συνοδικός
April 28 / April 15
2019 (7527)
APOSTLES ARISTARCHUS, PUDENS, AND TROPHIMUS OF THE SEVENTY (67). MARTYRS BASILISSA AND ANASTASIA OF ROME, DISCIPLES OF APOSTLES PETER AND PAUL (1ST C.). MARTYR SUCHIAS AND HIS COMPANIONS: ANDREW, ANASTASIUS, THALALEUS, THEODORETUS, IVCHIRION, JORDAN, QUADRATUS, LUCIAN, MIMNENOS IN ARMENIA (123). MARTYR SABBAS THE GOTH OF BUZAU IN WALLACHIA (ROMANIA) (372)
ΑΓΙΟΝ ΠΑΣΧΑ • The Bright Resurrection of Christ. Resurrection Sunday. The Pascha of the Lord. HOLY PASCHA // 2018 //
Ἡ Ανάστασις τοῦ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ
Ἀναστάσιος, Πασχάλης, Λάμπρος, Λαμπρινή, Ἀνέστης
稱主復活日，是基督教的重要節日之一。該節日乃紀念耶穌基督於公元30/33年被釘死後第三天復活的事蹟，是基督信仰的高峰，因此被基督徒認為象徵重生與希望。
Enjoy ye all the feast of faith; receive ye all the riches of loving-kindness.
• The LIFE-GIVING FOUNT of the Theotokos
The Church of the Life-Giving Font of the Theotokos is the latest church, built in 1835, that bears the same dedication as the shrine erected in this place between the end of the 5th and beginning of the 6th centuries, named for the wonderworking holy spring located there. Holy Emperor Leo I the Thracian (457-474) oversaw the building of the church that was named in honour of the Most Holy Theotokos. For almost fifteen hundred years, this sanctuary has been one of the most important pilgrimage sites of Greek Orthodoxy.
Οἱ Ἅγιοι Ἀρίσταρχος, Πούδης καὶ Τρόφιμος οἱ Ἀπόστολοι ἐκ τοὺς ἑβδομήκοντα
圣徒亚里达古、布田与特罗非摩
他们是70使徒之一。亚里达古是徐利亚的亚帕米亚的主教。圣徒帕弗罗曾经多次提及他：“满城都轰动起来。众人拿住与帕弗罗同行的马其顿人该犹和亚里达古，齐心拥进戏院里去”（使徒行实／徒／宗19：29）。“与我一同坐监的亚里达古问你们安。巴拿巴的表弟玛尔克也问你们安（说到玛尔克，你们已经受了吩咐。他若到了你们那里，你们就接待他）”（歌罗西书4：10）。“为基督耶稣与我同坐监的以巴弗问你安。与我同工的玛尔克、亚里达古、底马、路喀，也都问你们安”（斐利蒙书1：23，24）。一些人群起反对帕弗罗，亚里达古和该犹一同被抓住。圣徒帕弗罗写信给歌罗西人说：“与我一同坐监的亚里达古问你安”（歌罗西书4：10），而在《斐利蒙书》中，帕弗罗也特别指出，玛尔克、底马、路喀、亚里达古是“我的同工”。布田是罗马的杰出市民，圣徒帕弗罗提到过他一次：“有友布罗、布田、利奴、革老底亚，和众兄弟，都问你安”（致提摩泰书二／提后／弟后4：21）。起初，布田的家成了使徒裴特若和帕弗罗的避难所，后来，成了敬拜聚会的地方，被称为“牧者的教会”。特罗非摩则来自亚洲，《徒／宗》20：4有如下记载：“同他到亚西亚去的，有庇哩亚人毕罗斯的儿子所巴特，德撒洛尼基人亚里达古和西公都，还有特庇人该犹，并提摩泰，又有亚西亚人推基古，和特罗非摩。”（使徒行实／徒／宗20：4）。特罗非摩曾经是圣徒帕弗罗旅途上的伴侣。在另一处，帕弗罗有这样的记载：“特罗非摩病了，我就留他在米利都”（致提摩泰书二／提后／弟后4：20）。在尼禄对基督徒进行迫害期间，圣徒帕弗罗遭到了斩首，上述三位圣徒也遭到了斩首。
All three are mentioned by name by the Apostle Paul. Aristarchus is mentioned in Acts 19:29, Colossians 4:10 and Philemon 24. He was bishop of Apamea in Syria; St Paul calls him "my fellow-prisoner" and "my fellow-laborer". Pudens is mentioned in 2 Timothy 4:21. He was a prominent Roman citizen who gave refuge to Christians; his house was first a place of refuge for the Apostles, then one of the first churches in Rome. Trophimus is mentioned with Pudens in 2 Timothy 4:21, and in Acts 21:29, where we learn that he was from Ephesus. He accompanied the Apostle Paul on some of his missions. All three, like St Paul, were beheaded during Nero's persecutions.
