Christ is Risen!

[TER]

It is appropriate and necessary that at the time the "mystery" (the Creed) is handed over (to catechumens), the "resurrection of the dead" is included. For at the time we make the confession of faith at holy baptism, we say that we expect the resurrection of the flesh. And so we believe. Death overcame our forefather Adam on account of his transgressions and like a fierce wild animal it pounced on him and carried him off amid lamentation and loud wailing. Men wept and grieved because death ruled over all the earth. But all this came to an end with Christ. Striking down death, he rose up on the third day and became the way by which human nature would rid itself of corruption. He became the first born of the dead, and the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. We who came afterward will certainly follow the first fruits. He turned suffering into joy, and we cast off our sackcloth. We put on the joy given by God so that we can rejoice and say, "where is your victory, O death?"

St. Cyril of AlexandriaCommentary on Isaiah 3.1.25

 

[TER]

As the Lord was going to His voluntary Passion, He was saying to His Apostles on the way: "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man shall be delivered up, as it is written of Him." Come, therefore, and let us accompany Him with purified minds, and let us be crucified with Him, and for His sake mortify the pleasures of this life, that we may also live with Him, and hear Him declaring, "No longer do I go to the earthly Jerusalem to suffer, but I go to My Father, and your Father, to My God and your God. And I will raise you up with Me to the upper Jerusalem, in the Kingdom of Heaven."

We the faithful, having come to the saving Passion of Christ our God, let us glorify His ineffable forbearance; that through His compassion He may also raise us up, who are deadened by sin, for He is good and is the lover of mankind.

When You, O Lord, were coming to Your Passion, You gave courage to Your own Disciples, taking them aside and saying,: "How have you forgotten My words, which I spoke to you of old, as it is written, that no Prophet will be put to death, except in Jerusalem? Now, therefore, the time has come of which I told you; for behold, I am betrayed to be mocked at the hands of sinners, and they will fix Me to the Cross, delivering Me up for burial, and account Me as a corpse. But, take courage, for on the third day, I shall rise, bringing joy and life eternal to the faithful.

The Idiomela Hymns for Matins of Holy Monday

 

[TER]

Glory to You, our God! Glory to You!

 

[TER]

There’s a traditional story told from the early days of persecution in Russia that illustrates the theme of Paschal victory. An atheist lecturer came to a village, and all the inhabitants were assembled to listen to him. He explained to them at great length that there is no God, and he said at the end, “Are there any questions?” At the back of the audience the parish priest stood up and said, “I’d like to say something”. The atheist lecturer, sensing trouble, told him: “You must be very brief. I will only allow you half a minute.” “Oh,” said the priest, “I don’t need nearly as much time as that. What I wanted to say is this: “Christ is risen!” All the audience shouted back, “He is risen indeed!” Then the priest turned to the atheist lecturer with the words, “That’s all I wanted to say!” Such is our answer to the world’s misery: The risen Christ is victor over darkness and despair.

- Metropolitan Kallistos (Ware) of Diokleia

 

[TER]

… just as by having shared in the washing of regeneration He became “the first-born among many brethren,” and again by having made Himself the first-fruits of the resurrection, He obtains the name of the “first-born from the dead,” so having in all things the pre-eminence, after that “all old things,” as the apostle says, “have passed away,” He becomes the first-born of the new creation of men in Christ by the two-fold regeneration, alike that by Holy Baptism and that which is the consequence of the resurrection from the dead, becoming for us in both alike the Prince of Life, the first-fruits, the first-born. This first-born, then, hath also brethren, concerning whom He speaks to Mary, saying, “Go and tell My brethren, I go to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God .” In these words He sums up the whole aim of His dispensation as Man. For men revolted from God, and “served them which by nature were no gods,” and though being the children of God became attached to an evil father falsely so called. For this cause the mediator between God and man having assumed the first-fruits of all human nature, sends to His brethren the announcement of Himself not in His divine character, but in that which He shares with us, saying, “I am departing in order to make by My own self that true Father, from whom you were separated, to be your Father, and by My own self to make that true God from whom you had revolted to be your God, for by that first-fruits which I have assumed, I am in Myself presenting all humanity to its God and Father.”

- Saint Gregory of Nyssa

 

[TER]

. . . by the Divine providence death has been introduced as a dispensation into the nature of man, so that, sin having flowed away at the dissolution of the union of soul and body, man, through the resurrection, might be refashioned, sound, passionless, stainless, and removed from any touch of evil. In the case however of the Author of our Salvation this dispensation of death reached its fulfillment, having entirely accomplished its special purpose. For in His death, not only were things that once were one put asunder, but also things that had been disunited were again brought together; so that in this dissolution of things that had naturally grown together, I mean, the soul and body, our nature might be purified, and this return to union of these severed elements might secure freedom from the contamination of any foreign admixture.

