Today, Hades Groans
Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth…you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death. But God raised Him up, having loosed the pangs of death, because it was not possible for Him to be held by it.
Jason Caros | May 8, 2024
The verses above appear in one of the readings for Wednesday of Bright Week, Acts 2:22-38. Here, Saint Luke emphasizes that The Lord Jesus Christ was wrongfully arrested and crucified, but also he says something more significant, something triumphant and salvific! These verses serve as a reminder about one of the great themes of Pascha—Our Lord and Savior’s victory over "death."
Orthodox services on Holy Friday and Holy Saturday are the most anticipated and attended services of the year. On these evenings, Christian Orthodox remember the funeral and resurrection of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, respectively. In between these moving services, however, is another that is less attended and less understood, but no less important. It is the vesperal liturgy of Holy Saturday morning, one of the best-kept secrets of Holy Week.
During this liturgical celebration, the focus is The Lord Jesus Christ’s victory over death (important indeed). In fact, this service is called the Proti Anastasi, or first resurrection. The following hymns (stichera) from the service provide a window into the observance (click here to listen to a sound file with a recording of Father Vasile and chanters from St. John Baptist in Euless, TX, chanting the hymns. I recorded them with my phone during the service, so excuse the recording quality. In person, the chanting was more audible and beautiful. Note: a verse is chanted before each sticheron, and part-way through you'll hear the sound of the deacon censing):
--Today, Hades groans and cries out, "It would have been better for me if I had not received the One born of Mary; for when He came here, He destroyed my power. He shattered the gates of brass; and, as God, He resurrected the souls, which I held captive for ages." Glory to Your Cross and Your Resurrection, O Lord! (chanted twice)
--Today, Hades groans and cries out, "My authority has been destroyed. I took One who died, as though He were mortal, but I am powerless to contain Him. Along with Him I lose all those, over whom I had ruled. I had held the dead from all ages, but behold, He raises them all." Glory to Your Cross and Your Resurrection, O Lord!
--Today, Hades groans and cries out, "My power has been swallowed up; the Shepherd has been crucified; and He raised Adam. I have been deprived of those, over whom I ruled; and I have thrown up all those, whom I had swallowed when I was strong. He who was crucified has emptied the tombs. The power of death is no longer in force." Glory to Your Cross and Your Resurrection, O Lord!
Speaking of windows, the image below is a replica of one of the gems of 14th century Orthodox iconography. It speaks directly to the theme of Holy Saturday morning and the hymns quoted above. The icon is named “The Resurrection,” but is actually a symbolic depiction of Our Lord and Savior’s work in Hades, the place of the dead (not to be confused with Hell). For this reason, the icon is also known as “The Descent into Hades.” Christ, Who is clothed in shining white garments, stands victorious on the bronze gates of Hades, which He has broken down. Death, personified, is defeated and chained beneath Christ’s feet recalling the words of Saint Paul: “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:55).
In this demolishing of Hades, the Lord is depicted pulling Adam and Eve from their tombs (it is important to note how He is pulling them out by their wrists, for man cannot not free himself from sin, only Christ saves). Directly to the right of Jesus stands John the Baptizer, known as “The Forerunner,” because he prepared the way for Christ. In this depiction we see how John not only prepared the way for Christ on earth but also prepared the way for Christ in Hades. Next to John stand some of the Old Testament Kings of Israel such as David and Solomon. On Christ’s left we have the righteous Abel (the son of Adam slain by Cain) and a depiction of Moses and others representing the law and the prophets.
It is through The Precious and Life Giving Cross that The Lord Jesus Christ took our sin upon Himself and defeated death, bestowing life to those in the tombs, as the ancient Paschal hymn proclaims, and He arose victoriously on the third day!
The theme of the Holy Saturday morning service, expressed beautifully in the hymns above and in others, provides an essential link between two commemorations—Our Lord’s sacrificial death on the Cross and His glorious Resurrection on the third day. Here we celebrate the Proti Anastasi. Today, Hades Groans!
