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St. John The Baptist Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2017-04-16
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Anastasi
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St. John The Baptist Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (212) 473-0648
  • Street Address:

  • 143 East 17th Street

  • New York, NY 10003
  • Mailing Address:

  • 143 East 17th Street

  • New York, NY 10003


Past Bulletins


Message from His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios

Archbishop-demetrios

ARCHIEPISCOPAL ENCYCLICAL ON HOLY PASCHA

04/16/2017

ARCHIEPISCOPAL ENCYCLICAL ON HOLY PASCHA

 

Protocol 39/17

April 16, 2017

Holy Pascha

The Feasts of Feasts

 

To the Most Reverend Hierarchs, the Reverend Priests and Deacons, the Monks and Nuns, the Presidents and Members of the Parish Council of the Greek Orthodox Communities, the Distinguished Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Day, Afternoon, and Church Schools, the Philoptochos Sisterhoods, the Youth, the Hellenic Organizations, and the entire Greek Orthodox Family in America, 

Χριστός νέστη!  Christ is Risen!

On this glorious Feast of Feasts that is filled with the transcendent light and unsurpassable joy of the Lord’s Resurrection,   I proclaim with you, my beloved people,  the exclamation of victory,  Christ is Risen!   Truly, He is Risen! 

            The reality of the Lord’s Resurrection has an unparalleled significance for humanity.  The Resurrection is an event of multiple victories, victories that have a transformative and renewing promise for each of us. 

First, The Lord’s Resurrection is the victory over death,   the victory of life over death.  But, beyond that, it is the victory of   establishing the Resurrection as a new reality on earth.  In the Paschal light,  we realize that while death continues to  be a physical phenomenon, it does not dominate humanity  as the ultimate and unavoidable fate. Rather death has lost its sting (1Corinthians 15:55) as it opens a passageway to a better life, a life in the union,  presence, and eternal communion with  God.  

Ultimately, the Resurrection becomes the destiny for each and every one of us.   Saint Paul assures us in clear language that as Christ was risen, so we will be risen and be united to Christ in a transformed life, an incorruptible life, a shining life, a luminous life bathed in an abundance of light and splendor.

Second, the Lord’s Resurrection is the victory over injustice.  Is it possible to identify any event more unjust than the Crucifixion of Christ? In the horrific event of unbelievable injustice in which humanity crucified the living manifestation of perfection, holiness, innocence, and  purity, we see the Resurrection of Christ overcoming this  injustice and restoring triumphantly the invincible rule of justice willed by God. 

Third, the Lord’s Resurrection is also the victory of love over hatred.    The Resurrection of Christ is the establishment of love  as the central reality of life. Despite the cries of hate, Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him! (John 19:15)  Christ on the Cross asks the Father to forgive his adversaries for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34).   The Resurrection amazingly transforms the Crucifixion from a crime of hatred on the part of humanity to an act of love on the part of Christ!   Christ is risen and love is splendidly shining over humanity.

Fourth, The Lord’s Resurrection is the victory of salvation, liberation and holiness over sin, guilt and evil. Some contemporary existential philosophers consider that sin, guilt, and evil are the conditions that man cannot surpass. With the Resurrection, however,  man can overcome these tormenting elements of the human condition. The Cross followed by the Resurrection establishes the abolition of sin and guilt and restores the reality of a life free of them.  It is a newness of life due to the Resurrection. While sin, guilt, and evil may still be a reality on earth,  under the light of the Resurrection they are very different.  By the grace and might of Christ’s Resurrection, they can be easily overcome  as they are now stripped of their power to control and consume us.

In this salvific Day of the Resurrection, we are fully aware of these multiple victories of Christ over anything that is hostile to human existence.   All these victories of the Risen Lord,  lead us once more to the central message of the Resurrection,  which is our own personal resurrection.  It is the vision of this Resurrection that fills us with hope for the future,  no matter what the present circumstances of life may be.   

