Words from the Saints -- July 17, 2017

"As by nature the soul gives life to the body, so virtue and spiritual knowledge give life to the soul." 
--St. Thalassios the Libyan

"The truly blessed are not the ones who can work miracles or see angels; the truly blessed are the ones who can see their own sins." --St. Anthony the Great

"If man remembered that it is written: 'By your words you will be justified and by your words you will be condemned,' (Matthew 12:37) he would choose to remain silent." --St. Poemen

"Watch your heart during all your life—examine it, listen to it, and see what prevents its union with the most blessed Lord. Let this be for you the science of all sciences, and with God’s help you will easily observe what estranges you from God, and what draws you towards Him and unites you to Him. It is the evil spirit more than anything else that stands between our hearts and God; he estranges God from us by various passions, or by the desires of the flesh, by the desires of the eyes, and by worldly pride." 
--St. John of Kronstadt

"I have heard people say that there are no demons or devils...the Devil surely will not reveal himself to people who do not believe ; for, should he do so, they might believe, and that would be against his own sly, diabolical policy, as he would have all in the dark, so terrible is his enmity against the Eternal Source of Light and Treasure of Goodness—God Almighty." --St. Sebastian Dabovich

"Brethren, let us endeavor to be a holy material for a holy house of the Kingdom of Christ which He builds day and night that He, by the end of time, finishes it completely." --St. Nikolai Velimirovich
 

Words from the Saints -- July 10, 2017

"The tree of life is the knowledge of God; when, being purified, you share in that knowledge you attain immortality." --St. Thalassios the Libyan

"Love, unchangeable tranquility and our adoption as children of God are different from each other only in name. As light, fire and flame are present in the selfsame operation, so are these three manifestations of the Spirit. When someone is completely permeated with the love of God, the brightness of his soul is reflected by his whole personality as if in a mirror. Therefore the one who loves God also loves his brother or sister. Indeed, the second love is the proof of the first." --St. John Climacus

"If you are a Christian, no earthly city is yours. Of our City 'the Builder and Maker is God.' Though we may gain possession of the whole world, we are withal but strangers and sojourners in it all! We are enrolled in Heaven: our citizenship is there! Let us not, after the manner of little children, despise things that are great, and admire those which are little." --St. John Chrysostom

"Blessed is the one who is fired by the fear of God, ever having in himself the fervor of the Holy Spirit, and who has burned up the thorns and thistles of the thoughts." --St. Ephraim of Syria

"Until a man’s earthly life finishes its course, up to the very departure of the soul from the body, the struggle between sin and righteousness continues within him. However, high a spiritual and moral state one might achieve, a gradual or even headlong and deep fall into the abyss of sin is always possible. Therefore, communion of the holy Body and Blood of Christ, which strengthens our contact with Him and refreshes us with the living streams of the grace of the Holy Spirit flowing through the Body of the Church, is necessary for everyone." --St. John the Wonderworker of Shanghai and San Francisco

Words from the Saints -- July 3, 2017

"There are many differing methods of prayer. No method is harmful; if it were, it would be not prayer but the activity of Satan." --St. Mark the Ascetic

"Where would there be opportunities for struggling for great deeds if we were not occasionally injured by our neighbors, if they did not offend us? Where would there be opportunities for patiently bearing offenses, for meekness and humility? You see, then, that we must be tried by many and various evils in order to prove our virtue and be eventually crowned." --St. John of Kronstadt 

"Patiently endure the distressing and painful things that befall you, for through them God in His providence is purifying you." --St. Thalassios the Libyan

"Ever let mercy outweigh all else in you. Let our compassion be a mirror where we may see in ourselves that likeness and that true image which belong to God. A heart hard and unmerciful will never be pure." --St. Isaac of Syria

"Blessed the one who is always full of spiritual joy and has not grown slack in bearing the Lord's good yoke, for he will be crowned with glory." --St. Ephraim the Syrian

