Homily for Antipascha, or the New Week after Pascha #
St. Kyrill of Turov
The Church, desiring to adorn this feast, requires a great teacher and a wise preacher — but we are poor in word and clouded in mind, and we do not possess the fire of the Holy Spirit to compose words profitable to the soul. Yet, for the love of the brethren who are with me, let us say a little on the renewal of the Resurrection of Christ. And you, listen with diligence.
In the past week of Holy Pascha, there was wonder in heaven and fear in the depths, the renewal of creation and the deliverance of the world, the destruction of Hades and the trampling down of death, the resurrection of the dead, and the overthrow of the deceitful power of the devil — and the salvation of mankind through the Resurrection of Christ. In the past week, the old law was made poor, and the Sabbath was enslaved; the Church of Christ was enriched, and the Sunday was enthroned. In the past week, everything was transformed: the earth became heaven, having been cleansed by God from demonic defilements, and angels ministered reverently to the resurrection along with the women.
Creation was renewed: no longer are the elements called gods — neither the sun, nor fire, nor fountains, nor trees. Henceforth Hades no longer receives infants as sacrifice, slaughtered by their fathers, and death is no longer honored. For idolatry has ceased, and the demonic violence has been destroyed by the mystery of the Cross, and the human race is not only saved but also sanctified by the blood of Christ. The old law has become utterly impoverished, for the bloody sacrifices of bulls and goats are rejected, since Christ alone has offered Himself to the Father as a sacrifice for all.
Therefore the observance of the Sabbath has also ceased, and the day of the week has been filled with grace on account of the Resurrection, and now reigns among the days of the week — for on this day Christ rose from the dead. Let us, brethren, crown this royal day and bring honorable gifts with faith. Let each give according to his ability: one may bring almsgiving, guilelessness, and love; another, pure virginity, faith, and unfeigned humility; another still, the singing of psalms, the teaching of the apostles, and prayer with groaning to God. For the Lord Himself speaks through Moses, saying: “Thou shalt not appear before Me empty” (Exodus 34:20) on the day of the feast.
So let us offer to God the aforementioned virtues, that we may receive His mercy; for He will not withhold good from those who come to Him in faith. He said, “Those who glorify Me, I will glorify.”
Let us exalt this new and beautiful week, in which we celebrate the renewal of the Resurrection. This day is not the Pascha of the Lord, but is called Antipascha — for Pascha is the renewal of the world and the liberation of the dead from the nethermost Hades; while Antipascha is the renewal of the Resurrection.
Just as in the Old Law God commanded Moses in Egypt, saying: “Behold, I deliver My people from the service of Pharaoh, and set them free from the torments of his overseers, so that you may renew the day of your salvation when I defeated your enemies, O Israel!” — so also do we now renew the feast of the victorious day of Christ, in which He brought salvation to the whole world and overcame the prince of darkness.
Therefore the bread — the artos — has been sanctified in the church from Pascha until this day, and now, lifted up by the priests, it is broken, just as the unleavened bread was borne through the wilderness on the shoulders of the Levites until they passed through the Red Sea. And when this bread was sanctified to the Lord, those who ate of it were made whole and were a terror to their enemies.
The Israelites, having been delivered from bodily bondage, renewed this event by celebrating the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And we, being saved by the Master from bondage to the spiritual Pharaoh, the devil, renew this victorious day against our enemies. And now, receiving this sacred bread, we eat of it as the Jews ate of the heavenly bread — the food of angels — and we keep it for every good use: for the health of body and soul, for salvation, and for the casting away of all infirmity.
Now the old things have passed away; behold, all things—both visible and invisible—have become new. Now the heavens are made radiant, as if stripped of their sackcloth of dark clouds, and with their bright air they declare the glory of the Lord. By “heavens” I do not mean those that are visible, but the rational heavens—namely, the apostles—who, having now seen the Lord appear to them on Zion, and having forgotten all sorrow and grief, and being sanctified by the Holy Spirit, clearly proclaim the resurrection of Christ.
