Orthodox Research Institute

Morning Meditations 2002
by V. Rev. Steven Kostoff
Christ the Savior/Holy Spirit Orthodox Church, Cincinnati, Ohio

Wednesday, May 29

Dear Fathers, Parish Faithful & Friends in Christ,

CHRIST IS RISEN! INDEED HE IS RISEN!

I just finished serving the Liturgy for the commemoration known as the MIDFEAST OF PENTECOST. (At this Liturgy we literally put into effect the words of Christ, "Wherever two or three are gathered in my Name...") The hymnography of the Feast expresses its meaning nicely:

The middle of the fifty days has come, beginning with the Savior's resurrection, and sealed by the Holy Pentecost. The first and the last glisten with splendor. We rejoice in the union of both feasts, as we draw near to the Lord's Ascension: the sign of our coming glorification.

The hymns tells us that Pascha ("the first") and Pentecost ("the last") "glisten with splendor." What a wonderful phrase! In our lives today or in the world around us do we experience anything that we can honestly say "glistens with splendor?" This phrase may even sound archaic to our ears. Nowadays, some event or other may be "interesting," "neat," "cool," or, of course, it may receive the highest of all possible praise when it is said to be "fun" (I have even heard Pascha described as "fun!"). But "glisten with splendor!?" Yet further, do either of these Feasts "glisten with splendor" for us today? Do we recall the Paschal Feast of (only!) twenty-five days ago when, indeed, the Church - and we ourselves - truly "glistened with splendor?" Do we anticipate the Feast of Pentecost which is only twenty-five days ahead of us when the Church will again "glisten with splendor" at the descent of the Holy Spirit? Perhaps only if we "perceive ... the Mystery of Christ" (EPH. 34) in our ecclesial assemblies, as the following hymn for the Midfeast declares:

We have assembled, O Christ, to praise the miracle of your Mysteries: the Midfeast of your Resurrection and the coming of your Holy Spirit. Send down on us great mercy!

"Mystery" or the "miracle of your Mysteries" means that "something" directly coming from God is being disclosed to us for our salvation and eventual glorification. This is Christ Himself. The resurrected and glorified Christ "glistens with splendor" as do the souls of those who believe in Him as "Lord and God" and who rejoice in His presence.

Fr. Steven