Rejoice, the angel said to the women at the tomb of Jesus Christ. They had gone there on the third day after crucifixion and the angel broke to them the news of Jesus Christ's Resurrection. Since then the Christian world has been celebrating the Resurrection of Christ every year - a feast of hope, renewal and a new beginning. 

"Pascha, Resurrection Sunday and Easter are different names of the feast of feasts for every Christian”, says Yulian Perikliev who tells us about the Easter liturgy. "This is the feast when we bathe in the joy of the defeat of death. The Paschal service opens shortly before midnight. At midnight Christians greet each other with “Christ is risen!”, and the answer is “Indeed he is risen!” This is followed by a Paschal procession around the church. Next, the Paschal morning service is held followed by the Paschal liturgy. The liturgy is very beautiful. It is so joyful with so many people in the church who finally take communion with the body and blood of Christ - this is both the richest and simplest meal given to us by our Lord. Of course, the famous antiphon Hristos voskrese (Christ is Risen) resounds everywhere in a variety of eastern melodies and versions for mixed, male and female choirs. Almost all composers of Eastern Orthodox music have written music on its lyrics. Other chants performed include Paschal Sticheras, Slava i nine (Glory to Thy Holy) and O Day of Resurrection - all of them recorded on a CD by the Sofia Metropolitan and Patriarch of Bulgaria His Holiness Neophyte. For the post-paschal period - from Easter Week until Ascension the chant Angel vopiyashe (An Angel Cried Out) replaces Dostoyno est (It is Truly Meet) in the service. The lyrics of An Angel Cried Out are about the greatest joy on earth. Also, the chant Elitsi vo Hrista (All in Christ) replaces Trisvetoe (Trisagion) in the liturgy. It is also well known that from Easter until Ascension (40 days after Resurrection Sunday) we great each other with “Christ is risen!”

English Daniela Konstantinova

Audio contains the following chants:

1. Hristos voskrese (Christ is Risen) performed by the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral Choir

2. Paschal Sticheras and Slava i nine (Glory to Thy Holy) performed by His Holiness Patriarch Neophyte

3. Angel vopiyashe (An Angel Cried Out) in the rendition of the Sofia Priest Choir