• VMM BASILISSA (Vasilissa) 瓦西利萨 and ANASTASIA 阿纳斯塔西亚, Matrons of Rome, Disciples of the App. Peter and Paul (1st c.)
Οἱ Ἁγίες Ἀναστασία καὶ Βασίλισσα μαθήτριες τῶν Ἀποστόλων Πέτρου καὶ Παύλου
殉道者，圣女巴西里萨和阿纳斯塔西
巴西里萨和阿纳斯塔西是虔诚的罗马基督徒，在暴君尼禄在位期间她们收敛了被杀死的圣徒的门徒的尸体，并将其埋葬。由此，她们二人被指控，并被投入到监狱中。在经过长时间的折磨之后，她们的乳房和舌头都被割掉，最后被斩首。
The Holy Women Martyrs Basilissa and Anastasia lived in Rome and were converted to Christianity by the holy Apostles Peter and Paul. They devoted themselves to the service of the Lord. When Emperor Nero persecuted the Christians and gave them over to torture and execution, Ss Basilissa and Anastasia took the bodies of the holy apostles and gave them a reverent burial. Rumors of this reached Nero, and he ordered that Ss Basilissa and Anastasia be locked up in the prison. The women were subjected to cruel tortures: were scourged with whips, had their skin scraped with hooks, and were burned with fire. However, the holy martyrs remained unyielding, and bravely confessed their faith in Christ the Savior. By Nero's command, they were beheaded with the sword in 68.
• MM MARO (Marón, Marone), EUTYCHES and VICTORINUS (99) belonged to the circle of Flavia Domitilla, whom they accompanied in exile to the island of Ponza. Eventually they returned to Rome and were martyred under Trajan. Eutyches was stabbed; Victorinus, hung upside down over a sulphur spring; Maro, beheaded
• Martyr SUCHIAS 苏希亚 and his 16 Companions: ANDREW 安德列, ANASTASIUS 阿纳斯塔西, THALALEUS 塔拉雷, THEODORETUS 德奥多里特, IVCHIRION 伊弗希里翁, JORDAN 约尔达尼, QUADRATUS 卦德拉特, LUCIAN 路基安, MIMNENOS 弥穆奈诺, NERANGIUS 奈朗基, POLYEUCTUS 颇利艾弗克特, JAMES 雅各, PHOCAS 佛喀, DOMENTIANUS 多蒙提安, VICTOR 维克托尔 and ZOSIMA (Chorimos) 佐西玛, in Armenia (123)
Ὁ Ἅγιος Σούκιος ὁ Μάρτυρας καὶ οἱ σὺν αὐτῷ δέκα ἐννέα Μάρτυρες
The Holy Martyr Sukhios and his 16 Gruzian (Georgian) Companions were illustrious dignitaries who served at the court of the Albanian (Hagbanite) ruler (i.e. "Caucasian Albania" ― a realm on the present day territory of Azerbaizhan). Escorting the Albanian ruler's daughter Satenika, spouse of the Armenian emperor Artaxar (88-123), Saint Sukhios and his 16 Companions arrived in Artashat, the ancient capital of Armenia (the city was later destroyed by the Romans in the year 163). Preaching there at the time was the Greek Christian named Chrysos, who had been enlightened and ordained by the holy Disciple Thaddeus (+ c. 44, Comm. 21 August). The dignitaries came to believe in Christ the Saviour, and they firmly resolved to devote all their life to the service of God. All seventeen of the newly-converted Gruzianians followed Chrysos into Mesopotamia. At the time of their Baptism in the waters of the Euphrates, made over them by Bishop Chrysos, they were vouchsafed to behold the Lord of Glory Jesus Christ. At the place of their Baptism, the holy martyrs erected a venerable cross and named it the "Cross of the Annunciation". Bishop Chrysos at the Baptism gave all the saints new names: to the eldest ― Sukhios (replacing his old name Bagadras), and to his companions the names ― Andrew, Anastasias, Talale, Theodorites, Juhirodion, Jordan, Kondrates, Lukian, Mimnenos, Nerangios, Polyeuktos, James, Phoki, Domentian, Victor and Zosima. After the martyr's death of Blessed Chrysos, Saint Sukhios became the spiritual leader of the brethren. All soon resettled in a wild locality on Mount Sukaketi, not