It is the  promise of our personal resurrection that this vision establishes and fills us with ineffable joy as we chant,  It is the Day of Resurrection! O People, let us glory in splendor! Pascha, the Lord’s Pascha! For Christ our God has transported us who sing the triumphal hymn from death to life, and from earth to Heaven.

 

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

 

With paternal love in Christ,

the Risen Lord,

 
 

 DEMETRIOS

Archbishop of America

 


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Greek Orthodox Archdiocese News

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Archbishop Demetrios of America Expresses Condolences to Coptic Churches in Egypt and America

04/11/2017

NEW YORK – His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios Geron of America, upon receiving the tragic news of the horrific massacre on Palm Sunday, in the Coptic churches of Saint George in Tanta and Saint Mark’s Cathedral in Alexandria, Egypt, expressed in a letter profound and heartfelt condolences to the Coptic Church Hierarchs and their communities in America and through them to Patriarch Tawadros II and the Coptic faithful in Egypt.

The Archbishop in his letter further states: “We strongly believe that even in the dire circumstances of this tragedy, the love of God will prevail over the forces of darkness and hatred.  We believe based on the experience of the Holy Week of Passion, that even after the Crucifixion, God defeated death and evil and triumphed through the Resurrection.

We stand firm and in solidarity with the victims and the families of this horrendous terrorist attack.  We fervently pray for the repose of the souls of those who perished, for the consolation of their families and for the protection of all the members of the Coptic Christian Church in Egypt.”

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Holy Week Liturgical Schedule of Bishops Andonios of Phasiane and Sevastianos of Zela (April 8 – 23, 2017)

04/06/2017

April 6, 2017

His Grace Bishop ANDONIOS of PHASIANE

Saturday of Lazarus, April 8
9:00 a.m. –  Divine Liturgy, St. Michael’s Home, Yonkers, NY
Palm Sunday, April 9
8:45 a.m. Orthros, 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy,
Greek Orthodox Church of St. Paraskevi, Greenlawn, NY
Holy Monday – April 10
3:00 p.m. Service of Nymphios (afternoon) – St. Michael’s Home, Yonkers, NY
7:00 p.m. Service of Nymphios (eve.) – Greek Orthodox Church of St. Spyridon, NYC
Holy Tuesday, April 11
3:00 p.m. Service of Nymphios (afternoon) – St. Michael’s Home, Yonkers, NY
7:00 p.m. Service of Nymphios – Greek Orthodox Church of Zoodohos Peghe, Bronx, NY
Holy Wednesday, April 12
3:00 p.m. Holy Unction, St. Michael’s Home, Yonkers, NY
Holy Thursday, April 13
9:00 a.m. Vespers with Divine Liturgy and 1:00 p.m. Holy Passion,
St. Michael’s Home, Yonkers, NY
6:30 p.m. Holy Passion, (eve) – Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Cross, Whitestone, NY
Holy Friday, April 14
12:30 p.m. Apokathelosis Vespers, 3:00 p.m. Epitaphios Lamentations Service
St. Michael’s Home, Yonkers, NY
6:30 p.m. Epitaphios Service, Greek Orthodox Church of St. Demetrios, Jamaica, NY
Holy Saturday, April 15
9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy First Resurrection Service– St. Michael’s Home, Yonkers, NY
10:45 p.m. RESURRECTION and Paschal Divine Liturgy
Greek Orthodox Church of Our Saviour, Rye, NY
Sunday of PASCHA, April 16
11:00 a.m. Paschal Service, St. Michael’s Home, Yonkers, NY
Sunday of Thomas, April 23 (Feast of St. George)
8:30 a.m. Orthros, 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy
Greek Orthodox Church of St. George, Norwalk, Conn.
 