"Love every man in spite of his falling into sin. Never mind the sins, but remember that the foundation of the man is the same - the image of God." --St. John of Kronstadt

Words from the Saints -- June 28, 2017

"If you would know of the Lord’s love for us, hate sin and evil thoughts, and day and night pray fervently. The Lord will then give you His grace, and you will know Him through the Holy Spirit, and after death, when you enter into paradise, there too, you will know the Lord through the Holy Spirit, as you knew Him on earth." --St. Silouan of Mt. Athos

"First of all, we know that God is the beginning, middle and end of everything good; and it is impossible for us to have faith in anything good or to carry it into effect except in Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit." --St. Mark the Ascetic

"The tongue of a back-biting soul is three-pronged: it injures the speaker, the listener and sometimes the person being maligned." --St. Thalassios the Libyan

Words from the Saints -- June 25, 2017

"Prayer is an activity becoming to the dignity of the mind, or rather, is its real use." --St. Nilus of Sinai

"What toil we must endure, what fatigue, while we are attempting to climb hills and the summits of mountains! What, that we may ascend to heaven! If you consider the promised reward, what you endure is less. Immortality is given to the one who perseveres; everlasting life is offered; the Lord promises His Kingdom." --St. Cyprian of Carthage

"It is impossible for us who have fallen into the pit of iniquities ever to be drawn out of it, unless we sink into the abyss of the humility of the repentant." --St. John Climacus

"A sinner cannot escape retribution except through repentance appropriate to his offense." 
--St. Mark the Ascetic

Words from the Saints -- June 19, 2017

"Prayer is food for the soul. Do not starve the soul; it is better to let the body go hungry." --St. Joseph of Optina

"There never was, and never will be a place on earth free from sorrows. The only sorrow-less place possible is the heart, when the Lord is present there." --St. Nikon of Optina

"Each of us is Adam ...each of us is of Christ ...Just as corruption and death come down from generation to generation from the old Adam, so also incorruption and immortality come down to Christians from the new Adam." --St. Symeon the New Theologian, on Romans 5:17-6:2

"A man knows nothing about the powers that are outside him; but if they enter into him, he must fight them and drive them out." --St. Poemen

"When pride retreats from a man, humility begins to dwell in him, and the more pride is diminished, so much more does humility grow. The one gives way to the other as to its opposite. Darkness departs and light appears. Pride is darkness, but humility is light." --St. Tikhon of Zadonsk

"Just as anyone who climbs a rotten ladder risks his life, so are honors and power a danger for humility." --St. John Climacus

Cleveland Area Ministry Reaches Milestone

St. Panteleimon Orthodox Christian Outreach, founded in July 2010, held its 2,000th service on May 5, 2017.  Its mission is providing Orthodox Christian prayer services for those who are no longer able to go to church on a regular basis.

The St. Panteleimon Ministry is a Pan-Orthodox effort that aims to be of service to every Orthodox parish in Cuyahoga, Lake, Lorain, Medina and Summit Counties.  It submits reports to His Eminence Archbishop DANIEL of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA.  On the local level it reports to its spiritual advisor, Fr. Dennis Kristof, and to the Greater Cleveland Council of Orthodox Clergy.

The sacramental ministry of the parish priest is, of course, the most important spiritual care that an Orthodox nursing home resident may receive.  The role of the St. Panteleimon Ministry is to provide spiritual sustenance until the resident is able to receive the Holy Mysteries of the Church. The emphasis of the St. Panteleimon Ministry is helping nursing home residents keep in touch with the liturgical life of the Church by providing a group prayer setting in their communities.  With few exceptions, prayer services follow the daily readings and commemorate the saints of each day according to the Orthodox calendar.  Its ministry is not to be confused with a shut-in ministry or visitations to individual residents in nursing homes, even though one-on-one visits do occur occasionally.

