Today, Hades Groans
Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth…you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death. But God raised Him up, having loosed the pangs of death, because it was not possible for Him to be held by it.
Jason Caros | May 8, 2024
The verses above appear in one of the readings for Wednesday of Bright Week, Acts 2:22-38. Here, Saint Luke emphasizes that The Lord Jesus Christ was wrongfully arrested and crucified, but also he says something more significant, something triumphant and salvific! These verses serve as a reminder about one of the great themes of Pascha—Our Lord and Savior’s victory over "death."
Orthodox services on Holy Friday and Holy Saturday are the most anticipated and attended services of the year. On these evenings, Christian Orthodox remember the funeral and resurrection of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, respectively. In between these moving services, however, is another that is less attended and less understood, but no less important. It is the vesperal liturgy of Holy Saturday morning, one of the best-kept secrets of Holy Week.
During this liturgical celebration, the focus is The Lord Jesus Christ’s victory over death (important indeed). In fact, this service is called the Proti Anastasi, or first resurrection. The following hymns (stichera) from the service provide a window into the observance (click here to listen to a sound file with a recording of Father Vasile and chanters from St. John Baptist in Euless, TX, chanting the hymns. I recorded them with my phone during the service, so excuse the recording quality. In person, the chanting was more audible and beautiful. Note: a verse is chanted before each sticheron, and part-way through you'll hear the sound of the deacon censing):
--Today, Hades groans and cries out, "It would have been better for me if I had not received the One born of Mary; for when He came here, He destroyed my power. He shattered the gates of brass; and, as God, He resurrected the souls, which I held captive for ages." Glory to Your Cross and Your Resurrection, O Lord! (chanted twice)
--Today, Hades groans and cries out, "My authority has been destroyed. I took One who died, as though He were mortal, but I am powerless to contain Him. Along with Him I lose all those, over whom I had ruled. I had held the dead from all ages, but behold, He raises them all." Glory to Your Cross and Your Resurrection, O Lord!
--Today, Hades groans and cries out, "My power has been swallowed up; the Shepherd has been crucified; and He raised Adam. I have been deprived of those, over whom I ruled; and I have thrown up all those, whom I had swallowed when I was strong. He who was crucified has emptied the tombs. The power of death is no longer in force." Glory to Your Cross and Your Resurrection, O Lord!
Speaking of windows, the image below is a replica of one of the gems of 14th century Orthodox iconography. It speaks directly to the theme of Holy Saturday morning and the hymns quoted above. The icon is named “The Resurrection,” but is actually a symbolic depiction of Our Lord and Savior’s work in Hades, the place of the dead (not to be confused with Hell). For this reason, the icon is also known as “The Descent into Hades.” Christ, Who is clothed in shining white garments, stands victorious on the bronze gates of Hades, which He has broken down. Death, personified, is defeated and chained beneath Christ’s feet recalling the words of Saint Paul: “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:55).
In this demolishing of Hades, the Lord is depicted pulling Adam and Eve from their tombs (it is important to note how He is pulling them out by their wrists, for man cannot not free himself from sin, only Christ saves). Directly to the right of Jesus stands John the Baptizer, known as “The Forerunner,” because he prepared the way for Christ. In this depiction we see how John not only prepared the way for Christ on earth but also prepared the way for Christ in Hades. Next to John stand some of the Old Testament Kings of Israel such as David and Solomon. On Christ’s left we have the righteous Abel (the son of Adam slain by Cain) and a depiction of Moses and others representing the law and the prophets.
It is through The Precious and Life Giving Cross that The Lord Jesus Christ took our sin upon Himself and defeated death, bestowing life to those in the tombs, as the ancient Paschal hymn proclaims, and He arose victoriously on the third day!
The theme of the Holy Saturday morning service, expressed beautifully in the hymns above and in others, provides an essential link between two commemorations—Our Lord’s sacrificial death on the Cross and His glorious Resurrection on the third day. Here we celebrate the Proti Anastasi. Today, Hades Groans!
**Scriptural connections to the Descent into Hades: Acts 2:27, 1 Peter 3:18-19 & 4:6, Ephesians 4:8-10, 1 Corinthians 15:20
The following is from the 4th century Paschal Sermon of Saint John Chrysostom, customarily given on Holy Saturday evening/Sunday early morning Resurrection service. Notice how Chrysostom described The Lord’s decent into Hades and emphasized His complete victory over death:
“If anyone is devout and a lover of God, let them enjoy this beautiful and radiant festival.
If anyone is a grateful servant, let them, rejoicing, enter into the joy of his Lord.
If anyone has wearied themselves in fasting, let them now receive recompense.
If anyone has labored from the first hour, let them today receive the just reward.
If anyone has come at the third hour, with thanksgiving let them feast.
If anyone has arrived at the sixth hour, let them have no misgivings; for they shall suffer no loss.
If anyone has delayed until the ninth hour, let them draw near without hesitation.
If anyone has arrived even at the eleventh hour, let them not fear on account of tardiness.
For the Master is gracious and receives the last even as the first; he gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour, just as to him who has labored from the first.
He has mercy upon the last and cares for the first; to the one he gives, and to the other he is gracious.
He both honors the work and praises the intention.
Enter all of you, therefore, into the joy of our Lord, and, whether first or last, receive your reward.
O rich and poor, one with another, dance for joy!
O you ascetics and you negligent, celebrate the day!
You that have fasted and you that have disregarded the fast, rejoice today!
The table is rich-laden; feast royally, all of you!
The calf is fatted; let no one go forth hungry!
Let all partake of the feast of faith. Let all receive the riches of goodness.
Let no one lament their poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed.
Let no one mourn their transgressions, for pardon has dawned from the grave.
Let no one fear death, for the Savior's death has set us free.
He that was taken by death has annihilated it!
He descended into Hades and took Hades captive!
He embittered it when it tasted his flesh! And anticipating this Isaiah exclaimed: "Hades was embittered when it encountered thee in the lower regions".
It was embittered, for it was abolished!
It was embittered, for it was mocked!
It was embittered, for it was purged!
It was embittered, for it was despoiled!
It was embittered, for it was bound in chains!
It took a body and came upon God!
It took earth and encountered heaven!
It took what it saw but crumbled before what it had not seen!
O death, where is thy sting? O Hades, where is thy victory?
Christ is risen, and you are overthrown!
Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen!
Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice!
Christ is risen, and life reigns!
Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in a tomb!
For Christ, being raised from the dead, has become the first-fruits of them that slept.
To him be glory and might unto ages of ages. Amen.”
Glory be to Christ, The Resurrection and The Life!
-Jason Caros is a husband, father and classical school headmaster. He is a cradle Orthodox Christian who taught classes on Orthodox theology, worship and spirituality to high school students and adults at his former parish in Orlando, Florida.