Radonitsa at St. John's Skete - 04/29/14

With all of our Paschal celebrations focusing mainly upon the Resurrection of Christ, this day – the Tuesday after Bright Week – marks the first day that we, in this same Paschal joy, remember all of our departed loved ones who have gone before us in the hope of eternal life. We call this day the "Day of Rejoicing" (Radonitsa is Russian) because we are reminded of Christ's triumphal descent into Hades; an instance in which Jesus used His Cross as a "key" to unlock the Gates of Hell, proclaiming victory over death and freeing us from the bondage of sin which held us captive. Traditionally this is not only just a day to remember/pray for our departed loved ones, but to also visit their graves in Paschal joy! Our Fr John made a pilgrimage to the Skete of St John the Theologian to celebrate the day with a panikhida in the chapel of St. Lazarus.
Cemetary at St John's
Chapel of St. Lazarus of the Four Days Dead
Chapel of St. Lazarus of the Four Days Dead
Chapel of St. Lazarus of the Four Days Dead
Chapel of St. Lazarus of the Four Days Dead
Chapel of St. Lazarus of the Four Days Dead
Chapel of St. Lazarus of the Four Days Dead
Chapel of St. Lazarus of the Four Days Dead
Chapel of St. Lazarus of the Four Days Dead
Brothers of the Skete
Chapel of St. Lazarus of the Four Days Dead
Chapel of St. Lazarus of the Four Days Dead
Chapel of St. Lazarus of the Four Days Dead