15- THE MYRRH-BEARING WOMEN
Christ is Risen is the witness of the Church to the world.
The discovery of the empty tomb by the Myrrh-bearing Women
was the first sign of the Resurrection. These women were
present when Joseph of Arimathea placed the lifeless body
of Jesus in the grave. They watched him roll the large
stone over the mouth of the cave in which Jesus was buried.
Early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they
brought spices to anoint the body of Jesus. As they
approached the grave, it occurred to them that the large
stone would have to be rolled back if they wanted to enter
the grave. As they were discussing this, they came to the
grave and saw the stone rolled back. They entered the tomb
and found an Angel seated there. They were afraid, but the
Angel said to them, "Do not be frightened. I know you are
looking for Jesus the Crucified, but He is not here. He
has been raised, exactly as He promised. Come and see the
place where He was laid. Then go quickly and tell His
Disciples." (Mt. 28: 5-6)
Our Church remembers these holy women on the second Sunday
after Easter. The Icon of the Myrrh-bearing Women witnesses
the Resurrection of Christ as it follows the Gospel
account. The cave represents the burial place, originally
belonging to Joseph of Arimathea. Now there only remains
the empty sepulchre and linen cloth. The faithful women
stand by it as the Angel of the Lord tells them, "He has
been raised."
Unlike Lazarus, who was called from his grave when the
stone was rolled back, Christ was not called forth from
His tomb. The Angel moved the stone to show that He was
no longer there. He has risen! The image is sung over and
over in the Resurrectional verse:
The Myrrh-bearing Women arrived just before the dawn at
the tomb of the Giver of Life and found an Angel seated
on the stone who spoke these words to them: "Why do you
seek the living among the dead? Why do you mourn the
Incorruptible among those subject to decay? Go, announce
the good news to His Disciples."
The message of the Icon of the Myrrh-bearing Women touches
us. Christ is not in the tomb. He is risen!
TROPARION -The Angel stood by the tomb and cried out to
the women bringing ointment: "Ointments are for the dead,
but Christ has shown Himself not subject to corruption;
so now cry out: 'The Lord is risen, bestowing great mercy
upon the world."
