Christ's Easter

A holiday of life's triumph over death, a holiday of love's victory over hatred and malice!

Our Lord Jesus Christ, willingly enduring suffering and death on the cross for the sins of the entire world, conquered both death itself and hell.

Christ's Resurrection is a miraculous testament of faith, love, and hope, for whoever believes in the Son of God, Jesus Christ, and follows His commandment to love one's neighbor, has the hope of eternal life in the Heavenly Kingdom.

On the day of Christ's Easter and throughout Bright Week—the six days following Easter—special solemn choral hymns resonate in Orthodox churches, accompanying the divine service. The festive ringing of bells, echoing through the streets and alleys of big and small Russian towns, adds to the joyful atmosphere.

Here is how the renowned Russian writer Ivan Shmelev (1873–1950) describes this remarkable event:

"I wake up joyful, dazzled by the brilliance, and in this radiance—a merry chime. As if still in a dream—ringing golden apples, like in a magical garden from a fairy tale. I open my eyes again—and suddenly remember: it’s Easter! A bright morning, the sun, the Easter bells! Easter!—and I am flooded with joy. On the little table by my bed—Easter gifts. A silver egg-shaped purse on a golden chain, with a cheerful crimson inside, given to me yesterday by my father. And also—a large sugar egg, with big golden letters—H.V., and behind a little glass in a golden oval, a joyful picture of Christ’s Resurrection. And yet—a golden-crystal egg, faceted all over, marvelous! If you look through it, everything glows, as if in sunlight, everything cheerful, Easter-like. I gaze through the egg—how wondrous it is... Outside the windows, a merry chime rings out, Easter rejoices. The bells chime at Kazanskaya, at Ivan the Warrior’s, and somewhere farther away. Such a delicate sound. Now it’s all over Moscow—everyone is allowed to ring the bell towers, such is the custom—to celebrate Easter with jubilation!"