EASTER SERMON OF JOHN CHRYSOSTOM

The Easter Sermon of St. John Chrysostom
Bishop of Constantinople
349-407 AD

WHOEVER IS DEVOUT
AND A LOVER OF GOD,
COME, ENJOY THIS BEAUTIFUL
AND RADIANT FEAST OF FEASTS.

WHOEVER IS A GOOD
AND FAITHFUL SERVANT,
REJOICE,
AND ENTER INTO THE JOY OF YOUR LORD.

WHOEVER IS WEARY OF FASTING,
RECEIVE NOW YOUR RECOMPENSE.

ALL WHO HAVE LABORED
FROM THE FIRST HOUR,
LET THEM TODAY
RE­CEIVE THEIR JUST REWARD.

THOSE WHO HAVE COME
AT THE THIRD HOUR,
WITH THANKSGIVING
LET THEM KEEP THE FEAST.

THOSE WHO HAVE ARRIVED
AT THE SIXTH HOUR,
LET THEM HAVE NO MISGIVINGS;
FOR THEY SHALL SUFFER NO LOSS.

THOSE WHO HAVE DELAYED
UNTIL THE NINTH HOUR,
LET THEM DRAW NEAR
WITHOUT HESITATION.

THOSE WHO HAVE ARRIVED
EVEN AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR,
LET THEM NOT FEAR
ON ACCOUNT OF THEIR DELAY

.

FOR THE LORD IS GRACIOUS,
AND RECEIVES THE LAST
EVEN AS THE FIRST;

GOD GIVES REST
TO THE ONE
WHO COMES
AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR,
JUST AS TO THE ONE
WHO HAS LABORED
FROM THE FIRST;

TO THE ONE
GOD IS JUST,
AND TO THE OTHER,
GOD IS GRACIOUS.

GOD BOTH HONORS
THE WORK
AND PRAISES
THE INTENTION.

ENTER,
ALL OF YOU,
THEREFORE,
INTO THE JOY OF OUR LORD,

AND
WHETHER FIRST
OR LAST,
RECEIVE YOUR REWARD.

0 RICH AND POOR,
ONE WITH ANOTHER,
DANCE FOR JOY!

0 YOU ZEALOUS
AND YOU NEGLIGENT,
CELE­BRATE THE DAY!

YOU THAT HAVE FASTED
AND YOU
THAT HAVE DISRE­GARDED THE FAST,
REJOICE TODAY!

THE TABLE IS RICH-LADEN,
FEAST ROYALLY,
ALL OF YOU!

THE CALF IS FATTED,
LET NO ONE GO FORTH HUNGRY!

LET ALL
PARTAKE OF THE FEAST
OF FAITH.

LET ALL
RECEIVE
THE RICHES OF GOODNESS.


LET NONE LAMENT
THEIR POVERTY,
FOR THE UNIVERSAL KINGDOM
HAS BEEN REVEALED.

LET NONE MOURN
THEIR TRANSGRESSIONS,
FOR PARDON HAS DAWNED
FROM THE TOMB!

LET NO ONE FEAR DEATH,
FOR THE SAVIOR'S DEATH
HAS DAWNED FROM THE TOMB!

JESUS, WHO WAS TAKEN BY DEATH,
HAS ANNIHILATED IT!
JESUS DESCENDED INTO HELL,
AND TOOK HELL CAPTIVE!
JESUS EMBITTERED HELL
WHEN IT TASTED HIS FLESH!

AND ANTICIPATING THIS,
ISAIAH EXCLAIMED, "
HELL WAS EMBITTERED
WHEN IT ENCOUNTERED YOU
IN THE LOWER REGIONS."

HELL WAS EMBITTERED,
FOR IT WAS ABOLISHED!
HELL WAS EMBITTERED,
FOR IT WAS MOCKED!
HELL WAS EMBITTERED,
FOR IT WAS PURGED!
HELL WAS EMBITTERED,
FOR IT WAS DESPOILED!!
HELL WAS EMBITTERED,
FOR IT WAS BOUND IN CHAINS'!!

HELL LAID HOLD OF A MORTAL BODY,
AND FOUND
THAT IT HAD SEIZED GOD!

HELL LAID HOLD OF EARTH,
BUT CONFRONTED HEAVEN!!
HELL SEIZED WHAT IT SAW,
BUT CRUMBLED
BEFORE WHAT IT HAD NOT SEEN!!!

"0 DEATH,
WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY?
0 HELL,
WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY?"

CHRIST IS RISEN,
AND HELL IS OVERTHROWN!
CHRIST IS RISEN,
AND THE DEMONS ARE FALLEN!

CHRIST IS RISEN,
AND THE ANGELS REJOICE..
CHRIST IS RISEN,
AND LIFE REIGNS!!!
CHRIST IS RISEN - -
AND NOT ONE DEAD REMAINS IN THE TOMB!!!

FOR CHRIST
BEING RAISED FROM THE DEAD,
HAS BECOME
THE FIRST FRUITS
OF THEM THAT SLEPT.

TO HIM BE GLORY
AND DOMINION
THROUGH THE AGES OF AGES!
C. AMEN.
P. CHRIST IS RISEN!
C. HE IS RISEN INDEED!
P. CHRIST IS RISEN!!
C. HE IS RISEN INDEED!!
P. CHRIST IS RISEN!!!
C. HE IS RISEN INDEED!!!