Слово на Святое Воскресение Христово. Святого Епифания Кипрского

Now the crying of mortals has ceased, and the light of resurrection has shone, testifying to the extreme love of God for us: for the death that man had to undergo, Christ destroyed with His death, presenting His soul as the price of redemption for the soul, His body for the body, and in general for man, man, and for death, death. What righteous man ever died for the unrighteous, or a father for his son, or a son for his father? But the Lord did this for us: He not only created us in Adam, but also regenerated us in spirit in His suffering. So, the wicked Jews killed their Benefactor, and repaid Him for good deeds with evil, for joy with grief, for life with death. Hanging them on a tree, they killed the One who raised their dead and healed the sick. Marvel, all nations, at the unheard-of audacity of this treacherous people: they (the Jews) hanged Him who hanged the whole earth, nailed Him who established the universe to the cross, condemned Him who measured the heavens, bound Him who resolves sinners, - in their thirst they fed the blood of Him who feeds people with righteousness, and gave bile for food to Him who loves truth, - they pierced the hands and feet of Him, Those who healed those who had dry hands among them, forced to close the eyes of the One who opened the eyes of the blind, buried the One who raised their dead. Oh, a new sacrament and an incomprehensible miracle! The Judge was condemned, the One who released the prisoners was bound, the One who established the earth was raised to the cross, the One who established the earth was hanged, the One who hung the universe was condemned, the One who measured the heavens, the Life-Giver was given bile to drink, the Creator of life died, the One who restored life to the dead was buried (because when the Lord hung on the tree, the tombs and hell were opened, the dead were resurrected, and many appeared in Jerusalem, where this mystery of Christ was performed - and although His flesh was nailed to the Cross, but trampled upon death). The angels and powers of heaven, seeing the suffering of Christ, were amazed and horrified: the creature in horror and surprise asked: what does this new sacrament mean? The judge is condemned and is silent, - the Invisible is looked at, and He does not hide, - the Immeasurable is seized, and He complacently endures, - the Immeasurable is measured, and does not resist, - the impassive suffers and does not repay, - the Immortal dies, the Living in heaven is given over to burial, and is patient? What is the purpose of this extraordinary secret if not the salvation of people? Death immediately fell at the feet of Jesus; hell was captured in triumph, and all its forces retreated as soon as they heard the voice of Christ. Hell opened, its copper gates were erased, its iron ropes were crushed, and the souls of the saints flocked to Christ, as soon as He called to the souls bound in the shadow of death to come out - as soon as He announced life to them. It was then that the words of Scripture were fulfilled: break in pieces the gates of brass, and break the chains of iron. (Ps. 106:16). Following this, the earth cried out: “Lord! deliver me from troubles, free me from anger, release me from the oath, for the sake of which I accepted human blood and bodies into my bowels, I even accepted Your Body.” The Lord rose on the third day, teaching us to worship the Trinity Unity. In Christ all nations are saved: although He alone was judged, countless multitudes were saved, since the Lord died for all. For this purpose He clothed Himself with the whole man, penetrated into the very heights of heaven, ascended to the height of the glory of His reign, bringing as a gift to the Father not gold and silver, not precious stones, but man created in His image; and the Father, having exalted Him, seated Him on the throne at His right hand, until His enemies are placed under His feet, for He will come to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom will have no end: because to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit is glory always, now and forever. Amen 18. Epiphan. Constant., sive Salamin. in Cyprus. episcop. Opera omnia. Parisiis, 1822 ann., vol. II, pag. 310–311; Wed Sunday Read XIII (1849–50), 1–2 pp. You might be interested in: