Bulgarian Patriarch and Metropolitan of Sofia Daniel will celebrate a service today for the so-called Second Resurrection of Christ in the metropolitan cathedral church “St. Great Martyr Nedelya”, which begins at 11:00 AM. This was announced by the Bulgarian Patriarchate.
At this festive liturgy, texts from the Gospel in different languages dedicated to the Resurrection of the Son of God - Jesus Christ - are traditionally read. This reminds us that the good news of Christ's Resurrection was carried by the apostles to all nations of the world.
Resurrection of Christ
The Resurrection of Christ, or Easter, is the day on which Christians celebrate the Resurrection of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, on the third day after he was crucified and buried. With his death, Jesus Christ atoned for the sins of humanity, and with his Resurrection, he gave hope for life after death.
In the Gospel texts, it is often mentioned that during his lifetime, Jesus Christ repeatedly predicted his crucifixion on the Cross and his Resurrection after three days. When on the third day after his burial, Mary Magdalene went with other women to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus with fragrant oils, as was the ancient Jewish tradition, she found the tomb empty.
Sunday service - reading the Gospel in different languages
According to the church Typicon, a little before noon on the Resurrection of Christ, a vesper service is celebrated, in which the Gospel passage that tells of the miracle that happened is read. It is laid down to be read in different languages, which symbolizes the preaching of the Resurrection of Christ to all nations, the Bulgarian Patriarchate explains.
The Typicon (from Greek - model, pattern) is a church and liturgical book of the Orthodox Church, in which instructions for the order and manner of performing church services are placed in a systematic order.