Word on Great Saturday. St. Amphilochi of Iconium #
Today we celebrate the burial of our Savior. He descends into the netherworld to free the dead from the bonds of death, filling Hades with light and awakening the departed from sleep. We rejoice here on earth, anticipating His Resurrection, and we do not fear that corruption will overcome incorruption—for Scripture says, “Neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption” (Psalm 15:10).
Perhaps the Jews and Greeks mock our philosophy—the former because they await another Christ, and the latter because they bury their hopes in tombs. Of them, the prophet rightly said: “Their graves are their homes for ever” (Psalm 48:11). But the mockers shall weep—they shall weep when they look upon Him whom they pierced and insulted (John 19:37), while we who weep shall mingle our sorrow with joy.
Death snatched away the Master, Christ, but it cannot hold Life itself. It swallowed Him in ignorance, but with Him it shall vomit forth many. Today He willingly remains in Hades, but tomorrow, having struck down its power, He shall rise. Yesterday, suffering on the Cross, He darkened the sun, and day turned to night. Today, death has lost its dominion, for it has taken in one foreign to it. Yesterday, creation mourned, seeing the madness of the Jews, and clothed itself in darkness like a garment of grief. Today, the people that sat in darkness have seen a great light (Matthew 4:16). Yesterday, the earth quaked, as though ready to flee; it threatened to swallow up the living, the mountains trembled, the rocks were torn apart; the temple was stripped bare, as if it too were alive and had torn its garment in mourning, showing that the Holy Place had been profaned. The senseless elements felt the outrage of the crime, while those who committed it were dull and unfeeling. The elements were on the verge of chaos and disorder, but did not break rank, for they perceived the will of the Creator, that He was willingly enduring insult.
O new and wondrous miracle! He who spread out the heavens by His word is stretched out upon the wood; He who bound the sea with sand is bound with cords; He who gave honeyed streams to Israel drinks gall; He who adorned the earth with flowers is crowned with thorns; He who smote Egypt with ten plagues and drowned Pharaoh in the sea is struck upon the head with a reed; He upon whom even the Cherubim dare not gaze is spat upon in the face. Yet He who suffered these things prayed for His crucifiers, saying, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).
He overcomes malice with kindness, intercedes for the murderers of God, and by doing so draws them toward salvation. He excuses their guilt and charges their ignorance. He does not rage, though He became the object of their mockery. He endures their madness and, out of love for mankind, calls them to repentance.
What more need be said? Gaining no benefit from such mercy, they place in a tomb Him whom all creation cannot contain. They seal it, hoping to conceal our salvation; and fearing the Resurrection, they station a guard of soldiers at the tomb.
Who has ever heard of a dead man being guarded? More so, who has seen men go to war against a corpse? Who has heard of death becoming suspicious, or causing fear in the killers? Who continues to hate even after an enemy has been slain? Who is not satisfied with the death of his foe? O Jew, why do you fear Him whom you have killed? Why do you dread Him whom you have slain? Why do you tremble before the departed? Why do you quake before the murdered? Why are you troubled over Him whom you crucified?
The killing should bring you peace. Be bold, then! If He was a mere man, He will not rise. If He was a mere man, then your crucifixion was justified. If He was a mere man, then His words were false when He said: “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19). If He was a mere man, then death will hold Him. If He was a mere man, why then, O fool, did you seal the tomb?
Wait for the third day, and you will see your folly exposed. Cease your fruitless labor, and you will see the outcome of your deed. Cease your war against Truth. Stop fighting against God—for in that battle, you only destroy yourself. Cease to insult the Sun of Righteousness, and stop thinking that its rays have been extinguished. Cease to hide the Fountain of Life. Stop pestering the authorities and arranging guards. Stop paying money to deceive and corrupt the soldiers. Do not strive in vain. Do not exhaust all your strength in wickedness. Do not dream of conquering God. Do not bribe the soldiers to say one thing for another. Do not lull the people to sleep with your tomb. Do not trust in weapons. Arms will not hinder the Resurrection; seals will not obstruct it; soldiers will not restrain it, nor can it be bought off with silver.
Do you not believe? Did you not see how Lazarus cast off death like a cloak of sleep? Did you not see how the dead man obeyed the command, and the burial cloths did not restrain him? Did you not see how he came forth in funeral wrappings, at the words, “Come forth”? Did you not see how the voice restored one undone by death?
He who did that can surely do this. He who raised up a servant will without doubt rise Himself. He who gave life to one who had decayed will not leave Himself in death.
But the blindness of the Jews is great: they see wonders, but do not perceive them. “They have eyes, but they see not; they have ears, but they hear not” (Psalm 113:13–14). For “the god of this world hath blinded their hearts”, that the light of the Gospel might not shine upon them.
Let us leave them for a time in their unbelief. But as for us, imagining in our minds the tomb of the Savior, let us say with those who were with the believing Mary: “They have taken away our Lord, and we know not where they have laid Him” (John 20:13).
To Him be glory with the Most Pure Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.