The most commonly used service in the senior living setting is the Typica service.  The number of hymns from the Divine Liturgy is something the residents remember and makes a connection with their home parishes. Services are usually 30 minutes in length and utilize liturgical music from Orthodox residents' ethnic backgrounds. All services are conducted in English.

St. Panteleimon's also serves as an evangelistic tool for the Church.  Residents frequently invite non-Orthodox neighbors and friends to join them in prayer. A senior living facility may only have one or two Orthodox residents at a given point in time, yet in some places 15 to 20 residents consistently attend the services.  This may be attributed both to the invitations extended by Orthodox residents, and to other residents' hunger for what Orthodoxy provides.  In cases where a non-Orthodox resident, family member or staff member wishes to learn more about the Orthodox Faith we will make a referral to a nearby parish for follow-up.

St. Panteleimon Orthodox Christian Outreach presents an opportunity for Orthodox Christians to put their faith into action, serving God while they serve others. Volunteers are always welcome! We ask Orthodox parishes, clergy and laity to give prayerful consideration to helping this ministry carry out its mission. Any donation of time, talents or resources will be greatly appreciated.

Our director is available to speak to parishes and organizations about the ministry upon request. For more information please contact: Reader Gerald Largent, gerald@stpanteleimon.com.  Office Phone: 440-941-4850.  Website: www.stpanteleimon.com
 

Thoughts on the St. Panteleimon Ministry: Lea Khoury

Nora (not her real name) was truly one of a kind. She was a classy lady with an old-world elegance. She grew up in Istanbul, the daughter of Armenian aristocratic parents. She knew 6 languages fluently and was one of the only women of her era to receive a college education in business. I met Nora when she was 90 years old as a neighbor on my street in the Cleveland area. We became fast friends despite our age difference and quickly learned that we shared the Orthodox Faith. Nora hadn't been to church in quite some time and longed to reconnect with her faith. She couldn't drive and was essentially homebound. I tried taking her to church with me on a handful of occasions, but it was very difficult for her to get around. A broken hip a little while later led to her moving to Westlake Village. It was not the home she desired, but it turned out to be a great blessing. For the next several years, Nora became an active participant in the St. Panteleimon ministry. She would look forward to every Saturday service offered at Westlake Village. I had the privilege of attending some of these services with Nora, and it was beautiful to watch her face light up as she did the sign of the cross or said the Lord's Prayer and the Creed with great conviction. She was so grateful, as was I, that she could once again be an active participant in a community of faithful people. Nora was blessed with a few more years but passed away in the fall of 2015. I truly believe that the ministry of St. Panteleimon played a critical role in Nora's life. During her final years, months, weeks, and days, Nora was able to refocus on our Lord Jesus Christ and participate in the prayers of His Holy Church. Through St Panteleimon's ministry, God gave Nora, and all of us who knew and loved her, a great gift: she was able to use the last season of her life to prepare herself for eternity.

Thoughts on the St. Panteleimon Ministry: Erika Sullivan

    The ministry that St. Panteleimon offers is invaluable and unique. I don’t know of another Orthodox ministry around that offers anything similar to what the St. Panteleimon ministry offers. Bringing Orthodoxy into assisted living/nursing home facilities is so special. The ministry provides Orthodox residents a time to pray together in a way they are accustomed to. My yia-yia was in an assisted living facility for several years, so I know the importance of visiting people in these facilities, and bringing familiar things to them that they go no longer go out and do on their own. This ministry also benefits the non-Orthodox, as all are welcome and encouraged to attend services.
    I thank God for the St. Panteleimon ministry--a ministry focusing on the elderly and shut ins, who can be forgotten about or neglected at times unfortunately. It brings worship and joy to these beautiful residents' lives; it provides a time to pray and sing to the Lord; it spreads the Orthodox faith and welcomes all to join.

