“Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life!”
Pascha—also known as Easter—is the greatest and most radiant feast in the Christian calendar. Referred to as the Feast of Feasts and the Triumph of Triumphs, it marks the miraculous Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the ultimate victory over death, sin, and despair. For the Orthodox Church and Christians around the world, Pascha is not merely a commemoration of an event—it is the foundation of faith, hope, and eternal life.
From the Tomb to Triumph: The Story of Pascha
After the crucifixion of Christ on Holy Friday, sorrow filled the hearts of His followers. They had seen their beloved Teacher die a brutal death on the Cross. But Scripture introduces us to a man named Joseph of Arimathea, a righteous member of the Jewish council, who did not agree with the judgment against Jesus. Along with Nicodemus, he lovingly took Christ’s body, wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a new tomb carved into a garden hillside (Luke 23:50–56; John 19:38–42).
The next day, the chief priests, fearing that Jesus’ disciples might steal His body and claim resurrection, secured the tomb with a Roman guard and sealed the stone (Matthew 27:62–66). Yet all their precautions could not prevent the miracle that was to come.
“He Is Risen!”: The Glorious Morning of the Resurrection
At the break of dawn on the first day of the week, the women who had followed Jesus came to the tomb bearing spices and ointments (Luke 24:1). But what they found changed the world forever. The earth shook. An angel descended from heaven, rolled away the stone, and proclaimed:
“Do not be afraid; for I know that you seek Jesus Who was crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said” (Matthew 28:5–6).
Mary Magdalene, one of the first witnesses to this divine revelation, ran to tell the apostles. Though confused and fearful at first, the disciples came to believe when they saw the empty tomb for themselves (John 20:1–8).
In a moment of tender love, Jesus revealed Himself to Mary by simply calling her name—“Mary.” She recognized Him immediately and rejoiced, becoming the first messenger of the Resurrection.
The Power of the Resurrection: A New Life Begins
In the days that followed, Christ appeared to His disciples, not only to comfort and strengthen them, but to ignite a faith that would change the world. They saw His resurrected glory and were filled with divine strength, ready to preach His message even in the face of hostility and persecution.
This Resurrection was not just an event—it was the culmination of God’s redemptive plan for humanity. Sin entered the world through Adam’s disobedience, but Christ, the New Adam, conquered death through His obedience and divine sacrifice.
As St. Paul affirms:
“If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain… But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:14, 20).
Pascha: A Living Celebration of Faith, Hope, and Love
Pascha is more than a historical remembrance—it is a present reality, a living celebration of eternal life. It proclaims the joy of salvation, the triumph of divine love, and the promise of resurrection for all who believe.
Through His glorious Resurrection:
Death is destroyed.
Sin is overcome.
Paradise is restored.
Every believer is made a child of God.
The Church resounds with hymns of victory and joy:
“Thou didst descend into the tomb, O Immortal; Thou didst destroy the power of death. In victory didst Thou arise, O Christ God…”
— Kontakion of the Feast (Tone 8)
The Eternal Light of Pascha
For the Orthodox Church, Pascha is not just the highlight of the liturgical year—it is the heart of the Christian life. The entire faith hinges on the Resurrection. In every Divine Liturgy, every hymn, every cross we wear, we proclaim this truth: Christ is Risen!
It is a feast that joins heaven and earth, angels and mortals, the living and the departed, in a unified chorus of praise. It is a foretaste of the life to come, a divine invitation to joy eternal.
“Come, all you faithful, let us venerate Christ’s holy Resurrection… for by enduring the Cross for us, He has destroyed death by death.”
Paschal Troparion (Hymn of Victory):
Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life!
Conclusion: Let the World Rejoice!
The Resurrection of Christ is the greatest news ever proclaimed. It changes everything. Through it, we are no longer slaves to fear, sin, or death. We are made new. We are made free.
So on this radiant Feast of Feasts, let our hearts echo the joy of the early Church, let our voices sing with the angels, and let our lives reflect the light of the empty tomb.
Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!