Carolina Chronicles

Today He who hung the earth upon the waters is hung upon the Cross.
Today He who hung the earth upon the waters is hung upon the Cross.
Today He who hung the earth upon the waters is hung upon the Cross.
He who is King of the angels is arrayed in a crown of thorns.
He who wraps the heaven in clouds is wrapped in the purple of mockery.
He who in Jordan set Adam free receives blows upon his face.
The bridegroom of the Church is pierced with a spear.
We venerate Thy Passion, O Christ.
We venerate Thy Passion, O Christ.
We venerate Thy Passion, O Christ.
Show us also Thy glorious Resurrection.

13th century icon of the Crucifixion from St. Catherine's Monastery on Sinai.

Incense hung in the air tonight, as the lights were put out, the kneeling faithful held single glowing candles to combat the darkness, and the cross was carried around the room. I began to cry as the image of Christ's passion was made present. Then Christ was hung aloft on the cross before the altar -- the final, perfect sacrifice, and we came to present our candles and gifts of flowers while the chanters sang of Christ's suffering. We bowed our bodies before him, the living God, who, by his voluntary death, has robbed death of its victory and the grave of its sting, loosed the captives, freed us from sin and restored all of creation.



This is a video from another Greek Orthodox parish last year. The moment I speak of begins at 1 hour 30 minutes in the video, which can be reached by moving the slider at the bottom of the player. In this video, much of the chanting is in Greek, but the chanting beginning at that point is the text that begins this post.