far from the mountain village of Bagrevandi. Here the former dignitaries led very strict ascetic lives, the scant mountain vegetation sufficed them for food, and for drink ― a cold spring of water.The new ruler of pagan Albania, Datianos, learned of this, that his former officials had accepted Christianity and had gone off into prayerful solitude. He commissioned his associate Barnapas with a detachment of soldiers to persuade them to return to court and return also to their former faith. Barnapas searched out Saint Sukhios and his companions, but in keeping of their vow of service to God, they refused all the entreaties.Then by order of Barnapas, Saint Sukhios and his companions in cross-like form were nailed to the ground and consigned to burning. After the burning, their bodies were dismembered and scattered all about Mount Sukaketi, from which the martyrs received also the title the "Mesukevians" (more correctly ― "Sukaketians"). This occurred in the year 123 (by another account ― in the year 130; although an Athos parchment manuscript of the 11th Century from the Iveria monastery indicates the year as 100). The holy remains of the martyrs remained undecayed and unburied until the time of the 4th Century, when they were placed in graves and consigned to earth by local Christians (the names of the holy martyrs were found written on a cliff). The holy PriestMartyr Gregory, Enlightener of Armenia (+ c. 335, Comm. 30 September), built a church on this spot and established a monastery. And afterwards, a curative spring of water was discovered there.
• VMM VERONICA (Veronice, Bernice), DIONINA (Domnina), OCTAVIA, POTAMIA and PRUDENTIA together with MM PROSDOKAS (Prosdocus, Prosducus, Prosdoce), ROMANIUS (Romanus), PHOCAS, SYRUS and LUCIUS at Antioch (2nd c.)
• The 9 Hosiosmartyrs Monks of Corinth
• MM MAXIMUS and OLYMPIADA (251) Persian noblemen were martyred by being beaten to death with crowbars under Decius
Οἱ Ἅγιοι Μάξιμος καὶ Ὀλυμπιάδα οἱ Μάρτυρες
• PIAMON (Piamoun, Piama, Piamun) of Egypt (337) and St ALEXANDRA of Alexandria (376)
• VM SUSANNA and her brothers MM TORQUATUS and CUCUFAS at Braga, Portugal
• M VERONICA in Mesopotamia with MM ARCHELAUS, ACUTA and others
• MM AGAPIUS and THEODORA
• Martyrs THEODORE presbyter, and PAUSILIPPUS (130) near Byzantium under Hadrian at Heracleia in Thrace
Οἱ Ἅγιοι Θεόδωρος καὶ Παυσολύπιος οἱ Μάρτυρες
• Hieromartyr ALEXANDER 亚历山大 Gnevushev, presbiter, priest (1889-1930) day of martyrdom, shoted in Ul’janovsk
• Repose of Metropolitan SERGIUS Voskresensky, of Vilnius and Lithuania (1944)
• Repose of Hieroschemamonk MICHAEL Pitkevich, of Valaam and Pskov Caves, the last Elder of Valaam (1962)
• Repose of Bishop STEPHEN Nikitin, of Kaluga (1963)
May the Lord be merciful to the ever-memorable servants of God, and give them rest in Abraham's bosom, and number them among the just.
• ABBONDIO (Acoitius, Agontius, Habundius) (564)
Described by Saint Gregory the Great, who wrote about him in the Dialogues, as a man of great humility and diginity in his fulfillment of work. Legend says that one day a girl with crippled hands prayed to Saint Peter the Apostle for his intercession in their healing; he appeared to her in a dream, told her to ask for the intercession of Saint Abbondio; when she did, Abbondio appear to her in a vision, took her by the hand and healed her on the spot.
