συνοδικός
April 26 / April 13
2019 (7527)
HIEROMARTYR ARTEMON, PRESBYTER OF LAODICEA IN SYRIA (303). MARTYR CRESCENS OF MYRA IN LYCIA. MARTYR THOMAIS OF ALEXANDRIA (476)
HOLY WEEK: Great Friday • 聖週五 • Μεγάλη Παρασκευή
聖週五，基督教的宗教節日，基督徒用以纪念主耶稣基督在各各他被釘死受難的紀念日。根据福音书记载，耶稣于公元33年犹太历尼散月十四日与门徒设立纪念仪式，后于上午九时左右被钉，于下午三时左右死去。主耶稣基督惟独吩咐门徒要纪念祂的死亡。根据当前历法推算，耶稣受难是在犹太历尼散月十四日，按照当前的历法推算是儒略历公元33年4月2日星期四─4月3日星期五，格里历33年3月31日星期四─4月1日星期五。这一天是一个满月日。
Each hour of this day is the new suffering and the new effort of the expiatory suffering of the Savior. And the echo of this suffering is already heard in every word of our worship service – unique and incomparable both in the power of tenderness and feeling and in the depth of the boundless compassion for the suffering of the Savior. The Holy Church opens before the eyes of believers a full picture of the redeeming suffering of the Lord beginning with the bloody sweat in the Garden of Gethsemane up to the crucifixion on Golgotha. Taking us back through the past centuries in thought, the Holy Church brings us to the foot of the cross of Christ erected on Golgotha, and makes us present among the quivering spectators of all the torture of the Savior. On Great and Holy Friday, Christ died on the Cross. He gave up His spirit with the words: "It is finished" (John 19:30). These words are better understood when rendered: "It is consummated." He had accomplished the work for which His heavenly Father had sent Him into the world. He became a man in the fullest sense of the word. He accepted the baptism of repentance from John in the Jordan River. He assumed the whole human condition, experiencing all its alienation, agony, and suffering, concluding with the lowly death on the Cross. He perfectly fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: Therefore I will divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he has poured out his soul to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sins of many, and made intercession for the transgressors (Isaiah 53:12).
• The Icon of Theotokos of TIKHVIN of the icons painted by St Luke the Evangelist
• Panagia PALEOKASTRITSA
Σύναξις Ὑπεραγίας Θεοτόκου τῆς Παλαιοκαστρίτισσας στὴν Κέρκυρα
The Monastery of Virgin Mary of Paleokastritsa is located in the Greek island of Corfu, 25 kilometers outside of the City of Corfu. This majestic monastery is home to 8 Greek Orthodox Monks who receive guidance from Bishop Efthimios Thouis. They conduct traditional masses, provide generous hospitality, and offer regular tours of the grounds and museum located within. Regardless of faith, a visiting tourist will find magical qualities throughout the grounds and breathtaking scenery revealed at every turn. All who share in the experience of the monastery seem to depart in hesitance and with hope for timely return. The name of the Monastery Paleokastritsa is derived from a local phrase “Paleokastritissa”. This phrase was applied to the temple of Virgin Mary in the 15th century when a historic document, written on the 7th of August 1497, was recovered that referenced the temple as a “Paleokastro”. The word translates into “old castle” indicating the existence of a previous fortress constructed on the grounds pre-dating the present structures. The ruins of the castle no longer exist. In their place stands what is now the present structures that comprise the Monastery of Virgin Mary of Paleokastritsa.
Οἱ Ἅγιοι Θεοδοσία καὶ Γερόντιος
• MM CARPUS (Karpos) Bishop of Pergamum; PAPYLUS (Papylos) a Deacon; AGATHADORUS (Agathadoros) Servant of Bishop Carpus; and VM AGATHONICE (Agathonica, Agathonike or Agathonika) Sister of either M PAPYLUS or M AGATHADORUS in Thyatira (170-251) and others: MARTIALIS, ISAAK and 33 Companions martyred in Pergamum
• Martyrs DADAS 达达, QUINCTILLIAN 奎因克提利安 and MAXIMUS 玛克息默 the Lector, at Dorostolum (284-305) in Moesia
Οἱ Ἅγιοι Δάδας, Κυντιλλιανὸς καὶ Μάξιμος οἱ Ἀναγνῶστες
Maximus, Dadas, and Quintilianus, brothers from Dorostorum (now Silistraia) on the Danube, Bulgaria, were beheaded at Ozobia under Diocletian. Maximus was a lector.
