Patristic Wisdom for Easter

Maxim Dergachev, The Holy Myrrh-bearing Women at the Tomb of the Risen Christ

Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ ” And they remembered His words. Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles. And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them. But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened. (Luke 24:1–12)

THE women came to the sepulcher, and when they could not find the body of Christ,—for He had risen,—they were much perplexed. And what followed? For their love’s sake unto Christ, and their earnest zeal thereunto, they were counted worthy of seeing holy angels, who even told them the joyful tidings, and became the heralds of the resurrection, saying, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen.” For the Word of God ever lives, and is by His own nature Life: but when He humbled Himself unto emptying, and submitted to be made like unto us, He tasted death. But this proved to be the death of death: for He arose from the dead, to be the way whereby not Himself so much but we rather return unto incorruption. And let no one seek Him Who ever lives among the dead; for He is not here, with mortality, that is, and in the tomb: but where rather is He? in heaven plainly, and in godlike glory. And more firmly to settle the faith of the women in these things, they recall to their minds what Christ had said, that “He must necessarily be given up into the hands of sinners, and suffer, and the third day rise again.”

Angels too brought the joyful tidings of the nativity to the shepherds in Bethlehem, and now they tell His resurrection: and heaven yields its service to proclaim Him, and the hosts of the spirits which are above attend the Son as God, even when He had become flesh.

Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on Luke 24

Let us believe in Christ crucified, but let us also believe in Him who rose again on the third day. This is the faith which distinguishes us from others, from pagans and from Jews; namely, the faith by which we believe that Christ rose again from the dead. The Apostle said to Timothy: “Remember that Jesus Christ rose from the dead and was descended from David; this is my gospel.” …

Behold, I have told you that the faith which marks us off from pagans is that by which we believe that Christ Jesus rose from the dead. Ask any pagan whether Christ was crucified: he declares emphatically: “Certainly, He was.” Then ask whether He rose again; he denies it. Ask any Jew whether Christ was crucified; he acknowledges the sin of his ancestors, in which he, too, shares for he drinks the cup which those ancestors passed down to him with the words: “His blood be on us and on our children.” But ask the Jew whether Christ rose again from the dead; he will deny it, ridicule it, and accuse you. Thus we are separated. We believe that Christ, born of the seed of David according to the flesh, rose from the dead. Were the demons unaware of this, or did they not believe the things which they saw? Yet, even before He had arisen, they shouted and said: “We know who you are, O Son of God.” We have distinguished ourselves from the pagans by our belief that Christ has risen. If we can, let us now distinguish ourselves from the demons. What is it, I ask you, what is it that the demons said? “We know who you are, O Son of God.” And they hear the reply: “Hold thy peace.” Did they not say just what Peter said when the Lord questioned the disciples, saying: “Who do men say I am?” When they had reported the opinions of others, He repeated His question, saying: “But who do you say I am?” Then Peter answered: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” The same statement was made by the demons and by Peter; the same by evil spirits and by the Apostle. Yet, the demons hear: “Hold thy peace,” while Peter hears: “Blessed art thou.” May what differentiated them also differentiate us from the demons. Why did the demons make that declaration? From fear. Why did Peter? From love. Choose, then, and cherish.

Augustine of Hippo, Sermon 234.3