Now the sun rises in splendor on high and joyfully warms the earth, for Christ, the Sun of righteousness, has shone forth from the tomb and saves all who believe in Him. Now the moon, descending from its exalted place, yields honor to the greater light; thus the Old Law with its Sabbaths has ceased according to Scripture, and the Church now honors the law of Christ and the first day of the week.
Now the winter of sin has been driven away by repentance, and the icy cold of sin has melted through good thoughts; thus the winter of idolatry has been driven away by the apostolic teaching and by faith in Christ, and the frost of Thomas’s doubt has melted at the sight of Christ’s side.
Now spring adorns itself, reviving the natural world, and the winds, softly breathing from above, increase the fruitfulness of the earth, and the ground, nourishing the seeds, brings forth green grass. Likewise, the beautiful spring is the faith of Christ, which through baptism renews human nature. The stormy winds are the sinful thoughts, which, transformed through repentance into good ones, increase the fruits profitable to the soul. The earth is our nature, which, having received the word of God as seed and being ever pregnant with the fear of God, brings forth the spirit of salvation.
Now the newborn lambs and calves, skipping about quickly, return to their mothers and rejoice, and the shepherds, playing on flutes, praise Christ with gladness. The lambs are the meek Gentiles, and the calves are the idol-worshipers from pagan lands, who, through the incarnation of Christ and the apostolic teaching and miracles, having taken hold of the law and turned to the Holy Church, suck the milk of doctrine. And the shepherds—teachers of Christ’s flock—praying for all, glorify Christ our God, Who has gathered both wolves and lambs into one flock.
Now the trees put forth branches, and fragrant flowers blossom and spread sweet fragrance; and the husbandmen, laboring with hope, call upon Christ, the Giver of fruits. So too were we once like wild trees of the forest, barren, but now the faith of Christ has been grafted upon our unbelief. And the grafted trees, clinging to the root of Jesse and producing the flowers of virtue, await the new life in the paradise of Christ. Likewise, hierarchs and abbots, laboring for the Church, await their reward from Christ.
Now the rational plowman, laying a spiritual yoke upon rational oxen, plunges the cross-shaped plow into the furrows of the mind, draws the furrow of repentance, and sows spiritual seed, rejoicing in the hope of future blessings.
Now all the old has ended, and all has become new through the Resurrection. Now the apostolic rivers are overflowing, and the rational fish are multiplying, and the fishers, sounding the depths of God’s incarnation, draw up the net of the Church full of catch.
Now the industrious bee, showing forth her wisdom, amazes all, portraying the monks—for both the bee and the monk live in deserts, sustain themselves by their own labor, astonish both angels and men, and gather honeyed comb from the flowers for the delight of mankind and the service of the Church.
Now all the sweet-voiced birds of the ecclesiastical choirs, building their nests, rejoice. (“For the bird,” says the prophet, “has found a nest for herself—Thy altars, O Lord.”) And each, singing its own song, praises God with unceasing voices: bishops, abbots, priests, deacons, subdeacons, and every rank, each chanting its own hymn, glorifies the Lord.
Now all the ranks of saints have been renewed, receiving new life in Christ: the prophets and patriarchs, having labored, now rest in the life of paradise; the apostles and hierarchs, having suffered, are glorified in heaven and on earth. Martyrs and confessors, who endured sufferings for Christ, are crowned with angels. Pious kings and princes are saved through the hearing of the holy Scriptures. Virgins and monks, having patiently borne their cross, follow after Christ the Firstborn from earth to heaven. Ascetics and desert-dwellers, having received from the hand of the Lord a reward for their labors, rejoice with the saints in the heavenly city.
Now, for a new people, the feast of the renewal of the Resurrection of Christ is celebrated, and everything new is offered to the Lord: from the Gentiles—faith; from Christians—divine service; from priests—holy sacrifices; from rulers—God-loving almsgiving; from nobles—care for the Church; from the righteous—humility; from sinners—true repentance; from the impious—conversion to God; from those who were enemies—spiritual love.
