PASCHA Archpastoral Reflection of the Council of Bishops of the UOC of the USA and Diaspora

To the beloved Clergy, Monastics and Faithful entrusted to our spiritual care in the United States of America, South America, Western Europe, Australia and New Zealand, as well as all our beloved Sisters and Brothers in once again long-suffering Ukraine.

Dear Brothers and Concelebrants and all our Spiritual Children in the Vineyard of our Lord,

CHRIST IS RISEN!  INDEED HE IS RISEN!

On this most joyous occasion of the celebration of the Resurrection of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we extend heartfelt greetings to you, your loved ones, and our entire Ukrainian Orthodox community throughout the world, wishing you all a joyful and blessed Pascha – RESURRECTION FEAST!

As we gather in the spirit of Paschal joy, we are reminded of the profound significance of this sacred season. Pascha is not merely a celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, but a testament to the triumph of Light over darkness, of Hope over despair and of LOVE over hate.

As we celebrate this sacred season, we are called to enter into the joy of the Disciples who encountered the Lord after His Resurrection. We can imagine the incredible joy experienced by Mary Magdalene, the Apostles and the Disciples on the road to Emmaus as they encountered our RISEN LORD. They could not believe it initially, because of the horrors they all experienced during Holy Week, culminating in the Crucifixion.  Just when they had given up all hope, they hear the GOOD NEWS from the myrrh-bearing women Disciples! Understandably, considering their circumstances, they received that news with skepticism, distrust and much reservation. Alas! In the depth of doubt, how much greater was the joy when our Risen Lord appeared to them casting out all doubt and fear. And their JOY was beyond measure.

Indeed, this is what we are called to do this Pascha – to seek the Risen Lord, not in the darkness of a tomb, but where we are. He is ALIVE in our midst! He is present to us, as He was to Mary Magdalene and the disciples walking to Emmaus. However, some among us have difficulty experiencing His presence because we are, indeed, living in tombs of our own creation sinfulness, weakness of faith, judgmental attitudes, hatred or especially the tomb of unwillingness to forgive others their trespasses. Or perhaps we are swallowed up in past sins and mistakes of our lives, which we refuse to let go through the Sacrament of Holy Penance (Confession) – or even after Penance where all has been forgiven.  All these tombs can be wiped from existence if only we joyfully receive the Risen Christ our Lord from the empty Tomb, which now emanates the EVERLASTING LIGHT OF THE RESURRECTION!

In the midst of this sacred joy, we cannot ignore the somber reality of the ongoing invasion in Ukraine. The battle that rages on is a stark manifestation of the age-old struggle between Light and darkness, between forces of Righteousness and evil. Yet, in the face of such darkness, we must hold steadfast to the Eternal Truth that the Resurrection Light can never be extinguished and believe that the faithful of Ukraine experience it with us and are thus, filled with new hope.

To our parish communities and individuals across the globe we extend our deepest gratitude for your unwavering faith and steadfast support of our brothers and sisters in Ukraine. Your commitment to serving and caring for our people in the Name of Christ our Lord, exemplifies the true spirit of PASCHA. As we gather in prayer and fellowship during these Holiest of Holy Days, may we draw strength from one another and continue to shine the Light of Christ’s Resurrection into all the world.

And to our beloved brother and sisters from Ukraine, many of whom are refugees throughout the USA, South America, Australia, New Zealand, Western Europe, and the Diaspora, we extend a special welcome and embrace. We recognize the immense challenges you have faced and the sacrifices you have made. As you find refuge in our parish communities, may you feel the warmth of our love and the strength of our solidarity. You are not alone, for we stand with you as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Having encountered the Risen Lord, like the disciples, we cannot keep the joy of the Good News, the New Life in Christ, to ourselves. We must go out to proclaim that Jesus Christ is the One who gives life and remember always that the victory of Pascha is not just a historical event, but THE living reality that NEVER ceases in transforming lives and bringing hope to the world.

With heartfelt prayers and Paschal blessings,

+Antony, Metropolitan

+Jeremiah, Archbishop

+Daniel, Archbishop

AT THE DIVINE LITURGY 

Priest: Blessed is the kingdom ..., 

Choir: Amen. 

Clergy: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life! (x3) 

Choir: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life! (x3) 

The Priest reads the verses, and the choir sings the Troparion after each verse:

V.: Let God arise and let His enemies be scattered, and let them that hate Him flee from before His face. 

Choir: Christ is risen from the dead, .... 

V.: As smoke vanisheth, so let them vanish, as wax melteth before the fire. 

Choir: Christ is risen from the dead, .... 

V.: So let the sinners perish at the presence of God, and let the righteous be glad. 

Choir: Christ is risen from the dead, .... 

V.: This is the day which the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad therein. 

Choir: Christ is risen from the dead, .... 

Priest: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. 

Choir: Christ is risen from the dead, .... 

Priest: Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Choir: Christ is risen from the dead, .... 

Priest: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death. 

Choir: And upon those in the tombs bestowing life.

