Saturday, April 24, 2004
Christ is Risen!
Venerable Elizabeth the Wonder-Worker
15th of the Paschal Vigil: Daniel 3:1-23 Apostle: Acts 5:21-33 Gospel: St. John 6:14-27
Daniel 3:1-23 LXX, especially vs. 23: "Then these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell
bound into the midst of the burning furnace, and walked in the midst of the flame, singing praise to God and blessing the
Lord." Among the hymns of the Church are a number of Canons, which regularly are sung in Orthros (or Matins) after the
intercessions following the reading of Psalm 50 LXX. Canons traditionally are divided into nine odes, or songs of praise,
eight of which are taken from the Old Testament. The Seventh and Eighth odes are the two songs which the three righteous
youths sang as they walked about in the burning fiery furnace (Song of the Three vss. 3-22 and 29-68 - RSV's versification.
These are found in Chapter 3 of Daniel in the Septuagint, LXX). Further, because of the great length of the odes when sung
with all their katabasia (accompanying songs of descent) usually one hears a Canon only in abbreviated form, consisting of
the irmoi (leading -first- verses).
The present reading from Daniel actually omits the Seventh Ode as found in the Septuagint, recording only the events
prior to the casting of the three youths into the furnace. The odes, in the various irmoi, contain, in rich typology, a great
deal of the Church's teaching - especially as these relate to the Gospel message. Hence, the irmoi of the Seventh and
Eighth odes from the various Canons foreshadow our knowledge of the Holy Trinity, the Lord's Nativity, His Baptism in
the Jordan, the calling upon us as Christians to repent and purify our lives, the fervor of true worship, the Lord's Passion
and Burial, and His glorious Resurrection.
The Canons, both of the Elevation of the Holy Cross and the Feast of the Ascension, eloquently draw our hearts and minds
to the Holy Trinity: "O ye youths, equal in number to the Trinity, bless the Father, the God Creator; praise the Word which
did condescend and turn the fire to a dewy breeze; and exalt more and more the all-holy Spirit, Who giveth life to all for
evermore," for the three serve as types of the "tri-radiant sign of divine headship...."
At the Nativity we learn that "the youths who were cast of old into the fire and remained unburned, were a sign of the
womb of the Maiden who gave birth supernaturally...."
The Theophany Canon reveals that "the furnace of Babylon [held] a strange secret when it overflowed with dew....Jordan
was about to receive in its courses the immaterial Fire, and was to contain the Creator baptized in the flesh...."
As we prepare for the Great Fast, the Canon of Sunday of the Pharisee and the Publican impels us to deeper repentance just
as Nebuchadnezzar was constrained by the miracle of the Three Youths "to shout, crying, Blessed art Thou, God" (see Dan.
3:28 RSV).
Then, by God's grace, on the Sunday of Orthodoxy, the First in Great Lent, the vision of the flames "in the land of Persia"
should ignite a "fervor of true worship" in us to join with the Abrahamite youths to sing, "Blessed art Thou in the temple of
Thy holiness, O Lord."
As we enter into the events of the Lord's Passion, may the Eighth irmoi of Great and Holy Friday give us a valor like that
of Joseph of Ramah who "beholding the God of all dead and naked...sought Him and arrayed Him, shouting, O ye youths,
bless Him. Praise Him ye Priests; and ye nations, exalt Him more and more unto the end of ages."
Our Lord Jesus Who saved "the children from the furnace, when He became Man, suffered like unto a mortal, and, with
His sufferings, invested the mortal with the beauty of incorruption, Who is the God of our fathers. To [the risen Lord]
alone be blessing and glory."
Glory to Thee, Who hast shown us the Light. We worship Thee O Lord, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty; O Lord
the Only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ; and the Holy Spirit.