Let us also, brethren, ascend in mind today to the upper room of Zion, for there the apostles were gathered, and Jesus Christ Himself appeared among them, though the doors were shut, and having said, “Peace be unto you,” He filled them with joy. “Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord” (John 20:21), and they cast aside all bodily sorrow and fear of heart; spiritual boldness entered into their souls when they recognized their Master. For He laid bare His side before them all, and showed Thomas the wounds of the nails in His hands and feet.
Thomas had not been with the other disciples at Christ’s first appearance, and when he heard of the Resurrection, he deemed it a false report and did not believe. But desiring to be a witness himself, he said: “Except I shall put my hand into His side, and my finger into the print of the nails, I will not believe.” Therefore the Lord, not rebuking Thomas, said: “Bring thy hand, and feel the wound in My side, and believe that it is I Myself.”
The patriarchs and prophets foresaw Me before thee and believed in My incarnation. Examine the prophecy of Isaiah about Me: “He was pierced in the side with a spear, and there came out blood and water” (cf. John 19:34). I was pierced in the side that I might raise up fallen Adam through the rib; and shall I abandon thee, who doubtest? Touch Me! I am He whom Simeon once took into his arms and, believing, asked for peaceful release. Be not unbelieving like Herod, who, having heard of My birth, said to the wise men: “Where is Christ to be born, that I too may come and worship Him?” (Matt. 2:8), but inwardly plotted My death. Though he slaughtered the infants, he did not find the One he sought: “The wicked shall seek Me, but shall not find Me.”
Believe in Me, Thomas, and know Me, as did Abraham, to whose tent I came with two angels, and he recognized Me, called Me Lord, and prayed for Sodom that I not destroy the city, if even ten righteous men were found therein. And be not unbelieving like Balaam, who, being inspired by the Holy Spirit, foretold My death for the sake of the world, but then, seduced by greed, perished. Believe in Me, Thomas, for I am He whom Jacob saw at night established on the ladder, and whom he again recognized in spirit when I wrestled with him in Mesopotamia; for then I promised to be incarnate from his lineage. Be not unbelieving like Nebuchadnezzar, who saw Me saving the youths in the furnace and truly called Me the Son of God, but afterward turned to his own delusions and perished.
Believe in Me, Thomas, for I am He whose image Isaiah saw upon the high and exalted throne among the multitude of angels. I appeared to Ezekiel amid the living creatures in human form and foreshadowed you apostles to the prophet in the form of wheels joined to the living creatures and moving with Me—the spirit of life that was then in the wheels is the Holy Spirit, whom I now breathe upon you. I am He whom Daniel saw coming upon the clouds of heaven, like the Son of Man, descending to the Ancient of Days; this prophet depicted the authority given Me by God in heaven and on earth.
Bring thy finger, O Twin, and touch My hands—those hands by which I gave sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, and speech to the mute. Touch also My feet—those feet which walked upon the sea before your eyes, which passed through the air, which descended into the netherworld and trampled down Hades, and afterward walked with Luke and Cleopas to Emmaus. Be not faithless, but believing!
Thomas answered: “I believe, O Lord, that Thou art my God, of whom the prophets spoke by the Spirit, whom Moses prefigured in the Law, whom the priests and Pharisees rejected, whom the scribes and Jews delivered up for envy to be mocked, whom Pilate and Caiaphas condemned to crucifixion, whom God the Father raised from the dead. I behold Thy side, from which Thou didst pour forth blood and water: the water, to cleanse the defiled earth; the blood, to sanctify human nature. I behold Thy hands, with which Thou once created all things, planted Paradise, fashioned man, blessed the patriarchs, anointed kings, and sanctified the apostles. I behold Thy feet, which the sinful woman embraced and received forgiveness, before which the widow received back her dead son alive in soul, and which the woman with the issue of blood touched and was healed of her affliction. And I, O Lord, believe that Thou art God.”
And Jesus said unto him: “Because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed; blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”
Therefore, brethren, let us believe in Christ our God; let us worship Him who was crucified, let us glorify Him who is risen, let us believe in Him who appeared to the apostles, let us sing to Him who showed His side to Thomas, let us praise Him who came to give us life, let us confess Him who enlightened us, let us magnify Him who has granted us the abundance of every good thing, and let us acknowledge the One from the Trinity, our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ, to whom be glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.