Easter: the feast of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Supplementing each other the Gospels convey the miracle of Christ‘s resurrection (Matthew 28:18, Mark 16:1-10, Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-10). The oil bearing women went to the tomb to anoint Jesus with sweet spices and they said among themselves: “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?” (Mark 16:3). But the great stone had been rolled back. The entrance to the tomb was open and the tomb was empty. Two men stood by them in shining garments and they said to them: “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen” (Luke 24:5). Jesus had risen from the dead. The women came to the disciples and spread the good news of the resurrection. Christ’s Resurrection became the basis and teaching of the Christian faith. “If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and your faith has been in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:13-14) states Apostle Paul.
The feast of the Resurrection begins with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy of Candlemas and turns into general solemnity on Sunday during the Easter Divine Liturgy. Jesus defeated death by His death for our salvation. On Easter hearing the good news of Resurrection “Christ has risen from the dead” we answer: “Blessed is the Resurrection of Christ”.
On Easter Sunday, April 21, 2019 His Grace Bishop Abgar Hovakimian , Primate of the Armenian Church Canadian Diocese celebrated Divine Liturgy assisted by The Rev. Archpriest Fr. Zareh Zargarian, Vicar of the Armenian Church Diocese of Canada and Parish Priest of Holy Trinity Armenian Church of Toronto. Accompanying the Liturgy were the Deacons, Sub Deacons and the Choir led by Mr. Shahe Altounian.