Praying with Alzheimer's/dementia residents

This past week St. Panteleimon Orthodox Christian Outreach held a prayer service at a senior residence that has both assisted living and memory care residents. About 20 people attended, which is a typical gathering for that community. Some of the residents participated in the service by singing or reciting prayers as a group, while others did not. However things changed a bit when it came time to say the Lord's Prayer. It was moving to hear all the residents, regardless of their limitations, loudly proclaim: "Our Father Who art in heaven..."

This illustrates that God is able to lift the fog of dementia and Alzheimer's when people engage in prayer. Please take time to pray with anyone you may know who is afflicted by this type of illness. Their souls will benefit and so will yours.

A Simple Gesture of Thanksgiving

Yesterday I was at an assisted living facility for a prayer service through the St. Panteleimon ministry. At the conclusion of the service a resident walked into the chapel, went over to the icon of Christ and said "Thank you, Jesus, for helping me and letting me wake up this morning." Then he turned to the icon of the Mother of God and said, "Thank you, Mary, for bringing Jesus into the world." His simple act should serve as a reminder for all of us.

If you would like to get involved with the St. Panteleimon ministry in any way please let me know. The residents would love to see you, and you never know what they will teach you spiritually.

Called to Serve

    A man once asked some of his friends the following question: "What comes to mind when you hear the word 'ministry'?" He received many answers to the question, but two of them were rather unfortunate. "That's Father's job," one friend replied. Another friend answered, "Ministry is what the Protestants do." While these answers are in fact true, they indicate ignorance (or perhaps apathy) regarding ministry. The fact of the matter is that ministry is something that every Orthodox Christian is called to do. That is, we are all called to serve.

    There are numerous ministry opportunities for Orthodox Christians both in the parish and in the community at large. Most parishes have ministry opportunities such as Altar servers, choir members, chanters, readers, greeters, church school teachers, and many more. Feel free to ask your priest how you may get involved in one or more ministries at your home parish. He would be glad to discuss this with you!

    It is also important for us to serve those who are beyond our home church's walls: the community at large. Though opportunities may vary from one city to another, there are many Orthodox ministries that are in need of volunteers and/or donors. Again it is best to ask your parish priest for information about ministries near you.

    Throughout the New Testament there is a mandate for Christians to serve God through the service of others. We will simply look at two Gospel passages in this article for the sake of brevity. Every year on Meatfare Sunday, two Sundays before the beginning of Great Lent, we hear the Gospel account of the Final Judgment (Matthew 25:31-46). Christ gives a sobering account of the judgment of the righteous and the wicked. The righteous inherit eternal life, having acts of mercy as evidence of their faith in Christ. The Lord places them at His right hand, stating "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me." The wicked, on the other hand, are sent to eternal punishment for their lack of mercy. "'Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to Me." Our Lord identifies with those in need, and our response to them is an indication of our response to Him.

    Elsewhere Christ’s mandate to His people takes on a personalized theme. In Luke 6:31 we read: "And as you wish that men would do to you, do so to them." Here Jesus teaches us what is often called the "Golden Rule". While other world religions claim to teach the same thing, this teaching is unique to Christianity. All other religions teach "do not do to others what you would not want them to do to you." For example, I would not like someone to steal something from me, therefore I must not steal from them. Similarly, I would not want someone to slander me, so I must not slander them. Our Lord, of course, would condemn stealing and slandering, but He also "raises the bar" so to speak for Christians. It is not simply enough for us to refrain from doing to others what we would not want them to do to us. On the contrary, we are called to treat others the way we would like to be treated. This teaching has a profound impact on Christian service. If I see someone who is hungry or thirsty, I am expected to help them with their need, to serve them as I am able, because I would want another person to do the same for me if the situation was reversed. In short, our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ calls us to look at situations from the point of view of someone who is in need. Our mission, then, is to act as we would like others to act toward us.

    Imagine for a moment that, through no fault of your own, you were forced to leave your home and move into a senior living facility. Imagine what it would be like if you were no longer able to go to church regularly, if at all. Would you want to find a way to keep in touch with the Church and her worship?

