My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

GREAT AND HOLY SATURDAY MORNING

"Arise, O God, and judge Thou the earth..."

(The divine service is Vespers [Esperinos] and Divine Liturgy of Saturday evening chanted by anticipation, on Saturday morning.)

Psalms are read and Resurrection hymns are chanted which tell of Christ's Descent into Hades. "Today Hades cried out groaning" is the hymn' description of the resurrection of Adam and the conquering of death. Thus this day's celebration is called "First Resurrection." Most of the readings of this day are from the Old Testament on the prophecies and promise of the conquering of death. On this day, the Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great is officiated. The Holy Apostle Paul exhorts the faithful: "We were buried, therefore, with Him by baptism unto death, so we, too, might walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:4).

After the reading of the Epistle, the priest follows the tradition of tossing of laurel, saying: "Arise, O God, and judge the earth: for Thou shall take all heathen to Thine inheritance." The Cherubic hymn of this day is: "Let all mortal flesh keep silence and stand with fear..."

THE HOLY SATURDAY OF PASCHA

(The divine service is Orthros (Matins) and Divine Liturgy of Sunday morning chanted Saturday midnight. With this service, the Pentecostarion starts (50 days services.)

On Pascha Sunday (Saturday midnight), the Life-Giving Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is celebrated. Before midnight, the Odes of Lamentation of the previous day are repeated. The Orthros (Matins) of the Resurrection begins in complete darkness. The priest chants: "Come ye and receive light from the unwaning Light, and glorify Christ, Who arose from the dead," and all the Orthodox Christians join him in chanting this hymn again and again. From this moment, every Orthodox Christian holds the Paschal Candle as a symbol of his vivid, deep faith in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ as Savior. In many churches, the priest leads the Orthodox faithful outside the church, where he reads the Gospel which refers to the Angel's statement: "He is Risen! He is not here" (St. Mark 16:1-8).

Then comes the breathless moments as the Orthodox Christian believers wait for the officiating priest to start the hymn of the Resurrection, which they join him in chanting, repeatedly: "Christ is Risen from the dead, by death trampling upon Death, and has bestowed life upon those in the tombs." From this moment, the entire service takes on a joyous Paschal atmosphere. The hymns of the Odes and Praises of Resurrection which follow are of superb meaning and expression. The Orthodox Christians confess, "It is the Day of Resurrection, let us be glorious, let us embrace one another and speak to those that hate us; let us forgive all things and so let us cry, Christ, is risen from the dead." By this hymn, they admit that love of one’s fellow man is the solid foundation of the faith in the Resurrection of Christ.

The Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom is then officiated. At the end of the Divine Liturgy, a part of the marvelous festival sermon of Saint John Chrysostom is read, which calls upon the Christians present to "Take part in the fair and radiant festival. Let no one be fearful of death, for the death of the savior has set us free...O Death, where is thy sting? O Hades, where is Thy victory? Christ is Risen and Thou art overthrown. To Him be glory and power from all ages to all ages."

"...Christ is risen and the demons have fallen. Christ is risen and the Angels rejoice, Christ is risen and there is none dead in the tomb For Christ is raised from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept. To Him be Glory and Power from all Ages to all ages. Amen."

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE "AGAPE SERVICE"

As the Feast of feasts, the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most significant and inspirational event which embodies the center of worship in the Christian Church. It is the epitome and crowning of the life, deeds and redemptive work of Christ. The Resurrection of Christ is the cornerstone of the faith and hope of all Christians. It is the source of love both in its content and power; it is the living background of inner peace of the heart and mind; it is the hopeful expectation and repentance and forgiveness. The Resurrection of Christ is destined to be heard all over the Universe and to be pronounced in all 1,300 languages and dialects of mankind. Faith in the Resurrection should be lived daily with unselfish love. It is the reason that this Great Event is celebrated as the Day of “Love”" of one another, to forgive one another, to embrace one another, to embrace one another, to kiss one another, as a witness of brotherhood in the faith of the Resurrection of Christ. Only then may Christians joyfully declare: "Christ is Risen from the dead!" From this deep significance of the celebration of the Resurrection of Christ, the Orthodox Christians gathered together in the tradition especially of the villages, where at the end of the service the Orthodox Christian believers formed a line to greet and embrace one another; forgiving and being forgiven. Those who have had misunderstandings and not spoken to one another reconcile after the service. This practice is a vivid witness of the true meaning of agape. This is the reason that this service is called the "Agape Service" -- the Service of the Love-feast.

The Agape Divine Service is an extension of the celebration of the Resurrection of Christ. The Orthodox Christians with lighted candles participate in and chant the hymns of the Resurrection. The Gospel according to Saint John (20:19-25) is read in various languages, proclaiming the Good News of Resurrection all over the world. The Service of the Sunday of Agape proclaims the real meaning of the Resurrection of Christ, which is love of fellow man, brotherhood among all men, especially in serving the needy. This Agape Service remains as a reminder to all Orthodox Christians to proclaim the Gospel of Love and Peace not only among their friends and relatives but especially among their enemies and those with whom they have had disagreements. This love is depicted in the following hymn: "It is the Day of Resurrection...let us embrace one another. Let us speak also, O brethren, to those that hate us, and in the Resurrection let us forgive all things and so let us cry ‘Christ is Risen.’”

Kali Anastasi! Blessed Resurrection!

In Christ's Service,

+Father George