The Mystical Eighth Day

The Sabbath day (Gr. Σάββατο) is the seventh day, it is the day of rest in this world, the final day of the week.  the next day, the Lord’s Day (Gr. Κυριακή), is symbolic of the first day of creation. it also symbolizes the last day of the Kingdom of God, the Eighth Day.  In other words, the first day is also the eighth day.  It is the day beyond the confines of this world, the day which stands for the life of the world to come, the day of eternal rest of the Kingdom of  God.

In both Jewish and Christina tradition, the number seven signifies completion and fullness, while the number eight signifies more than completion and fullness.  thus, for Orthodox Christians, the Lord’ Day is the day of Christ’s resurrection from the dead, the day of God’s victory predicted by the prophets.  The Lord’s Day inaugurates the presence and the power of the kingdom to come, already within the life of this present world.  That is why ever week Christina gather together to worship and celebrate what the Lord has done for His people.

Fittingly, during thew week after Pascha (Easter), called Bright Week, the Church celebrates Pascha for eight days.  By tradition, babies are named on the eighth day after birth.  And from ancient times, Christina baptismal fonts have been built with eight sides, indicating the newly baptized are entering the realm of the Eight day, the day of eternal rest (Heb. 4:1-11) in Christ’s Heavenly Kingdom.

And so we pray, “Thy Kingdom come, the Will be done on earth, eve as it is in heaven.”

(Take from the website of St. John the Evangelist Orthodox Church in Beaver Falls, PA.)