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The community of Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Shrine Church in Flushing, New York welcomed His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America on the afternoon of Friday, April 10, for the Great Vespers of Holy Friday, the Service of the Apokathelosis–the Taking Down of the Holy Body of our Lord Jesus Christ from the Cross. Celebrating alongside His Eminence were Proistamenos Fr. Aristidis Garinis, Fr. Alexandros Douvres, and Fr. Paul Palesty.
In his homily, the Archbishop described the small circle of those who remained at the Cross after the crowds had dispersed—the grief-stricken Panagia, the women led by Mary Magdalene, Nikodemos, and Joseph of Arimathea, the hidden disciple who begged Pilate for the Body of the Lord. To enter the Roman Praetorium on Passover, His Eminence noted, was considered a sacrilegious defilement, but Joseph went in anyway.
“What could drive him and the others — the grief-stricken Panagia, the Women led by Mary Magdalene, and Nikodemos, who stepped out of the darkness of night and into the waning day?” Archbishop Elpidophoros asked. “Nothing, nothing but love.”
“Whatever filled the hearts and minds of those few who were privileged to take the Lord down from the Cross, and to wrap him lovingly in preparation for His Burial–as we chant … σινδὀνι καθαρᾷ εἰλήσας καὶ άρώμασιν, we know that their love conquered their fear, because perfect love casts out fear,” His Eminence continued.
“Let us emulate their courage and their love tonight, and every night,” Archbishop Elpidophoros said. “We have received a great grace to witness the mystery of our Lord’s death and burial. But we also know, that as certain as the day follows the night, we shall all witness His glorious Rising on the Third Day.”
> Read His Eminence’s full homily here
On Great and Holy Friday the Orthodox Church commemorates the Crucifixion, Death, and burial of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Vespers of Holy Friday, known as the Apokathelosis, marks the taking down of the Body of Christ from the Cross and His preparation for burial. The service calls the faithful to stand alongside Joseph of Arimathea, the Myrrh-bearing Women, and the Theotokos herself, in an act of loving devotion to the Lord Who gave His life for the salvation of the world.
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