Reflections on Resurrection on the fourth anniversary of war
Writing about Easter on this fourth anniversary of the full scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia; I’m very aware that Crucifixion may be the lived experience rather than Resurrection. However, I was on a call with Fr Ihor, a priest near the front line; amidst the destruction and following the bitter cold without power, he is preparing to preach Resurrection. I too will do my best:
The Byzantine writer Simeon Metaphrastes reflected on the days between the Crucifixion and Resurrection; a time when Christ traditionally descended into hell to reverse the ancient curse. As a prayer books says, “Adam danceth… and Eve, now freed from fetters, rejoiceth”. Simeon was less interested in the metaphysics than what it means to be human; for him Christ descending into hell is mirrored by his descending into our hearts, “The heart is a tomb and there our thoughts and our intellect are buried, imprisoned in heavy darkness”. After four years of war, or 12 years for Crimea and Donbas, the buried thoughts contain anger, grief, fear and cries for retribution; no wonder they’re kept shrouded in heavy darkness. Can these hearts dance and rejoice again?
Simeon reflects that the Resurrection is for us now, not some distant past event nor receding future promise, “He resurrects us – for we were truly dead – and releases our imprisoned soul from its lightless prison”. Fr Ihor did not use the image of imprisoned souls emerging from darkness but he did use the language of being alongside, being available in the face of profound grief; including a rocket hitting a playground. There are no easy answers, just a presence, both human and, for those who believe in a crucified God, divine. Children who were playing are not coming back, lost combatants are not returning; Resurrection does not offer easy answers.
There is a Resurrection account of Mary Magdalene mistaking the risen Jesus for a gardener. When she recognises her Lord she reaches out and is told “Do not hold onto me!”. She can’t hold onto the past; everything has now changed. So many in Ukraine and elsewhere are mourning for the past: the laughter of a child; the hug of a lover. Resurrection does not mean they return but it does help to lift the darkness within our soul; “You turned my lamentation into dancing… You tore up my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness”, Psalm 30.
I was in Kyiv last Independence Day. We were not allowed to gather as it could have been a target but in the darkness of a subway I heard the most beautiful music being played.