BRIGHT RESURRECTION OF CHRIST
On May 5, 2024, on the Bright Resurrection of Christ, or Pascha, Easter, the parish prayerfully celebrated a festive Divine Service in honor of Reverend Agapit Pecherskyi.
To the singing of the Easter hymn “Resurrection of Your Christ, Savior…” numerous believers made a procession around the church. Easter Matins began with the majestic singing of the festive troparion “Christ is Risen”. During which, the abbot of the temple, Archpriest Leonid, read the great word of proclamation of St. John the Chrysostom.
After the festive morning, a solemn Divine Liturgy was performed.
During the service, prayers were raised for the Ukrainian soldiers who protect our Motherland, the government and all our pious people.
At the end of the service, the abbot consecrated the Easter artos and congratulated all believers with the Bright Resurrection of Christ. Finally, priest Leonid consecrated the Easter offerings.
In the times of the Old Testament, the Jews celebrated Passover (Pesach) as a reminder of their escape from Egyptian slavery, which became the saddest page in the history of this nation. In New Testament times, Christians, celebrating Easter, remember and glorify the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, who rose from the dead, defeated the power of the devil and death itself, giving all people the hope of eternal and blessed life: “so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish , but had eternal life” (John 3: 15).
It is symbolic that, according to church custom, services on the occasion of Easter begin at a time when the night darkness still reigns around, and end when the sun has already risen. It reminds us of the transition from darkness to light, from death to life, from weeping and sorrow to joy.
Dark times are going on for our people now, and at times it may even seem that the darkness is winning over the light. It was the same during the passion of Christ, but after them came the victory of God. Belief in this victory, the victory of Life, helps us fight evil today, gives us hope. Let us remember that the power of evil is temporary, and the victory of truth and good is eternal. The resurrection of Christ convinces and confirms this. Therefore, during the severe trials of war, amidst grief and suffering, pain and loss, we celebrate spiritually – with hope and faith in our Victory. Christ is Risen!
With support “Association of Youth Leaders of Ukraine”