Agape Vespers

Date: 04 April 2010 23:11:27

Christ is Risen! The service that concludes the glorious Sunday of Resurrection, Pascha, is Agape Vespers, or Paschal Vespers of Love. It is a fitting service to end the day on, though of course the joy, light and hope of Christ's Resurrection, the full and complete Passover of Christ from death to life, still fills our lives and remains with us. And as a hymn makes clear, Christ indeed is the fulfilment of all:

The shadow of the Law has passed away with the coming of Grace; for just as the bush was in flames yet did not burn, thus a Virgin you gave birth and a Virgin you remained. Instead of the pillar of fire the Sun of Righteousness has dawned; instead of Moses, Christ the salvation of our souls.

It is traditional to read the Gospel text [John 20:19-25] is as many languages as possible, proclaiming the Great and Glorious News of Christ's Resurrection over the whole world. With only a few people in attendance, we were neverthless able to read it in Greek, Arabic, French, German [which I read] and, of course, English. With procession and lit candles we also sing of the Resurrection, with a particular focus on the Christian principles of charity and forgiveness. These are the hymns sung during the procession, with, as is very common in Orthodoxy, Psalm verses between them [in this case verses from Psalm 68]:

O Christ our Saviour, Your Resurrection has illumined the universe and recalled Your own creation. Almighty Lord, glory to you! Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered; let those also who hate him flee before him. Today the sacred Pascha is revealed to us, the new and holy Pascha; the mystical Pascha; the all-venerable Pascha; the Pascha that is Christ the Redeemer; the spotless Pascha; the great Pascha; the Pascha of the faithful; the Pascha that has opened unto us the gates of Paradise; the Pascha which sanctifies all the faithful. As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melts before the fire. Hasten from that vision O women, bearers of good news, and say unto Zion, "Receive from us the tidings of joy of the Resurrection of Christ. Dance and celebrate and rejoice now, O Jerusalem, for you beheld Christ your King as a Bridegroom coming forth from the tomb." So let the wicked perish at the presence of God; but let the righteous be glad. When the Myrrh-bearing women very early in the morning came and stood before the tomb of the Life-giver, they found an Angel sitting upon the stone. And he cried out these words to them, saying, "Why do you seek the Living among the dead? Why do you mourn the Incorruptible among those subject to decay? But go and proclaim the Good News unto his Disciples." This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. The Pascha of delight, Pascha, the Lord’s Pascha; the all-venerable Pascha has dawned for us today; let us embrace one another with joy for it is Pascha. O Pascha, delivered from sorrow! For Christ has shone forth today from the tomb as from a bridal chamber and filled the women with joy, saying, "Proclaim this unto my Apostles". Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen. This is the day of Resurrection; let us be radiant for the festival and let us embrace one another. Let us call brothers even those who hate us and forgive all things in the Resurrection. And therefore let us proclaim: "Christ has risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and to those in the tombs, bestowing life!" [x3]

A blessed Easter and Easter season to all! As we sing before the Gospel, with some verses from Psalm 77, the refrain from verses 13b and 14a, I pray I ever-remember:"Who is so great a god as our God? You are the God who does wonders."