• Hieromartyr ANANIAS (Lambardis) of Lacedaemonia (Sparta), Metropolitan Bishop of Lacedaemonia (1764) suffered in Mystras
Ὁ Ἅγιος Ἀνανίας ὁ Ἱερομάρτυρας Μητροπολίτης Λακεδαιμονίας
• Venerable BASIL of Moldovita, Igumen of Moldovița Monastery and Wonderworker (1455)
Ὁ Ὅσιος Βασίλειος ὁ Θαυματουργός
The Moldovița Monastery (Romanian: Mânăstirea Moldovița) is a Romanian Orthodox monastery situated in the commune of Vatra Moldoviței, Suceava County, Moldavia, Romania. The Monastery of Moldovița was built in 1532 by Petru Rareș, who was Stephen III of Moldavia's illegitimate son, it was founded as a protective barrier against the Muslim Ottoman conquerors from the East.
• Elder BASIL 瓦西里 the Hesychast, Abbot of Poiana Marului (1767) the spiritual guide of all the Sketes in the Buzau Mountains. One of his most famous disciples was Saint Paisius Velichkovsky, whom he tonsured on Mount Athos in 1750
The first great master and teacher of the hesychast life in modern times whose writings are known to us is the schema-monk Elder Basil. He belongs to the generation that preceded Sts Makarios Notaras and Nikodemos of the Holy Mountain, the noted publishers of the Greek Philokalia, and was the elder of St Paisy Velichkovsky who wrote and prepared translations for publication in Slavonic. What little we know about Elder Basil is interwoven with the life of his great disciple, St Paisy, with the exception of a few bare facts sifted out by diligent scholars.
• Martyr CRESCENS 克瑞森 of Myra in Lycia (3rd c.) perished at the stake // APR 13 //
Ὁ Ἅγιος Κρήσκης ὁ Μάρτυρας
A native of Myra in Lycia, Saint Crescens was of a noble family and was advanced in age. Seeing that ungodliness and the adoration of demons triumphed and that many enslaved by error rendered worship to inanimate objects, he went into the midst of them, exhorting them to repent of their vain beliefs and to return to the God which the Christians adored, the Creator of all things and the Master of life. Because he spontaneously went before atrocious sufferings, the governor called him an "evil spirit." The Saint answered that to suffer was the supreme happiness. To all the questions that the governor asked him concerning his country and name, he invariably answered that he was a Christian. He absolutely refused to sacrifice to idols and even rejected the advice that the governor gave him to simulate such a gesture. He constantly confessed God, saying that the body could not of itself do what had not been approved by the soul since the soul leads and moves the body. He was then stretched out on the ground and cruelly beaten. Then he was thrown into a white-hot funeral pyre. He was respected so well by the fire that not a single hair was touched. Then he committed his soul to God.
• Repose of Blessed DANIEL 但以理 of Achinsk, Siberia (1843)
• Venerable DIONYSIUS of Pereyaslavl-Zalessky, monk of the Nikitsky Monastery (1645)
Ὁ Ὅσιος Διονύσιος τοῦ Περεγιασλάβλ
• EPHRAIM the Great of Atsquri (8-9th c.) a disciple and companion of Saint Grigol of Khandzta
Saint Ephraim was later consecrated bishop of Atsquri and became a major figure in the Church of his time. He significantly contributed to the definitive strengthening of the autocephaly of the Georgian Church. As a result of his labors, the Georgian Church received a blessing from Antioch to prepare its own chrism in Mtskheta. Saint Ephraim administered the diocese of Atsquri for forty years. God endowed him with the gifts of prophecy, wonder-working, and healing. He lived to an advanced age and reposed peacefully. Even today, those who approach his holy relics are healed of their infirmities.
• Martyr EUTYCHIUS in Ferentino in the Roman Campagna, in Italy
• HUNNA (Una, Huva) of Alsace, Matr. (679) the self-sacrificing wife of a nobleman in Alsace, now in France; Patroness of laundresses
A French saint. She was the daughter of an Alsatian duke, and later married Huno of Hunnawetyer. She devoted herself to serving the poor women of Strasbourg, France. Because she undertook to do the washing for her needy neighbors, she was nicknamed by her contemporaries "The Holy Washerwoman". Widowed Saint Hunna devoted herself to the poor of Strasbourg. Hunna earned the title of "holy washerwoman" because she would lend a hand with any job ― even to doing the laundry for the poor. Her family appears to have been influenced by Bishop Saint Deodatus of Nevers, because Hunna's son was named for and baptized by him. When he was of age, he entered the monastery founded by Deodatus, Ebersheimmünster near Strasbourg. A local cult developed after her death. Saint Hunna is represented as a noblewoman with linen near her; sometimes she is washing it for the poor and sick. She is venerated in Alsace. Patroness of laundresses.
