He is risen, we are forgiven.....

CHRIST IS RISEN -

INDEED, HE IS RISEN

Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered;

let those who hate him flee from before his face!

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Christ is risen from the dead,

trampling down death by death,

and upon those in the tombs bestowing life.

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This is the day which the Lord has made,

let us rejoice and be glad in it!

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"Yesterday I was crucified with Him;today I am glorified with Him;
yesterday I died with Him; to-day I am quickened with Him;
yesterday I was buried with Him; to-day I rise with Him.

But let us offer to Him Who suffered and rose again for us (you will think perhaps that I am going to say gold, or silver, or woven work or transparent and costly stones, the mere passing material of earth, that remains here below, and is for the most part always possessed by bad men, slaves of the world and of the Prince of the world.).

Let us offer ourselves, the possession most precious to God, and most fitting; let us give back to the Image what is made after the Image. Let us recognize our Dignity; let us honour our Archetype; let us know the power of the Mystery, and for what Christ died.

Let us become like Christ, since Christ became like us.
Let us become God's for His sake, since He for ours became Man.
He assumed the worse that He might give us the better;
He became poor that we through His poverty might be rich;
He took upon Him the form of a servant that we might receive back our liberty;
He came down that we might be exalted;
He was tempted that we might conquer;
He was dishonoured that He might glorify us;
He died that He might save us;
He ascended that He might draw to Himself us, who were lying low in the Fall of sin.
Let us give all, offer all, to Him Who gave Himself a Ransom and a Reconciliation for us.
But one can give nothing like oneself, understanding the Mystery, and becoming for His sake all that He became for ours."

- St. Gregory of Nazianzus, 4th Century.

How can I possibly describe the beauty of the Pascha service in the Orthodox Church?

Just before midnight as somber funeral hymns are sung, all the lights of the Church are extinguished and the Church becomes the tomb of Christ. We reflect on the tremendous grief of hope unfulfilled as Jesus Christ gave up His life.

Then, all of a sudden, the priest, dressed in white, appears from behind the Iconostasis carrying a solitary candle, chanting:

"Come ye and receive light from the unwaning Light,

and glorify Christ, Who is risen from the dead."

As he enters the Church he passes the flame from his candle to one parishioner, who in turn passes the flame to the next, and to the next, until the whole Church is illumined by masses of candles.

Then the Easter procession begins as the congregation moves out to the street and around the Church until it arrives at the front door. Triumphant hymns of proclamation are sung as the 16th Chapter of the Gospel of Mark is read and the doors to the Church are bathed in incense - As we enter the Church it is bathed in bright light - flowers and light are everywhere!!

"Christ is Risen" is shouted. "Indeed, He is Risen" is the crowds response as candles are waved in the air. The atmosphere goes from mourning to joy in moments. Beautiful.

I was right words don't do it justice - I'll try again later. There so much to explain!!!