paschal greeting
{{short description|Easter custom}}
{{about|the greeting|the troparion|Paschal troparion}}
File:Resurrection_(24).jpg from the dead, described in the New Testament as having occurred on the third day after his crucifixion at Calvary.]]
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The Paschal greeting, also known as the Easter Acclamation or Easter Day Greeting, is an Easter custom among many Christian churches, including Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran,{{cite news |last1=Carson |first1=Emily |title='He is risen' is a greeting for the ages |url=https://www.postbulletin.com/lifestyle/he-is-risen-is-a-greeting-for-the-ages |access-date=9 April 2023 |work=Rochester Post Bulletin |publisher=Post Bulletin and Forum Communications Company |date=23 Apr 2022}} Methodist,{{cite web |title=Easter Day Greeting |url=https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/easter-sunday-greeting |website=United Methodist Church Discipleship Ministries |publisher=United Methodist Church |access-date=9 April 2023}} Presbyterian,{{cite web |last1=Hardwick |first1=Rev. Dr. Chip |title=Worship Resource 2020 |url=https://specialofferings.pcusa.org/site_media/media/uploads/2020_oghs/2020_oghs_worship_resource_final.pdf |website=psusa.org |publisher=Presbyterian Church (USA) |access-date=9 April 2023}} and Congregational.{{cite web |title=The Art and Practice of the Congregational Church |url=https://www.naccc.org/the-art-and-practice-of-the-congregational-way/ |website=naccc.org |date=3 March 2021 |publisher=The National Association of Congregational Christian Churches |access-date=9 April 2023}}
One offers the greeting "Christ is risen!" and the response is "Indeed He is Risen!" or "He is risen indeed!" with many variants in English and other languages (compare Matthew 27 -{{bibleverse||Matthew|27:64|}}, Matthew 28-{{bibleverse||Matthew|28:6–7|}}, Mark 16-{{bibleverse||Mark|16:6|}}, Luke 24-{{bibleverse||Luke|24:6|}}, {{bibleverse||Luke|24:34|}}).{{cite book|last=Kovacs|first=Judith L.|title=1 Corinthians: Interpreted by Early Christian Commentators|year=2005|publisher=Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing|isbn=9780802825773|page=10}}{{cite journal|author=W.H. Withrow, M.A., D.D., F.R.S.C.|year=1904|journal=Methodist Magazine and Review|volume=59|page=550}}
Theories on origin
Credits for the origin of the greeting vary. However, the phrase "Christ is risen" is likely a shortened piece from Matthew 28:5-6, "The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay."{{bibleverse|Matthew|28|niv|wlink=yes}}
There is no consensus on the source of the response "He is risen indeed". Some believe that it comes from the Gospel of Luke 24:33-34 "There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, 'It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.'"{{bibleverse|Luke|24:33-34|niv|wlink=yes}} Regardless of the initial source, the phrase has become part of the Christian tradition. The greeting is used by many to celebrate the belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter morning.{{cite web |last1=Riggleman |first1=Heather |title='He is Risen Indeed' - Meaning and Easter Origin |url=https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/easter/why-do-we-say-he-is-risen-indeed-on-easter.html |website=crosswalk.com |publisher=Salem Media Group |access-date=9 April 2023}}
Examples
It is used among members of some Christian denominations when meeting one another during Eastertide; some even text or answer their phones with the phrase.
=Eastern Orthodox=
The greeting and reply are:
Christ is Risen! – Truly He is Risen!
- In the original language, {{langx|el|Χριστὸς ἀνέστη! – Ἀληθῶς ἀνέστη!|translit=Khristòs anésti! – Alethōs anésti!}}{{cite web | url=http://glt.goarch.org/texts/Pen/Pascha.html | title=Πασχα | work=Πεντηκοσταριον | publisher=The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America | access-date=2020-04-18 }}
- In the most widely-used language, {{langx|cu|Хрїсто́съ воскре́се! – Вои́стинꙋ воскре́се!|translit=Khristósŭ voskrése! – Voístinu voskrése!}}{{cite web | url=http://www.orthlib.info/Triod_Flowery/01_Pascha_paskha.pdf | title=Пасхальная Заутреня | work=Цветная Триодь | publisher=Моско́вскій патріарха́тъ | access-date=2020-04-18 }}
A list in 57 languages is found at the website of the Orthodox Church in America.{{cite web |url=https://www.oca.org/orthodoxy/paschal-greetings |title=Paschal Greetings from Around the World |work=Orthodoxy |date=2020 |publisher=Orthodox Church in America |access-date=2020-05-03 }}
In some cultures, such as in Russia and Serbia, it is also customary to exchange a triple kiss of peace on alternating cheeks after the greeting.{{cite web |url=http://www.stjohndc.org/Russian/feasts/FeastsE/e_pascha_greeting07.htm |title=The Origin and Meaning of the Paschal Greeting |work=Feasts |publisher=The Cathedral Church of St. John the Baptist |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130403014524/http://www.stjohndc.org/Russian/feasts/FeastsE/e_pascha_greeting07.htm |archive-date=2013-04-03 |access-date=2020-07-30 }}
=Roman Catholic=
In the Latin Church, the traditional greeting on Easter morning and throughout the Easter Octave is: Christus surréxit! - Surréxit vere, allelúja (“Christ is risen!” - “He is risen indeed, Alleluia!”). This ancient phrase is similar to the Greek one, and echoes the greeting of the angel to Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James, as they arrived at the sepulchre to anoint the body of Jesus: "He is not here; for he has risen, as he said" (Matthew 28:6).
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20130403014524/http://www.stjohndc.org/Russian/feasts/FeastsE/e_pascha_greeting07.htm The Origin and Meaning of the Paschal Greeting], Russian Orthodox Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Washington, DC.
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Category:Eastern Orthodox liturgy