On Matins of every Sunday there is an exapostilarion saying: “Nobody should disbelieve that Christ is risen from the dead. He first appeared to Maria and then…” This has been the steady belief of the Church for two thousand years. And the Church calls every faithful to give his own testimony to the fact.
Although human life is of a linear nature and evolves in time intervals that are unique and unrepeatable, Church time is circular: every year Christians celebrate the same events that have stood at the beginning of the church life. Two events have marked this beginning: Christmas and Easter, the coming of Christ into the world and his passion and resurrection for the salvation of the whole world.
Time and again the Church celebrates Easter, an event that has cosmic consequences. Christ descended into Hades, broke its gates by His voluntary death and freed all those who were in expectation and dire need of His coming. Breaking down the gates of Hell means that death has no longer real power on humans, that his power has become “softened” by God’s grace.
Of course nothing has changed since then on what we call the objective world. The kingdom of death still takes its toll and people still suffer from all sorts of tribulations, sicknesses and weaknesses. But for those who believe in Christ, death has become a moment of transition. It has lost its poisonous sting and the hope of resurrection with Christ is a ground of everlasting life.
St. Paul says that “the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corrup-tion into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groa-neth and travaileth in pain together until now” (Rom. 8, 21-22). This means that the resurrection of Christ has cosmic, universal consequences. The whole nature is risen along Christ, and the human nature that partakes in the divine nature of Christ finds its own character. Everything is under the light of the Kingdom of God. Of course nothing takes place in the so called “objective world”, the world as we see it with our human eyes. Nevertheless, in the depth of it, quite secretly and in the hearts of the people the light of Christ’s resurrection is doing miracles. It manifests the boundless potential of humanity, towards the freedom from the bounds of physical laws and ultimately the death.
In countries where Orthodox Christians have been traditionally the majority still celebrate Easter in a pandemic way. In Greece e.g. everyone participates and Easter is expected with high feelings. Devout Christians are focusing mostly to the church side of the celebration, attending regularly services and participating rigorously in Church life.
The whole nation finds Easter a chance to celebrate and revel at the same time. Easter has taken the form of a traditional custom that one has the chance to use for relaxation and entertainment. Schools are closed across the country during Holy Week, people flock into the churches to listen the traditional chanting and follow for some time the severities of the last days of fasting before Easter. This is the “pagan” aspect of Easter, as I could call it. It has become a beautiful traditional celebration offering communal life, nice feelings, emotional approach and good food after all. Its deeper meaning and theological considerations are left with the ones who feel to be faithful children of the Church.
The joy however is common and overflows from everyone. Whatever the way people celebrate Easter, the value that the resurrection retain is unabated. It pacifies even the wildest passions of human beings, and transmits hope about a life that lies beyond the grave. Christ receives all, faithful and disbelieving alike. The Easter sermon of Saint John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople, recited during Easter liturgy makes this reality obvious.
“Therefore let everyone enter into the joy of the Lord. The first and the last, receive your wages. Rich and poor, dance with each other. The temperate and the slothful, honour this day. Ye who have fasted and ye who have not, rejoice this day. The table is fully laden; all of you delight in it.”
Christ is risen – Indeed, He is risen.
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TEKSTI: JOSEPH ROILIDIS
KUVAT: WIKIMEDIA
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