• Martyrs ELEUTHERIUS 艾莱弗特里 of Persia and ZOILUS 佐伊洛 of Rome (4th c.) by beheading
Οἱ Ἅγιοι Ἐλευθέριος καὶ Ζωΐλος οἱ Μάρτυρες
• 2 Confessor Bishops who were exiled to the Crimean peninsula together with St Martin the Confessor, Pope of Rome (655)
Μνήμη τῶν δύο Ἐπισκόπων Ὁμολογητῶν τῶν ἐξορισθέντων σὺν τῷ Ἁγίῳ Μαρτίνῳ
• Venerabless Sister Reverend Grand Duchess ANASTASIA (Her Imperial Highness Grand Duchess Alexandra Petrovna of Russia, Duchess of Oldenburg, of Romanovs) of Kiev (1838-1900) foundress of St Pokrov Monastery women convent at the Lukianovka in Kiev; Patron Saint of all divorced men and women // DEC 22/JAN 4 // APR 23/MAY 6 // APR 13 / 26 DIED AT KIEVO PECHERSKY MONASTERY IN KIEV // JAN 11/24 FOUND OF ST POKROV MONASTERY //
Alexandra became a nun, as Sister Anastasia, taking Holy Orders on 3 November 1889 in Kiev. For the rest of her life, she worked at the hospital performing nursing duties, helping contagious patents and cleaning infected wounds. She often assisted in surgeries.
• New Hieromartyr STEPHEN (Valery Bekh) bishop of Izhevsk (1872-1933)
Ὁ Ἅγιος Στέφανος ὁ Ἱερομάρτυρας ὁ Νέος
According to one source, Vladyka Stefan was arrested in Petrograd in 1929 and sentenced to three years' exile in the village of Pomozdino, Komi ASSR. On September 7, 1932 he was arrested in exile and on April 21, 1933 (sic) was sentenced to be shot. However, this sentence was commuted to ten years in prison. He died in prison on March 13/26, 1933. However, according to another source, Bishop Stefan died on March 31 / April 13, 1933.
• New Martyrs of Vasil’jevka in Nikolaev Eparchy in Ukraine (1937): New Hieromartyr presbiter SERGIUS Shtenko (1875-1937) and his spiritual children Martyrs PROCHOR Bunchuk and CYRIL Pryimak
• Hosiosmartyress nun MARTHA 玛尔塔 Testova (1941) day of death in KZ, lagpunkt Spasskij of Karlag NKVD, Kazakhstan
• Repose of Elder COSMAS of Pantokratoros monastery, Mt Athos (1970)
• ARSENIOS of Elassonna (Arsenius of Suzdal) Archbishop of Elassona (1625)
Ὁ Ἅγιος Ἀρσένιος Ἀρχιεπίσκοπος Ἐλασσῶνος
• Hieromartyr ARTEMON 阿尔特蒙 presbyter of Laodicea in Syria (303)
司祭殉道者阿尔特盟
在戴克里先皇帝在位期间，阿尔特盟是老底家的司祭。在审判官面前，他对自己说：“我叫阿尔特盟，是基督－我的上帝的仆人。16年的时间里，我一直在教堂中读经。我作为辅祭并阅读圣福音书28年的时间。在基督的帮助下，我履行了33年的司祭职，教导人们，并带领他们走上拯救之路。”法官将他带到阿斯库拉皮乌斯庙中，在那里占卜者供养着一些爬虫，将其献给“神”。大家都认为这些爬虫会咬阿尔特盟。阿尔特盟划了十字，在十字的力量之下，这些爬虫如同被钉子钉住一般，不能动弹。之后，他将这些爬虫带到院子中，并向他们吹了一口气，这些爬虫立即就死了。所有的占卜者都非常恐惧。看到了这个奇迹后，这个庙的主占卜者维塔里斯跪倒在阿尔特盟前，喊道：“基督徒的上帝是真神！”之后阿尔特盟为维塔里斯以及他的几个朋友进行了浸礼。但邪恶的审判官仍然执迷不悟，对年迈的阿尔特盟进行了残酷的折磨。有一次，审判官打算将阿尔特盟仍到一个滚汤的沥青锅里的时候，不料自己从马上掉了下来，掉进了沥青锅中，将自己烧成了灰烬。人们看到了两只鹰，它们猝然攻击了审判官，使他掉进了沥青锅中。圣阿尔特盟在一段时间内得以获得了自由，并在他的两只可爱的鹿的陪伴下周游四方，教导人们。后来，阿尔特盟于公元303年再次遭到逮捕，并被砍头，他的灵魂得以进入了他虔诚地服侍的主耶稣的王国。
At the time of Diocletian's persecutions, he was a very old man, having served as a reader for sixteen years, then a deacon for twenty-eight years, and finally as a priest for thirty years, for a total of seventy-four years. The pagan judge put him in the Temple of Aesculapius, where large snakes were kept and worshiped as gods. Though the judge meant for Artemon to be attacked by the snakes, the holy priest immobilized them with the sign of the Cross, brought them out of the temple and, in front of the pagan priests, breathed on the snakes, which died instantly. The chief priest, Vitalis, fell to his knees and cried 'Great is the Christian God!' Artemon baptised him along with several of his friends. The unrepentant judge then condemned Artemon to be thrown into burning pitch, but the judge himself was thrown off his horse into the pitch and died. After this, Artemon went free for a time and spent his time teaching the Faith to his people ("accompanied always by two tame deer", says St Nikolia Velimirovic!). But he was arrested again and beheaded in the year 303.