• Child Martyr LAURENTINUS Sossius (485) a boy aged 5, presumed to have been killed by the Jews on Good Friday. Laurentinus died at Valrovina (diocese of Vicenza), Italy
• LEONIDAS 莱奥尼达 bishop of Athens (250)
Ὁ Ἅγιος Λεωνίδης Ἐπίσκοπος Ἀθηνῶν
• New Martyr MICHAEL Burliotes of Smyrna (1772)
• Translation (1049) of relics of Sainted MODOALDUS (Romoald) Bishop of Trier (647) the Frankish archbishop of Trier from 626-645. He is the Patron Saint of the Reichsabtei Helmarshausen
Modoald was born in Acquitaine, the son of Arnulf, later Bishop of Metz. His sister was Itta, wife of Pepin of Landen. Saint Severa was another sister of Modoald. He had been at the Court of the Merovingian King Dagobert I, when the King had him made Archbishop of Trier. Modoald established the community of St Symphorien, on the Moselle; and placed it under the supervision of Severa.
• MSTISLAV 穆斯提斯拉夫 (Theodore 德奥多若 in Baptise) prince of Kiev (1134)
Ὁ Ἅγιος Μστισλάβος – Θεόδωρος πρίγκιπας Κιέβου
• MUNDUS (Munde, Mund, Mond) (962) an abbot who founded several monasteries in Argyle in Scotland
Saint Mundus was a Scottish abbot of a large abbey, who made several monastic foundations at Argyle, where he was once venerated as patron. His other heritage included excellent maxims relating to fraternal charity, meekness, the value of solitude, and the need to be aware of the Divine presence. The details of his career are obscure and he is often confused with Saint Fintan Munnu, but he was previously honored as the primary patron of Scotland. Several churches bear the name of this saint in Argyleshire in Scotland, in which he was formerly honoured as principal patron, and which he edified, by the shining light of his example, and by his zealous preaching, in the tenth century. He governed there a great monastery, founded several others in that province, and left behind him many great models of Christian perfection. His excellent maxims, relating to the most tender and universal fraternal charity, meekness, the love of silence and retiredness, and a constant attention to the divine presence, were handed down to posterity as sacred oracles. St Munde died in a happy old age in 962.
• Sainted NIDGER (Nidgar, Nitgar) (829) Abbot of Ottobeuren in Bavaria. He became Bishop of Augsburg in Germany
• PATERNUS (Badarn, Padarn, Paterno, Patern) of Wales (482-565)
Together with others he founded the monastery of Llanbadarn Fawr (i.e. the great monastery of Padarn) near Aberystwyth in Wales. He preached the Gospel there.
• PATERNUS (Pern) (500) Bishop of Vannes in Brittany
Ὁ Ἅγιος Πατέρνος
Born in Brittany; died c. 500. First, there is a confusion of saints named Paternus, who all lived about the same period. This one appears to have been consecrated bishop of Vannes, Brittany, c. 465. One source says: "Following his father's example he became a monk, founded convents, churches; he went on pilgrimages and was appointed bishop of Vannes from which post he retired to die in peace (565)." However, the date is different and appears to refer to a saint honored tomorrow.
• Sainted PATERNUS (Foix, Padarn, Pair, Patier) of Avranches (482-568)
Son of Patranus. Monk at Ansion, France. Hermit near Coutances, France. Bishop of Avranches, France.
• Martyr PAUSILIPUS 帕弗西利普 of Thrace (2nd c.)
• Venerble RUADHÁN 路雅德翰 of Lothra, Abbot in Ireland (584) founder and abbot of Lothra, Ireland. One of the leading disciples of St Finian of Clonard, he founded the monastery of Lothra in Ireland
This saint was born in the western part of Leinster. Related to the royal family of Munster (part of modern Ireland. Studied under Saint Finian of Clonard. Founded the monastery of Lorrha c.545, and served as its first abbot. Having built the monastery of Lothraen, he assembled in it 150 fervent monks, with whom he divided his time, between the exercises of prayer and manual labour, which he also sanctified by prayer. His brother monks produced the Stowe Missal, and his abbot‘s bell is preserved in the British Museum. Ruadhan’s embassy to King Dermot of Tara in 556 is recounted in the romance the Cursing of Tara where he is supposed to have cursed Dermot for violating the sanctuary of the Lorrha monastery in order to capture the king of Connaught. He was advanced to the episcopal dignity, and considered a confessor of the faith, and one of the Twelve Apostles of Erin. He died in 584.
