Holy Pascha - The Resurrection of Christ
A collection of texts, hymns, images, and other resources for Holy Pascha (Orthodox Christian Easter), as well as the Paschal season through to Pentecost.
This area provides various resources for Orthodox Christian Pascha - the feast of the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paschal Resources
- The Paschal Troparion
The central hymn of Pascha, 'Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death...' in English, Greek and Church Slavonic. This hymn is sung time and again during the Paschal season, replacing many standard hymns of the Divine Services, as well as being used in prayers at meals and at other occasions until the Ascension. - The Paschal greeting in multiple languages
The festal greeting 'Christ is risen! Indeed, He is risen!' as used among the faithful during the Paschal season, in 60+ languages. In Orthodox practice, this greeting is used between the faithful, as well as between clergy, on meeting and on parting during the whole of the Paschal period. - Paschal Homily of St John Chrysostom
The festal Paschal sermon of St John, which is read aloud in all Orthodox churches at Paschal midnight, celebrating the coming of the resurrected Christ and His salvation offered to the whole human race. - 'Do Not Touch Me...'
A poem by Orthodox poet Timothy Jeffries Johnson, reflecting on the encounter with the risen Christ by St Mary Magdalen in the Garden. - 'Mother, Do Not Weep'
A poem by Orthodox poet Timothy Jeffries Johnson, based on the hymn from Great and Holy Saturday where the crucified Christ, lying in the tomb, cries out to His Mother, 'Weep not for me...'
Fathers on Pascha
The following are selections from the writings of the Fathers of the Church and the patristic corpus on the meaning and celebration of Holy Pascha: the feast of Christ's resurrection from the dead.
- Paschal Homily of St John Chrysostom
- St Ambrose of Milan, On Belief in the Resurrection
- Blessed Augustine of Hippo, Excerpts on the Resurrection
- St Constantine the Great, Oration on the Resurrection
- St Cyril of Alexandria, Lecture on the Resurrection
- St Ephrem of Syria, Paschal Hymn
- St Gregory of Nazianzus, First Paschal Oration
- St Gregory of Nazianzus, Second Paschal Oration
- St Leo the Great of Rome, On the Lord's Resurrection (and another Paschal text by St Leo)
- Melito of Sardis, On Pascha
- Methodius of Olympus, Fragments on the Resurrection
Scriptural Account
The Holy Pascha of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
The Resurrection Account according to the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke
From the 24th chapter of his Gospel.The Risen and Ascended Christ
1Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. 5Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, 7saying, "The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again."'
8And they remembered His words. 9Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles. 11And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them. 12But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.
The Road to Emmaus
13Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. 14And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. 16But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.
17And He said to them, "What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?"
18Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, "Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?"
19And He said to them, "What things?"
So they said to Him, "The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. 21But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. 22Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. 23When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. 24And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see."
25Then He said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?" 27And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
The Disciples' Eyes Opened
28Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. 29But they constrained Him, saying, "Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent." And He went in to stay with them.
30Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.
32And they said to one another, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?" 33So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34saying, "The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" 35And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.
Jesus Appears to His Disciples
36Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, "Peace to you." 37But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. 38And He said to them, "Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have."
40When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. 41But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, "Have you any food here?" 42So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. 43And He took it and ate in their presence.
The Scriptures Opened
44Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me." 45And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.
46Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48And you are witnesses of these things. 49Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."
The Ascension
50And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. 51Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. 52And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen.
Reflections
- Pascha and the Liturgical Present
A reflection on the the Resurrection of Christ as experienced in the 'here' and 'now' of the present, during the festal services and season of Pascha. - The Personal Mystery of Pascha
A consideration of Holy Pascha as both cosmic mystery, and personal mystery affecting the heart of each human person in creation. - The Nativity of the Paschal Christ
A reflection exploring the connection of the Feast of the Nativity to that of Holy Pascha, including the imagery in the holy icons of these two related feasts.
Broadcasts
Two of our patristic podcasts will deal directly with themes of Holy Pascha in the Fathers and the liturgical life of the Church:
- The Holy Fathers on Pascha - First aired on Bright Monday (7th / 20th April 2009)
A selection of writings from the Fathers on the feast of Pascha, and the meaning of the Resurrection for all Christian faithful.Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
- The Church's Hymns at the Empty Tomb - First aired on Monday of Thomas Week (14th / 27th April 2009)
In this broadcast, we look at the 'Evlogitaria' and Psalm 118, and consider the Church's moving reflection on the Myrrh-bearing women discovering the empty tomb.Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.