• Hosiosmartyr CHRISTOPHOROS of the Great Lavra of St Sabbas the Sanctified
Ὁ Ἅγιος Χριστόφορος ὁ Ὁσιομάρτυρας
• Martyr CRESCENS 克瑞森 of Myra in Lycia (3rd c.)
殉道者，圣克瑞斯肯斯
克瑞斯肯斯来自里西亚的米拉。他是一位享有名望的市民。他公开地宣告他的基督信仰，并嘲笑那些僵死的偶像。由此，他被异教徒烧死。
里西亚的米拉的贵族－殉道者克瑞斯肯斯被带到法庭受审时，为了说服他敬拜偶像，法官对他进行了长时间的劝说。当没有获得成功时，法官最后对克瑞斯肯斯说：“仅仅用你的身体敬拜偶像，你的精神仍可以敬拜你的上帝！”克瑞斯肯斯回答说：“独立于灵魂之外的身体什么都不能作；灵魂是身体的动力和领导。”由此，克瑞斯肯斯遭到了杀戮。这是给基督徒的一个不可口是心非的明显一课。我们从中所学到的另一课就是：基督徒也必须要用身体来服侍我们的造物主，不仅仅要用精神。由此，可以驳倒一些基督徒的虚伪的想法：这些基督徒在身体上如同异教徒般地生活，而在精神上又赞颂自己他们的灵魂相信上帝、爱上帝。他们将自己分成两个，使自己服侍两个主，甚至耶稣基督也用他最神圣的口说过：这是不可能的。
• Martyr DEMETRIUS 迪弥特里 of the Peloponnesus who suffered at Tripoli (1803) • Translation (1967) of the relics of the New Martyr GEORGE of Cyprus (1752)
Ἀνακομιδὴ Τιμίων Λειψάνων Ἁγίου Νεομάρτυρα Γεωργίου τοῦ Κυπρίου
• Sainted GUINOC (Guinoch, Guinochus) of Buchan (838) a Bishop and Confessor in Scotland
By his prayers and counsels, he was many years the support both of the church and state, among the Scots, in the 9th century, in the reign of Kenneth II., &c. Some scholars believe that Winnoc was a counsellor to King Kenneth. It is said that Winnoc's prayers helped the king to vanquish the Picts in seven battles on a single day. The Aberdeen breviary and Henschenius place him under King Enos. He died about the year 838. Bishop Winnoc of Scotland is commemorated in the Aberdeen breviary and is especially venerated in Buchan.
• Sainted HARDWARD Bishop of Minden (853)
• Repose of Archimandrite HERMAN of Svyatogorsk (1890)
• HERMENEGILD (586) son of the Visigothic King of Spain, Leovigild
Son of the Visigothic King of Spain, Leovigild, he was brought up as an Arian in Seville. He became Orthodox on his marriage to the daughter of Sigebert of Austrasia, at which his father disinherited him. Hermenegild rose up in arms, was defeated, captured and refusing to give up his Faith, was martyred at the instigation of his stepmother.
• MARTIN I the Confessor, pope of Rome (655)
Ὁ Ἅγιος Μαρτίνος πάπας Ρώμης
Born in Umbria, he was elected Pope of Rome in 649. He called a Council at once and condemned Monothelitism. Imperial wrath fell on him and in 653 he was deported to Naxos in the Aegean. His death sentence to exile was carried out at Cherson in the Crimea, where he arrived on 15 May 655 with the two other Bishops. Saint Martin died on September 16, 655. The two other Bishops also died in exile. Pope Martin's relics were interred in the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos outside Cherson and later brought to Rome. He is considered the last Pope to die by martyrdom.
• MARTINS 玛尔提 abbot, of Clermont, Gaul
• MARTIUS (Mars) Abbot, of Clermont in Gaul (530) born in Auvergne in France, he lived an ascetic life on a mountainside and later built a monastery for his disciples
A sober-minded and austere native of Auvergne, Martius the hermit, attracted disciples. For them he founded the friary of Clermont in 530 in the mountains above the city. Some information about Martius is found in Saint Gregory of Tours' Vitae Patrum.
