2nd Week of Pascha. Antipascha
Apostle Thomas.
Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!
"My Lord and my God!" exclaimed St. Apostle Thomas. Do you feel with what power he seized the Lord and how firmly he holds Him? A drowning man does not hold a plank more firmly, by which he hopes to be saved from drowning. Let us add that whoever does not have the Lord in this way for himself and himself in relation to the Lord, does not yet believe in the Lord as he should. We say: "Lord Savior," meaning that He is the Savior of all, but this one says: "Lord Savior my." Whoever says: "my Savior," feels his salvation emanating from Him. The feeling of salvation is akin to the feeling of perdition, from which the Savior rescued the saved. The feeling of perdition of a man by nature loving life, knowing that he cannot save himself, makes him seek a Savior. When he finds Him and feels the power of salvation emanating from Him, he grasps Him firmly and will not want to break away from Him, even if he were to be deprived of his very life for it. Such events in the spiritual life of a Christian are not only imagined by the mind, but are experienced in deed. Then, both his faith and his union with Christ become strong, like life or death. Only such a one sincerely exclaims: "who will separate me!"
St. Theophan the Recluse.
Dear brothers and sisters!
Radonitsa - Pascha for the departed.
Radonitsa is a special day in the church calendar when the Holy Church prayerfully commemorates all Orthodox Christians who have departed from ages. Unlike the mournful and strict days of Great Lent, the commemoration on Radonitsa takes place in an atmosphere of Paschal joy, for we believe that death has been conquered, Christ is risen, and everyone is given hope for eternal life.
The word "Radonitsa" itself comes from the words "joy" and "rod" (kin), that is, the joy of the Resurrection of Christ, which we bring to our departed relatives. We do not just remember them with sadness, but together with the joy of Pascha, we confess that they are alive in Christ and await our prayerful communion with them.
Starting this Sunday, April 27th, a special time of commemoration begins: immediately after the Divine Liturgy there will be no meal. Instead, following ancient Orthodox tradition, we will proceed to the cemetery:
Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens, 200 W. Copans Rd, Pompano Beach
There will be a general Panikhida, as well as, at your request, short Litiyas at the graves of your departed relatives.
And on Tuesday, April 29th, on the day of Radonitsa, the Divine Liturgy will begin at 9:00 AM, after which we will perform a Panikhida in the church, bringing Paschal joy in prayer for those whom the Lord has already called into eternity.
These days are a blessed time when the Church, as a loving Mother, calls us not to forget our departed loved ones, to pray for them, to visit their graves, to bring notes, and to participate in memorial services.
We express our love through prayer, for the Church is one - both earthly and Heavenly - and in Christ there are no dead, but all are alive.
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