Harrowing of Hades
"Now filled are the depths of the terror of death/By the One who gave life with holy breath"
Christ is Risen!
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As we continue to live in the light of the Resurrection of Christ, I have been reflecting, more than usual during this season, on what it means that Christ has defeated death.
I find it to be of great comfort that Christ not only walks with us through the valley of the shadow of death, as He Himself walked, but He meets us there as King and Victor.
Here’s a beautiful excerpt from one of the prayers offered during the Liturgy of St. Basil:
“Descending through the cross into Sheol — that He might fill all things with Himself — He loosed the pangs of death. He arose on the third day, having made for all flesh a path to the resurrection from the dead, since it was not possible for the Author of Life to be a victim of corruption. So He became the first—fruits of those who have fallen asleep, the first-born of the dead, that He might be Himself truly the first in all things . . .“
-Eucharistic Prayer of the Liturgy of St Basil1
Christ has freed the captives held by death but rather than leaving it empty, He has filled it with Himself.
In today’s poem, I reflect on some of this imagery and the wonderous reality of Christ’s trampling of death and glorious Resurrection!
Before I go, I wanted to share that Goodnight, Child of God is currently 20% off through the Ancient Faith Store!2
With gratitude,
Drew Chancey
p.s. You can read last year’s poem on a similar theme available to all readers here:
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