THE FIRST ANTIPHON 

V.: Shout with jubilation unto the Lord all the earth; * chant ye unto His name, give glory in praise of Him. 

R.: Through the prayers of the Theotokos, O Savior, save us.

V.: Say unto God: How awesome are Thy works! * In the multitude of Thy power shall Thine enemies be proved false unto Thee. 

R.: Through the prayers of the Theotokos, O Savior, save us. 

V.: Let all the earth worship Thee and chant unto Thee; * let them chant unto Thy name, O Most High. 

R.: Through the prayers of the Theotokos, O Savior, save us. 

Glory ..., Both now ..., 

R.: Through the prayers of the Theotokos, O Savior, save us. 

THE SECOND ANTIPHON 

V.: God be gracious unto us and bless us, * and cause Thy face to shine upon us and have mercy on us. 

R.: O Son of God Who didst rise from the dead, save us who sing to Thee: Alleluia. 

V.: That we may know upon the earth Thy way, * among all the nations Thy salvation. 

R.: O Son of God Who didst rise from the dead, save us who sing to Thee: Alleluia. 

V.: Let all the peoples give Thee praise, O God, * let all the peoples praise Thee. 

R.: O Son of God Who didst rise from the dead, save us who sing to Thee: Alleluia. 

Glory ..., Both now ..., 

Choir: Only-Begotten Son and Word of God, …

THIRD ANTIPHON 

V.: Let God arise and let His enemies be scattered, and let them that hate Him flee from before His face. 

Choir: Christ is risen from the dead, .... 

V.: As smoke vanisheth, so let them vanish, as wax melteth before the fire. 

Choir: Christ is risen from the dead, .... 

V.: So let the sinners perish at the presence of God, and let the righteous be glad, let them rejoice in the presence of God Choir: 

Choir: Christ is risen from the dead, .... 

The small entrance

In the Churches bless ye God, the Lord from the wellsprings of Israel. 

Choir: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life! 

Glory..., 

Tone 4 

Forestalling the dawn, the women came with Mary, * and found the stone rolled away from the sepulcher, * and heard from the angel: Why seek ye among the dead, * as though He were mortal, * Him Who liveth in everlasting light? * Behold the grave-clothes. Go quickly and proclaim to the world * that the Lord is risen * and hath slain death. * For He is the Son of God Who saveth mankind. 

Both now ..., 

Tone 8

Thou didst descend into the tomb, O Immortal, * Thou didst destroy the power of Hades. * In victory didst Thou arise, O Christ God, * proclaiming “Rejoice!” to the myrrh-bearing women; * granting peace to Thine apostles, ** and bestowing resurrection on the fallen. 

Instead of the Trisagion:

As many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Alleluia. 

Epistle: Acts 1:1-18

In the first book, O Theophilos, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. To them he presented himself alive after his passion by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days, and speaking of the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, "you heard from me, for John baptized with water, but before many days you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit." So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom of lsrael?" He said to them, "it is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth."

Gospel: John 1:1-17

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light.

The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. (John bore witness to him, and cried, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, for he was before me.'") And from his fullness have we all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Instead of “It is truly meet ...,” 

Irmos of the 9th Ode of the Canon of the feast

Tone 1

The angel cried unto her that is full of grace: * Rejoice, O pure Virgin! And again I say, rejoice! * For thy Son is risen from the grave on the third day. Irmos: Shine, shine, O new Jerusalem, * for the glory of the Lord hath arisen upon thee; * dance now and be glad, O Zion, * and do thou exult, O pure Theotokos, * in the arising of Him Whom thou didst bear. 

Communion Verse

Receive ye the Body of Christ, taste ye of the Fountain of Immortality. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. 

Priest: “With the fear of God and with faith draw near,” instead of “Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord,” we sing: “Christ is risen…” once. 

And we also sing this instead of “We have seen the true light…” and instead of “Let our mouths be filled with thy praise…” 

When the priest saith: ”The blessing of the Lord be upon you…” 

Choir: Amen.

Clergy: ”Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death.” 

Choir: And upon those in the tombs bestowing life.” 

Priest: May Christ our true God, Who rose from the dead, trampling death by death and bestowing life upon those in the tombs, through the intercessions of His most pure Mother, and of all the saints, have mercy on us and save us, for He is good and the Lover of mankind. 

Choir: Amen. 

Priest: CHRIST IS RISEN! (x3) 

People: INDEED HE IS RISEN! (After each) 

Choir: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life! (x3) 

And unto us hath He granted life eternal; we worship His Resurrection on the third day.

Paschal Greetings from Around the World

By the age of 25, about 60% of those baptized as infants will no longer consider themselves members of the Orthodox Church. A parish on a university campus is an important witness not only to the surrounding community but also to high school age and younger parishioner. Establishing a parish on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison helps remind young people that graduating high school doesn't mean "graduating" from the Church. Please consider joining those who have committed their time, treasure and talent in establishing an Orthodox community on the Isthmus.

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