• MARTYRIUS 玛尔提里 Patriarch of Jerusalem (486)
• MOCHAEMHOG of Inis Caoin, now Inishkeen, County of Fermanagh (7th c.) • Martyr THEODOSIUS by the sword
Ὁ Ἅγιος Θεοδόσιος ὁ Μάρτυρας
• Martyress THOMAIS 托玛伊斯 of Alexandria (476)
殉道者，圣托梅斯
托梅斯出生于亚历山大里亚的一个享有名望的家庭。从年轻时起，她就受到教导，要虔诚。在15岁那年，她同一个望族的男人结婚了。但是她的公公却是一个卑鄙的人，趁他的儿子不在的时候企图引诱自己的儿媳妇。托梅斯感到非常害怕，并提醒公公不要触犯上帝的律法，并逃出了他的手掌。在经过一段艰难的挣扎之后，公公竟然用刀子将儿媳妇刺死，并将她剁成两块。就在那时，上帝的惩罚临到了他。他立即瞎了，不能发现门在哪里，从哪里逃离。由此，他在房子中被抓获，被送到了法庭受审，并被判处了死刑。这样，托梅斯为了上帝的戒令、保护自己的妇道和圣洁而遭受了磨难。后来，很多面对淫乱的人都向托梅斯祷告，从她那里寻求坚强的帮助。伟大的修行者达尼伊尔将她的圣髑转移到了斯切特修道院，将其同已故的修士司祭埋葬在一起。托梅斯于公元476年遭受磨难。
Many who would be tempted by adulterous passions directed their prayers to St Thomais and received strong assistance from her.
• URSUS (Orso, Ours) Bishop of Ravenna and Confessor (396) born in a noble family in Sicily, he converted and fled from his father's wrath to Ravenna in Italy, where he became bishop in 378
Born to the Sicilian nobility. Convert to Christianity. His father violently opposed the conversion, and Ursus fled to Ravenna, Italy. There he so impressed the locals with his holiness that he became bishop of Ravenna for 20 years, reviving the celebration of the feasts of the saints, a custom that had fallen away.
CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS
耶稣被钉十字架，耶穌被逮捕後以十字架處死的事件，一般認為发生在公元1世纪的犹地亚地区，最可能在公元30到33年之间。虽然历史学家对這個事件的准确细节并没有达成共识，但這個事件在四本正典福音书皆有描述，在使徒书信中有提及，而且也被其他古代资料证实，并被非基督徒的资料来源证实，學者多數認為這是一個历史事件。据正典福音书记载，基督耶稣被抓捕、审判，被彼拉多判刑，受到鞭打，最终被罗马人钉十字架。耶稣被剥去衣服，士兵在钉十字架之前让他喝苦胆调和的酒。然后他被钉死在两个被判罪的强盗之间；据《马可福音》记载，耶稣在约六个小时后死了。在这段时间里，士兵用三种语言在十字架的顶部写上一个标志：“拿撒勒的耶稣，犹太人的王。”他们“拈阄分他的衣服，看是谁得什么”。耶稣死后，他们用矛刺穿他的肋旁，确定他死了。圣经描述了耶稣在十字架上所说的七句话，以及当时发生的一些超自然现象。耶稣在十字架上的痛苦和救赎性的死被称为基督受难（passion），它是基督教神学关于救恩和赎罪教义的核心。关于耶稣被钉十字架的确切日期没有共识，虽然圣经学者普遍同意，在彼拉多（在位时间公元26-36年）的统治期间，这发生在星期五或靠近逾越节（尼散月15日）。学者们估计钉十字架的时间在公元30-33年范围内，大多数现代学者赞成公元30年4月7日。另一个大多人赞成的日期是公元33年4月3日星期五。由于在耶稣时代使的是观察日历，这包括确定新月和成熟大麦收获的日期，因此每年逾越节的确切日期或月份都是需要推测的。人们使用各种方法来估计被钉十字架的年份，这些方法包括经典的福音书，保罗的生命年表，以及各种天文模型。
三本对观福音书提到古利奈人西门，他是来扛十字架的，约翰福音则记载耶稣自己“背着”十字架。（约翰福音 19:17）路加福音还描述了耶稣与大群哀悼的追随者中的妇人对话，耶稣说：“耶路撒冷的女儿啊，不要为我哭，却要为你们自己和你们的儿女哭。日子将到，人必说：‘不生育的和没有怀过胎的，也没有哺养过婴儿的有福了。’那时人要对大山说：‘倒在我们身上！’对小山说：‘遮盖我们！’ 他们在青绿的树上，既然这样作；在枯乾的树上，又会怎样呢？”（路加福音 23：28-31）在路加福音中，耶稣将这些妇女称为“耶路撒冷的女儿”，从而将她们与同一福音中描述为“从加利利跟随他的妇女”（这些妇女在他钉十字架时在场）区分开来。传统上，耶稣所走的路称为苦路，拉丁语“Via Dolorosa”（意为“哀伤的道路”或“苦路”），它是耶路撒冷旧城的一条街道。它由十字架十四站的九个站点所标记。这条穿过Ecce Homo（"看，这个人"）教堂，而最后五个站是在圣墓教堂里面。福音书中并没有提到传说中的圣维罗妮卡，但诸如Acta Sanctorum这样的文献来源将她描述为耶路撒冷的一个虔诚女人，她带着怜悯伴随着背负十字架的耶稣走到髑髅地，并将自己的面纱给他擦拭额头。耶稣被钉十字架的确切位置仍然是一个猜测，但圣经的记载表明，它在耶路撒冷城墙外面（约翰福音 19:20；希伯来书13:12），路人可以看到（马太福音27:39；马可福音15：21,29-30），并且从远处也可以观察到。（马可福音15:40）该撒利亚的优西比乌确定它的位置只是在锡安山以北，这与现代最多人接受的两个地点一致。