Church Bulletin - April 15, 2001

From St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church of San Jose, CA

CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN!

"Come, receive the light
from the unwaning light,
and glorify Christ,
Who has risen from the dead."

Pascha Bulletin Cover - April 15, 2001
The Resurrection - Pascha Bulletin

PASCHA: THE SPRINGTIME OF THE SOUL

Everyone loves Spring. After the cold, foreboding days of Winter, we all seem to look forward to this time of nature's renewal with eager anticipation. In Springtime, light conquers darkness as the beauty of God's Creation becomes alive again.

We may rightfully call Pascha "THE SPRINGTIME OF THE SOUL," for the Resurrection of Christ brings spiritual renewal to the world. The darkness of the tomb has been illumined by our Savior's Radiant Light. With Him, we have all passed "from death unto life, and from the earth unto heaven." (First Ode of Resurrection Matins) Christ's Resurrection shows us that all of us can be changed. All of us can experience a spiritual rebirth. In the words of the Apostle Paul: "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Cor. 5:17)

All Creation joins together today as we joyfully celebrate this "Triumph of Triumphs." St. Gregory the Theologian tells us that "Pascha is the 'Feast of Feasts.' Not only does it far surpass any civil celebration, it is also far greater than any other feast that the Church observes." St. Gregory of Nyssa beautifully captures the essence of Easter with these thoughts: "Today the reign of life has begun and the tyranny of death is ended. This is truly the day the Lord has made - a day far different from those made when the world was first created, and which are measured by the passage of time. This is the beginning of a New Creation. On this day, God makes a new heaven and a new earth."

So today, may we all "celebrate the Redeeming Pascha with the ranks of the angles." (Fifth Ode of Resurrection Matins) CHRIST IS RISEN! INDEED HE IS RISEN!

KONTAKION

Even though You descended into the grave, O Immortal One, You destroyed the power of Hades; and You arose as a victor, O Christ our God, saying to the myrrh-bearing Women, "Hail!" and to Your Apostles granting peace; You also grant resurrection to the fallen.

Hymn of the RESURRECTION

Christ is risen from the dead, by death trampling on Death, and bestowing life to those in the tombs.

The Reading is from the Acts of the Apostles.
Acts Chapter 1:1-8

In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach,
until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.
To them he presented himself alive after his passion by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days, and speaking of the kingdom of God.
And while staying with them he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, "you heard from me,
for John baptized with water, but before many days you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?"
He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has fixed by his own authority.
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Sama'ria and to the end of the earth."
And when he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.

The Gospel Lesson is from the Holy Gospel according to St. John
John Chapter 1:1-7

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God;
all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.
In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him.
He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light.
The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world.
He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not.
He came to his own home, and his own people received him not.
But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God;
who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.
(John bore witness to him, and cried, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, for he was before me.'")
And from his fullness have we all received, grace upon grace.
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

The CATECHETICAL HOMILY OF ST. JOHN the CHRYSOSTOM
ARCHBISHOP of CONSTANTINOPLE

Whosoever is a devout lover of God, let him enjoy this beautiful bright Festival. And whosoever is a grateful servant, let him joyously enter into the joy of his Lord. And if any be weary with fasting, let him now receive his reward. If any has toiled from the first hour, let him receive his just debt. If any came after the third, let him gratefully celebrate. If any arrived after the sixth, let him not doubt; for he too shall sustain no loss. If any have delayed to the ninth, let him come without hesitation. If any arrived only at the eleventh hour, let him not be afraid by reason of his delay; for the Master is gracious and receives the last, even as the first. He gives rest to him, who arrives at the eleventh hour, as well as to him, who has labored from the first. He is merciful to the one who delays, and nourishes the first. He gives also to the one, and to the other He is gracious. He accepts the works, as he greets the endeavor. He honors the deed, and the intent He commends.

Let all of you then enter into the joy of our Lord. The first and second enjoy your reward. You rich and poor, rejoice together. You temperate and you heedless, honor the day. You who fasted, and you who did not, rejoice today. The Table is richly laden. All of you, fare sumptuously on it. The calf is a fatted one; let no one go away hungry. All of you enjoy the banquet of faith. All of you enjoy the riches of His goodness. Let no one grieve poverty; for the universal Kingdom has been revealed.

Let no one grieve over sins; for forgiveness has dawned from the tomb. Let no one fear death; for the Death of our Savior has set us free. He has destroyed it by enduring it. He despoiled Hades, when He descended thereto. He embittered it, having tasted of His flesh. Isaiah foretold this when he cried out: "You, O Hades, have been embittered by encountering Him below." It was embittered, - for it was abolished. It was embittered, - for it was mocked. It was embittered, - for it was slain. It was embittered, - for it was annihilated. It was embittered, - for it is now made captive. It took a body, and, lo, it discovered God. It took earth and, behold! It encountered Heaven. It took what it saw, and was overcome by what it could not see. O death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory? Christ is risen, - and You are annihilated. Christ is risen, - and the demons have fallen. Christ is risen, - and life is liberated. Christ is risen, - and the tomb is emptied of the dead; for Christ, having risen from the dead, has become the first fruits of those who fall asleep. To Him be the glory and the dominion to the Ages of Ages. Amen.

[ Click here for the Readings of April 15th: Acts 1:1-9; Jn 1:1-17 ]

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St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
1260 Davis Street, San Jose, California 95126