Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have sought Thy testimonies.

The whole creation was altered by Thy Passion: for all things suffered with Thee, knowing, O Word, that Thou holdest all in unity.

Princes also did sit and speak against me: but Thy servant did meditate on Thy statutes.

All-devouring hell received within himself the Rock of Life, and cast forth all the dead that he had swallowed since the beginning of the world.

Thy testimonies also are my study: and Thy statutes are my counsellors.

Thou wast laid in a new tomb, O Christ, and hast made new the nature of mortal man, rising from the dead by Thy divine power.

My soul has cleaved unto the dust: quicken Thou me according to Thy word.

To earth hast Thou come down, O Master, to save Adam: and not finding him on earth, Thou hast descended into hell, seeking him there.

I remembered this multitude and my home—

long might I lead them from captivity to home,

upwards to my homeland,

so that they should possess the glories of the Lord and the majesty of his magnificence.

They should dwell in delights,

having the fruits of glory by the thousands.

I interceded for you when men stuck me with spears upon the cross,

upon the gallows.

The young man struck me there—

and I came soon upwards to the eternal joys and to the Holy Lord. -

Christ and Satan, 499 - 511

Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things

Today is Holy Saturday. Christ descended into Hades. He raised up Adam with Himself and granted joy to Eve instead of sorrow.

Today Christ trampled death by death and bestowed life in the tomb.The teeth of Hades are shattered and it groans out, My dominion has been shattered

Because of today, we are freed from death. We who are dead in our sins are given life.

Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?

But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:

And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

Today is Easter Sunday, our Passover Lamb has risen.

Christ is Risen from the dead, trampling death by death, and in the tombs bestowing life

Now we see this through a glass darkly. But tomorrow we will behold this face to face in its full glory and splendour.

Christ is Risen

the Jews, in accordance with Moses, sacrificed the lamb for Pascha only once a year, on the fourteenth day of the first month, toward evening.

But we who are of the New Covenant hold our own Pascha on every Lord’s day [Sunday], and so continually we are filled with the body of the Savior and continually we share in the blood of the lamb. Continually the loins of our soul are girded with purity and self-control; continually our feet are readied with the equipment of the Gospel (Eph 6.15); continually we have staves in our hands, and rest upon the shoot sprung forth from the root of Jesse(Is 11.1).

Continually we are released from Egypt and continually we pursue the desert where humans can really live. Continually we set out upon the journey toward God and continually we celebrate the Passover. For the word of the gospel wishes us to do all these things not once a year but continually and every day - Eusebius of Caesaria, On the Feast of Pascha

#Patristics #Liturgy #Eucharist

"We must [not think Christ's] resurrection..left not behind it a virtue..permanent to work continually some grace in us..The Spirit..ever goes with the blood..His blood..wrought these two effects [of the Sacraments]..so, there may be a resurrection of virtue."

-Lancelot Andrewes

#Anglican #Christology #Sacraments #Soteriology