英文的Calvary是从拉丁语的calvaria（骷髅）翻译过来的，武加大译本的“骷髅地”中使用了这个词语。四个福音书都解释了这个阿拉姆语词Gûlgaltâ是耶稣被钉十字架的地名。文本并没有表明它为什么这样确定，但人们提出了几种理论。一个是，作为公共行刑的地方，Calvary可能遍布着遗弃的受害者的头骨（这违反了犹太人安葬传统，但不是违反罗马的传统）。另一个理论认为，Calvary以附近的公墓得名（这与人们确定的两个现代遗址是一致的）。第三个理论是，该名称源自这个地方的实际轮廓，这解释了为什么人们使用这个词语的单数，即，“骷髅”形的地方。虽然人们经常被称为“骷髅山”，但它更可能是一个小丘陵或岩石小坡。传统的耶稣受难地点位于耶路撒冷老城基督徒区的圣墓教堂内，它在4世纪以来已被证明为耶稣钉十字架的地点。《马太福音》描述了许多钉十字架时在场的妇女，其中一些名字在其它福音书中也提到。除了这些妇女之外，三个对观福音也谈到了其他在场的人：“祭司长和文士并长老”; 两个强盗也被钉在十字架上，一个在耶稣右边，一个在左边，路加福音描述他们一个悔改的小偷，另一个是不悔改的小偷；在场的还有“士兵”，“百夫长和一同看守耶稣的人”；路人; “旁观者”，“聚集观看的众人”; 和“一切与耶稣熟识的人”。约翰福音也提到妇女的在场，但只提到士兵[94]和“所爱的那门徒”。福音书还告诉我们在耶稣死后到来的亚利马太的约瑟夫和尼各底母。虽然大多基督徒相信耶稣被处决的绞刑架是传统的由梁组成的十字架，但耶和华见证会认为这只是一个直立的木桩。最早基督教作品中使用的希腊词语和拉丁词语是模糊的。新约使用的科伊内希腊语是stauros（σταυρός）和xylon（ξύλον）。后者意指木材（活的树、木料或由木建造成的物体）；在希腊语的早期形式中，前一个词意味着一个直立的桩或杆，但在科伊内希腊语中，它也用来指十字架。拉丁语crux同样也用来指代十字架以外的对象。然而，早期的基督教作家谈到处死耶稣的特定绞刑架的形状时总描述它有一个横梁。例如，马拉•巴•谢拉皮翁家书有可能写于公元1世纪，并早于135年，这时，也是关于耶稣之死的福音书写成的时候；这个家书将绞刑架比喻为字母T（希腊字母tau，数值为300），并认为是摩西在出埃及记17：11-12中所采取的位置。游斯丁（100-165）明确地说，基督的十字架是两根粱的形状：“人们用来完全烤羔的方式象征着基督在十字架上所经受的痛苦。因为被烤羔羊以十字的方式被烤。一个烤叉直接从底部穿到头部，一个穿过后背，羔羊的腿被捆绑在这根叉上。”爱任纽死于2世纪末期，他说十字架有“五端，两个在长上，两个在宽，一个在中间，人被钉子固定在这个最后的点上。关于耶稣在十字架上的说话，新约给了的三种不同叙述。在马可福音和马太福音中，耶稣只在十字架上说了一句话，而路加福音和约翰福音则各自描述了三句说话。Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani？（马太福音27:46；马可福音15:34；这是阿拉姆语，意为“我的神，我的神！为什么你离弃我?”）“父啊，赦免他们！因为他们所做的他们不晓得。”（路加福音：23:34） “我实在告诉你：今日你要同我在乐园里了！”（路加福音 23:43）“父啊，我将我的灵魂交在你手里！”（路加福音23:46）“母亲 ，看，你的儿子！”（约翰福音 19：25-27）“我渴了。”（约翰福音19:28）“成了。”（约翰福音19:30） 耶稣在十字架上的话，特别是他最后的话，是无数基督教教义和布道的主题，很多作者专门以基督最后说话写成书本。对观福音记载了在十字架期间的各种神迹事件。马可福音提到耶稣被钉十字架期间在白天出现的黑暗，耶稣死了时，殿里的幔子从上到下裂为两半。在对观福音的叙事中，当耶稣挂在十字架上时，犹地亚（或整个世界）的天空“从上午第6时到第9时”（古代时间，现代人时间是从中午到下午中部）“变暗了三个小时（古代时间）”。在约翰福音中没有提到黑暗，其中，十字架事件在中午之后才发生。《马太福音》增加了地震、岩石裂开和圣徒坟墓的打开——从犹太末世论文献的主要主题 ——并描述这些复活的圣徒进入圣城，向许多人显现。在马可福音和马太福音的记载中，百夫长对这个事件发表评论：“这人真是神的儿子！”（马可福音 15:39），或：“这真是神的儿子了！”（马太福音 27:54）。在路加福音中，这变成了“这真是个义人！” （路加福音 23:47）
SYNAXARION FOR HOLY AND GREAT FRIDAY
On this day, Holy and Great Friday, we celebrate the awesome, holy, and saving Passion of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ—the spitting, the blows with the palm of the hand, the buffeting, the mockery, the reviling, the wearing of the purple robe, the reed, the sponge, the vinegar, the nailing, the lance, and above all, the Crucifixion and Death which He condescended to endure willingly for our sakes—and also the saving confession of the grateful thief upon the cross.