    In Cleveland, Ohio, we have a rather unique ministry, St. Panteleimon Orthodox Christian Outreach, which exists to provide an Orthodox presence at senior living facilities throughout our metropolitan area. Founded in 2010, the St. Panteleimon ministry differs from many parish shut-in ministries in that it focuses on group residences (nursing homes, assisted living facilities, independent living facilities and memory care residences) with an emphasis on Orthodox worship. One-on-one visits can be arranged, but they are secondary to group prayer services and Bible studies. Many of the residents are no longer able to attend services at their home parish, which creates a significant void in their lives. The ministry’s goal is to fill that void by holding reader’s services—Orthodox services that can be done in the absence of a priest, if necessary—on a regular basis at each facility. Most services last roughly 30 minutes, and include many hymns from the Divine Liturgy (Antiphons, Only Begotten Son, Holy God, hymns of the saint of the day) as well as the daily readings. This is a way to keep Orthodox residents connected to the daily worship of the Church, and to give other residents perhaps their first-ever exposure to Orthodoxy. Programming is geared toward Orthodox Christian residents; however all are welcome who wish to worship the Holy Trinity in the Orthodox manner. The St. Panteleimon ministry is Pan Orthodox in its scope, having served 20 of Cleveland's parishes during its five year existence.

    Some people may ask, "Why do I have to serve the less fortunate? Why can't I just worry about my family and friends?" This is a valid question, and it is important to look after our friends and relatives, and to serve them during their times of need. However, Jesus is clear that it is to our benefit to serve those who cannot repay us. In the Final Judgment passage He uses the following people as examples: The hungry, thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick and the imprisoned. (One could argue that people living in nursing homes are a combination of the last two groups.)  Let us also consider the Savior's words in Luke 6:34: "And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again."

    Christ teaches us again about mercy: "Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful" (Luke 6:36). St. Panteleimon, whose name means "all merciful", is an example for us in showing mercy to others. A physician by trade he healed those who were in need free of charge, because of his Christian faith. May we emulate the mercy of Christ as we serve those around us. Through the prayers of St. Panteleimon, as well as those of all the other saints, may Christ our God have mercy on us and save us.

In Appreciation

St. Panteleimon Orthodox Christian Outreach would like to thank the following parishes and organizations for their financial support during the year 2013.

Grant
Ganister Orthodox Foundation

Parishes
Holy Ghost Orthodox Church -- Sterling Heights, MI
Holy Trinity Orthodox Church -- Parma, OH

Organizations
Daughters of Penelope -- Erinys Chapter
Daughters of Penelope -- Icarus Chapter
Eastern Orthodox Womens Guild of Greater Cleveland
St. Paul Ladies Philoptochos -- North Royalton, OH

We also wish to thank Largent Sales Group, LLC (Wellington, OH) and all of our individual benefactors.

Thank you for your support, which is vital to the sustainability of this ministry. May God grant you all many years!!

Many Thanks

St. Panteleimon Orthodox Christian Outreach would like to thank:

• Holy Trinity Orthodox Church for hosting our 4th annual cookie walk.
• Holly Sales of Northern Ohio--4720 Warner Rd. in Garfield Heights --for providing the scale that was used to weigh cookies.
• Everyone who baked cookies and other items for sale.
• Everyone who supported this important fundraiser.

It is difficult for Christian charities to survive in tough economic times, and we truly appreciate all of your efforts to ensure that the St. Panteleimon ministry continues serving the people of Northeast Ohio.

May God grant you all many years!!

Nativity Sermon of St. John Chrysostom

I behold a new and wondrous mystery! My ears resound to the shepherd's song, piping no soft melody, but loudly chanting a heavenly hymn!

The angels sing!

The archangels blend their voices in harmony!

The cherubim resound their joyful praise!

The Seraphim exalt His glory!

