Christ is risen! Indeed He is risen!

This week after Pascha is called both Bright Week and The Eighth Day. Here is the explanation for that:

“When God created the universe, He rested on the 7th day, the Sabbath (Saturday). But, when Jesus rose from the grave, it was on the day after the Sabbath (the day after the 7th). Therefore, Jesus rose from the grave on the 8th day, He became the first-fruits of the new creation, the one unified with God, as the joyful sign and promise of the everlasting “Bright Week” in paradise…a never-ending week of brightness. The entire Bright Week is considered to be one continuous day.”

The photo above shows the altar doors as they are now, open all week, with the ceremonial artos bread that stays in that spot throughout this extended (8th) Day. On Thomas Sunday, the week after Pascha, we slice it up and pass it around to all the parishioners. It’s a very special recipe with lots of flavors and ingredients that keep it quite moist all week.

As with Holy Week, it seems like the best thing would be to just Be in Church for the seven days whole Day, but of course no one can do that. We must bask in the glow of Pascha wherever we are, and let His brightness shine out. Glory to God!