After our Lord Jesus Christ was sold for thirty pieces of silver and was betrayed by a friend and disciple, He was led to Annas the High Priest. Annas again sent the Lord to Caiaphas, where He was spat upon and at the same time mocked and laughed at. He heard them saying to Him, "Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the one that struck you?" (Matt. 26:68). Then many false witnesses and accusers arrived, perhaps because He said, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up" (John 2:19) and because He said about Himself, "I am the Son of God" (Matt. 27:43), or because He said, "Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven" (Matt. 26:64). At that point, the High Priest tore his own garment, saying, "He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy!" (Matt. 26:65). And when morning came, Jesus was led into the Praetorium to Pilate, and "they did not enter," as they said, "lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover" (John 18:28).
Then when Pilate came, he asked them about Jesus, saying, "What accusation do you bring against this Man?" (John 18:29). Since he did not find any reasonable cause for the accusation, he sent Him to Caiaphas, since he was the one who was seeking His execution, and Caiaphas sent Him back again to Pilate. Then Pilate said to them, "You take Him and judge Him according your Law." Therefore the Jewish leaders said to him, "It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death" (John 18:31). They said this so Pilate would pronounce the judgment of death on the cross. Pilate asked Jesus whether He was the King of the Jews, and Jesus acknowledged this and said that His Kingdom is eternal and not of this world (John 18:36). Pilate wished to release Jesus and first told the crowd that he did not find any serious accusation against Him. Then he reminded the Jews of their custom of releasing a prisoner of their choice on the feast of Passover. The crowd named Barabbas the robber as acceptable choice but not Christ. Pilate then sought to placate the crowd, but with no success. Leading Him out through the soldiers, he first had Jesus scourged. Then clothing Him with a purple cloak, the soldiers forced a crown of thorns upon His most pure head and placed a reed in His right hand as though it were a royal scepter. All this time, the soldiers were mockingly sneering and shouting a parody of their salute to Caesar, "Hail, King of the Jews" (Matt. 27:29; Mark 15:18; John 19:3). Clearly, this public humiliation and torment was for the gratification of the mob, for Pilate showed that he was acting against his conscience by saying again, "I find no fault in this Man" (John 18:38; John 19:6; Luke 23:4). The Jewish leaders answered him, "We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God" (John 19:7).