His Grace Bishop SEVASTIANOS of ZELA

Palm Sunday, April 9

8:45 a.m. Orthros, 9:45 a.m. Divine Liturgy
Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity, Bridgeport, Conn., Tel.: (203) 374-5561
Holy Monday, April 10
7:00 p.m. Service of Nymphios,
Greek Orthodox Church of Prophet Elias, Yonkers, NY
Holy Tuesday, April 11
7:30 p.m. Service of Nymphios,
Greek Orthodox Church of St. George, Norwalk, Conn., Tel.: (203) 849-0611
Holy Wednesday, April 12
6:00 p.m. Service of the Holy Unction
Greek Orthodox Church of St. Markella, Wantagh, NY
Holy Thursday, April 13
8:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy, Chapel of Saint Paul, Archdiocese Headquarters, NYC
7:00 p.m. Holy Passion Service
Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Cross, Brooklyn, NY
Holy Friday, April 14
6:30 p.m. Epitaphios,  Lamentations
Greek Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas, Babylon, NY
Holy Saturday, April 15
11:00 p.m. RESURRECTION and Paschal Divine Liturgy
Greek Orthodox Church of St. Eleftherios, NYC
 

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Assembly of Bishops News

Assembly Chairman's Message for Holy Pascha 2017

04/12/2017

Pascha 2017 - To the Reverend Priests and Deacons, the Monks and Nuns, the Presidents and Members of Parish Councils, the Day, Afternoon, and Church Schools, the Members of Philanthropic Organizations, the Youth and Youth Workers, and the entire Orthodox Christian Family in the United States of America
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Archimandrite Vasilios' Message

 

I HOPE AND PRAY THAT ALL OF YOU WILL HAVE A BLESSED AND HOLY PASCHA (EASTER) WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS CELEBRATING THIS LIFE CHANGING EVENT. 

IF YOU HAVE NOT AS OF YET SENT IN YOUR 2017 STEWARDSHIP PLEASE DO THAT TODAY!

 

Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

“Cleanse out the old leaven in order to be a new batch . . . For Christ, our paschal lamb, has been sacrificed.  Let us, therefore, celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” 1 Corinthians 5:7-8

Our Lord’s Crucifixion, death, and resurrection from the dead are as real as you are.  This event was announced by the Angel in His tomb to Mary Magdalene who was the first witness of this life changing and cosmic altering event.  He was not resurrected as a spirit, or some ghost-like image, but whole and complete, a composite human being containing body, soul, and spirit.  This is what we can expect if we follow His example in our life and are baptized in the Name of the Holy Trinity. 

Throughout the Baptismal Service these words are replete within the many prayers read by the priest and chanted by the psalty.  The Epistle reading that day is from St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans, and states as follows: “Brethren, do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:3-11

Likewise, we too share in His life, death, and resurrection. A resurrection of our complete and composite nature, body, soul, and spirit as was His.  This is the “Good News” that Christians throughout the centuries have declared to the world.  It is a true reality that has pierced death, and eliminated its sting granting us a life in Him.  As a result, when the hour comes we can loudly proclaim with joy and thanksgiving that “Christ is Risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life.”  “Χροστός ανέστη έκ νεκρών, θανάτῳ θανάτον πατήσας, και τοîς έν τοîς μνήμασι, ζωην χαρισάμενος.”  Therefore it is the inward resurrection of our soul now united with Him into life eternal.

This we believe as Orthodox Christians and I hope and pray that you let this miraculous event strengthen all of you through the knowledge of what Christ has done for us without our asking.  It is with great joy and humility that I invite all of you to come and join us in celebrating this Miraculous Event along side of us at St. John’s.

  

Christ Is Risen! Truly He Has Risen!   Χριστός Άνέστη! Άληθῶς Άνέστη!

 

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New and Events at St. John's

Great & Holy Thursday, April 13

9:00 a.m. Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil the Great

7:00 p.m. Service of the Holy Passion of our Lord (Twelve Gospels)

No Bible Study until April 27th.

