From
Here to Eternity
by Commander Chev. Dr. C. A. Ninan
The scientific name of man is Homo sapiens. This means 'man who tastes
death'. Death in fact was alien to man in creation. The first man was created deathless and God's purpose in creation of man was to raise him to heaven for enjoinment with the angels. The first man failed in his mission and this failure made him liable to death and decay. Man who lived in Eden as a living soul, thus enveloped himself in fig leaves which indicates the sinful state of life in the psyche. God cursed man and the whole earth along with the woman and the serpent. All of them fell to gross life on earth with thorns and thistles. God clothed man with coats of skin for life in flesh. This is the outcome of original sin
(sin in the soul state) by which man was shorn of the robe of glory and started life in the sinful body liable to corruption. The consequence of death in this state is the further 'fall' of the human soul to sheol where Satan reigns supreme. The whole of mankind from Adam thus came under satanic yoke due to the sin of one man and this yoke was removed once for all by the Son of God who became man, died like a man and rose like God from among the dead. His Godhood and manhood combined in what is called indivisible unity. The son of God assumed this unique state through his physical birth in which took flesh from a virgin. This virgin thus became the mother of the word of God or 'Mother of God'. The word of God lived in flesh like a man without sin and acted like God. He made wine out of water to reveal that he is a creator and raised a dead to reveal the victory he has won over death and Satan. He thus revealed that he is also resurrection and the one God who resurrects the dead and delivers the dead from Sheol to restore man's original glory in Paradise where Adam lived as king, high priest and prophet with ability to see the whole creation down the earth.
The theme of Easter is the theme of resurrection. And its symbol is the Latin Cross which is 'a very special symbol of
Christ'. This is the Cross used by the Syrian Orthodox Church in its observances for the Passion Week and other days of importance. The Cross, on which Christ was crucified, gave life to a dead man by mere touch as seen in the liturgy for Friday of the SOC. This is why the Church acclaims the Cross as
'living and life giving'. The Cross indicates the presence of Christ when signed or raised in blessing.
From the Cross of Calvary, Christ descended in soul to Sheol to battle with Satan, fought the battle, defeated Satan and destroyed all his palaces and fortress' and delivered all Adamites from Satanic yoke. He thus made the gate of Sheol, the eternal stepping stone to Paradise. It is to offer this freedom to all mankind that the word of God descended from heaven, incarnated in flesh, died, entombed and resurrected. Towards this salvatory end, Christ offered himself a sacrifice to His Father. The theme of this sacrifice is also the theme of our salvation. Without sacrifice, there is no deliverance from Satan. The central theme and central act of worship of our Church is this sacrifice which is also called as Holy Eucharist. Infact, the Eucharist is an abbreviated re-enactment of Christ's entire salvatory act. Through this the Christian reciprocates God's love for mankind. Before His crucifixion Christ instituted the Sacrament of Eucharist using leavened bread and wine (mixed with water) instead of the unleavened bread of the Passover and the blood of sacrificial animals. Christ commanded his disciples to do accordingly till his second coming. It is in obeyance of this divine command that the Church celebrates the mystery of the Bread and Wine even to this day. This is why Christ taught that he lives in those who partake of these mysteries as they live in him. These mysteries are indeed tremendous to those who know what Christ really taught through the institution of Eucharist as His own body and blood. These are unavoidable for remission of sins in both worlds and for eternal life via resurrection in and through Christ. Easter is annual reminder of this great message of eternal life assured by the Church, otherwise called salvation. The resurrection of Christ converts 'Homo sapiens' to 'Homo
resurrectans' (man who resurrects).
