Holy Week Begins

In Eastern Christianity, Holy Week starts today with 'Lazarus Saturday'.  From the Byzantine Catholic Church in America:

Lazarus Saturday
Great and Holy Week
It is the voice of the Lord, the proclamation of the King – an authoritative command.

Come out! Leave corruption behind and receive the flesh of incorruption.

Lazarus, Come out! Let them know that the time has come when those in the tombs will hear the voice of the Son of man. Once they have heard they will come alive.

Come out! The stumbling block is taken away. Come to me – I am calling you.

Come out! Covered with the burial cloth so that they won’t think you were only pretending to be dead. Let them see your hands and feet bound and your face covered. Let them see if they still do not believe the miracle.

Come out! Let the stench of your body prove the resurrection. Let the burial linen be undone so that they can recognize the one who was put in the tomb.

Come out! Come alive and be alive! Come out of the tomb. Teach them how all creation will be enlivened in a moment when the trumpet’s voice proclaims the resurrection of the dead.

Come out! Leave behind the burial cloth and glorify the miracle. Leave the revolting stench of death and proclaim the strength of my power.

Come out! I, who said, “Let there be light, let there be firmament.”

St. Andrew of Crete, Homily 8 on Lazarus

Scripture

• Divine Liturgy - Hebrews 12:28-13:8, John 11:1-45

The icon is a detail of the raising of Lazarus (cf: John 11:1-45). Lazarus Saturday begins Great and Holy Week. We journey to the Cross so that we may partake of the Resurrection.