A FIRST READING FOR INQUIRERS
Why Christ reaches for Adam and Eve.
“And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”
Why does the Orthodox icon of the Resurrection show Christ grasping Adam and Eve by the hands? Called the Anastasis, it depicts His descent into Hades, the realm of the dead. The broken gates beneath His feet proclaim His victory over death; His outstretched hands reveal the mercy of the Savior who comes to raise us.
In From the Depths of Hell, Fr. John Breck reflects on this icon and the unity of Christ’s saving work. The eternal Son truly becomes man, dies, rises, and ascends for our salvation. In Him we receive forgiveness, healing, and the hope of resurrection. The Church calls us to respond to His grace with faith and repentance, entering ever more deeply into communion with God.
