Return to monarchic Christianity ☦️

A worthwhile project by the Death To The World folks. This project will offer a refuge to the faithful amidst the immense noise in our day to day.

Orthodox Village and Retreat Center on the Central Coast of California

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The Paschal Homily of St. John Chrysostom is read at the end of Orthros (Matins) at Pascha, the feast of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, universally throughout the Orthodox Church. It was composed sometime during his ministry in the late 4th or early 5th century. If anyone is devout and a lover of God, let him enjoy this beautiful and radiant festival. If anyone is a wise servant, let him, rejoicing, enter into the joy of his Lord. If anyone has wearied himself in fasting, let him now receive his recompense. If anyone has labored from the first hour, let him today receive his just reward. If anyone has come at the third hour, with thanksgiving let him keep the feast. If anyone has arrived at the sixth hour, let him have no misgivings; for he shall suffer no loss. If anyone has delayed until the ninth hour, let him draw near without hesitation. If anyone has arrived even at the eleventh hour, let him not fear on account of his delay. For the Master is gracious and receives the last, even as the first; he gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour, just as to him who has labored from the first. He has mercy upon the last and cares for the first; to the one he gives, and to the other he is gracious. He both honors the work and praises the intention. Enter all of you, therefore, into the joy of our Lord, and, whether first or last, receive your reward. O rich and poor, one with another, dance for joy! O you ascetics and you negligent, celebrate the day! You that have fasted and you that have disregarded the fast, rejoice today! The table is rich-laden; feast royally, all of you! The calf is fatted; let no one go forth hungry! Let all partake of the feast of faith. Let all receive the riches of goodness. Let no one lament his poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed. Let no one mourn his transgressions, for pardon has dawned from the grave. Let no one fear death, for the Saviour's death has set us free. He that was taken by death has annihilated it! He descended into hades and took hades captive! He embittered it when it tasted his flesh! And anticipating this Isaiah exclaimed, "Hades was embittered when it encountered thee in the lower regions." It was embittered, for it was abolished! It was embittered, for it was mocked! It was embittered, for it was purged! It was embittered, for it was despoiled! It was embittered, for it was bound in chains! It took a body and, face to face, met God! It took earth and encountered heaven! It took what it saw but crumbled before what it had not seen! "O death, where is thy sting? O hades, where is thy victory?" Christ is risen, and you are overthrown! Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen! Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice! Christ is risen, and life reigns! Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in a tomb! For Christ, being raised from the dead, has become the First-fruits of them that slept. To him be glory and might unto ages of ages. Amen.

It is time! ☦️

Christ gave the Apostles the ability to bind and loose sins but it is Christ who destroys death. This is the triumph of the Holy Cross. THE HARROWING OF HADES Today Hades doth groan and cry aloud: “My power hath been destroyed. I accepted a mortal man as one of the dead; yet I cannot keep Him prisoner, and with Him I shall lose all those whom I once ruled. I held in my power the dead from all ages; but behold, He is raising them all.” Glory be to Thy Cross, O Lord, and to Thy Resurrection. Verse: For He hath made His mercy to prevail over us, and the truth of the Lord abideth forever. Today Hades doth groan and cry aloud: “My dominion hath been swallowed up; the Shepherd hath been crucified and He hath raised Adam. I am deprived of those whom I once ruled; in my strength I devoured them, but now I have cast them forth. He who hath been crucified hath emptied the tombs; the power of death hath no more strength.” Glory be to Thy Cross, O Lord, and to Thy Resurrection.

The Holy Fire has descended! Israeli authorities only yesterday lifted the ban on visiting holy sites in Jerusalem. This ensured the attendance of many faithful and the Holy Fire being preserved and shared again this year in churches and homes. ☦️

He who hung the earth upon the waters is hung upon the tree. ☦️

On Holy and Great Thursday, we commemorate four events: the washing of the disciples’ feet, the Mystical Supper, the Lord’s agony in the Garden, and His betrayal. ☦️

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TUESDAY (OF HOLY WEEK) Now the people, the priests, and the Jewish rulers hear the Lord’s word in the temple for the last time. And His word was all-encompassing: it embraced everything—past, present, and future. By the question about John, the Lord indicates that He is the true Messiah; by the parable of the two sons, He shows that the Jews will be rejected and that the Gentiles will be called in their place; by the parable of the vineyard workers, He declares that destruction awaits those who are rejected; by the parable of the king’s son’s wedding, He teaches that not all who come to Him will be worthy, and therefore will justly be cast into outer darkness. Through His answers about the tribute to Caesar and about the greatest commandment, as well as through His words of rebuke, He sets forth the defining characteristics of the life that leads to salvation. Finally, by foretelling the calamities that will befall Jerusalem, He reveals to His disciples the mystery of His Second Coming. It would be enough simply to hear all this with attention to become convinced that He is the true Savior of the world—Christ—and to submit to His commandments and teaching. Even to this day, the reading of the Gospel chapters concerning all that took place on this day is a most powerful means of enlivening faith in the Lord. Through them, the Christian, coming to true understanding, can kindle zeal and show that he believes in the Lord not only in word, but also in deed. ☦️ St. Theophan the Recluse - Thoughts for Every Day of the Year

By raising Lazarus from the dead before Your passion, You did confirm the universal Resurrection, O Christ God! Like the children with the palms of victory, we cry out to You, O Vanquisher of death: Hosanna in the Highest! Blessed is He that comes in the Name of the Lord! + Troparion (Tone 1) ☦️

Uncut Mountain is doing amazing work with translating patristic texts into English!

If you bear your cross with perseverance and seek comfort only from Him, then He, through His mercy, will not abandon you but will touch your heart and will impart to you the gifts of the Holy Spirit. … Then your heart will be kindled with love of God and all people. All these are gifts of the Holy Spirit. When the Lord decides to honour you with such gifts, do not consider them as rewards for your labors, and do not think that you have attained perfection. Such thoughts come from pride. The comforts and grace of the Holy Spirit are not rewards but gifts of divine mercy. ☦️ St Innocent, Enlightener of Siberia and Alaska (Reposed Mar 31, 1879),"The Way Into the Kingdom of Heaven"

“A nation is created by families, a religion, a tradition: it is made up out of the hearts of mothers, the wisdom of fathers, the joy and the exuberance of children.” — Kaiser Wilhelm II

Soon to be cannonized St. Ephraim ☦️