- Saint Gregory of Nyssa

 

[TER]

Since, then, there was needed a lifting up from death for the whole of our nature, He stretches forth a hand as it were to prostrate humanity, and stooping down to our dead corpse He came so far within the grasp of death as to touch a state of deadness, and then in His own body to bestow on our nature the principle of the resurrection, raising as He did by His power along with Himself the whole human being. For since from no other source than from the concrete lump of our nature had come that flesh, which was the receptacle of the Godhead and in the resurrection was raised up together with that Godhead, therefore just in the same way as, in the instance of this body of ours, the operation of one of the organs of sense is felt at once by the whole system, as one with that member, so also the resurrection principle of this Member, as though the whole of humankind was a single living being, passes through the entire race, being imparted from the Member to the whole by virtue of the continuity and oneness of the nature. What, then, is there beyond the bounds of probability in what this Revelation teaches us; viz. that He Who stands upright stoops to one who has fallen, in order to lift him up from his prostrate condition?

- Saint Gregory of Nyssa

 

[Krugerrand]

​

I was surprised to see this bumped recently, so I thought I'd share.

I had recently heard somebody suggest that the burial cloths would have been found still wrapped around where the body was. (Not was often portrayed. (above)) Thus why the disciple saw and believed: "Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed."

This is the quickest explanation of the same I could find online:

“And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.” John 20:7 ‘Wrapped together’ “entulisso” in Greek, means ‘twisted’ or ‘wound up’. What these two men saw was a hollow cocoon, a still-intact shape, in which the body had been wrapped, probably slumped down slightly, but obviously a hollow shape, from which the body had passed without needing to unwind the cloth. And at the head was another spiral, which had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. If the men had seen grave clothes strewn about they might have suspected a trick, but the undisturbed clothes indicated a miracle.
http://essays.mightymag.org/bible/details-in-the-bible/

I'm no expert on the subject and have no clue as to the merits of the quoted source or from whom I heard it originally... so take it for what it's worth.

 

[TER]

I was surprised to see this bumped recently, so I thought I'd share.

I had recently heard somebody suggest that the burial cloths would have been found still wrapped around where the body was. (Not was often portrayed. (above)) Thus why the disciple saw and believed: "Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed."

This is the quickest explanation of the same I could find online:

“And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.” John 20:7 ‘Wrapped together’ “entulisso” in Greek, means ‘twisted’ or ‘wound up’. What these two men saw was a hollow cocoon, a still-intact shape, in which the body had been wrapped, probably slumped down slightly, but obviously a hollow shape, from which the body had passed without needing to unwind the cloth. And at the head was another spiral, which had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. If the men had seen grave clothes strewn about they might have suspected a trick, but the undisturbed clothes indicated a miracle.

I'm no expert on the subject and have no clue as to the merits of the quoted source or from whom I heard it originally... so take it for what it's worth.

I too have heard this before, that the burial clothes were found to be as described in the quote you gave above. Something akin to this:

 

[TER]

For, in what way could we be partakers of the adoption of sons, unless we had received from Him through the Son that fellowship which refers to Himself, unless His Word, having been made flesh, had entered into communion with us? Wherefore also He passed through every stage of life, restoring to all communion with God. … For it behooved Him who was to destroy sin, and redeem man under the power of death, that He should Himself be made that very same thing which he was, that is, man; who had been drawn by sin into bondage, but was held by death, so that sin should be destroyed by man, and man should go forth from death. For as by the disobedience of the one man who was originally molded from virgin soil, the many were made sinners, and forfeited life; so was it necessary that, by the obedience of one man, who was originally born from a virgin, many should be justified and receive salvation. Thus, then, was the Word of God made man, as also Moses says: “God, true are His works.” But if, not having been made flesh, He did appear as if flesh, His work was not a true one. But what He did appear, that He also was: God recapitulated in Himself the ancient formation of man, that He might kill sin, deprive death of its power, and vivify man; and therefore His works are true.

- St. Irenaeus

 

[TER]

Let no one grieve at his poverty,
for the universal kingdom has been revealed.
Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again;
for forgiveness has risen from the grave.
Let no one fear death, for the Death of our Savior has set us free.
He has destroyed it by enduring it.

- St. John Chrysostom

 

[TER]

"Let us consider, beloved, how the Lord continually proves to us that there shall be a future resurrection, of which He has rendered the Lord Jesus Christ the first-fruits by raising Him from the dead. Let us contemplate, beloved, the resurrection which is at all times taking place. Day and night declare to us a resurrection. The night sinks to sleep, and the day arises; the day [again] departs, and the night comes on. Let us behold the fruits [of the earth], how the sowing of grain takes place. The sower goes forth, and casts it into the ground; and the seed being thus scattered, though dry and naked when it fell upon the earth, is gradually dissolved. Then out of its dissolution the mighty power of the providence of the Lord raises it up again, and from one seed many arise and bring forth fruit."

Taken from Chap. XXIV. of the first epistle of St. Clement to the Corinthians

 

[bubbleboy]

Graven images.

