Christos Voskrese! Christ is Risen!

Pascha has begun (though about 12 hours away here in the Eastern United States). But if you listen carefully, you can begin to hear the bells sounding from the East. Christ is risen!

This delightful youtube video is a favorite of mine. One of our readers and occasional commenter,  Dejan, (without a doubt my favorite Serb) provided the English translation.  The words are from a poem by St. Nikolai Velimirovich who served for a time as the Rector of St. Tikhon’s Seminary – truly one of the great Serbian saints of the modern era.

Translation:

People rejoice, nations hear:
Christ is risen, and brings the joy!
Stars dance, mountains sing:
Christ is risen, and brings the joy!
Forests murmur, winds hum:
Christ is risen, and brings the joy!
Seas bow*, animals roar:
Christ is risen, and brings the joy!
Bees swarm, and the birds sing:
Christ is risen, and brings the joy!

Angels stand, triple the song:
Christ is risen, and brings the joy!
Sky humble yourself, and elevate the earth:
Christ is risen, and brings the joy!
Bells chime, and tell to all:
Christ is risen, and brings the joy!
Glory to You God, everything is possible to You,
Christ is risen, and brings the joy!

About Fr. Stephen Freeman

Fr. Stephen is a priest of the Orthodox Church in America, Pastor Emeritus of St. Anne Orthodox Church in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. He is also author of Everywhere Present and the Glory to God podcast series.



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13 responses to “Christos Voskrese! Christ is Risen!”

  1. Brian Avatar
    Brian

    Like the smell of Bay leaves, this video and song has become a part of Pascha for me. It is so joyful, so beautiful!

    Christ is risen!

  2. James, the Brother Avatar
    James, the Brother

    Thank you Father Stephen, I have been waiting for this one and I hope you make it an annual traditon for your blog.

  3. Babushka Joanna Avatar
    Babushka Joanna

    One of my favorites….thank you for sharing this again with us! Will be sharing it on my FB, too…

  4. kosk Avatar

    Hristos A Inviat!
    ..pentru toti fratii ortodocsi din lume, cu ocazia Sfintelor sarbatori de Pasti ,o mica dedicatie muzicala. (Divna/pravoslavna duhovna muzika)

  5. […] Wife or Concubine?; Biblical Sheba Linked to East African Settlements☆ ☆ ☆7) Christos Voskrese! Christ is Risen!https://glory2godforallthings.com/2012/04/14/christos-voskrese-christ-is-risen-2/By fatherstephen […]

  6. Victoria Cherpes Avatar
    Victoria Cherpes

    Dear Father Stephen- Kali Anastasi! Here is my children’s favorite version of this song sung by the Nuns of Paisius Monastery in Arizona.

    A Blessed Pascha to you, your family and parish.

    [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0w10yHwv7tk&w=420&h=315%5D

  7. […] tip: Fr. Stephen Freeman Rate this: Share this:TwitterLike this:LikeBe the first to like this post. […]

  8. simmmo Avatar
    simmmo

    “Come down ye heavens, draw near the earth”

    What a powerful line in the song! Absolutely no hint of dualism. Heaven and earth overlap in the resurrection of Jesus the Messiah. The age to come is inaugurated!

    I love this song.

  9. Karen Avatar
    Karen

    Indeed He is risen! Joy to all!

  10. Дејан Avatar
    Дејан

    “So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” (Luke 19:4-5)

    I am trying to imagine, to discover and identify with the state of heart of that man when he was climbing the tree among the crowds of people. He must have been in joyful expectation because he was sure that he will see the Lord. Again he was humble enough to be aware of his incapacity to wait on the ground, so he was actively seeking way to make such encounter possible. In a way, what happened that day in history, reappears symbolically in everyday prayer – humble awareness that we have to climb up, over the worlds of sense-information-crowds surrounding us, to the world of the pure heart to meet Him; and of course, sincere anticipation that we will feel for sure the presence of our Beloved in this life, somewhere, somehow, faith that it will happen in His Hour in His Way (Matthew 5:8).
    In those elevated moments of our life, when such feeling of Presence is authentic, human being feels profound detachment from transitory values of the sense world. As Gospel informs us, Zacchaeus who was wealthy tax collector, immediately offers half of his possessions to the poor. Whether it was smart thing to do or not is another matter, point here is that it was sure outward sign that something magnificent took place inside his heart at that moment.(Matthew 13:46)
    But then again, why did not other people who were stating that Jesus “has gone to be the guest of a sinner” feel similar impulse? They also arrived there with the intention to meet the Lord.
    The answer is in the values that we can find in a childlike heart. Such values may seem illogical, many saints were not recognized by their contemporaries; but simplicity, sincerity and purity of such heart are the keys that open the door. (Luke 18:17)
    Innumerable are the space-time corridors in the desire world, from every morning till evening there are innumerable images. But, O Lord, do give us strength in these seconds, minutes and hours, that instead of sleeping we “stay awake”(Mark 13:37), silently and creatively aspiring for more fulfilling realities in our own lives, in this very world that we live in.

    Dear Father,

    I read today story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19, and was inspired to write something to offer you as sign of my gratitude for your constant creative efforts in writing this blog. Your blog is great service to humanity, because you are integrating ancient tradition with means of expression that new technologies bring, which is not at all easy thing to do. But it is a sign that spiritual person accepts the outer world in peace, and tries to creatively embed inner harmony with the current level of progress of the outer world, dynamically seeking new ways of expression using available means from surroundings. Thank you for everything – my deepest gratitude & greetings from Serbia! Vaistinu Voskrese – Indeed He is risen!

  11. fatherstephen Avatar

    Дејан
    Thank you for the beautiful meditation on Zacchaeus. Thank you for your prayers! and your friendship!

  12. cranberry1 Avatar

    Christ is Risen! Χριστός Ανέστη! (in Greek)

  13. fatherstephen Avatar

    Indeed He is risen!

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