 

Great & Holy Good Friday, April 14

3:30 p.m. Apokathelosis

7:00 p.m. Lamentations (Epitaphion)

 

Holy Saturday, April 15

9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great

11:00 p.m. Holy Resurrection Matins

Service of the Triumphant Resurrection

Midnight Divine Liturgy of the Resurrection

 

Great and Holy Pascha Sunday, April 16

12 noon - Agape Vesper of Easter

 

Monday, April 17

St. George the Great

9:15 a.m. Orthros/10:15 a.m. Divine Liturgy

 

Thursday, April 20, 2017

6:30 p.m. Bible Study

 

Sunday, April 23, 2017

Sunday of Thomas

9:15 a.m. Orthros/10:15 a.m. Divine Liturgy

 

Thursday, April 27, 2017

6:30 p.m. Bible Study

 

Sunday, April 30, 2017

Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearers

9:15 a.m. Orthros/10:15 a.m. Divine Liturgy

 

Thursday, May 4, 2017

6:30 p.m. Bible Study

 

Sunday, May 7, 2017

Sunday of the Paralytic

9:15 a.m. Orthros/10:15 a.m. Divine Liturgy

 

Thursday, May 11, 2017

6:30 p.m. Bible Study

 

Sunday, May 14, 2017

Sunday of the Samaritan Woman

Mother’s Day

9:15 a.m. Orthros/10:15 a.m. Divine Liturgy

 

Thursday, May 18, 2017

6:30 p.m. Bible Study

 

Sunday, May 21, 2017

Sunday of the Blind Man

9:15 a.m. Orthros/10:15 a.m. Divine Liturgy

 

Thursday, May 25, 2017

Holy Ascension

9:15 a.m. Orthros/10:15 a.m. Divine Liturgy

6:30 p.m. Bible Study

 

Sunday, May 28, 2017

Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council

9:15 a.m. Orthros/10:15 a.m. Divine Liturgy

 

Monday, May 29, 2017

Memorial Day

Church Closed

 

NGTV has posted Fr. Vasilios’ weekly programs on YOUTUBE.  You may view the programs using keywords: “vasilios spiritual”  Enjoy!

If you would like to sponsor a Coffee Hour, please see the Parish Council after Liturgy.

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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal Fourth Mode. Psalm 117.24,29.
This is the day which the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Verse: Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his mercy endures for ever.

The reading is from Acts of the Apostles 1:1-8.

IN THE FIRST BOOK, O Theophilos, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. To them he presented himself alive after his passion by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days, and speaking of the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, "you heard from me, for John baptized with water, but before many days you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit."

So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom of lsrael?" He said to them, "it is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth."

Προκείμενον. Plagal Fourth Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 117.24,29.
αὕτη ἡ ἡμέρα, ἣν ἐποίησεν ὁ Κύριος· ἀγαλλιασώμεθα καὶ εὐφρανθῶμεν ἐν αὐτῇ
Στίχ. ἐξομολογεῖσθε τῷ Κυρίῳ, ὅτι ἀγαθός, ὅτι εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πράξεις Ἀποστόλων 1:1-8.

