Christ is risen from the dead!
Categories: uncategorized
Date: 01 May 2005 00:38:41
 | Christ is risen from the dead trampling down death by death, and on those in the tombs bestowing life! |
The Feasts of Feasts, Pascha, was celebrated last night and this morning. The service is a beautiful one and I doubt I could do it justice. If you get the chance next year to attend the Orthodox Pascha service, got for it! It is not a short service, though -- 3.5 hours by my reckoning! And then there is the meal afterwards!
From the church in darkness to the church filled with lit candles. The procession around the church and the banging on the front doors and the re-entry. The beautiful imagery of the many, many hymns, odes and chants of Pascha. The chanting of "Christ is risen from the dead trampling down death by death, and on those in the tombs bestowing life!" in English, Arabic and Greek. The church full of people, joining in with one voice to praise our God and Saviour Jesus Christ. A challenging sermon during the Paschal Divine Liturgy. And of course, the reading of St John Chrysostom's Paschal homily.
Christ is risen!