The Holy Church of Christ glorifies [today] …especially dear to Christians – the Myrrh-bearing Women—those blessed companions of Christ who served the Teacher not only with their possessions, but also with the labor of their hands. Devoted to Him with all their hearts, they suffered with the Lord, remaining near Him not only during His travels, but also along the path to the Cross—on Golgotha, at the very foot of the Cross. The remembrance of their self-sacrifice, their labors, and their incomparable and tender love for Christ fills the hearts of the faithful with that same love for the Lord and a fervent desire to serve Him unto death.

(Hieromartyr Metropolitan Seraphim (Chichagov))

Christ is risen!

Today is a feast of unconditional and sacrificial love for Christ.

We have heard in the Gospel that Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member (member of synedrion) who himself was awaiting the kingdom of God, dared to address Pilate and ask for the body of Jesus.

Joseph was a secret disciple of Christ, one of those Jewish leaders who believed in Him, but were afraid to confess their faith. And so, he managed to overcome fear for the love of Christ.

He dares to come to Pilate. And Pilate was surprised to hear that Christ had already died (one of the first glimpses of faith in pagans…), and he called the centurion (of whom we know, that he really had faith), asked him how soon He had died. And, having learned this from the centurion, he permitted Joseph to take His body.

Then Joseph bought the shroud and wrapped it around the body of Christ, and laid it in the tomb, which he had previously carved in the rock for himself. (isn’t it symbolic!)

While the righteous Joseph and Nicodemus were burying the body of the Savior, the holy myrrh-bearing women were also at the tomb. They understood well that the Pharisees and high priests, having killed Christ, would also persecute those who remained faithful to Him.

But the love is as strong as the death, as the Scripture says (Song of Solomon 8:6).

Love is not thinking of risks: they regretted that the burial was carried out in a hurry and not everything could be done properly. Did anyone rebuke them of this, except their love…?

It was a custom among the Jews to anoint the body of the deceased with an oil, special oil – which is called myrrh — and this was not done by the righteous Joseph and Nicodemus.

And the Gospel says that on the first day of the week after the Sabbath, Mary Magdalene and Maria of Jacob and Salomia bought those fragrant oils to anoint Him. And early in the morning, at sunrise, they were approaching the sepulcher saying among themselves: who will roll away a stone for us from the door of the sepulcher? They were so eager to do whatever they could for Christ, that they did not think at all about the difficulties and that they would not be able to go inside the tomb.

And so, having looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away, though it was very large. Then they went into the tomb and saw an angel as a young man dressed in white clothing. And he said to them: Do not be afraid. Jesus is risen, He is not here. This is the place where He was laid. But go, tell His disciples and Peter that He precedes you in Galilee; there you will see Him, as He had told you.

Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies, says the Scripture again (1 Cor. 8:1).

In these Easter days at the Divine Service, we hear the words every day: We have seen the resurrection of Christ, and let us worship the holy Lord Jesus. On behalf of the whole Church, they are sung, but they are fulfilled in the lives of those who love Christ. Like the Myrrh-Bearing women that were given blessings that no one else received, because love appeared to be stronger than death.

Not the Apostles, who knew and saw most of all, became the first witnesses of the Resurrection, but the first to know about him were those who showed more love and fidelity to Christ.

One who loves Christ, is the one who does not collapse if others do not approve of this. This is the one, who steps over his «I» (his self-esteem), over everything «I want» and «I do not want», for the sake of the will of God, not because it must always be pleasant to us, but because it is God’s good will.

May this bright day be our joyful feast. To make this happen, let us join the Myrrh-bearing women and bring to Christ all the love that we are capable of. Amen.

Christ is risen!

(after a homily by priest Mikhail Nemnonov)

Christ is risen!

Dear brothers and sisters, today we hear from the Gospel of John the theologian how Jesus appeared to his disciples after his resurrection.

And then we read:

But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”

Thomas, whom people gave this second name Unbelieving… But what kind of unbelief it was, and what kind of person Thomas was?

Before the Passions when it was not a secret, that Jews decided to kill Christ, and because of His intention to go to Jerusalem, when the apostles came to realize what it meant for them, Thomas said: “Let us also go, so that we may die with him.” So, he was ready and even calling others to die with the Lord!

He was ready to give his life with the Lord, …and could Jesus conceive New Life from Thomas?

But we still call him Unbelieving, just traditionally, in some of our liturgical texts (just like we call the younger son of the father who repented – a prodigal son, though he is now a penitent son), and today we think about the faith… And how did the unbelieving becomes believing.

So, the question is: “What can bring us to faith?”

And, ultimately, there’s no answer to this question, as it is a mystery… and only God can bring us to faith in Him… Ultimately. In anyone’s own, unique way… and by his all-conquering mercy. But still… He invites everyone, He “wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (Tim. 2, 4).

What can bring us to faith?

Let us try to think over the familiar (in both senses of this word) things of this world, that we all might have gone through in one or the other way. (Or we have heard it from someone, or some talks or stories…)

This is about families, about children and parents… The children, that come from their parents and certainly do see them, or at least, know about their existence…

But do they always respect or love their parents. Yes, they see, and they touch, but do they always follow the advice of their parents, even if that advice is vital for them?

We look at the families where love and respect reign; it seems easy and natural, but when parents, driven by love, have to often make their children do many things, those children, not having enough life experience,  but they humble themselves, and, as they feel it, sacrifice somethings, and they ‘suffer it for now’, so that actually – to be helped by the parents.

