Paschal Homily

¹If any man be devout and love God, let him enjoy this fair and radiant triumphal feast. If any man be a wise servant, let him rejoicing enter into the joy of his Lord.

²If any have laboured long in fasting, let him now receive his recompense. If any have wrought from the first hour, let him today receive his just reward.

³If any have come at the third hour, let him with thankfulness keep the feast. If any have arrived at the sixth hour, let him have no misgivings; because he shall in nowise be deprived.

⁴If any have delayed until the ninth hour, let him draw near, fearing nothing. If any have tarried even until the eleventh hour, let him also be not alarmed at his tardiness.

⁵For the Lord, who is jealous of His honour, will accept the last even as the first. He gives rest unto him who comes at the eleventh hour, even as unto him who has wrought from the first hour.

⁶And He shows mercy upon the last, and cares for the first; and to the one He gives, and upon the other He bestows gifts. And He both accepts the deeds, and welcomes the intention, and honours the acts and praises the offering.

⁷Wherefore, enter ye all into the joy of your Lord; and receive your reward, both the first and likewise the second. You rich and poor together, hold high festival. You sober and you heedless, honour the day.

⁸Rejoice today, both you who have fasted and you who have disregarded the fast. The table is full-laden; feast ye all sumptuously. The calf is fatted; let no one go hungry away.

⁹Enjoy ye all the feast of faith; receive ye all the riches of loving-kindness. Let no one bewail his poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed.

¹⁰Let no one weep for his iniquities, for pardon has shone forth from the grave. Let no one fear death, for the Saviour's death has set us free.

¹¹He that was held prisoner of it has annihilated it. By descending into hell, He made hell captive. He embittered it when it tasted of His flesh.

¹²And Isaiah, foretelling this, cried: Hell was embittered when it encountered Thee in the lower regions. It was embittered, for it was abolished. It was embittered, for it was mocked.

¹³It was embittered, for it was slain. It was embittered, for it was overthrown. It was embittered, for it was fettered in chains. It took a body, and met God face to face. It took earth, and encountered heaven.

¹⁴It took that which was seen, and fell upon the unseen. O Death, where is thy sting? O Hell, where is thy victory?

¹⁵Christ is risen, and you are overthrown. Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen. Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice. Christ is risen, and life reigns.

¹⁶Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in the grave. For Christ, being risen from the dead, is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

¹⁷To Him be glory and dominion unto ages of ages. Amen.