The Sunday following Holy Easter is called "New Sunday" or "Easter", because the mystery of that holiday is new and unbroken. It is new because it is the beginning of new creatures. Spring is also called new, because following winter, the renewal of creatures begins, and the dead trees sprout again. This describes the mystery of our resurrection. If in the spring nature is renewed from antiquity, then the Church is renewed without becoming obsolete, because the Church does not become obsolete and old, but remains perfect in Christ.
When we say new, we mean new life, because in Christ everything has been renewed, the old has passed away and everything has become new (see 2 Cor. 5:17). Also new was the mystery of the Church, which was forever hidden with God, and now revealed to His saints, and through the Church to the heavenly authorities and states (see Col. 1:26, Eph. 3:9-10). The honor of the Church is also new, about which the apostle says that he is happy for the sufferings and tribulations that he bears in his body (Colossians 1:24). The role of the Church is also new, because true worship is when the Father is worshiped in spirit and in truth, because the Father seeks such worship (see John 4:23). The spiritual and rebirth of the Church is also new, which the prophet, seeing in advance, said: "Who has heard, who has seen such a thing, that the earth will give birth in one day, and a whole nation will be born at once? for Zion was seized with the pain of both, and brought forth her children" (Isaiah 66:8). The mystery and glory of the Holy Table of the Church is also new, because it is no longer stained with the blood of goats, but completely stained with the life-giving Blood of the Anointed Son of God. The order of the "state" of the Church is also new, according to this word. "The kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation that makes it fruitful" (Matthew 21:43). The "Christian" name of the Church is also new, which God first promised to the prophet. "My servants will be given a new name, which will be praised on earth" (Isaiah 65:15). The hope of the believers and heirs of the Church is new, as the apostle says. "Therefore, you are not a servant, but a son, and if you are a son, then also an heir of God" (Galatians 4:7). The news of the Kingdom of the Church is also new. "He raised us up with Him and made us sit with Him in heaven in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:6), about which the Lord also says: "If one serves Me, he will follow Me. and where I am, there will my servant be also" (John 12:26). The Church's mystery of the resurrection of the dead is also new. "Now, I give you a piece of advice. we must all sleep, but not really all of us; we will be renewed suddenly, in a moment, at the last trumpet, for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised without corruption, and we will be renewed" (I Cor. 15:51).
This day is also mysteriously called New Sunday. Although in the first week, on Resurrection Sunday, our nature was renewed to the Bridegroom, but not to the Bride, the Church, because the rulers of the Church were still in antiquity. some doubted, some did not believe. In this one week, the Lord renewed and established such people in faith and through them, the Church. He repaired to put the new wine into new wineskins, for one cannot put new wine into old wineskins (see Matt. 17).
This Sunday has the following features. First, as Sunday is the beginning and end of all days, so this Sunday is the end of time and the beginning of eternal eternity. Second, it is in the evening, because the evening will not visit this. Third, it has no night, it is always day, and no other days will follow it. Fourth, it is stationary for hours, minutes, and seconds, that is, it is timeless.
Double
This day is also called the Double for three reasons. They are freedom, resurrection and salvation. Easter means freedom, and this day is a day of double freedom, for the following reason. Although Christ freed us from our sins at His first coming, yet our flesh is still under the influence of passions, that is, hunger, thirst, fear, sorrow, etc., as the apostle says; "And we, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, we also ride in ourselves, waiting for the adoption, the salvation of our body" (Rom. 8:23). And when God makes everything new and frees us from all needs, that time is called Double.
Second, it is called Double because of our double resurrection. On the first Sunday, Christ resurrected us with His Spirit and power, as the apostle says. "He raised us up with him and made us sit with him in heaven in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:6). And on the second Sunday we will be resurrected according to the body, and having risen from the dead, we will be immortal. That is why this day is called the Double, and is a picture of our double resurrection.
Third, it is called Double because of our salvation. The Lord appeared to the disciples on the first Sunday and confirmed them in the faith of the resurrection, and on the second Sunday he appeared to save Thomas from skepticism and confirm them in the faith, saying: "Bring your fingers and place them here and see My hands; and put your hand into My side; do not be unbelieving, but believing." And Thomas answered Him. "My Lord and my God" (John 20:27-28). And that is an example of two kinds of believers. Part of the disciples were believers who, hearing and seeing with the eyes of faith, were established in Christ, and Thomas is an example of the second type of believers, who will be forced to believe by wonders and fear at the Second Coming, according to this word: "So that at the name of Jesus Christ every knee should bow, both of those in heaven and on earth and those of Sandaramites. and let every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Phil. 2:10-11), just as today Thomas, touching the Lord, confessed Him as God.
Again, it is called New Sunday and Double Sunday, because we celebrate the boating of our soul's salvation in a new way, with spiritual joy and celebration, and not like the old one, because in the old days the boating was only for carnal joy.
