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CHRIST IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED

The following hymn, among others, is sung during the procession of Resurrection Service.

Qom Gaboro men Qabro
The Almighty rose from the tomb With a great power.
The prophet met Him and marveled at Him.
He [the prophet] drew near and asked Him:
"What happened to You, my Lord?
Why are Your garments red?
Your side and hands pierced?" [Isaiah 63:2]
"I have mightily trodden the winepress in Sheol.
I have fought the fight alone and was splashed with blood." [Isaiah 63:3]
Hallelujah, "I rose from the tomb."

"He is risen!" That’s what we celebrate now. He is risen from the dead, and what a difference His resurrection has made!

Before His resurrection, things seemed so important. Now, they have become pretty insignificant. Before His resurrection, time (of our life) was so limited. Now there is all eternity. Before, life was filled with despair. Now it has purpose and direction and meaning. Before, death was the end. But now through the resurrection of Christ, it is just the beginning of eternal life. Before His resurrection, the cross was known only as an instrument of horrible death, rough wood soaked with human blood. But today, because of His resurrection, we wear a replica of the cross as a piece of jewelry, a thing of beauty, for all around the world the cross is seen as a symbol of hope, and a reminder of God’s love for us.

Dear brothers and sisters, the Resurrection to us faithful is the exodus, the passage of human beings from slavery to sin and evil, to the freedom of love and goodness. Because God is life, life alone, and we are His glory: the living man.

By proclaiming that Christ is Risen from the dead we reject the deeds of darkness in our lives and turn our lives toward the empowering Light of God. Let us pray that God shine the light of His resurrection upon those who are in the darkness of this world, and save them for His glory, Amen

With happiness of the glorious resurrection of the Lord this year also, our hearts grieve about the kidnapped Archbishops of Aleppo Mor Gregorios Yuhanna Ibrahim and Paulos Yazijy. We have been keeping them in our prayers and all the suffering Christians in that Middle-East. May the risen Lord continue to strengthen our Syriac Orthodox church and all Christians in the entire world, Amen.

Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen.