Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

Christos Anesti! Alithos Anesti!

Great and Holy Pascha

Christ is Risen from the Dead

Trampling down death by death

And upon those in the tombs bestowing Life!

Thou didst descend into the tomb, O Immortal

Thou didst destroy the power of death

In victory didst Thou arise, O Christ God

Proclaiming rejoice to the Myrrhbearing women,

Granting peace to Thine Apostles,

and bestowing Resurrection on the fallen.

Today is the Eastern Orthodox Easter, called Pascha. We ushered in the day with a very long service that started at 11:00 P.M. last night and ended sometime after 1:45 A.M. this morning (but we left then, so I'm not sure how much longer it went on).

Pascha in the Orthodox Church is amazing. They turn off the lights and blow out all the candles so that it is pitch black in the sanctuary. Then, the priest comes out with a single candle and lights the candles of the first people (in our case, the parish council members), who then pass the flame to all the assembled congregation. Then, there is a procession to outside of the church, where the priest announces the Resurrection and we all sing the Paschal Hymn (above).

When we return to our seats, the Divine Liturgy begins, and I can't think of a better way to celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord than with Holy Communion. And while the faithful are partaking of the Lord's Supper, the following sermon is read. The people are fully involved, because everytime the reader says "Embittered," we repeat "Bitter!" And every time he says, "Christ is Risen!" we repeat, "Risen!"

Christ Is Risen!

If anyone be a devout lover of God, let him delight in this fair and radiant feast. If anyone be a faithful servant, let him enter rejoicing into the joy of his Lord. If anyone has wearied himself with fasting, let him receive his reward. If anyone has labored from the first hour, let him receive his wages. If anyone has come after the third hour, let him celebrate the feast with a grateful heart. If anyone has come after the sixth, let him not be in doubt, for he will suffer no loss. If anyone has delayed until the ninth, let him not hesitate but draw near. If anyone has arrived only at the eleventh, let him not be alarmed because of his tardiness. For the Master is generous and accepts the last even as the first. He gives rest to him who comes at the eleventh hour, as well as to him who has toiled from the first. He accepts the deed, and commends the intention. Enter then, all of you, into the joy of our Lord. First and last, receive alike your reward. Rich and poor, dance together. You who fasted and you who have not fasted, rejoice together. The table is fully laden: let all enjoy it. The calf is fatted: let none go away hungry. Let all partake of the banquet of faith. Let all enjoy the riches of goodness. Let none lament his poverty; for the universal Kingdom is revealed. Let none bewail his transgressions; for the light of forgiveness has risen from the tomb. Let none fear death; for the death of the Savior has set us free. He who was taken by death has annihilated it! He descended into hell and took hell captive! He embittered it when it tasted his flesh! Isaiah foretold this when he cried:Hell was embittered when it met Thee face to face below. Embittered, for it was brought to nothing;
embittered, for it was mocked;
embittered, for it was overthrown;
embittered, for it was bound in chains.
Hell took a body, and encountered God. It took earth, and confronted heaven. O death, where is your sting? O hell, where is your victory? Christ is risen! And you, o death, are annihilated!
Christ is risen! And the devils are cast down.
Christ is risen! And the angels rejoice!
Christ is risen! And eternal life reigns!
Christ is risen! And the tomb is emptied of its dead.
For Christ, having risen from the dead, is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep. To Him be Glory and Power, now and forever, and from all ages to all ages. Amen!
The Paschal Homily of St John Chrysostom

A New Beginning

We celebrated our family's entrance into the Eastern Orthodox Church with Mara's baptism and Cade's and my Chrismations. Just one week short of a complete year since my first steps into the local parish, we united with other Orthodox Christians throughout the world and since the Day of Pentecost.

Mara had been anticipating this day for quite a while, but I was completely unprepared for the awe and reverence with which she'd face each part of the ceremony. You'll see it on her face. Yes, she took the opportunity to turn and wave to loved ones in the congregation, but generally, Mara paid rapt attention to everything Father D said. Any time she got squirmy, she settled down again as soon as he addressed her, which was often, since she was the major participant in the ceremony. He had her stand in a chair for a while, and she almost fell out a couple of times, but her Nouno and Nouna caught her and helped her to balance. A couple of times, she turned around to see who was watching, spotted someone she recognized and waved out to the congregation. Mara and our godparents' kids all three took turns to be interested in the font, to look into it to see what was in there, etc. It was really cute to see their interest, but everyone commented on how well behaved they all were. Our godparents' children are normally very well behaved, but Mara isn't usually so "reverant." I was very proud of her. The font wasn't big enough to dunk her in, so he had her sit and he poured a pitcher of water over her head three times. She told me later that the water was cold! All of a sudden, I realized that this was my daughter being baptised, that this was huge for her, and I was seeing how spiritual it was--not by all the traditions of the EOC, but by watching her face and her reactions. She had such an expression of being absolutely caught up in everything happening, it can only be described as something I have always thought of as beyond her capabilities: Reverence. Truly, it was amazing!