All join to praise this holy feast, beholding the Godhead herein... on earth and man in heaven. He who is above now, for our salvation, dwells here below; and we, who were lowly, are exalted by divine mercy!

Today Bethlehem resembles heaven, hearing from the stars the singing of angelic voices and, in place of the sun, witnessing the rising of the Sun of Justice!

Ask not how this is accomplished, for where God wills, the order of nature is overturned. For He willed He had the powers He descended. He saved. All things move in obedience to God.

Today He Who Is, is born ! And He Who Is becomes what He was not! For when He was God, He became man-while not relinquishing the Godhead that is His...

And so the kings have come, and they have seen the heavenly King that has come upon the earth, not bringing with Him angels, nor archangels, nor thrones, nor dominions, nor powers, nor principalities, but, treading a new and solitary path, He has come forth from a spotless womb.

Yet He has not forsaken His angels, nor left them deprived of His care, nor because of His incarnation has He ceased being God. And behold kings have come, that they might serve the Leader of the Hosts of Heaven; Women, that they might adore Him Who was born of a woman so that He might change the pains of childbirth into joy; Virgins, to the Son of the Virgin...

Infants, that they may adore Him who became a little child, so that out of the mouths of infants He might perfect praise; Children, to the Child who raised up martyrs through the rage of Herod; Men, to Him who became man that He might heal the miseries of His servants;

Shepherds, to the Good Shepherd who was laid down His life for His sheep;

Priests, to Him who has become a High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek;

Servants, to Him who took upon Himself the form of a servant, that He might bless our stewardship with the reward of freedom (Philippians 2:7);

Fishermen, to the Fisher of mankind;

Publicans, to Him who from among them named a chosen evangelist;

Sinful women, to Him who exposed His feet to the tears of the repentant woman;

And that I may embrace them all together, all sinners have come, that they may look upon the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world! Since, therefore, all rejoice, I too desire to rejoice! I too wish to share the choral dance, to celebrate the festival! But I take my part, not plucking the harp nor with the music of the pipes nor holding a torch, but holding in my arms the cradle of Christ!

For this is all my hope!

This is my life!

This is my salvation!

This is my pipe, my harp!

And bearing it I come, and having from its power received the gift of speech, I too, with the angels and shepherds, sing:

"Glory to God in the Highest! and on earth peace to men of good will!"

Feast Day Celebration

Please join us for our feast day celebration on Thursday, July 26, at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Orthodox Church (2101 Quail St., off of Madison) in Lakewood. Parking is available on the street, in the parish driveway and in the parking lot adjacent to Harrison School. Great Vespers begin at 6:30pm. All are welcome!

NOTICE

All St. Panteleimon Ministry programming for Friday, May 25 and Saturday, May 26 will be cancelled so that we may attend the funeral of Metropolitan CONSTANTINE. May his memory be eternal!

The Meaning of "Pascha"

By Igumen Gregory (Valentine)

Recently I was asked this question: "Why do we use the word 'pascha' to describe this present  feast of the church? What does it mean and why is it so important to us Orthodox Christians?" Let me address the answer now so that all can hear and reflect upon the richness of this feast.

The  New Testament teaches us that the final three days, culminating in the  resurrection of Jesus, which Pascha celebrates, is the foundation of the Christian Faith. The resurrection established Jesus as the powerful Son of God and is cited as proof that God will judge the world in righteousness. But it was necessary that Christ should undergo the events of Great Friday and remain in the tomb on Holy Saturday in order for God to give Christians "a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead". Christians, through faith in the working of God are spiritually resurrected with Jesus so that they may walk in a new way of life. But like Christ we too must endure difficulties, illnesses and crosses in order to die with Christ that we might live with Christ.

