"Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered…"
Pascha at Holy Trinity Monastery
On April 24, 2011, the brotherhood of Holy Trinity Monastery celebrated the Glorious Resurrection of Our Lord, God, and Savior, Jesus Christ. Services began on Saturday night. At 8:00 pm, the Acts of the Apostles was read in many different languages. The Paschal Midnight Office followed at 11:15 pm. The lights were turned off and silence came over the church. Suddenly, a burst of light came forth from the sanctuary, symbolizing the light of the Holy Resurrection overcoming the powers of darkness.
All the people, led by the brotherhood clergy, came out from the church and processed around it. Stopping before the doors of the church, Archimandrite Luke, the Abbot of Holy Trinity Monastery, intoned the sacred words: "Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered…" Hieromonk Roman (Krassovsky), the choirmaster, led the Monastery Choir in singing the Paschal Troparion: "Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death and upon those in the tombs bestowing life!"
All came into the church, beginning the Paschal Matins. At the end of Matins Fr. Luke read the Paschal Homily of St. John Chrysostom. Then the choir sang the Paschal Hours and immediately began the Divine Liturgy. At the Anaphora the choir came down to the middle of the church, and the congregation joined their voices in singing the Eucharistic Hymn. At the end of liturgy the clergy and choir processed to the trapeza and Fr. Luke blessed the Paschal tables with holy water. All the people then broke the fast with delicious kulichi and cheese pascha. A warm and festive feeling pervaded throughout the night.
Later that day, at noon, everyone gathered once more in the trapeza for a more substantial meal. Fr. Luke afterward invited all to his office for a festal reception. Paschal Vespers was at 3 pm, after which the sound of the monastery bells rang out throughout the countryside. After supper at 6:30 pm, Matins for Bright Monday was served.
Christ is Risen! Христос Воскресе!