• Martyr SABBAS 萨瓦 the Goth of Buzau in Wallachia (Romania) (372)
格特兰的圣萨巴斯（格特的萨巴斯）
在格特兰曾经发生了一场残酷的对基督徒的迫害运动。格特王子阿塔里杜斯走进一个村子，也就是萨巴斯居住的地方，问村民说：“在你们的村子中还有基督徒吗？”村民发誓说已经没有了基督徒。萨巴斯站在王子和众人面前说：“我不会发这样的誓言；我是一名基督徒！”看到萨巴斯穷途潦倒的样子，王子也就没有难为他说：“这个人对任何人都不会构成伤害，也不会有益。”第二年，在复活节前后，一位名叫桑萨拉的司祭来到这个村子中，与萨巴斯一同庆祝了复活节。听到这个消息之后，异教徒立即袭击了萨巴斯的家，并用藤枝无情地抽打这位上帝的圣人；除此之外，他们还将萨巴斯脱光衣服在荆棘中拖曳，并将萨巴斯和桑萨拉绑在树上，将献给偶像的祭品给他们吃。上帝的这两位仆人心中记念着圣徒的话语，拒绝吃这些不洁净的东西。最后，王子阿塔里杜斯判处萨巴斯死刑，并将他交给士兵进行处置。萨巴斯仍是心怀喜悦地开口赞美上帝。士兵看出了他是上帝的仆人，于是打算将他在沿路中释放，但是萨巴斯由此却感到十分伤心，对士兵说，他们有任务在身，不能违抗王子的命令。士兵将他带到了摩索沃河（在罗马尼亚的特尔古维什蒂，靠近布加勒斯特），将他的颈部缀上了大石头，并将其投入到河水中。后来，萨巴斯的尸体被冲回岸边。在皇帝瓦伦斯在位期间，当时希腊指挥官约尼斯•索拉诺斯同格特人进行争战时，他发现了萨巴斯的尸体，并将尸体带到了卡帕多西亚。萨巴斯这位圣人殉道的时间为公元372年，但是年仅31岁。
In the kingdom of Wallachia (in modern-day Romania) the Goths undertook a brutal persecution of Christians. A Gothic prince came to the village of Buzau and asked the villagers if any Christians lived there. They swore to him that there were none. At this, Sabbas came before the Prince and said 'Let no one swear an oath on my behalf. I am a Christian.' Touched by his courage, the prince let Sabbas go, saying 'This one can do neither harm nor good.' The following year a priest named Sansal came to the village and celebrated Pascha with Sabbas (who was truly the only Christian there). When the pagans heard of this, they attacked Sabbas' house and seized both men. They dragged Sabbas naked through thorns, then tied both him and Sansal to trees and tried to make them eat meat offered to idols. Neither man would touch the sacrifices. The prince then sentenced Sabbas to death and gave him over to the soldiers. Sabbas walked to the place of execution joyfully, singing and praising God. Seeing his goodness, the soldiers tried to free him on the way, but Sabbas refused, telling them that it was their duty to carry out the prince's command. The soldiers took him to a river, tied a rock to his neck and cast him into the waters, where he gave back his soul to God. Some Christians later recovered his body and gave it honorable burial. The saint was 31 years old at the time of his martyrdom. In the reign of the Emperor Valens, the Greek commander Ionnios Soranos found the Saint's body during a war against the Goths, and took it to Cappadocia.
• SARNAT of Dairnis Cetne
• Martyr SEBASTIAN
• SILVESTER (625) 2nd Abbot of Moutier-Saint-Jean (Réome) near Dijon in France
• Hieromartyr THEODOR the Priest, in Thrakien (117-138)
THE SYNAXARION FOR HOLY PASCHA
On the holy and great Sunday of Pascha we celebrate the life-bearing Resurrection of our Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ itself.
To him be the glory and the might to the ages of ages. Amen.
