12- Holy SHROUD
		
		
		The death of the Savior was for us men and for our 
		salvation. The Holy Shroud places us at the event of 
		Christ's death and burial. Through the Holy Shroud we 
		enter into the Gospel witness. 
		
		
		In the Gospel of John (19: 38-42) we read of Joseph, a 
		noble and rich man of the city of Arimathea, and 
		Nicodemus, a leader among the Pharisees. After the death 
		of Christ, they had the courage to claim His body and 
		place it in Joseph's own tomb, newly hewn out of the rock.
		 
		
		This event of our salvation is expressed iconographically 
		in the Holy Shroud. The Shroud is a winding sheet with the
		image of Christ's body lying dead in the tomb. Surrounding
		the image are the words of the Troparion: "The noble 
		Joseph took down from the cross Your most pure body. 
		Anointing it with spices, he wrapped it in pure linen, 
		and placed it in a new tomb." The figures on the shroud 
		present a great insight into this event of our salvation. 
		The face of Christ bears no bitterness, but rather 
		expresses a feeling of total inner peacefulness and 
		tranquility. The Virgin Mother of God embraces the body 
		of her Son with extreme tenderness. This is her moment of 
		utter grief, yet it is one of acceptance. St. John the 
		Evangelist bows over the body of Christ, as Joseph of 
		Arimathea and Nicodemus begin to place the body into the 
		winding sheet. In the corners of the shroud are placed 
		the icons of the Four Evangelists who witness this divine 
		mystery in their Gospels. Some icons also show the Mother 
		of God being comforted by Mary, wife of Cleopas, and Mary 
		Magdalen. 
		
		
		The Church celebrates this solemn event in the Vespers of 
		Great and Holy Friday. 
		
		
		When the Arimathean lifted You, lifeless, from the cross, 
		O Lord of Life, he anointed You, O Christ, with myrrh and 
		wrapped You in a shroud; and he was moved by heart-felt 
		love to kiss Your body not subject to decay, but was 
		restrained by fear, and rejoicing, he cried out to You: 
		"Glory to Your condescension, O Lover of Mankind!" 
		
		
		On Great Friday, at the evening service, the priest and 
		people go in procession carrying the Shroud as if in 
		funeral cortege. The Shroud is placed in the tomb and 
		venerated. Christ has encountered death and we await the 
		announcement, at the Resurrection Matins, of His victory 
		over death. 
		
		
		TROPARION -The noble Joseph took down from the cross Your 
		most pure body. Anointing it with spices, he wrapped it 
		in pure linen, and placed it in a new tomb.

		Today, I am a child again
		
		
		Before we were indoctrinated to the rules of the world, 
		with all its do's and don'ts, we were actually very 
		receptive. We were willing to try new things, go into 
		forbidden places and take risks without hesitation. We did 
		not believe in unhappiness, defeat, rejection or lack. We 
		asked for what we wanted and were willing to demand that 
		it be provided. We thought the world existed to respond to 
		our needs. It might do us well to revert back to the ways 
		of childhood if we want to bring some good into our lives.
		It's not the temper tantrums or childish outbursts we want.
		It is the openness and freedom from limitation we need. We 
		have been taught to accept fear, lack, sorrow and 
		restriction as a part of everyday life. We are afraid to 
		make demands of life because we believe we can't have what.
		We not longer feel free to express what we feel, when we 
		feel it. Now, we want to be everyone's friend. If only we 
		could think like a child again, there's a good chance we 
		would find the freedom we gave up to become adults.
		
		
		There's absolutely no way to save people from the things 
		in their eyes. They must gather the courage to do it for 
		themselves.
		

Home