Pascha, which is the Greek form of the Hebrew word Pesach or Passover, is linked to the Passover and Exodus from Egypt as recorded in the Old Testament and recounted in ritual read at the Seder Meal. In the New Testament the Mystical Supper, held on Thursday evening, and the Crucifixion of Christ that preceded the Resurrection are re-presented liturgically at the Divine Liturgy. Passover is for both the Jewish people and for the Christians, then a series of events stretching over a period of time, which find fulfillment in a remarkable conclusion. For the Jews it was the forty year wandering in the desert, finally arriving at the Promised Land of Canaan and ritually celebrated for 8 days. For Christians we begin our preparation during the 40 days of the Great Lent, which then flows into the mixture of joy and immense sorrow of the Holy and Great Week. The Paschal Feast itself reaches its high point in the Resurrection Services, and has an extended celebration for 50 days, culminating in the Ascension of Christ into heaven and His subsequent sending of the All Holy Spirit from His Father in the form of fiery tongues upon His Holy Apostles and the entire new creation, the Holy Orthodox Church. The final days of the Paschal season is celebrated on Pentecost, (Greek for 50) Sunday, also called Troitsa or Sunday of the Trinity.

Both Christians and Jews observe events which are celebrated in a ritualized meal that seeks to express in time that which is timeless, doing so in order to recall the care of God for His People. According to the New Testament, Jesus gave the pre-Passover meal a new meaning, as he prepared himself and his disciples for his death by a special meal in the upper room during the Mystical Supper. He gave the sanctified loaf of bread and cup of wine as His Body soon to be sacrificed and His Blood soon to be shed. St. Paul states, "Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast--as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed"; this quote refers to the Passover requirement to have no yeast in the house and to the allegory of Jesus as the paschal lamb. One interpretation in the Gospel of John is that Jesus, as the Passover lamb, was crucified at roughly the same time as the Passover lambs were being slain in the temple, on the afternoon of the 14th of Nisan, roughly equivalent to early to mid April in our calendar. The scriptural instructions specify that the lamb is to be slain "between the two evenings", that is, at twilight. Christ was taken down from the cross some time after 3 PM on that Great Friday.

Unlike the Old Testament Passover, which is celebrated annually, our Paschal Feast is to be done again and again in His Memory, which we do at every Divine Liturgy. Once a year we give the Feast a special emphasis during Holy Week and the Bright Resurrection. This is, par excellence, the Great Paschal Mystery. The high point occurs at the Holy Saturday Liturgy, the event in which often catechumens receive their final instruction and then are admitted into the Church through the Rites of Christian Initiation, which include Baptism, Chrismation, and Holy Communion. Carried out in the context of this service, in a most dramatic sense they do mystically die and then rise with Christ. I have experienced the joy of this Holy Saturday Initiation Rite a number of times during my years as a priest. What a blessing it has been!

Perhaps the most notable reason why few contemporary Orthodox Christians are really able to make the connection to the Passover of the Old Testament, is because they seldom, if ever, have attended the Holy Saturday Divine Liturgy. If one were to attend that Liturgy one would hear 15 lessons from the Old Testament that prefigure Christ in the lives of various persons and in the events of the first passover before the Jewish people were delivered from Egypt under the leadership of Moses, who is a prefigurement of Christ the Liberator. It is preeminently in this Liturgical Rite that the passover is so clearly and richly presented. It takes about one hour to read and listen to these lessons, which then lead into the epistle of St. Paul who declares Christ to be our new Passover, followed by the reading of the Gospel of St. Matthew which announces Christ’s Resurrection from the dead, coupled to the Eucharistic Sacrifice, our new Pascha in deed. The combination of all these lessons, while admittedly lengthy, nevertheless, is so worth while for our deeper understanding of the Paschal Mystery, as we recount its unfolding for the Jews in one way, and for us in another and more perfect Way. The Fathers tell us that the New Testament is hidden within the Old Testament, and the Old Testament is fulfilled in the New. Hence the Orthodox Church maintains a point of contact with the Old Testament community in terms of the Scriptures that we read along with the Gospels, Epistles, Acts of the Apostles, and the Book of Revelation, which together form the New Testament.

