Today we offer back to God the celebration of Pascha—today is its Apodosis (Leavetaking); we have had thirty-nine days of the feast.

As the disciples on Tabor, it is good for us to be here, to stand on the mountain in the presence of God.  But so that we may grow in the Christian life, we must descend from this mountain as we look to Jerusalem.  And as we ascend Mount Zion, towards our own place of the skull, and ascend our own cross we may learn the true meaning of the sacrifice, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15:13)  Our journey, however, is not alone: the Comforter will come and accompany us so that our passion is a co-suffering with Christ, our crucifixion a co-death with him and his resurrection, therefore, the prototype of ours.

Let us, bearing all this in our hearts and minds, with joy and with certitude, sing today,

Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling down death by death.
And upon those in the tombs
Bestowing life!