Great and Holy Pascha 2008

The Reverend Clergy

Honorable Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate,

Esteemed Members of the Metropolitan Council,

Esteemed Presidents and Members of the Parish Councils and Philoptochos Societies,

Faculty & Students of the Catechetical and Greek Afternoon Schools,

Directors and Participants of all Youth Organizations, and all devout

Orthodox Christians of the Greek Orthodox Communities of our

Holy Metropolis of New Jersey

My Beloved in the Lord,

“But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel; and as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?  Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise.” And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest.” (Luke 24:1-9)

 We have gathered on this auspicious day to come see, and with faith to receive, that pure Light, a Light which knows no evening, (Mat. 4:16; John 1:5, 8:12) shining radiantly from the empty life-giving tomb of Christ; therefore let us cry:

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen! Χριστός Ἀνέστη! Ἀληθῶς Ἀνέστη!

This Light, which enlightens every man coming into the world, (John 1:9) came to us as a serpent-slayer, for the serpent held us captive. This long captivity began when our first-formed parents were deceived by that Enemy of mankind (Gen. 3:1-6) in ancient days when they lived in the presence of the Pure Light, in the Garden of Paradise. There, in Eden, they sinned against the Divine Will, and received the punishment of exile and death. (Gen. 3:8-19) But, before man possessed thought, our God providentially planned for his salvation; (Isa. 51:5-6; 52:10) He did not wish to see His beloved creature forever dominated by death. Therefore, our Lord and Master came to save us according to the will of His Father (John 1:14, 3:16, 6:38-39) and the power of the Spirit, being born of the Theotokos and Ever-virgin Mary, (Luke 1:26-38) true man and true God, of the earth and of the heavens. (Eph. 4:9-11; Heb. 4:14) In this manner, through identity with our own suffering state, yet also bearing in Himself the limitless power of His divinity, He revealed His divine plan: the recapitulation of Adam, (1 Cor. 15:21-22)  not by decree, nor by a proxy, but through His own condescension to us, (Phil. 2:5-8) becoming what we are in every respect save sin, (Heb. 4:15)  so that we might become, by grace, partakers of His divine nature. (2 Pe. 1:3-4) Thus, in the fullness of time, He came down from those lofty heights like a mother bird swoops down to protect her young in their need, and through the example of a single perfect life, revealed to us the nature of our true humanity. (Eph. 1:9-12)

For these reasons, my beloved, we have passed through this Great and Holy Week – to recall the manner in which He has saved us, even the depth of His love for us. Words cannot express, nor can the mind fully comprehend His long-suffering (Eph 3:14-19): sojourning with His people, teaching them, curing their illnesses of soul and body, fulfilling their every need, and in return, was by them hung upon the Tree of the Cross, and in suffering, gave up His life for the life of the world. (John 6:33; Heb. 2:9-10) Wondrous is His love for mankind, wondrous are the mighty deeds of our God. (Psa. 71:1, 75:1) And now today, having passed through the trials of His sufferings, we stand before an empty tomb, and see the renewal of all things. Today we have gathered again to celebrate the Mystery of our Lord’s Pascha, for in His rising, He has truly passed over from death to Life; He annihilated death by dying and truly renewed the created nature of mankind – for all these things our melodic voices are lifted up together with the Angelic choir that surrounds, as we proclaim with them, “Today is the day of Resurrection, let all creation be radiant…”

Let all of us, as members of His True Body, the Holy Orthodox Church, and in particular all those who share in the ministry of this Sacred Metropolis, join in the festival as we celebrate the Feast of Feasts, the Eighth Day: Paradise has been opened, the thief has entered in with the Lord of Glory, (Luke 23:43) the tombs have been opened, (Mat. 27:52) and the prophetic promises have been answered (Rom. 16:25-27) and the cries of despair of every age have been heard.

May the unending light of our Lord’s Pascha be the source of your joy today, and every day, as we struggle to be found worthy of this great gift of new life on the Last Day.

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen! Χριστός Ἀνέστη! Ἀληθῶς Ἀνέστη!

 With Paternal Love and Blessings in the Risen Christ,

†E V A N G E L O S

Metropolitan of New Jersey