“Do not be afraid!”—these words, spoken first by the angel and then by the Risen Jesus Christ Himself to the women who came to the tomb, whom He met with the greeting, “Rejoice, do not be afraid!”, show that Christ’s Resurrection is a source of peace and joy, of hope and help in life,” said Patriarch Daniel during the Paschal (Easter) midnight Service at the Patriarchal Cathedral.
His Beatitude explained several aspects from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew, chapter 28, verses 1 to 16, which was read at the Resurrection Service.
The Earthquake
The first element developed by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel was the earthquake that occurred at the Resurrection of the Savior.
“The earthquake did not happen because an angel descended from heaven, but because the Resurrection of Jesus Christ shook the very depths of Hades, raising from it the righteous who awaited the coming of Christ—He who trampled down death by death, conquering sin, hell, and death, and through His Resurrection grants eternal life to all mankind.”
The Seals of the Tomb
“The second point,” continued the Patriarch, “is that the stone at the entrance of the tomb was rolled away by the angel not so that Jesus could come out, but so that the women arriving at the tomb could see that it was empty and believe that He had truly risen.”
Quoting Saint John Chrysostom’s commentary on Matthew, the Patriarch emphasized:
“The Savior rose from the tomb without breaking its seal, just as He was born of the Virgin Mary without destroying her virginity.”
“The Savior Jesus Christ rose while the tomb was still sealed. He passed through the stone without breaking the seal, just as He would, later that evening, pass through locked doors without breaking them. This means His body is real but transfigured—a changed body that can no longer be constrained by space or time.”
“Christ’s Resurrection is not the return of a corpse to earthly life but His entrance into a new form of life.”
A Teacher of Faith
Patriarch Daniel then explained that the angel who greeted the Myrrh-bearing women announced Christ’s Resurrection as a teacher of faith:
“The stone fixed at the door of the tomb hid the death of Jesus, while the stone rolled away—beside the tomb—reveals the truth of His Resurrection to those who saw the empty tomb and the linen cloths inside.”
He further stated:
“The idea that Jesus’ body was stolen by the disciples is a fabrication.”
“Firstly, the disciples were fearful—after He was arrested, they all fled. Secondly, if they had wanted to steal the body, they would have done it the first night, from Friday to Saturday. But it was precisely on Saturday, during the day, that the scribes and Pharisees went to Pilate and requested that guards be placed to watch the tomb.”
“Thirdly, if the body had been taken, it would have been taken along with the burial linens. Yet the Myrrh-bearing women, Peter, and John saw the linen cloth and the napkin that had been wrapped around Christ’s head, folded and laid aside. It is known that removing burial cloths was very difficult because the body had been anointed with aloe and myrrh, which adhered strongly to the linen and penetrated the fabric.”
Let Us Share the Joy of the Resurrection
In the final part of his sermon, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel urged the faithful to share the joy of the Resurrection with those around them, especially those who are suffering:
“The feast of Christ’s Resurrection calls all of us to receive in our hearts, through prayer and good deeds, the peace and joy of Christ, and to share them during these days with those around us—especially with the suffering and the lonely, the grieving, and those afflicted by troubles, illnesses, and addictions, particularly drug use, which has become a great danger to human life.”
“On the occasion of Holy Pascha, we wish you all health and happiness, peace and joy, and much help from God in every good and useful deed for your family, for society, and for the Romanian people. We extend these well-wishes to all Christians, for this year, 2025, the Feast of Pascha is celebrated by the entire Christian world on the same date: April 20,” concluded His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel.
Photo: Basilica.ro / Mircea Florescu
