The Holy Fifty Days
The period of the Fifty Holy Days is a special period in the ecclesiastical cycle. The prominent feature of this period is joy. The Church prays with a festal tune in all Her liturgies and prayers, including the funerals. During this period, the Church lives the life of happiness, which was experienced by the holy disciples after Christ’s resurrection and His appearance to them. The Divine inspiration describes this joy as such, “Then the disciples – …
Why Did He Rise on the Third Day?
The death on the Cross, then, for us has proved seemly and fitting, and its cause has been shown to be reasonable in every respect; and it may justly be argued that in no other way than by the Cross was it right for the salvation of all to take place. For not even thus–not even on the Cross–did He leave Himself concealed; but far otherwise, while He made creation witness to the presence of – …
On Lazarus and the Spikenard
We all know that our Lord Jesus Christ raised Lazarus from the dead after four days. The woman who poured the fragrant oil was celebrating–albeit unknowingly–the end of the stench of death and the beginning of a new era. On that day, our Lord Jesus Christ was invited to the house of His beloved. Who are those beloved? They were Lazarus and his two sisters, Mary and Martha. And what about this new era? We – …
Papal Letter for the Glorious Feast of the Resurrection 2008
Papal Message for the Feast of Resurrection 27 April 2008 His Holiness Pope Shenouda III Pope of Alexandria & Patriarch of the See of St. Mark My children and brethren in the lands of immigration, clergy and laity. My sincere greetings to you on the occasion of the Glorious Feast of Resurrection. May God make it a blessing to you all and a continual source of spiritual joy. The resurrection of the Lord Christ was – …
Paschal Letter for the Glorious Feast of the Resurrection 2008
My Beloved, the Blessed Children of the Holy Church Christ is Risen Truly He is Risen Today, we rejoice as we celebrate the Feast of feasts: the Feast of the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We rejoice because of the death of death. The resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and His victory over death are the proof of the death of death, as St. Cyril of Alexandria said, “For the Word – …