Bright Monday

Every year on Bright Monday, the Russian Greek Catholic Church that I attend offers one of the most beautiful liturgies a human can experience.  A Festal Divine Liturgy is celebrated accompanied with an outdoor procession with the recitation of the Four Gospels of the Resurrection at the four corners of the Church.

Tonight, as I listened to our holy Priest reciting the Troparion below while blessing us with the Paschal Trikirion

"Christ is risen from the dead, trampling on death by death, and on those in the tombs bestowing life."

I had to hold back tears at this sublime realization that Our Lord has conquered death by his own death.  My soul, which is encumbered by sin, has been redeemed by our Great God.  He entered Hades and took the Just into Paradise.  He then rose from the dead showing that death did not have the final word over Him.  He shattered the Enemy by "trampling on death by death."

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, we then all went outside with lit candles in our hands and walked to the four corners of the Church hearing the Four Gospels.

We were also given red eggs before we left.  The story goes that St. Mary Magdalene went to the Emperor and told him that Christ had risen.  The Emperor noticed that there was someone there who had a basket of eggs.  He said that if Christ had truly risen, then He would perform a miracle by making those eggs red.  The eggs did turn red affirming the Truth of the Resurrection!

Christ is Risen!   Indeed He is Risen!

Victimae Paschali Laudes

Víctimæ pascháli laudes ímmolent Christiáni.
Agnus rédemit oves: Christus ínnocens Patri reconciliávit peccatóres.
Mors et vita duéllo conflixére mirándo: dux vitæ mórtuus regnat vivus.
Dic nobis, María, quid vidísti in via?
Sepúlcrum Christi vivéntis et glóriam vidi resurgéntis.
Angélicos testes, sudárium et vestes.
Surréxit Christus, spes mea: præcédet vos in Galilaeam.
Scimus Christum surrexísse a mórtuis vere: tu nobis, victor Rex, miserére. Amen. Allelúja.

Christ is Risen! Blessed Pascha!

Christ is Risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life!

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From Matins:

"Dearly beloved brethren, ye have heard the deed of the holy women which had followed the Lord; how that they brought sweet spices to His sepulchre, and, now that He was dead, having loved Him while He was yet alive, they followed Him with careful tenderness still. But the deed of these holy women doth point to somewhat which must needs be done in the holy Church. And it behoveth us well to give ear to what they did, that we may afterward consider with ourselves what we must do likewise after their example. We also, who believe in Him That was dead, do come to His sepulchre bearing sweet spices, when we seek the Lord with the savour of good living, and the fragrant report of good works. Those women, when they brought their spices, saw a vision of Angels, and, in sooth, those souls whose godly desires do move them to seek the Lord with the savour of good lives, do see the countrymen of our Fatherland which is above.

"It behoveth us to mark what this meaneth, that they saw the Angel sitting on the right side. For what signifieth the left, but this life which now is? or the right, but life everlasting? Whence also it is written in the Song of Songs.  His left hand is under my head, and His right hand doth embrace me. Since, therefore, our Redeemer had passed from the corruption of this life which now is, the Angel which told that His undying life was come, sat, as became him, on the right side. They saw him clothed in a white garment, for he was herald of the joy of this our great solemnity, and the glistering whiteness of his raiment told of the brightness of this holy Festival of ours. Of ours, said I? or of his? But if we will speak the truth, we must acknowledge that it is both his and ours. The Again-rising of our Redeemer is a Festival of gladness for us, for us it biddeth know that we shall not die for ever; and for Angels also it is a festival of gladness, for it biddeth them know that we are called to fulfill their number in heaven.

"See this glad Festival then, which is both his and ours, the Angel appeared in white raiment. For as the Lord, rising again from the dead, leadeth us unto the mansions above, He repaireth the breaches of the heavenly Fatherland. But what meaneth this, that the Angel said unto the women which came to the sepulchre: Fear not? Is it not as though he had said openly: Let them fear which love not the coming of the heavenly countrymen; let them be afraid who are so laden by fleshly lusts, that they have lost all hope ever to be joined to their company. But as for you, why fear ye, who, when ye see us, see but your fellow countrymen? Hence also Matthew, writing of the guise of the Angel, saith His countenance was like lightning, and His raiment white as snow. The lightning speaketh of fear and great dread, the snow of the soft brilliancy of rejoicing."

-Pope St. Gregory the Great 

A Blessed Pascha to everyone!  Our Lenten sacrifices were not made in vain.  Let us now enjoy the fruits of the Resurrection!