 

[TER]

“The last enemy to be destroyed is death…” And that destruction, that extermination of death began when the Son of God Himself in His immortal love for us voluntarily descended into death and its darkness, filling its despair and horror with His light and love. And this is why we sing on Pascha not only “Christ is risen from the dead,” but also “trampling down death by death…”

He alone arose from the dead, but He has destroyed our death, destroying its dominion, its despair, its finality. Christ does not promise us Nirvana or some sort of misty life beyond the grave, but the resurrection of life, a new heaven and a new earth, the joy of the universal resurrection. “The dead shall arise, and those in the tombs will sing for joy…” Christ in risen, and life abides, life lives… That is the meaning; that is the unending joy of this truly central and fundamental confirmation of the Symbol of Faith: “And the third day, He rose again according to the Scriptures.” According to the Scriptures, i.e. in accordance with that knowledge of life, with that design for the world and humanity, for the soul and body, for the spirit and matter, for life and death, which has been revealed to us in the Holy Scriptures. This is the entire faith, the entire love, and the entire hope of Christianity. And this is why the Apostle Paul says, “If Christ is not risen, then your faith is in vain.”

- Fr. Alexander Schmemann

 

[TER]

Most men believe in the resurrection of Christ, but very few have a clear vision of it. …That most sacred formula which is daily on our lips does not say, “Having believed in Christ’s resurrection,” but, “Having beheld Christ’s resurrection, let us worship the Holy Lord Jesus, who alone is without sin.” How then does the Holy Spirit urge us to say, “Having beheld Christ’s resurrection,” which we have not seen as though we had seen it, when Christ has risen once for all a thousand years ago, and even then without anybody’s seeing it? Surely Holy Scripture does not wish us to lie? Far from it! Rather, it urges us to speak the truth, that the resurrection of Christ takes place in each of us who believes, and that not once, but every hour, so to speak, when Christ the Master arises in us, resplendent in array and flashing with the lightnings of incorruption and Deity.

For the light-bringing coming of the Spirit shows forth to us, as in early morning, the Master’s resurrection, or, rather, it grants us to see the Risen One Himself. Therefore we say, “The Lord is God, and He has given us light” (Ps. 118:27), and we allude to His second Coming and add these words, “Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord” (Ps. 118:26). Those to whom Christ has given light as He has risen, to them He has appeared spiritually, He has been shown to their spiritual eyes. When this happens to us through the Spirit He raises us up from the dead and gives us life. He grants us to see Him, who is immortal and indestructible. More than that, He grants clearly to know Him who raises us up (Eph. 2:6) and glorifies us (Rom. 8:17) with Himself, as all the divine Scripture testifies. These, then, are the divine mysteries of Christians. This is the hidden power of our faith, which unbelievers, or those who believe with difficulty, or rather believe in part, do not see nor are able at all to see.

- St. Symeon the New Theologian

 

[ClayTrainor]

​

Could someone please explain to me the meaning of this picture? (genuinely curious)

 

[GunnyFreedom]

Could someone please explain to me the meaning of this picture? (genuinely curious)

Thomas didn't really believe it was Jesus. Dude was dead after all, he saw him die. And if it was Jesus, it had to be some kind of ghost, right? Dude was dead after all, he saw him die.

Jesus made Thomas feel him to show he wasn't a ghost, made him feel the wounds to demonstrate that he was the same guy who actually died on the cross.

 

[TER]

Could someone please explain to me the meaning of this picture? (genuinely curious)

This scene is taken from the Gospel according to St. John, immediately after Jesus first appeared to all the disciples after His resurrection. St. Thomas was not there at that first meeting... (John 20:24-29)

Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”

So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”

And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”

And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

+ + +​

This is, BTW, where the expression 'Doubting Thomas' comes from, that is, a description of one who disbelieves something simply because they did not witness it them self.

 

[TER]

God continually shows us in nature that there will be a resurrection. Let us consider, beloved, how the Lord continually proves to us that there shall be a future resurrection, of which He has rendered the Lord Jesus Christ the first-fruits by raising Him from the dead. Let us contemplate, beloved, the resurrection which is at all times taking place. Day and night declare to us a resurrection. The night sinks to sleep, and the day arises; the day [again] departs, and the night comes on. Let us behold the fruits [of the earth], how the sowing of grain takes place. The sower goes forth, and casts it into the ground; and the seed being thus scattered, though dry and naked when it fell upon the earth, is gradually dissolved. Then out of its dissolution the mighty power of the providence of the Lord raises it up again, and from one seed many arise and bring forth fruit.

- St. Justin Martyr

 

[Krugerrand]

This scene is taken from the Gospel according to St. John, immediately after Jesus first appeared to all the disciples after His resurrection. St. Thomas was not there at that first meeting... (John 20:24-29)

Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”

So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”

And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”

And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

+ + +​

This is, BTW, where the expression 'Doubting Thomas' comes from, that is, a description of one who disbelieves something simply because they did not witness it them self.

Interesting to think about ... did Thomas in fact then probe Jesus' hands and side? Or, was his response “My Lord and my God!” an affirmation of faith without such probing?