About the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and about the myrrh-bearing women

And now, as always, my thoughts are greatly occupied with the miracles that accompanied the resurrection of the Lord, and the contemplation of terrible secrets amazes my imagination. Indeed, dishonor gave birth to glory, and suffering gave people dispassion; the tree of punishment replaced the tree of slavery, and the nails tore up the wide-spreading roots of sin; the crown of thorns covered the world curse, and the shameful cross saved the whole world from shame; the rib pierced by a spear appeared to the world as the door of the sacraments, and the three-day tomb turned out to be the house of life; the publican announced the teaching of theology, and the angel illuminated the souls of the women with joyful news. I cannot remain silent about these extraordinary and amazing deeds of the Lord, although I feel that my word is powerless to depict so many Divine signs. I rejoice with the thief, I rejoice with Mary, I listen to the cries of the evangelist: “After the Sabbath, at dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for the Angel of the Lord, who descended from heaven, came and rolled away the stone from the door of the tomb and sat on it; his appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow; Fearful of him, those who guarded them trembled and became as if they were dead” (Matthew 28:1-4). “After the Sabbath had passed, at dawn of the first day of the week.” You just heard these words. This means: on that terrible night, or rather - already in full light (of the resurrection) - “Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.” Wonderful is the zeal of women; the women undertook a truly evangelical race, showing in them a courageous heart. Of course, the feet of weak women are more glorious than those of the apostles. They fled and hid in their homes in fear; and these, courageously rushing to the tomb, mourned the free one among the dead, with reverent faith, proving in practice their devotion to Christ. They were not afraid of the Jews, did not think about the guards, did not take into account the still-uncooled fury of the crucifixors, nor the shamelessness of the authorities, quick to offend, and did not at all take into account the dangers associated with their enterprise. Weeping, they approached the tomb, as if to an altar, shedding tears there from where the one who resolved Eve’s sorrows arose and where the whole world was supposed to triumph. “And behold, there was a great earthquake, for the Angel of the Lord came down from heaven and came and rolled away the stone from the door of the tomb and sat on it.” If during the descent of the angel there was a great shock, then how could the earth not be shaken - and rightfully so - during the crucifixion of the Lord of the Angels himself? Why was there an earthquake during the Savior’s suffering and again at His resurrection? Horror joins horror in order to completely destroy the foundations of death. There was a strong earthquake, the stones shook, and the Jews rejoiced. But what they saw as their triumph turned for them into a source of eternal shame. They slain the lamb, but they tore down the altar; they destroyed the heir, but broke their union with God; they divided their clothes among themselves, but lost their miracles; They sealed the tomb, but doomed their church to devastation. “And behold, there was a great earthquake, for the Angel of the Lord came down from heaven and rolled away the stone from the door of the tomb.” What does this mean, oh angel? Did you come down from heaven as the spear-bearer of the risen King? Have you come to console crying women? Have you come to share the joy of the human race? Leave the stone, let it lie on the coffin. Why are you worried about Him Whom the stone that closed the grave did not hold? Just as He was born from the womb, so He rose from the grave. When He was born, He did not damage the virginity of His Mother, and here He did not move the stone that protected Him: He left the coffin with the stone sealed. I know, he says, I know, but I did this not without a purpose: I am fulfilling the will of my Master. I rolled away the stone for this very purpose, so that Peter, leaning down, examined the clothes, so that the women could see the place where the Lord lay. “He rolled away,” it is said, “the stone from the door of the tomb, and sat on it.” Thus, sitting on the stone, he guarded the accuser of the Jews, guarded the witness of the resurrection; guarded the stone for the reproof of those who were petrified in heart. And the Lord himself, denouncing the wickedness of the Christ-killers, told them about this very thing, as it is conveyed in the Gospel: “if they remain silent, the stones will cry out” (Luke 19:40). “His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.” And rightly so: there is no place for pollution from sin, here everything is full of light, not inferior to the shine of snow. “Fearing him, the guards trembled and became like dead men.” Before the slave they are as if dead, but they rose up against the Creator with insolence! But what next? “The angel turned his speech to the women and said, “Do not be afraid” (Matthew 28:5). Oh, wonderful things! Oh, an extraordinary thing! When the warriors died of fear, the women are told: “Do not be afraid.” Of course, this is what should have happened: to strike the unfaithful guards with fear, and to preach the joy of salvation to the faithful wives. "Don't be afraid!" Adam was recreated by the Creator of your nature on the cross, as if anew. "Don't be afraid!" The condemnation of your mother Eva is permitted. "Don't be afraid!" I rolled away this stone when the One whom you seek had already risen in power. To him be glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen. Creations attributed to St. John Chrysostom and classified in the Minya edition as Spuria. The paragraphs in the text were arranged by us – Editorial staff of “ABC of Faith”