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Pascha - Feast of the Resurrection
April 20, 2014
Christ is Risen! Indeed, He is Risen!
Mark 16:1-8 - When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?" And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back--it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. And he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you." And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. (ESV)
Come, receive the Light which never fades! By His death and resurrection Christ has defeated Death once and for all. He destroys our enslavement to sin. Through faith He offers us new life. Let us celebrate the Resurrection of Christ and, in faith, allow Him to transform our lives.
I was buried yesterday with You, O Christ; but today I rise, resurrected with You. Yesterday I crucified myself with You, O Savior. Now glorify me with You in Your kingdom. (From Pascha Matins)
Scripture
- Matins - Mark 16:1-8
- Divine Liturgy - Acts of the Apostles 1:1-8, John 1:1-17
- Vespers - John 20:19-25
Christ is Risen! Indeed, He is Risen!
Хрїстóсъ воскрéсе! Воистину воскресе!
Χριστός ἀνέστη! Ἀληθῶς ἀνέστη!
al-Masīḥ qām! Ḥaqqan qām!
¡Cristo ha resucitado! ¡En Verdad ha resucitado!
Foltamadt Krisztus! Valoban Foltamadt!
Hristos a înviat! Adevărat a înviat!
Kristus Prisikėlė! Tikrai Jis Prisikėlė!
For more reading: Paschal Homily of St. John Chrysostom
Damascus Old City: 60 children injured by shell-fire from criminal armed bands
- Details
- Created: 17 April 2014
Palm Sunday, 13 April 2014
The Church of Damascus celebrated in joy and hope Jesus Christ’s victory, this Palm Sunday, with hundreds of children dressed in their Sunday best. Flowers and olive and palm branches decorated our churches.
Great and Holy Monday, 14 April 2014
The Lord has gladdened our hearts. The Syrian army liberated the town of Ma’alula, to everyone’s joy. General rejoicing! The Lord is good, great is his mercy. The inhabitants of Ma’alula are exultant. Lift up your heads, your deliverance is nigh, and you will soon return to your homes, damaged, pillaged, ransacked though they be!
Great and Holy Tuesday, 15 April 2014
At 8 a.m., in Damascus’ Old City, near Saint Thomas’ Gate, a deadly shell landed in the playground of the Armenian Catholic School at Manar, while the children were singing the national anthem before morning prayers.
One child was killed and sixty others injured. Several had life-changing injuries (cut or broken limbs and injuries to eyes, face, chest and stomach), while others were caught directly by the shell-burst.
Read more: Damascus Old City: 60 children injured by shell-fire from criminal armed bands
Paschal Letter 2014 Of His Beatitude Gregorios III, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East Of Alexandria and of Jerusalem
- Details
- Created: 13 April 2014
20 April 2014
I You too have a resurrection
We are celebrating the Feast of the glorious Resurrection of Our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ for the fourth consecutive time while the disastrous events of the so-called “Arab Spring” are destroying thousands of citizens of several Arab countries, from Libya to Egypt, Palestine and Iraq and especially in Syria.
It is precisely in these countries that Christians have been designated “children of the Resurrection.” They are all called to share in Jesus’ Resurrection.
My Paschal Letter this year is divided into two parts: first a general section and spiritual meditation on the Saviour’s Resurrection, in which all those who believe in Jesus Christ have a share, or rather all believers in God and the age to come await a resurrection or renaissance (baath) and renewal (nushur), meaning that Jews, Christians and Muslims all share this expectation.
That is why I address the wish expressed in the title of this letter to all our fellow-Christians and fellow-citizens in our beloved Middle East, affectionately and hopefully telling every man and woman: you have a resurrection too.
The second part of my letter is devoted to the tragic situation of our beloved country, Syria, which is continuing its way of the cross, but which will one day soon we hope reach resurrection joy.