Excerpts from The Winter Pascha
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It is the pleasure of the Antiochian.org staff to bring our readers this collection of excerpts from The Winter Pascha by Fr. Thomas Hopko. We will continue to update this page throughout the Nativity and post-Nativity seasons with further selections from Fr. Hopko's writing.
When the winter begins to make way into the Northern World, the Church of Christ begins to celebrate a "splendid three-day Pascha."
Thus Father Thomas Hopko begins the first of forty meditations for the season of Advent, Christmas and Epiphany, ending with the feast of the Meeting of the Lord in the Temple on the fortieth day after Christ's birth. In the style of his popular book for the paschal fasting season, The Lenten Spring, the author again draws on the biblical readings and liturgical hymns and verses of the season to illumine the way for believers to follow the Church's days of preparation and celebration for the Coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, in human flesh. Many references are made to the writings of the saints and Church Fathers, as well as to contemporary Christian teachers and spiritual guides. All those who love the Lord's Coming will find comfort and strength, as well as enlightenment and instruction, for having passed through the Winter Pascha with this book as their companion.
(from the St. Vladimir's Seminary Press web site)
A protopresbyter in the Orthodox Church and Dean Emeritus at St. Vladimir's Seminary, Fr. Hopko is the author of numerous articles and books, including The Lenten Spring, Christian Faith and Same-Sex Attraction and Speaking the Truth in Love, among others. He also hosts the Speaking the Truth in Love podcast on Ancient Faith Radio.
Many thanks to the SVS Press staff for their kind permission and assistance.
Latest Excerpt:
The Winter Pascha, Chapter 34: The Great Blessing of Water
The following is an excerpt from The Winter Pascha, by Fr. Thomas Hopko
The rite of the Great Blessing of Water is celebrated in the Orthodox Church after the vesperal divine liturgy on the eve of the feast of the Epiphany [Theophany], and after the eucharistic liturgy on the day itself.It begins with the chanting of special hymns with the incensing of the water, and concludes with bible readings, petitions and prayers.
Today the nature of the waters is sanctified,
The Jordan bursts forth and turns back the flood of its streams,
Seeing the Master wash Himself.To the voice of one crying in the wilderness,
Prepare ye the way of the Lord,
You came, O Lord, taking the form of a servant,
Asking for baptism though you have no sin.
The waters saw You and were afraid.
The Forerunner began to tremble and cried out, saying:
How shall the lampstand illumine the Light?
How shall the servant lay hands upon the Master?
Sanctify both me and the waters, O Savior,
Who takes away the sins of the world.1
.....
God has sent His only-begotten Son "not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him." (Jn 3:17) He has sent the Lord Jesus Christ not only to save people's souls, but to save their bodies, and not only to save human beings, but to save the entire creation.
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