Слово в день Святой Пасхи

Narrating the appearance of the Angels at the tomb of the risen Savior, the holy evangelists note that one of them had a robe “as white as snow” (Matthew 28:3), and the other two had “shining vestments” (Luke 24:4). If for the Angels who served the risen Lord, when they appeared to people, such attire and such vestments were needed; Then how much more necessary is decent vestment for the servants of the altar of Christ. For what are we compared to the Angels? Meanwhile, the subject of our ministry is higher than that of the Angels. The angels were only supposed to announce the Resurrection of the Lord, and we must not only announce this resurrection, but also bring down the grace of the Risen One into your souls and hearts, teach you His very Body and His very Blood. “Who,” let’s say in the words of the apostle, “is pleased with this?” (2 Cor. 2:16). Therefore, even at the first establishment of the priestly rank, God Himself, through Moses, not only gave the charter of Divine services, but also outlined in all details the rules regarding the type, composition and use of sacred clothing. The Divine Founder of the New Testament Church did not outline similar rules for the clothing of His servants; for His own garments were taken from Him and became the inheritance of the crucifiers; but when he later appeared to His beloved disciple in the form of the Great High Priest of the New Testament Church, he appeared clothed “in a robe and girded... with a golden belt” (Rev. 1:13); and when he showed him in a vision those standing before the throne of His glory; then he showed them “clothed in white garments, and robes in their hands” (Rev. 7:9). With this in mind, the New Testament Church, although it excels over the Old Testament Church in grace, spirit and truth, but, like it, has never neglected and does not neglect the external splendor of Divine services and sacred vestments. Especially this day, like a holiday and the triumph of celebrations, has always been distinguished by the special solemnity of not only the service, but also the sacred vestment of the servants of the altar of Christ. And, for this blessed day, the blessed gift of the august patron and defender of the Church arrived! Belonging, by his very rank, to the high circle of the divinely crowned Constantines, Theodosians, and Justinians, he was jealous with holy jealousy to be among the God-chosen Josephs of Arimathea and Nicodemus. The prince of the Jews, who had previously come “to Jesus at night” (John 19:39), and the handsome adviser, “from Arimathea” (Mark 15:43), brought myrrh, scarlet and a shroud to the Savior for His own use, as if He were dead and buried; and our God-crowned autocrat brings to Him, but as if resurrected and therefore in need of nothing, a vestment for His servants, similar to the vestment of an Angel. Which of you, brethren, has not already rejoiced with holy joy at the mere hearing of this royal gift? – Who of all the sons of the Orthodox Church will not rejoice and thank the most pious anointed one in his heart, hearing about this sign of his royal attention to that holy place, which for our entire Orthodox Fatherland is like the new Jerusalem and the Fatherland Zion? But the reward of such love for the splendor of the church is not from people, but from the Almighty (Wis. 5:15). Not content with our thanksgiving prayers to the Lord for the prosperity of the august giver, the holy saints of God, who rest here with their incorruptible bodies, will themselves go to the throne of the Risen Lord, show before Him the gift of faith and love of the pious king and ask for him “grace for grace” (John 1:16). For the completeness of our triumph, we would like one thing - to see among us today our Christ-loving archpastor, himself raising his venerable hands in a new vestment to the throne of the King of kings. But, having witnessed his touching service so many times in this church, we are confident that, having separated from us in flesh, he is now with us in spirit, that his hands and heart are now raised in prayers of gratitude to the Lord for the most pious monarch, for the fatherland and for his flock. So, let nothing hinder our joy: “This day which the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad on it!” (Ps. 118:24). Let us rejoice in the Heavenly King, Who, like a bridegroom from the palace, has now come forth from His tomb. Let us rejoice in the king of the earth, who, like the bridegroom’s faithful friend, hastened to commemorate this coming with the gift of his faith and love. But while we rejoice in this intense joy, let us not forget, brethren, that there is one royal vestment in which it is necessary to put on not only the servants of the altar, but all believers in the name of the crucified and risen Lord, Who, according to the testimony of the Seer of Mysteries, created all His true followers to be priests to God (Rev. 5:10). These are the precious garments about which it is written: “they have overcome... he will be clothed in white garments... and we will confess his name before my Father and before his angels” (Rev. 3:5). There is a royal vestment with which every true believer is already adorned here, during his earthly journey. This is the divine vestment, about which the Holy Church has now proclaimed in your ears: “as if you were baptized into Christ, you put on Christ” (Gal. 3:27). “Blessed is he who is watchful and guards” these “his garments, lest he walk naked” (Rev. 16:15). Blessed is he who, even without maintaining the first purity, was able through repentance and faith to whiten their packs “in the Blood of the Lamb”! (Rev. 7:14). But a hundredfold unhappy is the one who could neither preserve nor return the splendid attire of his soul. Such a one will find himself naked on that great day of general resurrection, when it will be necessary to begin to celebrate Easter, no longer temporary, but eternal. May the Lord save us all from this terrible nakedness with His grace and the prayers of the holy saints who rest here incorruptibly! Amen. You might be interested in: