PASCHAL EPISTLE OF ARCHBISHOP ANDRONIK
Beloved in Christ pastors, monastics and laity!
Dear brothers and sisters!
CHRIST IS RISEN!
On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.
(The Gospel from John Chapter 20)
We greet this Feast day with great joy – Feast day of liberation from death, to which we prepare ourselves both spiritually and physically. This is one of the major moments of our lives, which strengthens us in the expectation of the Resurrection of the dead and our Resurrection. In memory of this event of the Lord’s Resurrection, we serve Liturgy and indeed at every Liturgy – even if it is performed in the middle of the week, we stand before the Lord’s Resurrection and see that the stone has been removed from the tomb. When the serving clergy emerges from the Altar with the Lord’s Chalice for Holy Communion to the parishioners, it is a symbol of the Lord’s Resurrection. Just as when the Resurrected Christ emerged from the tomb, so is the priest that carries the Chalice with the Lord’s Flesh and Blood. The call pronounced by the priest “With fear of God, with faith and love, draw near”, refers to everyone in the church, and how joyous it is to see all those proceeding toward the Holy Communion of the Lord’s Flesh and Blood.
And the Apostle states: “For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself” (1 Cor. 11:29), refers to those that approach the Chalice without due spiritual preparation. Frequent Holy Communion is laudatory but it’s sad when people do not perform the routine of prayers before partaking of Holy Communion: approach the Chalice without having read the Canon before Communion, or go home after Sacraments without first listening to the Thanksgiving Prayer – and needless to say, it won’t be read at home. Such a flippant attitude adopted by us before and after Holy Communion, certainly does not give witness of our love to the Resurrected Christ. We have transformed our partaking of the Sacraments into some kind of formality, which will not increase our spiritual strength but on the contrary, it will take it away from us.
From this joyful day, my dear ones, let us prepare ourselves beforehand for Holy Communion. Just as we have prepared our house and our food beforehand for Easter, let us likewise prepare ourselves beforehand for Holy Communion: think of Him not only on the day of Holy Communion, but prepare ourselves earlier for our meeting with the Resurrected Christ. And as an example in Mary Magdalene: “Mary stood outside the tomb, weeping”, let us not hurry and indulge in earthly matters after Liturgy, even for a short time, and ponder where we were and what transpired before our eyes in church during Divine Liturgy. Then like Mary who at one time saw Resurrected Christ beside the tomb, we will also be able to not only see Him, but with faith and love touch His feet, which is what we do through the Mysteries in His Holy Church.
CHRIST IS RISEN!!! “TRULY RISEN CHRIST!!!
Andronik, Archbishop of New York and North America.