Τὸν μὲν πρῶτον λόγον ἐποιησάμην περὶ πάντων, ὦ Θεόφιλε, ὧν ἤρξατο ὁ Ἰησοῦς ποιεῖν τε καὶ διδάσκειν, ἄχρι ἧς ἡμέρας, ἐντειλάμενος τοῖς ἀποστόλοις διὰ πνεύματος ἁγίου οὓς ἐξελέξατο, ἀνελήφθη· οἷς καὶ παρέστησεν ἑαυτὸν ζῶντα μετὰ τὸ παθεῖν αὐτὸν ἐν πολλοῖς τεκμηρίοις, διʼ ἡμερῶν τεσσαράκοντα ὀπτανόμενος αὐτοῖς, καὶ λέγων τὰ περὶ τῆς βασιλείας τοῦ θεοῦ. Καὶ συναλιζόμενος παρήγγειλεν αὐτοῖς ἀπὸ Ἱεροσολύμων μὴ χωρίζεσθαι, ἀλλὰ περιμένειν τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν τοῦ πατρός, Ἣν ἠκούσατέ μου· ὅτι Ἰωάννης μὲν ἐβάπτισεν ὕδατι, ὑμεῖς δὲ βαπτισθήσεσθε ἐν πνεύματι ἁγίῳ οὐ μετὰ πολλὰς ταύτας ἡμέρας. Οἱ μὲν οὖν συνελθόντες ἐπηρώτων αὐτὸν λέγοντες, Κύριε, εἰ ἐν τῷ χρόνῳ τούτῳ ἀποκαθιστάνεις τὴν βασιλείαν τῷ Ἰσραήλ; Εἶπεν δὲ πρὸς αὐτούς, Οὐχ ὑμῶν ἐστιν γνῶναι χρόνους ἢ καιροὺς οὓς ὁ πατὴρ ἔθετο ἐν τῇ ἰδίᾳ ἐξουσίᾳ. Ἀλλὰ λήψεσθε δύναμιν, ἐπελθόντος τοῦ ἁγίου πνεύματος ἐφʼ ὑμᾶς· καὶ ἔσεσθέ μοι μάρτυρες ἔν τε Ἱερουσαλήμ, καὶ ἐν πάσῃ τῇ Ἰουδαίᾳ καὶ Σαμαρείᾳ, καὶ ἕως ἐσχάτου τῆς γῆς.


Gospel Reading

Great and Holy Pascha
The Reading is from John 1:1-17

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light.

The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. (John bore witness to him, and cried, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, for he was before me.'") And from his fullness have we all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Great and Holy Pascha
Κατὰ Ἰωάννην 1:1-17

Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ Λόγος, καὶ ὁ Λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν Θεόν, καὶ Θεὸς ἦν ὁ Λόγος. Οὗτος ἦν ἐν ἀρχῇ πρὸς τὸν Θεόν. πάντα δι᾽ αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο, καὶ χωρὶς αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο οὐδὲ ἓν ὃ γέγονεν. ἐν αὐτῷ ζωὴ ἦν, καὶ ἡ ζωὴ ἦν τὸ φῶς τῶν ἀνθρώπων. καὶ τὸ φῶς ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ φαίνει, καὶ ἡ σκοτία αὐτὸ οὐ κατέλαβεν. 

᾿Εγένετο ἄνθρωπος ἀπεσταλμένος παρὰ Θεοῦ, ὄνομα αὐτῷ ᾿Ιωάννης· οὗτος ἦλθεν εἰς μαρτυρίαν, ἵνα μαρτυρήσῃ περὶ τοῦ φωτός, ἵνα πάντες πιστεύσωσι δι᾽ αὐτοῦ. οὐκ ἦν ἐκεῖνος τὸ φῶς, ἀλλ᾽ ἵνα μαρτυρήσῃ περὶ τοῦ φωτός. ῏Ην τὸ φῶς τὸ ἀληθινόν, ὃ φωτίζει πάντα ἄνθρωπον ἐρχόμενον εἰς τὸν κόσμον. ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ ἦν, καὶ ὁ κόσμος δι᾽ αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο, καὶ ὁ κόσμος αὐτὸν οὐκ ἔγνω. εἰς τὰ ἴδια ἦλθε, καὶ οἱ ἴδιοι αὐτὸν οὐ παρέλαβον.  ὅσοι δὲ ἔλαβον αὐτόν, ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς ἐξουσίαν τέκνα Θεοῦ γενέσθαι, τοῖς πιστεύουσιν εἰς τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ, οἳ οὐκ ἐξ αἱμάτων, οὐδὲ ἐκ θελήματος σαρκός, οὐδὲ ἐκ θελήματος ἀνδρός, ἀλλ᾽ ἐκ Θεοῦ ἐγεννήθησαν. 

