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Live recording of St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalivia serving the Easter Liturgy and reading aloud the Paschal Sermon of St. John Chrysostom (407 AD).
St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalivia:
“If any be a devout lover of God, let him partake with gladness from this fair and radiant feast.
If any be a faithful servant, let him enter rejoicing into the joy of his Lord.
If any have wearied himself with fasting, let him now enjoy his reward.
If any have laboured from the first hour, let him receive today his rightful due.
If any have come after the third, let him celebrate the feast with thankfulness.
If any have come after the sixth, let him not be in doubt, for he will suffer no loss.
If any have delayed until the ninth, let him not hesitate but draw near.
If any have arrived only at the eleventh, let him not be afraid because he comes so late.
For the Master is generous and accepts the last even as the first.
He gives rest to him who comes at the eleventh in the same was as him who has laboured from the first.
And he shows mercy upon the last, and cares for the first; and to the one he gives, and upon the other he bestows gifts.
He accepts the deed, and commends the intention. And honors the acts and praises the offering.
Enter then, all of you, into the joy of our Lord.
First and last, receive alike your reward.
Rich and poor, dance together.
You sober and you heedless, honor the day.
You who fasted and you who have not fasted, rejoice together.
The table is fully laden: let all enjoy it. The calf is fatted: let none go away hungry. Enjoy ye all the feast of faith! Receive ye all the riches of loving-kindness.
Let none lament his poverty; for the universal Kingdom is revealed.
Let none bewail his transgressions; for the light of forgiveness has risen from the tomb.
Let none fear death; for death of the Saviour has set us free.
He that was held prisoner of it has annihilated it.
He has despoiled hell by descending into hell.
He vexed it even as it tasted of His flesh.
Isaiah foretold this when he cried:
Hell, said he, was embittered. When it encountered Thee in the lower regions.
It was embittered, for it was abolished. It was embittered, for it was mocked.
It was embittered, for it was slain. It was embittered, for it was overthrown.
It was embittered, for it was fettered in chains.
Hell received a body, and encountered God. It received earth, and confronted heaven. It took that which was seen, and fell upon the unseen.
O Death, where is your sting? O Hell, where is your victory?
Christ 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!
Christ is risen! And not one dead remains in the grave!
For Christ having risen from the dead, is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
To Him be glory and dominion unto ages of ages.
Amen.”
