Dear Friends,

Last Sunday we celebrated the great feast of the Resurrection of our blessed Lord Jesus Christ and according to tradition we continue for forty continuous days to revel in the joyous truth that Christ has indeed risen from the dead. For that reason with all confidence we greet one another saying: Krisdos haryav i merelotz! Christ is risen from the dead!

According to St. Paul the resurrection of Jesus is fundamental to our faith and is required for the forgiveness of sins. “If Christ has not been raised, than our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain...if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.” (I Corinthians 15)

Through Christ’s resurrection all creation has been renewed. For this reason we call this first Sunday after Easter “New Sunday’ or “Second Easter.” Thus once again Holy Church extends an invitation to all to embrace the joy of this holy season of the resurrection and to grow in faith regarding this essential teaching.

This is the greatest hope and consolation to the faithful.

These forty days are referred to as “Hinants” or Eastertide. During this period the Lectionary of daily biblical readings is limited strictly to the New Testament, which is almost completely read liturgically in the following fashion: Luke at the conclusion of the Morning Office; Acts, Epistles of Paul and General Epistles during the Midday Office (Holy Badarak); Matthew at the beginning and Mark at the conclusion of the Evening Office.

Thus today we begin with the beloved Prologue of the Gospel of John, which emphasis the truth that the Word or Son of God indeed took on human nature in order to save us. It is by virtue of the Word becoming flesh that we are able to partake of Him in the sacrament of Holy Communion.

May the joy of the resurrection continue to fill the hearts of our beloved faithful. Amen.

+ + + + +

With prayers.
Hayr Simeon
March 30, 2008