Καὶ ὁ Λόγος σὰρξ ἐγένετο καὶ ἐσκήνωσεν ἐν ἡμῖν, καὶ ἐθεασάμεθα τὴν δόξαν αὐτοῦ, δόξαν ὡς μονογενοῦς παρὰ πατρός, πλήρης χάριτος καὶ ἀληθείας. ᾿Ιωάννης μαρτυρεῖ περὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ κέκραγε λέγων· οὗτος ἦν ὃν εἶπον, ὁ ὀπίσω μου ἐρχόμενος ἔμπροσθέν μου γέγονεν, ὅτι πρῶτός μου ἦν. Καὶ ἐκ τοῦ πληρώματος αὐτοῦ ἡμεῖς πάντες ἐλάβομεν, καὶ χάριν ἀντὶ χάριτος· ὅτι ὁ νόμος διὰ Μωϋσέως ἐδόθη, ἡ χάρις καὶ ἡ ἀλήθεια διὰ ᾿Ιησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐγένετο.


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Saints and Feasts

Anastasi
April 16

Great and Holy Pascha

Mary Magdalene, and the other women who were present at the burial of our Saviour on Friday evening, returned from Golgotha to the city and prepared fragrant spices and myrrh, so that they might anoint the body of Jesus. On the morrow, because of the law which forbids work on the day of the Sabbath, they rested for the whole day. But at early dawn on the Sunday that followed, almost thirty-six hours since the death of the Life-giving Redeemer, they came to the sepulchre with the spices to anoint His body. While they were considering the difficulty of rolling away the stone from the door of the sepulchre, there was a fearful earthquake; and an Angel, whose countenance shone like lightning and whose garment was white as snow, rolled away the stone and sat upon it. The guards that were there became as dead from fear and took to flight. The women, however, went into the sepulchre, but did not find the Lord's body. Instead, they saw two other Angels in the form of youths clothed in white, who told them that the Saviour was risen, and they sent forth the women, who ran to proclaim to the disciples these gladsome tidings. Then Peter and John arrived, having learned from Mary Magdalene what had come to pass, and when they entered the tomb, they found only the winding sheets. Therefore, they returned again to the city with joy, as heralds now of the supernatural Resurrection of Christ, Who in truth was seen alive by the disciples on this day on five occasions.

Our Lord, then, was crucified, died, and was buried on Friday, before the setting of the sun, which was the first of His "three days" in the grave; observing the mystical Sabbath, that "seventh day" in which it is said that the Lord "rested from all His works" (Gen. 2:2-3), He passed all of Saturday in the grave; and He arose "while it was yet dark, very early in the morning" on Sunday, the third day, which, according to the Hebrew reckoning, began after sunset on Saturday.

As we celebrate today this joyous Resurrection, we greet and embrace one another in Christ, thereby demonstrating our Saviour's victory over death and corruption, and the destruction of our ancient enmity with God, and His reconciliation toward us, and our inheritance of life everlasting. The feast itself is called Pascha, which is derived from the Hebrew word which means "passover"; because Christ, Who suffered and arose, has made us to pass over from the curse of Adam and slavery to the devil and death unto our primal freedom and blessedness. In addition, this day of this particular week, which is the first of all the rest, is dedicated to the honour of the Lord; in honour and remembrance of the Resurrection, the Apostles transferred to this day the rest from labour that was formerly assigned to the Sabbath of the ancient Law.

All foods allowed during Renewal Week.


Allsaint
April 16

Agape, Chionia, and Irene, the Holy Martyrs

When the Emperor Diocletian was at Aquileia, he learned that these Saints were Christians, and had them brought before him. Because they would not deny Christ, he had them imprisoned, and when he went into Macedonia, he committed them to Dulcitius the Prefect, who, however, lost his understanding and became incapable of doing them any harm. Diocletian then gave Count Sisinius charge over them. He had Saints Agape and Chionia burned; he ordered that Saint Irene be put in a brothel, but by the providence of God this was not accomplished, and she was shot with an arrow. These holy sisters suffered martyrdom in Thessalonica in the year 295.


