked since the first hour, let him receive his just wages today!
He who has managed to come after the sixth hour, let him not be troubled in the least, because he has lost nothing!
He who has missed the ninth hour, let him come without any doubt or fear!
But if anyone has managed to come only at the eleventh hour, let him not be afraid of his delay, because the Master of the House is generous and generous - he receives the last as the first, he comforts the one who came at the eleventh hour as he did the one who worked since the first hour: he satisfies the first with a deserved reward, the last with indulgence; to one he gives what is deserved, to another he bestows according to his goodness; he accepts good deeds with joy, he kisses the intention with love; He values deeds and praises good dispositions!
Therefore, all of you, enter into the joy of your Lord! Both the first and the last, receive your reward!
Rich and poor, rejoice together!
Industrious and lazy, honor this day of universal celebration!
Fasting and non-fasting, rejoice now! The table is rich: be filled with it, all of you! For the prodigal sons, the heavenly Father has slaughtered a fattened calf: let no one go hungry! All of you enjoy this feast of faith, all of you benefit from the wealth of goodness!
Let no one lament his poverty, for the kingdom of heaven is open to all!
Let no one weep for his sins, for forgiveness has dawned from the tomb of the Savior!
Let no one fear death, for the Savior's death has freed us from it!
The Life-Giver, who was possessed by death, destroyed death. He who descended into hell captured hell, which became bitter when he tasted His flesh. Foretelling this centuries ago, the prophet Isaiah wrote: "Sheol was filled with sorrow when it met you in the depths of hell!"
It was filled with sorrow because it was made weak!
It was filled with sorrow because it was put to shame!
It was filled with sorrow because it was put to death!
It was filled with sorrow because it was broken!
It was filled with sorrow because it was bound!
He took on flesh, and in it he encountered God; he took on earth, and in it he found heaven; he took on what he saw, and in it he encountered what he did not see!
"Where, O death, is your sting? Where, oh, is your victory?" [Hos. 13:14, Cor. 15:55]
Christ is risen and you are cast down!
Christ is risen and the demons have fallen!
Christ is risen and the angels rejoice!
Christ is risen and life has been restored!
Christ is risen and not a single dead person is in the grave, because Christ, who rose from the dead, "has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep" (1 Cor. 15:20).
He was the first to rise as the Head, and after Him in due time we, His members, will all rise! To Him be glory and dominion (rule) forever and ever! Amen!