Christ is Risen!
The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes… More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. ~ Psalm 19:7,8,10
Truly He is Risen!
Basket of Palm Sunday Blessed Willow Branches in Old Chapel of St. Sophia, Canada
Today is Palm Sunday, the Feast Day commemorating the Entrance of our Lord into Jerusalem. Following His glorious miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead, the people went out to meet the Lord with palms and branches. They welcomed Him with honour and shouts of praise. Today is also a bittersweet joy, for we know of the sad events to come during Holy Week.
On this day, we too, wherever we are, (particularly during pandemic isolation) may still bend the knees of our hearts and souls, to worship Christ as King and Lord.
…Let the events themselves – and not just memories break us in body and soul. Then, when we forget ourselves and think rather of Christ, about what is really taking place during these days, we will reach also that Great Saturday when Christ is laid to rest in the tomb – and we also will find rest. When at night we hear the announcement of the Resurrection, we too will be able to suddenly come alive from that terrible numbness, from that terrible death of Christ, from Christ’s dying, of which we shall partake at least a little during these days of the Passion. ~ Metropolitan Anthony Bloom
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. ~ Zechariah 9:9
God is the Lord, and hath appeared unto us; make ye a feast, and with gladness, come, let us magnify Christ with palms and branches, with hymns crying aloud: blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord our Saviour. ~ Ode 9 of the Feast
The pandemic continues… disrupting worldly life. We grow tired of constraints. Yet, no matter how dire circumstances may seem, there is joy, gratitude, and peace through His Grace. Patience! “This is just for now!”
Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. ~ St. Mark 8:34
Rejoice as you feel the cross upon yourself, for it is a sign that you are following the Lord on the path of salvation which leads to heaven. Endure a bit. The end and the crowns are just around the corner! ~ St. Theophan the Recluse
Love is only found on the Cross. ~ Mother Gabrielia Papayannis
Remember that each of us has his own cross. The Golgotha of this cross is our heart: it is being lifted up or implanted through zealous determination to live according to the Spirit of God. Just as the salvation of the world is by the Cross of God, so our salvation is by our own cross. ~ St. Theophan the Recluse
Some want to go to the Resurrection without passing by way of Golgotha. ~Mother Gabrielia Papayannis
Patience is the Christian’s coat of arms. What is it to follow Christ? It is to endure all things, looking upon Christ Who suffered. Many wish to be glorified with Christ, but few seek to remain with the suffering Christ. Yet not merely by tribulation, but even in much tribulation does one enter the Kingdom of God.
~ St. Tikhon of Zadonsk
Do not ever succumb to the insane thought that God has abandoned you. God knows exactly how much one can endure and according to that, measures the sufferings and pains of everyone. ~ St. Nikolai Velimirovic
The righteous have no sorrows that are not turned into joy, as sinners have no joy that is not turned into sorrow. ~ St. Dimitri of Rostov
If we always see God in our minds, and always remember Him, everything will appear tolerable to us. ~ St. John Chrysostom
Goreme, Cappadocia – 2006
Cappadocia is an ancient central region in Asia Minor, and an important centre of early Christianity. Unusual coloured pinnacles of soft volcanic rock, dot the hot and dusty Cappadocian landscape.
St. Basil the Great (330 – 379 AD), Bishop of Caesarea and Cappadocia is known as one of the (Three Hierarchs) Cappadocian Fathers who lived in the region, along with his brother Saint Gregory of Nyssa , and St. Gregory the Theologian.
Under the directive of St. Basil the Great, the early Christians began carving numerous cave churches, and monastic communities. These were hewn by hand, and the projects continued over the next 500 years. Vast networks of underground cities were also created by these tenacious inhabitants.
Many of the cave churches in Goreme retain their colourful iconography to this very day, and are a highlight to any visit to Cappadocia.
They that live in the wilderness, have an unquenchable longing for God, as they are far from the tumult of life… Hymn of the Ascents
Hope, patience and prayer go hand in hand. It’s almost impossible to have one without the others.