Allsaint
April 16

Leonidas and Charissa, Nike, Galene, Kallida, Nounenchia, Vasilissa, and Theodora the Martyrs


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Hymns of the Day

Apolytikion for Great and Holy Pascha in the Plagal First Mode

Christ is risen from the dead, by death hath He trampled down death, and on those in the graves hath He bestowed life.
Χριστός ἀνέστη ἐκ νεκρῶν, θανάτῳ θάνατον πατήσας, καί τοῖς ἐν τοῖς μνήμασι ζωήν χαρισάμενος.

Hypakoe of Great and Holy Pascha in the Fourth Mode

When they who were with Mary came, anticipating the dawn, and found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre, they heard from the Angel: Why seek ye among the dead, as though He were mortal man, Him Who abideth in everlasting light? Behold the grave-clothes. Go quickly and proclaim to the world that the Lord is risen, and hath put death to death. For He is the Son of God, Who saveth the race of men.
Προλαβοῦσαι τὸν ὄρθρον αἱ περὶ Μαριάμ, καὶ εὑροῦσαι τὸν λίθον ἀποκυλισθέντα τοῦ μνήματος, ἤκουον ἐκ τοῦ Ἀγγέλου. Τὸν ἐν φωτὶ ἀϊδίῳ ὑπάρχοντα, μετὰ νεκρῶν τί ζητεῖτε ὡς ἄνθρωπον; βλέπετε τὰ ἐντάφια σπάργανα, δράμετε, καὶ τῷ κόσμῳ κηρύξατε, ὡς ἡγέρθη ὁ Κύριος, θανατώσας τὸν θάνατον· ὅτι ὑπάρχει Θεοῦ Υἱός, τοῦ σῴζοντος τὸ γένος τῶν ἀνθρώπων.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Fourth Mode

Though You went down into the tomb, You destroyed Hades' power, and You rose the victor, Christ God, saying to the myrrh-bearing women, "Hail!" and granting peace to Your disciples, You who raise up the fallen.
Εἰ καὶ ἐν τάφῳ κατῆλθες ἀθάνατε, ἀλλὰ τοῦ ᾍδου καθεῖλες τὴν δύναμιν, καὶ ἀνέστης ὡς νικητής, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, γυναιξὶ Μυροφόροις φθεγξάμενος. Χαίρετε, καὶ τοῖς σοῖς Ἀποστόλοις εἰρήνην δωρούμενος ὁ τοῖς πεσοῦσι παρέχων ἀνάστασιν.
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Wisdom of the Fathers

But why did He appear not to all, but to the Apostles only? Because to the many it would have seemed a mere apparition, inasmuch as they understood not the secret of the mystery For if the disciples themselves were at first incredulous and were troubled, and needed the evidence of actual touch with the hand, and of His eating with them, how would it have fared in all likelihood with the multitude? For this reason therefore by the miracles [wrought by the Apostles] He renders the evidence of His Resurrection unequivocal, so that not only the men of those times-- this is what would come of the ocular proof--but also all men thereafter, should be certain of the fact, that He was risen. Upon this ground also we argue with unbelievers. For if He did not rise again, but remains dead, how did the Apostles perform miracles in His name? But they did not, say you, perform miracles? How then was our religion instituted?
St. John Chrysostom
Homily I on Acts I, 4th Century

Now this is a proof that Christ is God the Word, and the Power of God. For whereas human things cease, and the Word of Christ abides, it is clear to all eyes that what ceases is temporary, but that He Who abides is God, and the true Son of God, His only-begotten Word.
St. Athanasius of Alexandria
On the Incarnation 55, 4th Century

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