While these things were being said, Jesus was silent. But the crowd cried out to Pilate, "Crucify Him, crucify Him" (John 19:6). Thus they wished to destroy Him through an inglorious and shameful death, so that they might destroy the noble fame that Jesus possessed. Pilate incited their ethnic pride and said, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar!" (John 19:15). Since they could not get their way by any other means, they uttered this blasphemy because Jesus clearly called Himself the Son of God, and they wanted Caesar to stand in His place so that their madness would be satisfied. Therefore they said, "Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar" (John 19:12).
While these events were taking place, Pilate's wife - Procula Claudia (comm. Oct. 27), sent a message to him that she was troubled by a fearful dream, and she said, "Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him" (Matt. 27:19). Then Pilate washed his hands and clearly rejected the responsibility for the blood of the Righteous One. But the people cried out, "His blood be upon us and upon our children" (Matt. 27:25). If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar's friend" (John 19:12). Even though Pilate surely knew that Jesus was not guilty, he feared Caesar and thus confirmed the Lord's condemnation to death on the Cross, and he released Barabbas. When Judas beheld this, he threw away the silver coins and went out and hanged himself from a tree.
The soldiers mocked Jesus, hitting His head with a reed, and they placed the Cross on Him to bear. Then they coerced Simon of Cyrene, obliging him to carry the Cross. About the third hour, they reached the Place of the Skull, and they crucified Him there. On the right and on the left they suspended two thieves so that Jesus would appear to be an evildoer. In a spirit of greed, the soldiers divided His garments, but they cast lots for His seamless tunic. They performed each deed with excessive animosity, as if they were drunk. They not only did these things, but they also feigned ignorance, saying ironically to Jesus on the Cross, "Aha! You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself, and come down from the Cross!" (Mark 15:29-30). And they continued, "Let the Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from the Cross, that we may see and believe" (Mark 15:32). However, if they had reflected and understood correctly, they would have wished to have recourse to Him without hesitation, because He proved Himself to be not only King of Israel, but even of all the world.
For what other meaning was there when the sun was darken during the Crucifixion of Christ at the third hour, in the middle of the day, but that the Lord's Passion would be revealed to all men? Likewise, when the earth shook and the rocks were rent asunder, did this not reprove the stony-heartedness of the chief priests? And when many bodies arose for the acknowledgment of the common resurrection, did it not provide the evidence that the power of the Suffering One might appear? Moreover, when the curtain of the temple was split in twain, did it not mean that the temple was certainly angered, because the One who was glorified in it was suffering, thereby revealing these things which were not apparent to the multitudes? Therefore, at the third hour, Christ was crucified, as says the divine Mark; from the sixth hour until the ninth there was darkness over the whole land (Mark 15:33). The Centurion Longinus (comm. Oct. 16), seeing these marvelous events and especially the darkening of the sun, cried out with a mighty voice, "Truly this Man was the Son of God" (Matt. 27:54; Mark 15:39). Of the two thieves, one reviled Jesus, but the other reproached him, most profoundly reproving him, and confessed Christ to be the Son of God. Because of his confession, the Savior rewarded his faith and promised that he would be with Him in Paradise that very day. The "good thief" is commemorated on October 12.
When every sort of abuse had been hurled at the Lord Jesus, Pilate wrote out His title, which read, "JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS", and placed it on the Cross. (See John 19:19.) Therefore, the chief priests said to Pilate, "Do not write, The King of the Jews, but He said, 'I am the King of the Jews'." Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written" (John 19:21-22). And when the Savior said, "I thirst" (John 19:28), they put vinegar on hyssop and brought it to Him. After saying, "It is finished" (John 19:30), He inclined His head and gave up the spirit. He was crucified on the day when the moon was full and at the hour when, according to the old Law, the Passover lamb was to be slain (See Exod. 12). When all had fled away, His Mother alone kept vigil at the Holy Cross with her sister Mary, the wife of Cleopas (the one, some say, Joachim begot in accordance with the Mosaic Law since his brother Cleopas died childless, but this assertion is false), Mary Magdalene, and John, the Disciple beloved by Him. (See John 19:25.) Then the ungrateful people, not being able to tolerate seeing the bodies on the crosses, since it was the great day of the Passover, asked Pilate that the legs of the condemned might be broken so that death might come more quickly. They broke the legs of the thieves, since they were still alive and, coming upon Jesus, as soon as they saw that He was already dead, they refrained from breaking His legs. One of the soldiers, doing a favor for the ungrateful ones, took his spear and pierced the right side of Christ, and immediately there flowed forth blood and water. On the one hand, the outpouring was as from a man, and on the other hand on behalf of mankind; that is, the blood, for the sake of the Holy Communion of the divine sanctified elements, and the water, for the sake of Holy Baptism. In fact, this two-fold fountain constitutes the foundation of the Holy Mysteries for us.
