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Christos Anesti (Ancient Christian Hymn)



Christos Anesti 
Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and to those in the tombs, granting life.

The Eastern Orthodox Paschal hymn Christos Anesti is perhaps my favorite and what I believe is the most evocative hymn in all of Christendom. It's very simple too: "Christ is Risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and to those in the tombs, granting life." With Eastern Orthodox Easter or Pascha (Passover) happening today (April 19, 2020), I thought I'd throw a second blog post within a week just to cover this hymn.

What stirs me about this hymn is both its lyrical content, which contain within it death, resurrection, and salvation elements and perfectly captures the theology of Easter, and the passionate celebratory manner which the song is sung in. See the video links for tastes (Note: Nothing compares to being in a service).


I've never experienced a sense of the Holy Spirit or unity of the church more than when this song is sung in an Orthodox church (at midnight Easter morning). The theology is key, but this is not a theological discourse per se, because for me, it is the unity of a church in full celebration that stirs me most... That a congregation can get behind a single set of lyrics, which are perhaps the linchpin lyrics of what it means to be a Christian, and sing with gusto, passion, love, and utter victory. Powerfully emotive. Enjoy!

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