Our Venerable Father Boucolus, Bishop of Smyrna; The Holy Hieromartyr Sylvanus, Bishop of Emessa and those with him. Post-feast of the Encounter.
Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat.
2 John 1:1-13; Mark 15:22-25, 33-41.
Read Mark 15:22-25, 33-41
The occurrence of darkness enveloping the entire land at the moment of Christ’s crucifixion is an important theme to reflect upon. This darkness was not caused by a solar eclipse, since an eclipse is astronomically impossible at Passover, which is always at full moon. Rather this darkness was the result of creation itself recognizing its Creator being so mistreated. Just as when Christ was born as a child, all creation marvelled in recognizing God become an infant. Once again, all creation is in a state of marvel, but this time it goes into a state of mourning, being unable to look upon God now about to die on the Cross. It is truly a wondrous thing that both at the beginning of His life and at the end of His life, Christ as a man is actually recognized as God by the entire order of creation. May the darkness that takes place during His crucifixion and death be a moment of revelation for us and with the centurion let us also say “Truly this man was the Son of God.”