The Day of Resurrection

The resurrection of Jesus is the central event for the Christian faith. And for centuries, many churches celebrated the resurrection through the hymn, “The Day of Resurrection,” written by John of Damascus in the 8^th century AD. Today this is known primarily through John Neale’s 1862 English translation.

As Neale described, during services on the night before Easter, early Greek Christians sang this hymn with a sense of anticipation. At midnight a cannon was fired to announce the beginning of Easter Day.

Then a church leader raised a cross and loudly declared, “Christ is risen!” Instantly, the congregation repeated the proclamation. “At that same moment the oppressive darkness was succeeded by a blaze of light from thousands of tapers which…seemed to send streams of fire in all directions.” Then everyone joined to sing “The Day of Resurrection.”

This hymn reminded believers of the connection between the resurrection and the feasts of Israel: “The Passover of gladness, the Passover of God. From death to life eternal, from earth unto the sky, our Christ hath brought us over, with hymns of victory.”

Because of the resurrection, our hearts can “be pure from evil.” And believers are called to celebrate and “raise the victor strain.”

The hymn ended in praise: “Now let the heavens be joyful! Let earth the song begin! Let the round world keep triumph, and all that is therein! Let all things seen and unseen their notes in gladness blend, for Christ the Lord hath risen, our joy that hath no end.”

Today, join with the saints of all the ages, and the hosts of Heaven. Celebrate Jesus’ resurrection. Worship our King. Our Savior. Our Risen Lord!