Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

Today we celebrate Pascha. This is the day Christ rose from the dead, surprising creation with the inbreaking of God’s New Creation. Death has been trampled by death. God’s glorious future has dawned. His throne is moving from heaven to earth (Rev 22:1-5). And all of us may join him in both experiencing and contributing to the renewal.

The following is the climax of the short, yet stirring Paschal sermon of St John Chrysostom:

Hell was in turmoil having been eclipsed.
Hell was in turmoil having been mocked.
Hell was in turmoil having been destroyed.
Hell was in turmoil having been abolished.
Hell was in turmoil having been made captive.

Hell grasped a corpse, and met God.
Hell seized earth, and encountered heaven.
Hell took what it saw, and was overcome by what it could not see.

O death, where is your sting?
O hell, where is your victory?

Christ is risen, and you are cast down!
Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen!
Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice!
Christ is risen, and life is set free!
Christ is risen, and the tomb is emptied of its dead.

For Christ, having risen from the dead,
is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

Glory to God!