Then it was our turn, and Father gave all of us a page to read from with the responses we were to say. He took the time to explain various parts of the ceremonies to the congregation, which made it very nice for the non-Orthodox who were there. He had nice, personal things to say about all three of us, but especially Mara, since he sees her almost every day at the preschool. We are all three proudly wearing our crosses, and it just feels good. This morning, Cade kept saying things like, "This is my first Orthodox shower." Everything seems new, now that we're Orthodox! Father complimented us on the reception, which pleased me, since we wanted it to be a nice celebration of our guests who came to witness this event with us. There was even some shrimp left over, which was a relief, since we thought we might run out. It's gone now, of course! Mara enjoyed passing out the icon favors we made up, and several people complimented me on how nice they look. Even my neice got in on passing out the icons, so it was fun for all.

Father welcomed the guests and explained the order of the Sacraments.  

In the Narthex, Vickie and John answered Father's questions on Mara's behalf. 

I've never seen Mara quite so serious. I really didn't expect her to be so caught up in what was happening. 

Then the Priest turns her that is to be baptized to face westward, then says thrice:
Do you renounce Satan, and all his works, and all his worship, and all his angels, and all his pomp?
Each time the godparents answer and say:
I do renounce him.
Again the Priest asks: (3 times)
Have you renounced Satan?
And the godparents answer (3 times):
I have renounced him.
After the third time, the Priest says:
Then blow and spit upon him.
And this being done, the Priest turns the Catechumen to the East with lowered hands, and repeats the following three times:
Do you join Christ?
The question is answered three times:
I do join Him.
Again the Priest asks three times:
Have you joined Christ?
Godparents:
I have joined Him.
Again the Priest asks:
And do you believe in Him?
Godparents:
I believe in Him as King and as God.
After the completion of the Creed, the Priest asks thrice:
Have you joined Christ?
Godparents:
I have joined Him.
Then the Priest says:
Then bow before Him and worship Him.
Godparents bow down, saying:
I bow down before the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit; Trinity One in Essence and Undivided.
Priest: Blessed is God Who desires that all people should be saved, and come to the knowledge of the Truth; both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord have mercy.
 

Sovereign Master, Lord our God, call this Your servant Mara to Your Holy Illumination, and account her worthy of this great Grace and Your Holy Baptism. Put off from her the old man, and renew her unto everlasting life; fill her with the power of Your Holy Spirit, unto union with Your Christ; that she may no longer be a child of the body, but a child of Your Kingdom; through the good pleasure and Grace of Your Only-Begotten Son, with Whom You are blessed, together with Your All-Holy, Good, and Life-creating Spirit, both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Glory to You, O Christ our God and our Hope, glory to You. Christ our True God...
Through the prayers of our holy Fathers ... 

The procession into the church after renouncing Satan and accepting Christ. 

Everyone kissed the Gospel. 

Mara paying close attention to what Father was saying. 

Mara wanted to see what was inside the font. 

I'm not sure why he had her stand on the chair. Maybe he wanted her to be able to be closer to his hand as he blessed her, or maybe so she could see into the font without having to pull up on the side of it.  

Mara standing next to Father with proud godparents looking on. 

Getting Dizzy! (Mara almost fell off the chair twice!) 

Mara with Father and her godfamily. 

Father explained each step to the congregation and to us. He's very gifted at helping those unfamiliar with Orthodoxy understand what's going on. 

Father explained the significance of olive oil, going back to the end of Noah's journey on the ark:

The Blessing of the Oil

Sovereign Lord and Master, God of our Fathers, Who did send to them in the Ark of Noah a dove bearing a twig of olive in its beak as a sign of reconciliation and salvation from the Flood, and through these things prefigured the Mystery of Grace; and thereby have filled them that were under the. Law with the Holy Spirit, and perfected them that are under Grace: do You Yourself bless this Oil by the power (+) and operation (+) and descent of the Holy Spirit (+) that it may become an anointing of incorruption, a shield of righteousness, a renewal of soul and body, and averting of every operation of the devil, to the removal of all evils from them that are anointed with it in faith, or that are partakers of it.To Your Glory, and to that of Your Only-Begotten Son, and of Your All; Holy, Good, and Life; creating Spirit, both now and ever, and to the ages of ages.

Father poured the oil into the water in the shape of the cross, three times. 

Then he poured the oil into Vickie's and John's hands. 

Father annointed Mara with the oil. 

He dipped his fingers into the oil held by John and Vickie and annointed all of Mara's senses in the shape of the cross. 

John and Vickie covered Mara with the oil in their hands, annointing her head, arms, and legs. (If she had been baptised as a baby, she would have been totally covered with oil.) 

Father said, "We're going to make her like a salad--all covered with oil!" 

Mara sat in the font while Father poured a pitcher of water over her three times. She was too big to dunk, but she definately got drenched! 

Mikey's face here is priceless. I don't think he ever imagined that Father would pour the water over Mara's head like that. 

The final pour 

The Newly Illumined Mara! Many Years! 

Father used an oil mixed with 40 spices to Chrismate Mara.