"Christ is Risen"
"Indeed He is Risen."
O Death, where is thy sting?
O Hell, where is thy victory?
Christ is risen, and thou art overthrown!
Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen!
Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice!
Christ is risen, and life reigns!
"Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon
those in the tombs bestowing life!
"
O Death, where is thy sting?
O Hell, where is thy victory?
Christ is risen, and thou art overthrown!
Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen!
Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice!
Christ is risen, and life reigns!
This year it seemed that Pascha came before its time and I was not prepared. The words of St. John, partially quoted above, call all the faithful, both the diligent and the lazy, to the feast rang so true. You drag yourself to the liturgy, unhappy and unwilling, tired and grumpy about being up in the middle of the night. The opening prayers in the dark echo and the candles are lit. Then about halfway though the procession something in you changes and the joy catches up with you as you find yourself singing "with purity of heart."
Starting in a darkened church, the priest sings the prayer as the first candle is lit. The song then spreads as the other candles are lit and we walk outside the church to circle it three times proclaiming the Resurrection of the Lord. The first reading occurs before the doors of the still darkened church. In some traditions, the priest next loudly knocks, proclaiming the King of Glory comes and to open the doors for him. (The young man standing by the nearest pillar is Ben. Noah can barely be seen mirroring him.) Then as we walk in and everyone sings the troparion, that joy explodes into song.
After the Liturgy is done, baskets of food "flesh meats and curdled milk" are blessed and the parish joins together for a meal to celebrate. All food avoided in the fast, vodka, and wine are present. Some time about 4 am we all head home, in my case still humming "The Angel Cried."
After the Liturgy is done, baskets of food "flesh meats and curdled milk" are blessed and the parish joins together for a meal to celebrate. All food avoided in the fast, vodka, and wine are present. Some time about 4 am we all head home, in my case still humming "The Angel Cried."
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