![]() ![]() The shepherds immediately “go over the Bethlehem to see this thing that has happened” (v 15) and find Jesus lying there.Īfter the resurrection, the two Marys find the tomb, but the cloths are empty – “He is not here”.Īfter Pentecost, Peter will immediately preach the this message: In the Gospel story, the shepherds on the hills are sent by an angel to see the wonderous sign of the Good News, “a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger” (Luke 2: 12). (From an ancient homily on Holy Saturday, author unknown) The kingdom of heaven has been prepared for you from all eternity.” ![]() The bridal chamber is adorned, the banquet is ready, the eternal dwelling places are prepared, the treasure houses of all good things lie open. ![]() The throne formed by cherubim awaits you, its bearers swift and eager. I appointed cherubim to guard you as slaves are guarded, but now I make them worship you as God. I forbade you the tree that was only a symbol of life, but see, I who am life itself am now one with you. I will not restore you to that paradise, but I will enthrone you in heaven. The enemy led you out of the earthly paradise. The sword that pierced me has sheathed the sword that was turned against you. My sleep will rouse you from your sleep in hell. I slept on the cross and a sword pierced my side for you who slept in paradise and brought forth Eve from your side. See my hands, nailed firmly to a tree, for you who once wickedly stretched out your hand to a tree. On my back see the marks of the scourging I endured to remove the burden of sin that weighs upon your back. See there the marks of the blows I received in order to refashion your warped nature in my image. See on my face the spittle I received in order to restore to you the life I once breathed into you. For the sake of you, who left a garden, I was betrayed to the Jews in a garden, and I was crucified in a garden. For your sake, for the sake of man, I became like a man without help, free among the dead. For your sake I, your God, became your son I, the Lord, took the form of a slave I, whose home is above the heavens, descended to the earth and beneath the earth. ![]() Rise, let us leave this place, for you are in me and I am in you together we form only one person and we cannot be separated. Rise up, work of my hands, you who were created in my image. Rise from the dead, for I am the life of the dead. I did not create you to be held a prisoner in hell. Out of love for you and for your descendants I now by my own authority command all who are held in bondage to come forth, all who are in darkness to be enlightened, all who are sleeping to arise. I am your God, who for your sake have become your son. At the sight of him Adam, the first man he had created, struck his breast in terror and cried out to everyone: “My Lord be with you all.” Christ answered him: “And with your spirit.” He took him by the hand and raised him up, saying: “Awake, O sleeper, and rise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” The Lord approached them bearing the cross, the weapon that had won him the victory. Greatly desiring to visit those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, he has gone to free from sorrow the captives Adam and Eve, he who is both God and the son of Eve. He has gone to search for our first parent, as for a lost sheep. God has died in the flesh and hell trembles with fear. The earth trembled and is still because God has fallen asleep in the flesh and he has raised up all who have slept ever since the world began. The whole earth keeps silence because the King is asleep. “Something strange is happening – there is a great silence on earth today, a great silence and stillness. The second reading from the Office of Readings on Holy Saturday presents a striking written version of the events played out in this principal icon of Pascha, matching in words the depth of meaning in the icon. To join with our Orthodox fellow believers on the Feast of the Resurrection, we present the icon of the Harrowing of Hell, otherwise known as Anastasis (raising up). Icon of The Harrowing of Hell from the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Public Domain) ![]()
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