Dear Parish Faithful,
CHRIST IS RISEN! INDEED HE IS RISEN!
Pascha - The Thirteenth Day
I have included the link to quite a meditation/reflection from Mother Christophora of the Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Ellwood City, PA. The title is intriguing - "Pandemic Ponderings Pascha - One Year Later." It is deep reflection on what this last year has meant for all of us. But Mother Christophora asks the question: What does it mean to call this later year "crazy?" Or, better, is it legitimate to use that term? Can our Orthodox faith take us beyond such a description into another realm of understanding? How does the paschal mystery shape our understanding and experience of such trials? I will let speak for herself in what she writes:
https://www.oca.org/reflections/misc-authors/pandemic-ponderings-paschaone-year-later
When restrictions are lifted at the monastery, I would recommend this is a place to go with "vacation time." It will bring rest and joy to the soul, though the "entertainment" level is not very high.