The Lord descends into hell – From an ancient homily on Holy Saturday
Something strange is happening—there is a great silence on earth today, a great silence and stillness. The whole earth keeps silence because the King is asleep. The earth trembled and…
The power of Christ’s blood – Saint John Chrysostom, bishop
If we wish to understand the power of Christ’s blood, we should go back to the ancient account of its prefiguration in Egypt. Sacrifice a lamb without blemish, commanded Moses,…
The lamb that was slain has delivered us from death and given us life – Saint Melito of Sardis, bishop
There was much proclaimed by the prophets about the mystery of the Passover: that mystery is Christ, and to him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. For the sake…
The perfection of love – Saint Augustine, bishop
Dear brethren, the Lord has marked out for us the fullness of love that we ought to have for each other. He tells us: No one has greater love than…
By one death and resurrection the world was saved – Saint Basil, bishop
To attain holiness, we must not only pattern our lives on Christ’s by being gentle, humble and patient, we must also imitate him in his death. Taking Christ for his…
Let us too glory in the cross of the Lord – Saint Augustine, bishop
The death of the Lord our God should not be a cause of shame for us; rather, it should be our greatest hope, our greatest glory. In taking upon himself…
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord – Saint Andrew of Crete, bishop
Let us go together to meet Christ on the Mount of Olives. Today he returns from Bethany and proceeds of his own free will toward his holy and blessed passion,…
We are soon going to share in the Passover – Saint Gregory Nazianzen, bishop
Let us take our part in the Passover prescribed by the law, not in a literal way, but according to the teaching of the Gospel; not in an imperfect way,…
Christ offered himself for us – Saint Fulgentius of Ruspe, bishop
The sacrifices of animal victims which our forefathers were commanded to offer to God by the holy Trinity itself, the one God of the old and the new testaments, foreshadowed…