Also, St. John the Theologian saw and bore witness to these events, and his witness is true, because he was present at all these happenings, and after he saw them he recorded them. For if they were false, clearly he would not have written them, for such things would have appeared as a dishonor to the Teacher. It is said that when he was present at that time, he collected in some kind of vessel the Divine and All-holy Blood from the Life-giving side. Moreover, while these extraordinary events were being accomplished, when night approached, Joseph of Arimathea arrived (he was a disciple from the beginning, as the others, but secretly). He then went to Pilate with boldness since he was clearly known by him, asked for the Body of Jesus, and was given permission to take It. Then he immediately took the divine Body down from the Holy Cross with all reverence. And when night came, Nicodemus arrived, bearing a certain mixture of myrrh and aloes, which had been prepared for the special purpose of anointing, and he wrapped the Holy Body in a winding cloth, as was the regular custom of the Jews. They then entombed the Body of the Lord nearby in the garden tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, which had been cut into a rock, rolling a great stone over the entrance. In this tomb, no one had been buried before, so that when Christ arose the chief priests might not attribute the Resurrection to another person. The mixture of aloes and myrrh strongly cemented the winding cloth to the Body of Christ, so that when the winding cloth and the face cloth would be seen folded up in the Tomb, no one would suppose that His Body had been stolen away. How would it have been possible that anyone could have detached the linen so firmly glued to the flesh? However, those foolish men who shaped this falsehood did not know that in accordance with the economy of God, all these proofs remained inside the Tomb for the censuring of their slander. All these events marvelously happened on Friday. Accordingly, the God-bearing Fathers decreed that we should commemorate all these events with a compunctious and contrite heart. Furthermore, the Church, as received from the time of the Holy Apostles, has given the commandment that every Friday is to be observed as a fast day in remembrance of Christ's Holy Passion and Life-giving Death.
It is fitting to understand that on the sixth day of the week, Friday, the Lord was crucified because on the sixth day of the week during Creation, Adam, the first man, was formed. Furthermore, at the sixth hour of the day, He was suspended on the Holy Cross because at the sixth hour, tradition tells us, Adam stretched out his hands toward the forbidden tree to eat the fruit and inherited death. Therefore it was fitting that at the same shattering hour the Old Adam would be created anew. The Lord's Crucifixion was in a garden because Adam was deceived in a garden in Paradise. The bitter drink which the Lord tasted on the Cross healed the tasting of Adam. The Holy Cross replaced the tree in Paradise. The slap on the Face signified our awakening from the stupor of sin. The spitting and the dishonorable behavior toward the Lord makes manifest the value He places on us. The crown of thorns relieved us from the curse surrounding the head of Adam and Eve. The purple cloak replaced the garment of skin and symbolized the royal garment with which He covers us. The nails indicated our total immobility in our sins. The pierced Side of the Lord, from which our salvation came forth, represented the side of Adam, from which Eve came forth and out of whom the transgression occurred. The spear removed the fiery sword which guarded Paradise after the disobedience. The water from the Side was an image of Holy Baptism. The blood and the reed were the means through which the Savior, as though writing in imperial red ink, decreed, as a King from on high, the restoration of the ancient homeland.
It is said that the skull of Adam lay where Christ, as the Head of all, was Crucified, and Adam was "baptized" through the Blood of Christ, which flowed from Him and down onto Adam's skull. It is called the Place of the Skull because during the Flood the earth expelled the skull of Adam, which rolled around by itself in a circle, and this was viewed as a fearsome sign. The Holy Prophet and King Solomon, out of respect toward the Forefather, covered it up with many stones. Moreover, the eminent saints say, as is the tradition, that Adam was buried there by an angel. Therefore, where Adam's corpse lay, there Christ stood as the everlasting King, the New Adam, healing by the wood of the Holy Cross the Old Adam who had fallen by the wood of the tree.
It should be noted that on this day there is no celebration of the Divine Liturgy, nor of the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts. On this day of the Holy Crucifixion we neither eat nor drink anything according to the words which the Lord spoke to the Pharisees: "But the days will come when the Bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast" (Matt. 9:15). Yet, if anyone is weak or old and cannot keep the fast, let him be given bread and water after sunset.
Wherefore, O Christ our God, through Your boundless compassion for our sakes, have mercy on us and save us.
Amen.
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.
愿上帝怜恤我罪人
O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,
for the sake of the prayers
of Thy most pure Mother,
our holy and God-bearing fathers and all the saints, have mercy on us.
Amen.
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Blessed be God.
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