We call the present Feast ‘Pascha’, which in Hebrew means ‘Passing Over’; for this is the day on which God from the beginning brought the world out of non-existence. On this same day he also made the people of Israel pass over the Red Sea and snatched them from the hands of Pharao. Again it was on this day that he came down from heaven and dwelt in the womb of the Virgin. And now he has snatched the whole of humanity from the vaults of Hell and made it pass upwards to heaven and brought it to its ancient dignity of incorruption. But when he descended into Hell he did raise all, but as many as believed in him were chosen. He freed the souls of the Saints since time began who were forcibly held fast by Hell and made them all ascend to heaven. And so we, rejoicing exceedingly, celebrate the Resurrection with splendour as we image joy with which our nature has been enriched by God’s compassionate mercy. Likewise, to demonstrate the abolition of the enmity and the union with God and the Angels, we give one another the customary kiss.
The Lord’s Resurrection took place as follows. While the soldiers were guarding the tomb, at around midnight there was an earthquake, for and Angel came down and took the stone from the door of the grave. The guards on seeing this fled and then came the arrival of the Women, late on the Sabbath, that is around midnight on the Sabbath. The Resurrection was known first to the Mother of God, who was sitting, as St Matthew says, opposite the tomb with the Magdalen. But that there might be no doubt of the Resurrection, because of its appropriateness to his Mother, the Evangelists say, ‘He appeared first to Mary Magdalen.’ She also saw the Angel on the stone and leaning down again she saw the ones inside the grave, who proclaimed the Lord’s Resurrection. ‘For, they said, he has risen. He is not here. See the place where they laid him’. On hearing this she ran and came to the leaders of the Apostles, Peter and John, and brought them the good news of the Resurrection. As she was returning with Mary Christ met them and said ‘Rejoice!’; for it was necessary that the sex which had first heard, ‘In pains you will bear children’ should be the first to hear also of the joy. But they, overcome with longing, came forward and touched his most pure feet, or more accurately, wanted to. The Apostles came to the tomb and Peter, having simply leaned down near the tomb, went away, but John and in and inspected more closely, and touched both the shroud and the napkin.
Again the Magdalen came around dawn with other women to verify what had been seen more accurately. She stood outside grieving, but bending down inside the tomb she sees two angels, blazing with splendour, and, as if rebuking her, saying, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? For whom are you looking? Are you looking for Jesus the Nazarene, the crucified? He has been raised, he is not here’. And at once they arose, filled with fear, for they had seen the Lord. And so she, on turning round, sees Christ standing there; but, imagining him to be a gardener (because the grave was in a garden), she says, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him and I will remove him’. When she had again made a sign to the Angels, the Saviour said to the Magdalen, ‘Mary’. But she, recognising the sweet and familiar voice of Christ, wished to touch him. But he said, ‘Do not touch me, for I have not yet ascended to my Father, as you reckon, understanding me to be yet a mortal. But go to my brethren and tell them all that you have seen and heard’. And the Magdalen did so. But when daylight came again she came to the tomb with the rest of the women. Those with Joanna and Salome came when the sun had risen, and, briefly, the arrival of the women at the tomb occurred at different times. Among them was also the Mother of God, for she is the one whom the Gospel calls ‘Mary of Joses’. This Joses was the son of Joseph. It is uncertain at what time the Lord rose. Some say at the first crowing of the cocks, others when the earthquake took place, and others give different times.
When these events had taken place, some of the watch came and told the Chief Priests what had happened. The latter, bribing them with money, persuaded them to declare that his disciples had come by night and stolen him. That same evening, the disciples being gathered in one place for fear of the Jews and the doors being tight shut, Christ came in to them, because he had an incorrupt body, and gave them customary good greeting of ‘Peace’. When they saw him they were overjoyed and through his breathing on them the received a fuller force of the all-holy Spirit.
Understand how the Lord’s Resurrection was on the third day like this. Thursday evening and Friday (for this is how the Hebrews reckon the space of a full day) make one day. The Friday night and the whole of the Saturday make another full day; so this is the second day. The Saturday night and the Sunday (for the whole is understood from the part) make another full day; so that is the third day. Or it can be calculated as follows. Christ was crucified at nine o’clock on the Friday, then there was darkness from the sixth to the ninth hour, and this can be reckoned as a night. So from nine o’clock to three o’clock is counted as one full day. Then after the darkness a day and the night of Friday. This then makes two full days. The day of Saturday and the following night then makes up the three full days. Though our Saviour had promised to exercise his loving-kindness towards us on the third day, he accomplished that act of loving kindness more rapidly.
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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