In the morning the sun chased away the mists shrouding the beach. And at that point everyone saw the boat returning… It contained not four but nine people. And then everyone gathered on the quay, — monks, prisoners, guards, — all crossed themselves and went down on their knees. “A Miracle, indeed! The Lord has saved them!” came cries from the crowd.
In the morning after the Easter service we set to work in preparation for the feast. Easter is called “Pascha” in Greek and it refers to “The Feast of Feasts.” People gather together to celebrate and roast a lamb on an spit over an open flame. Easter eggs have been dyed red to symbolize the blood of Christ and will be present on every Easter table. There will be home made wine flowing, music playing and a lighthearted feeling throughout the countryside.
There are several religious and social occasions where one can meet the few thousand Rums who remain today in Istanbul. Their historical churches spread all over the city and the Princes’ Islands were busy preparing their flocks with daily masses for the apex of the Greek Orthodox faith, Easter Sunday, occurring this year on April 24.
Fr. Sergei Sveshnikov
Rating: 10|Votes: 1
Although from the very early morning on the day of the resurrection the good news of the resurrection was carried throughout creation, and even though angels from heaven (Mark 16:6) and holy myrrhbearers on earth (Luke 24:9) and even the guards at the Sanhedrin (Matthew 28:11) had already told of the miracle, the apostles were still in a state of fear and doubt, hiding behind doors and locks “for the fear of the Jews” (John 20:19).
Norris J. Chumley, Ph.D.
Rating: 2|Votes: 1
One truth is certain: Recitation of the Jesus Prayer ("Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner") is very powerful, even for just a few minutes at a time. Whether you're in a cave or monastery, or in the cell of your apartment or suburban bedroom, you don't have to leave everything behind and become a monastic in order to find God in silent prayer.
