圣周图标

圣若望金口的逾越讲道

托马斯校长的感想

The Eastern Orthodox communities around the world celebrate Holy Week with the same festivals as the Western Church, 包括棕枝主日, 濯足节, 耶稣受难日, 圣周六, 和复活星期日. 然而，他们的一些做法是不同的. 对于东正教徒, the breaking of the Lenten fast occurs during the late hours of 圣周六 and the opening hours of Resurrection Sunday. The Orthodox gather before midnight into a largely darkened and silent sanctuary which symbolizes the darkness and loneliness of the tomb and of death, 因为基督还在坟墓里.

Meanwhile the priests are busily preparing for the Eucharistic meal behind the iconostasis, the wall that separates the nave from the altar which is covered with painted icons. Usually only a small candle is illuminated behind the iconostasis. As the service begins, the three doors of the iconostasis are closed. 然后牧师点燃了一支又一支蜡烛. The congregation only sees the faintest of light shining through the spaces around the doors. Then the great door opens, and light floods out into the nave. The priests process through the doors and light the candles of the congregants who in turn light the candles of others until the nave is filled with the Light of Christ, the great symbol that death has been swallowed up by death.

At this time, they start singing a very ancient hymn in a repetitive fashion. They actually sing this dozens of times throughout the three hour service. 它被称为 复活节的Troparion (在希腊语中也被称为the 克里斯托anesti(基督复活了).

The translation of what they are singing is the following:

基督从死里复活了，
一个接一个地践踏死亡
在坟墓里的人，
他笑嘻嘻的生活.

(用英语、阿拉伯语和希腊语听.)

This brings us to the homily by John Chrysostom who served as the Bishop of Constantinople (died September 14, 407). Troparion显然受到了这次布道的启发. What is remarkable is that for more than a millenium the Orthodox communities throughout the world have used this very sermon during this paschal service. The priest literally reads this homily to the congregation. John starts by acknowledging that the fast of Lent is ending in this Feast of Resurrection. And I love his acknowledgement that many have failed in their Lenten devotions! And he uses arresting language about death being swallowed by death. And that Christ's resurrection opens the tombs of the dead...包括我们自己的坟墓，当那一天到来.

At the end of the Orthodox service, they indeed break the fast. They eat a red-dyed egg which symbolizes the blood of Christ. Cracking the egg represents Life coming out from the tomb. 之后，他们会吃一顿丰盛的大餐.

Despite the beauty of this divine service (and it is wonderfully beautiful), they do not practice the tradition of the Sunrise service which is how so many Western Christians celebrate the Sunday of the Resurrection of the Christ. If one only attends the Orthodox service at the depths of the night, 少了点什么, 至少对我来说是这样. The early morning service is the commemoration of the visit to the empty tomb during the morning and being greeted by the antiphonal proclamation by the pastor that "He is Risen." to which the congregation acclaims "He is Risen indeed. 哈利路亚."

I have attended both services on the same Easter Sunday several times. 这是一次很好的经历. 如果你有机会，我强烈建议你这么做.

What makes Christianity so amazing is the richness of the traditions that grow from the early Christian communities in Jerusalem and beyond that are eventually rooted in new cultural soils that give the Biblical traditions amazing depth.

I commend this very important homily from a blessed church father to you for your Easter celebration.

愿上帝保佑你的圣周!