St.Vladimir Orthodox Church

May 15, 2021

Third Sunday of Pascha, Tone 2, Sunday of the Myrrh-bearing Women: Mary Magdalen; Mary the wife of Clopas; Joanna; Salome (the mother of the sons of Zebadee); Suzanna; Mary and Martha (the sisters of Lazarus); and Mary (Mother of the Apostle James). Also of St. Joseph of Arimathea, and Nicodemus.

Readings
Acts 6:1-7
Gospel: St. Mark 15:43-16:8

Who then were the "Myrrh-bearing Women"? Their names are listed above and they are celebrated along with St. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. They were the women who ministered to Jesus during his life. Some carried spices to anoint the body of Jesus and were the first to see the opened tomb. The OCA website (oca.org) amongst others, has an explanation which is worth reading. We can't be in church so please take a moment to read this, and then look at the following site which has a really nice video explaining who the Myrrh-bearing Women were. It is clear and interesting.

Troparion (Tone 2) - The Noble Joseph, When he had taken down Your most pure Body from the tree, Wrapped it in fine linen and anointed it with spices, And placed it in a new tomb. But You did rise on the third day, O Lord, Granting the world great mercy.

Troparion (Tone 2) - The angel came to the myrrhbearing women at the tomb and said: Myrrh is meet for the dead; But Christ has shown Himself a stranger to corruption! So proclaim: the Lord is risen, Granting the world great mercy!

Kontakion (Tone 2) - You did command the myrrh-bearers to rejoice, O Christ! By Your Resurrection, You did stop the lamentation of Eve, O God! You did command Your apostles to preach: The Savior is Risen!

If you have been following the daily reading from the calendar, you would have come across one of the most well-known passages from Saint John's Gospel this week - Saint John 3:16 and following:

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." (ESV)

The actual words of Saint John could not be clearer. We have just experienced the feast of the Resurrection of Christ. Most of us had to celebrate at home, but that does not make the feast any less important or real. We suffered through the trial and crucifixion and on the eve of Pascha we proclaimed that Christ is Risen, "conquering death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life." Every Sunday is a remembrance of the glorious Resurrection. At home we can still read the assigned scripture readings and celebrate as we gather together for meals, remembering to thank God for the food and drink we enjoy and that nourishes us. It was while being assaulted by the tempter in the wilderness that Jesus said (and we must remember): "It is written, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God."" (Saint Matthew 4:4 ESV) So let us then give thanks for all things that God has given us, including His Son.

I have heard from Mary Pemberton that the family is back on their farm in Margaree, so they are back in Nova Scotia. She reports that Will's energy is up and down. We must keep them and especially Will in our prayers.

Alina has Ukrainian wooden eggs for sale she said, "I just got a new parcel of wooden eggs in any colour one can imagine. Please let me know if you need some. They are $5 each, and I'll be donating $1 for each egg sold through the church contacts." She is also expecting a shipment of real eggs. I'll let you know the details when they arrive.

Love in the Risen Christ,
-- Father David