A Sermon for Easter written by Saint John Chrysostom, read by the Father John L. Blackburn.

For Centuries, the Christian Church has gather on this night to wait in vigil for Easter Morning, the morning of the Resurrection. Some of these Vigils lasted all night with readings—far more than we read this evening—and some even recited the entire book of Psalm into the night and early morning hours until the first rays of daylight shone through windows or broke on the horizon until they celebrated the Easter Eucharist. Sometimes, sermons, and multiple sermons at that, were preached after each reading, but the Principal sermon, the one that everyone held their breath for was the Sermon after the Gospel reading recounting the Resurrection account. Among those who preached sermons on Easter that we have recorded is Saint John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople. Saint John, whose nick-name Chrysostom means, “Golden-mouthed” has been known for these sixteen hundred years as one of the finest preachers to stand in the pulpit. It was become customary at the Great Vigil of Easter to read a portion of this sermon he preached around 400 AD. In it, you will hear Saint Chrysostom reference people who come at different hours, which is an illusion to a parable of Jesus about the workers who come at different hours during the day to labor in the fields.