But as was stated earlier, we are not limited to just this time in our liturgical calendar. In a real sense, Pascha is observed by Orthodox Christians whenever we gather to celebrate the Divine Liturgy, and, in deed, in every major Sacrament of the Church. What a great blessing we have received as a Gift from our Risen Lord!

Today we remember the Holy Myrrh bearers, this being the 3rd Sunday of Pascha. Let us now unite ourselves today with these women and men who were with Christ during His final hours on the first Great Friday, and who were then rewarded by being among the first to greet the Risen Lord. They sought a dead body to anoint but encountered the Risen Lord Jesus. In the Paschal Canon we sing during Matins of Pascha: "Why do you seek the living among the dead, why do you seek the Incorrupt amid corruption? Go, tell His apostles that He is Risen as He foretold." May we too do the same today as we proclaim:

CHRIST IS RISEN! INDEED, HE IS RISEN!

Amen.

Alleluia!

The First Paschal Sermon of St. Gregory the Theologian

Yesterday the Lamb was slain And the door-posts were anointed,

And Egypt bewailed her Firstborn,

And the Destroyer passed over us,

And the Seal was dreadful and reverend,

And we were walled in with the Precious Blood.

Today, we have escaped from Egypt and from Pharoah; And there is none to hinder us

From keeping a Feast to the Lord our God —

The Feast of our Departure;

Or from celebrating that Feast,

Not in the old leaven of malice and wickedness,

But in the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth, Carrying with us nothing of ungodly and Egyptian leaven.

Yesterday, I was crucified with Him;

Today, I am glorified with Him;

Yesterday, I died with Him;

Today I am quickened with Him;

Yesterday, I was buried with Him;

Today, I rise with Him.

But let us offer to Him Who suffered and rose again for us — you will think perhaps that I am going to say gold, or silver, or woven work, or transparent and costly stones, the mere passing material things of earth, that remains here below, and is for the most part always possessed by bad men, slaves of the world, and of the Prince of the World.

Let us offer ourselves,

The possession most precious to God, and most fitting; Let us give back the image that is made after the Image, Let us recognize our Dignity; let us honour our Archetype;

Let us know the power of the Mystery,

And for what Christ died.

Let us become like Christ,

Since Christ has become like us.

Let us become God's for His sake,

Since He for ours became Man.

He assumed the worse

So that He might give us the better;

He became poor,

So that we through his poverty

Might become rich;

He took upon Him the form of a servant

That we might receive back our liberty;

He came down,

That we might be exalted;

He was tempted,

That we might conquer;

He was dishonoured,

That He might glorify us;

He died,

That He might save us;

He ascended,

That He might draw Himself to us,

Who were lying low in the Fall of sin.

Let us give all, offer all,

To Him who gave Himself

As Ransom and a Reconciliation for us.

But one can given nothing like oneself,

Understanding the Mystery,

And becoming for His sake,

All that He became for ours.

The Paschal Greeting (Christ is Risen!)

Albanian - Krishti u ngjall! Vërtet u ngjall!Aleut - Kristus aq ungwektaq! Pichinuq ungwektaq! Arabic - Al-Masih-Qam! Hakkan Qam! Church Slavonic - Christos Voskrese! Voistinu Voskrese! French - Le Christ est ressuscité! Vraiment Il est ressuscité! German - Christus ist auferstanden! Er ist wahrhaftig auferstanden! Greek - Christos Anesti! Aleithos Anesti! Hebrew (modern) - Ha Masheeha houh kam! A ken kam! Italian - Cristo è risorto! È veramente risorto! Latin - Christus Surrexit! Surrexit vere! Romanian - Hristos a înviat! Adevărat a înviat! Spanish - Cristo ha resucitado! Verdaderamente, ha resucitado! Yupik - Xris-tusaq Ung-uixtuq! Iluumun Ung-uixtuq!