Gleanings from Orthodox Christian Authors and the Holy Fathers
holy_friday
3 Entries
They took away My garments from Me, and put upon Me a scarlet robe; they set upon My head a crown of thorns, and gave a reed into My right hand, that I may break them in pieces like a potter's vessel. I gave My back to scourgings, and turned not away My face from spittings; I stood before the judgment seat of Pilate, and endured the Cross, for the salvation of the world. Glory, Both Now from the Praises of Holy Friday Matins
What thing is this? Today there is great silence upon the earth, great silence and stillness, verily great silence, for the King sleeps. The earth was frightened and became still, for God fell asleep in the flesh and raised up those who from ages past were sleeping. God died in the flesh and Hades shuddered. God slumbered briefly, and those in Hades He awoke. St. Epiphanios of Cyprus, Homily on the Burial of the Divine Body of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
When you hear that at that time the Lord freed the souls from hell and the regions of darkness and that He descended into hell and did an amazing work, do not think that this does not have any personal meaning for you. Man, indeed, can readily accept the evil one. Death has its grip on the children of Adam and their thoughts are imprisoned in darkness. And when you hear mention made of tombs, do not at once think only of visible ones. For your heart is a tomb and a sepulcher. When the prince of evil and his angels have built their nest there and have built roads and highways on which the powers of Satan walk about inside your mind and in your thoughts, then really, are you not a hell and a sepulcher and a tomb dead to God? ... But the Lord descends into the souls of those who seek Him. He goes into the depths of the hellish heart and there He commands death, saying, "Release those captive souls that seek after me, those that you hold by force in bondage." He breaks through the heavy stones that cover the soul. He opens the tombs. He truly raises to life the dead person and leads that captive soul forth out of the dark prison. St. Macarius, Homily 13. 11
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