Easter Homily by John Chrysostom

If any person is devout and loves God

          let them come to this radiant triumphant feast.

If any person is a wise follower, let them enter into the joy of his Lord, rejoicing.

If any have fasted long let them now receive refreshment.

If any have labored from the first hour, let them today receive their just reward

If any came at the third hour, let them keep the feast with thankfulness.

If any arrived at the sixth hour, let them have no misgivings

          for they shall not be deprived.

If any delayed to the ninth hour, let them draw near, fearing nothing. If any have waited even to the tenth hour, let them draw near, fearing nothing. If any have waited until the eleventh hour, let them not be alarmed in this tardiness.

          For the Lord will accept the last even as the first.

Therefore, all of you enter into the joy of your Lord.

          Rich and poor together, hold high festival. Diligent and heedless, honor this day.       Both you who have fasted, and you, who did not fast, rejoice together this day.    The table is full. All of you, feast sumptuously. The calf is fatted; let no one go         away hungry.

          Enjoy the feast of faith; receive the riches of God's mercy.

Let no one bewail his or her poverty, for the fullness of the kingdom is revealed.

Let no one weep for his or her iniquities, for forgiveness shines forth from the grave. Let no one fear death, for the Savior's death has set us free.

          He who was held prisoner by death annihilated it.

          By descending into death, He made death captive.

          He angered it when it tasted of His flesh.

Isaiah saw this, and he cried:

Death was angered, for it was defeated.

It was angered, for it was mocked. It was angered, for it was abolished.

          It was angered, for it was bound in chains.

          It received a body and it met God face to face.

          It took earth and encountered heaven.

          It took that which is seen and fell upon the unseen.

0 Death, where is your sting? 0 Grave, where is your victory?

          Christ is risen and you are overthrown.

          Christ is risen and devils have fallen.

          Christ is risen and the angels rejoice.

          Christ is risen and not one dead remains in the grave.

For Christ, being risen from the dead,

          is become the first fruits of those who have

          fallen asleep, and to Him be glory and honor, even to eternity