There must be respect, there must be love and meekness for the parents to help them!

Thomas was ready to die with the Lord – The Lord brought him to faith in Him.

It could be different and unique but, it will always be some kind of sacrifice. Faith is always love! Love is always based on meekness.

And due to what happened to Thomas, we are reasoning about the holy faith, our faith in God, and see why it was revealed to Thomas.

Because we could remember another kind of people who both saw Christ and heard the Gospel proclamation (and remember also the elder son from the parable of the Prodigal Son…), yet remained unbelievers. The first among them were the Pharisees and Sadducees, who understood Who stood before them, Who had come into this world. These people of the Scriptures, who knew the prophecies well, did not accept Christ. Or did they not understand, did they just not want God Who is meek, Who is Love…

And we also today, due to the Thomas blessed disbelief, and for our paschal joy to be perfect, we hear a special blessing, one more beatitude, we could say (or, as some preachers say, making us even more blessed than the apostles):

Blessed are the poor in spirit, Blessed are those who mourn, Blessed are the meek, Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness…

And the “tenth beatitude” (our “hidden knowledge”), very much affordable for everyone – “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”

Provided we have the love and meekness of Thomas, and the due respect as a good child, humbly presuming, that just for now we cannot see or understand some things. Amen!

Christ is risen!!!

Yesterday we celebrated Lasarus Saturday, the most incredible miracle, that had ever been performed in the whole history of humanity. Yesterday, Lasarus, Martha’s and Mary’s brother was raised from the dead after having been in the tomb for four days.

But, at the same time, sadly, it is not the greatest miracle, and this is for two reasons: the first and the obvious is that Lazarus still died, later, like any other; and the second reason is that besides physical death, there is spiritual death. Physical death is visible to everyone, and people fear it (and they were so glad to see the resurrection), but spiritual death is usually not noticeable to people at all…

So, Lasarus, a four-days passed away (who was starting to decay), was raised from the dead and the news of this was spreading like a wildfire. Many people thought that finally the Messiah was there! Because only the Messiah can raise man from the dead.

Now he is going to establish an earthly kingdom for people of Israel!

Moreover, they were aware of the prophecy of Zechariah, which says: “Behold, your King is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey” (Zechariah 9:9).

According to the custom of that time, the Jews would enter the Holy City on foot during religious feasts. However, in the Old Testament, in the Books of the Kings, there are accounts of how, on certain occasions, it was specifically the kings of Israel who would ride into Jerusalem — and before them, the rejoicing people would spread their garments.

Why does Christ, at the end of His earthly ministry, choose to enter Jerusalem with a measure of glory, something He had consistently avoided before?

Through His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Christ reveals that He is indeed the true King and Ruler of the world — the very Messiah awaited for millennia, the Savior of the world. Our Lord Jesus Christ manifested Himself in three primary sacred roles: as King, as Prophet, and as High Priest. And the Lord’s Entry into Jerusalem is a clear indication of His royal ministry!

And the people greeted Him with such a joy! they cut down palm branches, and laid down their clothes on the roads before Him…

But he wasn’t at all delighted by all of this, and entering Jerusalem he expressed lamentations on the city and its people that hardened their hearts so as not to see what is giving them true salvation… As God he saw the past, the present, and the future at the same time.

And, sadly, his main message was difficult for them to believe – to forgive enemies, to love God and the neighbour, to bless those who persecute, and not to put all hope in this world, to seek rather Heavenly Kingdom, to be trustworthy, not to envy, not to judge…

Christ enters Jerusalem six days before the Jewish Passover. According to the custom of that time, it was precisely during this period that the lamb to be sacrificed and eaten for the Feast was chosen. The holy fathers — for example, St. Ambrose of Milan — saw in the fact that Christ enters Jerusalem on the very day the sacrificial lamb is selected a symbolic indication of Christ’s forthcoming sacrifice. As Scripture says, He is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8).

Our Lord Jesus Christ is the God “of love and peace” (2 Corinthians 13:11), and thus, although His majestic royal ministry is revealed, He does not ride in on warhorses, but on a donkey — showing Himself to be a humble King.

In five days, the same people started to cry out “Crucify Him! He is not our king; Cesar is our king.” People had expectations of God, people had plans for God, and when God in flesh showed them something different, they rejected Him. This miracle did not happen! People have to labour for it to happen!

The people of Jerusalem did let their passion conquer and vanquish their only hope. They put vain hope in the Roman empire, and very soon they were eaten alive by the Roman empire, and the sad prophecy of Christ was fulfilled.

But we, brothers and sisters, looking to our King and God Jesus Christ, let us imitate and follow Him, understanding that the Kingdom of Heaven is not promised to the glorious and powerful. It is God’s will to make the heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven not those who are mighty and authoritative, but those who are kind and meek. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth,” says Scripture (Matthew 5:5) — the earth renewed, the earth cleansed from sin and suffering, the earth which Scripture calls the new earth (Revelation 21:1).

Dear brothers and sisters, today’s feast is joyful and triumphant. But let us remember once again: the Lord’s Entry into Jerusalem is an entry into suffering! Let our hearts rejoice today, but let our minds remember Christ’s words: “Take up your cross and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24). To follow Christ not only with palm branches — but also with the cross! Because one can enter into the Paschal Joy of Christ only by going with Him through the Passion Week and Golgotha! Amen!