Sermons of Saint John Archbishop of Shanghai & San Francisco, Christ is Risen!

Though Thou didst descend into the grave, O Immortal One, yet didst Thou destroy the power of hell.  Kontakion of Pascha

A wondrous and incomprehensible manifestation!  He suffers, Who came down once into the Babylonian furnace and in it preserved whole the three youths who had been thrown there for their steadfastedness in faith.  When all were convinced that the flame had entirely consumed the youths, from the furnace was heard a song of praise, and Nebuchadnezzar, having come near it, beheld alive not only the three youths who had been thrown there, but also a Fourth Unknown One with them, and the visage of this fouth one was like to the Son of God.  Nebuchadnezzar understood that the power of God preserved the youths, and before it both earthly kings and the elements of nature were powerless.

But how does He suffer now, as mortal, Who delivered the youths from death then?  How does He not only suffer, but even descend to the nether regions of the earth, where the bound souls of the dead are confined?  Did death indeed conquer life, and corruption vanquish immortality?  Or did God have no more power?

Fear not nor be saddened, O people, but be jubilant and rejoice!  The weakeness of God is stronger than men (I Cor. 1:25).

Christ suffers as a mortal, but by His sufferings mortality is clothed in a splendid garment of incorruption and immortality! 

The Lord descends to the nether regions of the earth in order to shatter there the eternal bars.

The Immortal One goes down to the grave, but by this He destroys the power of hell. 

The Light was hidden only for a short time, in order to shine yet brighter.

The mighty One went down into the depths of the earth in order to strike a blow to evil at its root.  And in three days, as Jonah from the belly of the whale, Christ now rises from the grave!

Lift your heads, ye downcast, rejoice, ye sorrowful!  Come together, ye who are scattered!  Arise, ye fallen!  May the storms of the sea of life not engulf you who are in sorrows, although your soul may be filled with evils and your life drawn near to hell.

Death, where is thy stin?  Hell, where is thy victory?  Where is the darkness that thought to hide the Sun of Justice?

Leap in spirits, all ye faithful, and joyfully cry out: "Thou didst rise as Conqueror, O Christ God, announcing to the myrrh-bearing women, Rejoice! and to Thy Apostles granting peace, and to the fallen giving resurrection!"

Christ is Risen!