Christ is risen from the dead ...
Categories: orthodox-life, feast-days
Date: 22 April 2006 16:26:10
| Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, And upon those in the tombs bestowing life! |
| Χριστός ανέστη εκ νεκρών, θανάτω θάνατον πατήσας, και τοις εν τοις μνήμασι, ζωήν χαρισάμενος! |
| Al-Maseehu qama min bayn il-amwat wa wati almawta bil mawt wa wa hab al-ah-yat lil-lazeena filqubour! |
unfortunately I couldn't find an Arabic script version: transliteration will have to do!
This verse echoed through our service tonight: and what a beautiful service. After having a week of evening services held in almost darkness, the brightness of the lights [and the brightness of our sub-deacon's white vestment also!] truly raised the spirits as we celebrate Christ's triumph over death through His Resurrection. Pascha has arrived!
This page gives an overview of the service, but I think you need to be there, as with all things, to more fully experience it through participation. From the singing of the hymn:
Angels in heaven, O Christ our Saviour, sing of Your Resurrection. Make us on earth also worthy to hymn You with a pure heart.as we processed outside with candles; to the banging on the doors of the church for re-entry with the cry, "Let the King of Glory in!"; to wonderful hymns such as:
It is the day of resurrection! Let us be illumined for the feast! Pascha! The Pascha of the Lord! From death unto life, and from earth unto heaven has Christ our God led us! Singing the song of victory: Christ is risen from the dead!and the wonderful Easter Troparion:
Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life.with several verses from Psalm 68. And, rather than the Trisagon hymn, the baptismal hymn from Galatians is chanted:
As many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Alleluia!
A particular blessing this week was constant visits from a Roman Catholic who attends the church whose hall we used this week, as the hall we currently hire was unavailable. She was there at almost every service, and it was a joy to speak to her and see her love for God. It was also interesting to get her thoughts on the services we have, which are longer than most and have a very different flavour -- liturgically and otherwise -- but she said she loved participating in them. After someone said to her tonight that she experienced two Christ's Resurrection in the one year she responded, "And if he were rising a third time, I'd be there as well!" ;-)
A blessed Pascha to you all! May you all know the joy, peace and comfort that comes from knowing Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life!