Before Eve received her name "Eve", she was "woman". She received the name Eve after the expulsion from paradise in which she gives birth to a son. Eve/Eva can be understood as "mother of all the living" /"source of life".
The Theotokos is the new "Eve".
She is referred to as both woman and mother by Christ. She is called woman AND mother by Jesus at the cross in St. John's Gospel... Or better said, given a new title by Christ (behold your mother) just as Eve is given a new name in Genesis. If you understand the cross of Christ as the beginning of a new creation then this should really start to make sense-that the Theotokos, who gave birth to the God-Man, is now the mother of all the faithful
If you are familiar with St. John's Gospel then it will come as no surprise as to how often he works in the book of Genesis. His prologue to his gospel is direct wordplay with the Genesis account and is my favorite piece of scripture.
A second interesting point regarding the passion narratives: In St. Mark and St. Matthew's gospels we have the disciples referencing Christ's prayer of Psalm 22, "My God My God why have you forsaken me..." But St John quotes a different verse in the psalm (casting lots for Jesus' garments) as if to help the reader understand that the entire Psalm is being referenced here, not just the first Line. It would do everyone well to read the ENTIRE psalm, hard to justify the idea of penal substitutionary atonement after reading it.
Interesting too that people near the cross assume Jesus is calling out to Elijah for help, of course this wouldn't be strange as 2nd temple Judaism understood intercessory prayers to be a normal part of religious life.
He Suffered and Was Buried | Ancient Faith Ministries
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☦️Christ is risen!
The Paschal Homily of St. John Chrysostom is read at the end of Orthros (Matins) at Pascha, the feast of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, universally throughout the Orthodox Church. It was composed sometime during his ministry in the late 4th or early 5th century.
If anyone is devout and a lover of God, let him enjoy this beautiful and radiant festival.
If anyone is a wise servant, let him, rejoicing, enter into the joy of his Lord.
If anyone has wearied himself in fasting, let him now receive his recompense.
If anyone has labored from the first hour, let him today receive his just reward. If anyone has come at the third hour, with thanksgiving let him keep the feast. If anyone has arrived at the sixth hour, let him have no misgivings; for he shall suffer no loss. If anyone has delayed until the ninth hour, let him draw near without hesitation. If anyone has arrived even at the eleventh hour, let him not fear on account of his delay. 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 his poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed.
Let no one mourn his transgressions, for pardon has dawned from the grave.
Let no one fear death, for the Saviour'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, face to face, met 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.
Christ gave the Apostles the ability to bind and loose sins but it is Christ who destroys death. This is the triumph of the Holy Cross.
THE HARROWING OF HADES
Today Hades doth groan and cry aloud:
“My power hath been destroyed.
I accepted a mortal man as one of the dead; yet I cannot keep Him prisoner,
and with Him I shall lose all those whom I once ruled. I held in my power
the dead from all ages; but behold, He is raising them all.”
Glory be to Thy Cross, O Lord, and to Thy Resurrection.
Verse: For He hath made His mercy to prevail over us, and the truth of
the Lord abideth forever.
Today Hades doth groan and cry aloud:
“My dominion hath been
swallowed up; the Shepherd hath been crucified and He hath raised Adam.
I am deprived of those whom I once ruled; in my strength I devoured them,
but now I have cast them forth. He who hath been crucified hath emptied the
tombs; the power of death hath no more strength.”
Glory be to Thy Cross, O Lord, and to Thy Resurrection.
On Holy and Great Thursday, we commemorate four events: the washing of the disciples’ feet, the Mystical Supper, the Lord’s agony in the Garden, and His betrayal. ☦️
TUESDAY (OF HOLY WEEK)
Now the people, the priests, and the Jewish rulers hear the Lord’s word in the temple for the last time. And His word was all-encompassing: it embraced everything—past, present, and future.
By the question about John, the Lord indicates that He is the true Messiah; by the parable of the two sons, He shows that the Jews will be rejected and that the Gentiles will be called in their place; by the parable of the vineyard workers, He declares that destruction awaits those who are rejected; by the parable of the king’s son’s wedding, He teaches that not all who come to Him will be worthy, and therefore will justly be cast into outer darkness.
Through His answers about the tribute to Caesar and about the greatest commandment, as well as through His words of rebuke, He sets forth the defining characteristics of the life that leads to salvation. Finally, by foretelling the calamities that will befall Jerusalem, He reveals to His disciples the mystery of His Second Coming.
It would be enough simply to hear all this with attention to become convinced that He is the true Savior of the world—Christ—and to submit to His commandments and teaching.
Even to this day, the reading of the Gospel chapters concerning all that took place on this day is a most powerful means of enlivening faith in the Lord. Through them, the Christian, coming to true understanding, can kindle zeal and show that he believes in the Lord not only in word, but also in deed.
☦️ St. Theophan the Recluse - Thoughts for Every Day of the Year
