Christ is Risen! Truly He is risen! Хрїстóсъ воскрéсе! Воистинꙋ воскрéсе! (Slavonic) Kristós Voskrése! Vo-ístinou Voskrése! Христос васкрсе! Ваистину васкрсе! (Serbian) Kristós vaskŕse! Va-ístinu vaskŕse! Христос възкресе! Воистина възкресе! (Bulgarian) Krstós vozkrése! Vo-ístina vozkrése! Dear Beloved in Christ, Light and darkness. This is a prevalent theme within the Bible. From the beginning, Jesus Christ brought light to a darkened world... In the beginning was the Word, ... [Read more]

Christ is Risen! Truly the Lord is risen! Χριστὸς ἀνέστη! Ἀληθῶς (ἀνέστη) ο Κύριος! (Greek) Christós anésti! Alithos (anésti) o Kyrios! Dear Beloved in Christ, If you look closely above, you'll notice that the Paschal greeting is a little longer. Often in Greece a person will respond to "Christos Anesti!" with "Alithos o Kyrios!" which means literally, "Truly the Lord!" This greeting is a shortening of "Alithos anesti o Kyrios!" ("Truly the Lord is risen!") and it comes from the end of ... [Read more]

Christ is Risen! Truly He is risen! ¡Cristo ha resucitado! ¡En verdad ha resucitado! (Spanish) Christó A Resusitádo! En Verdád A Resusitádo! Dear Beloved in Christ, In the homily yesterday, I quoted from On the Providence of God by St. John Chrysostom. He wrote this book while in exile from Constantinople, for having offended the empress by his God-inspired words. The faithful were in despair, wondering why God had allowed that St. John should be exiled. Thus he wrote his consoling--and ... [Read more]

Dear Beloved in Christ, Tomorrow we commemorate—along with the Holy Myrrh-Bearers—Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. These two faithful disciples of Christ took upon themselves the astounding task of burying God. Joseph boldly stood before Pontius Pilate, requesting the Body of Jesus. He and Nicodemus carried our Lord’s Body from Golgotha to the tomb and anointed it for burial. They were courageous, because their actions were a death sentence: They became the target of the Jewish ... [Read more]

God shows mercy upon the last, and cares for the first; and to the one He gives, and upon the other He bestows gifts. And He both accepts the deeds, and welcomes the intention, and honors the acts and praises the offering. Wherefore, enter you all into the joy of your Lord. ~ Paschal Homily of St. John Chrysostom Dear Beloved in Christ, Christ is Risen! Truly He is risen! ክርስቶስ ተነስቷል!  በእውነት ተነስቷል!  (Amharic, from Ethiopia) Kristós Tanéstwal! Bergít Tanéstwal! In the Bible study this ... [Read more]

Dear Beloved in Christ, Kristos Tensiou! Bahake Tensiou! Yesterday, in the homily, I mentioned a beautiful Kontakion written by St. Romanos the Melodist, relating to the Apostle Thomas’ touching of our Lord Jesus Christ on the eighth day after the resurrection. Here is that Kontakion, with some notes I have added. In Christ, Father Matthew KONTAKION ON THE APOSTLE THOMAS Who protected the hand of the disciple which was not melted At the time when he approached the fiery side of ... [Read more]

Dear Beloved in Christ, Christos Voskrese! Christ is Risen! Each year on the Friday after Pascha (“Bright Friday”), the Church celebrates the Feast of the Theotokos, the Life-Giving Spring. This is a rather unique feast because it commemorates an event (a miraculous healing), a location (a spring and a church in Constantinople), and a saint (the Mother of God) all at once. It is also the feast day of the monastery of the same name in Dunlap, California. The story of the Life-Giving ... [Read more]

As the one renowned for setting captives free and for defending those in poverty, the physician of the sick and the champion of emperors, great and victorious Martyr George, intercede with Christ our God, beseeching Him to save our souls. ~ Apolytikion for St. George Christos Anesti! Christ is Risen! Dear Beloved in Christ, Almasih Kam! Hakan Kam! It is fitting to use Arabic today for the Paschal greeting. Today is the feast day of St. George the Great Martyr and Trophy Bearer and he ... [Read more]

Dear Beloved in Christ, Kali Anástasi! This is the final time that we will use this greeting! Our anticipation has come to its fullness, as the greeting "Blessed Resurrection!" gives way to the Paschal Greeting. The Vesperal Liturgy this morning is called the Proti Anástasi, the "First Resurrection," because the Church is so eagerly anticipating Jesus' glorious resurrection that she can't help but celebrate on this morning. We will sing the joyful hymn, "Arise, O God," ringing bells and ... [Read more]