Easter 2026
Having learned the joyful message of the Resurrection from the angel, the women disciples boldly proclaimed the good news to the apostles: “Death has been despoiled. Christ God is risen, granting the world great mercy.” — Resurrection Troparion Mary Magdalene went to the tomb. She had been there the evening before, standing at the foot of the cross with Mary, the mother of Jesus, and the disciple John. Others had remained at a distance, fearful and hesitant to be identified as followers of this Galilean preacher. But Mary was there as Jesus died. She witnessed his body taken down and laid in the hastily prepared tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. Having followed him throughout much of his public ministry, she now came, undoubtedly devastated, to grieve the loss of her friend. When she arrived, she found the tomb empty—his burial shroud lying folded in the place where his body had been. Fearing the worst, that the body of this charismatic yet controversial figure had been stolen, she r...
