SERMON OF SAINT JOHN CHRYSOSTOMOS ARCHBISHOP OF CONTANTINOPLE

My beloved brothers and sisters in Our Risen Lord, God, and Savior

CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN!

"Christ is risen from the dead, by death trampling
upon Death, and to those in the tombs has
bestowed Life."

"Though Thou, O deathless One, didst descend into
the grave, Thou didst destroy the power of Hades and
as Victor, Thou didst rise again, O Christ Our God.
Thou didst greet the Myrrh-bearing women, saying:
Rejoice! Thou didst bestow peace upon Thy Disciples,
and resurrection upon those that are fallen."

RESURRECTION ODE

‘Let us who have beheld the Resurrection of Christ,
worship our Holy Lord Jesus, Who is alone without sin.
We worship Thy Cross, O Christ, and praise and glorify
Thy Holy Resurrection. For Thou art our God, and we
know none other beside Thee, and we call upon Thy
Name. Come, all ye faithful, let us worship Christ’s
Holy Resurrection, for behold, though the Cross joy has
come to the whole world. We praise His Resurrection,
and forever glorify the Lord. He endured the Cross for
us, and by death destroyed Death.

Jesus, having risen from the grave, as He foretold,
has given to us Eternal Life and the Great Mercy.

SERMON OF SAINT JOHN CHRYSOSTOMOS, 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 rejoice and enter into the joy of his Lord. And if any be weary with fasting, let him now receive his penny. If any have toiled from the first hour, let him receive his due reward. If any have come after the third hour, let him with gratitude join in the Feast. And he that arrived after the sixth hour, let him not doubt; for he too shall sustain no loss. And if any have delayed to the ninth hour, let him not hesitate, but let him come too. And he that hath arrived only at the eleventh hour, let him not be afraid by reason of his delay; for the Lord is gracious and receiveth the last even as the first. He giveth rest to him that cometh at the eleventh hour as well as to him that hath toiled from the first. Yea, to this one, he giveth and upon that one, he bestoweth. He accepteth works, as he greeteth the endeavour. The deed he honoureth and the intention he commendeth.

Let all then enter into the joy of our Lord. Ye first and last receiving alike your reward; ye rich and poor, rejoice together. Ye sober and ye slothful, celebrate the day. Ye that have kept the fast, and ye that have not, rejoice today; for the Table is richly laden. Fare ye royally on it. The calf is a fatted one. Let no one go away hungry. Partake ye all of the cup of faith. Enjoy ye all the riches of His goodness. Let no one grieve at his poverty; for the Universal Kingdom hath been revealed.

Let no one mourn that he hath fallen again and again; for forgiveness hath risen from the grave. Let no one fear death; for the Death of our Savior hath set us free. He hath destroyed it by enduring it. He spoiled Hades when he descended thereto. He vexed it even as it tasted of his flesh. Isaiah foretold this when he cried, Thou, O Hades, hast been vexed by encountering Him below. It is vexed; for it is even done away with. It is vexed; for it made a mockery. It is vexed; for it is destroyed. It vexed; for it is annihilated. It is vexed; 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 did not see. O death, where is thy sting? O Hades, where is thy victory? Christ is risen, and thou art annihilated. Christ is risen, and the evil ones are cast down. Christ is risen, and the Angels rejoice. 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, is become the firstfruits of those that have fallen asleep. To Him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen.

The Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ is the first fruits of the resurrection of all humanity. It is the fulfillment of the Old Testament, "according to the Holy Scripture" where is is written, "For Thou doest not give me up unto Sheol [that is, the realm of death], or let Thy Godly one see corruption" [Psalm 16:10; Acts 2:25-36].

Saint Gregory the Theologian writes on the Death and Resurrection of Christ

Yesterday I was crucified with Him;

today I am glorified with Him.

Yesterday I died with Him; today I am

made alive with Him.

Yesterday I was crucified with Him;

today I am glorified with Him.

Yesterday I died with Him; today I am

made alive with Him.

Yesterday I was buried with Him; today

I am raised up with Him.

Let us offer to Him Who suffered and

rose again for us…ourselves the

possession most precious to God and

most proper.

Let us become like Christ, since Christ

became like us.

Let us become Divine for His sake,

since for us He became Man.

He assumed the worse that He might

give us the better.

He became poor that by His poverty we

might become rich.

He accepted the form of a servant that

we might win back our freedom.

He came down that we might be lifted

up.

He was tempted that through Him we

might conquer.

He was dishonored that He might

glorify us.

He died so that He might save us.

He ascended that He might draw to

Himself us, who were thrown down

through the fall of sin..

Let us give all, offer all, to Him Who

gave Himself a Ransom and

Reconciliation for us.

We needed an incarnate God, a God put
to death, that we might live.

We were put to death together with
Him that we might be cleansed.

We rose again with Him because we
were put to death with Him.

We were glorified with Him because
we rose again with Him.

A few drops of Blood recreate the
whole of creation.

CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN!

_____________
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +

With sincere agape in the Glorious and Triumphant Resurrection

of Our Lord Jesus Christ,

The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+ Father George