Hristos Voskrese

Hristos Voskrese! Vaistinu Voskrese!
Christ is risen! Indeed he is risen!

I will make a reflection of the wonderful celebration of Uskrs or Pasha(pas-ha) during the liturgy. When I was serving in the Easter Liturgy, I am being anxious a bit since last year, I am like error-prone. Well, this year, I still have a bad left thumb, even if I can work and serve in the altar, I still have to wear a protective gauze to protect the wound from the elements. Yes....

But, thankfully everyone was energetic, me and my fellow altar servers were alert and very attentive and that God gave us the energy through the hours of waiting for his resurrection. I will tell something: with God, nothing is impossible! God destroyed death by his death and fulfilled his promise: to rise up from the dead. With that alone, the sign that he is truly, our God. The Trinitarian God that we always pray to, come for and dedicate our lives. So, every Uskrs, let's go, attend and be in one with God's true miracle!

During the reading of John 1:1-17, I read it on my own language(Filipino) with the proper church tone. Thankfully, I nailed it. And also during the preparation of prosphoras, even if I can't slice when there's people, I make sure to help them prepare.

And lastly, after the great Easter Liturgy, have a feast and conversation with the people there. I am still having a hard time speaking Srpski but thanks to my command of the English language, I won't have difficulties sharing my feelings about being an Orthodox Christian and the blessing God is giving me.

After 3 hours, everyone cleaned and started to go. I went with other parishioners and greeted everyone with the usual Uskrs greetings.

Hristos Voskrese, Vaistinu Voskrese!

Moj Iskrs Iskustvo-My Easter Sunday Experience

 

I feel blessed. I felt more than just earthly religion but most of all, the essence of true Pascha or Easter Sunday, away from commercialism and my troubles in life. I recently went to the Eastern Orthodox style Easter, it is like I am in heaven. I feel not just everything but I am with God. 

I felt shy because there are a lot of people there and I am the only one that is not yet baptized in the Orthodox church but it was honor that I am there. Look at the bright side. What is important in going to church is making us think that we are not alone despite the fact that we are feeling something wrong and also, it gives us the feeling that we are never giving up for God and our sake as well.

For a guy like me, it was like the feeling of a hope for the future, no matter how hard I have some personal issues.

We should not take it for granted because we are given the freedom of practicing our faith. We should look that this is not just a guide but also the way of life. We should thank God for the blessings and the forgiveness we are given because without it, we can't have that salvation or the loophole for our salvation.

Hristos Voskrese!!-Vaistinu Voskrese!!
Christ is Risen!!-Indeed he is risen!!