Paschal troparion

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The Paschal troparion is the characteristic hymn for the celebration of Easter in the Eastern Orthodox Church. Like most troparia it is a brief stanza often used as a refrain between the verses of a Psalm, but is also used on its own. Its authorship is unknown. It is nominally sung in Tone Five, but often is sung in special melodies not connected with the Octoechos.

[edit] Usage

The troparion is first sung following the procession around the church during the Paschal Vigil, at the beginning of Matins before the church's front door, as a refrain to a selection of verses from Psalms 67 and 117 (LXX). In the remainder of the vigil it is sung between the odes of the canon, thrice at the end of Matins and at the beginning and end of the Paschal Hours, with the same selection of Psalm verses at the beginning of the Divine Liturgy and at the Little Entrance, during and following Communion, and at the dismissal of the Liturgy. The same pattern persists during Bright Week. Afterward, it is sung thrice at the beginning of most services and private prayers in place of the usual invocation of the Holy Spirit, "O Heavenly King", and at the dismissals.

[edit] Text and translations

The troparion was originally composed in Greek, but it is usually sung either in the local liturgical language, or in the vernacular where it is not the same. A typical translation in English runs:

Christ is risen from the dead,

Trampling down death by death,

And upon those in the tombs

Bestowing life!

This translates the Greek:

Χριστός ανέστη εκ νεκρών,

θανάτω θάνατον πατήσας,

και τοις εν τοις μνήμασι,

ζωὴν χαρισάμενος!

Transliteration:

Khristos anesti ek nekron,

Thanato thanaton patisas,

Kai tis en tis mnimasi

Zo-in kharisamenos!

During the Paschal Vigil and the Vespers the following afternoon is not uncommon for the troparion to be performed in as many languages as the choir can manage.

Church Slavonic

Earlier version (currently only used by the Old Believers)

Хрїстосъ воскресе изъ мертвыхъ,

Смертїю на смерть настѹпи,

И гробным животъ дарова!

Transliteration:

Khristos voskrese iz mertvykh

Smertiyu na smert nastupi

I grobnym zhivot darova!

Later version from the reforms of Patriarch Nikon, currently in general use

Хрїстосъ воскресе изъ мертвыхъ,

Смертїю смерть поправъ,

И сѹщымъ во гробѣхъ

животъ даровавъ!

This language is not well-supported on many systems, so it may not appear as intended here.

Transliteration:

Khristos voskrese iz mertvykh,

Smertiyu smert poprav,

E sushchim vo grobyekh

Zhivot darovav!

Arabic

المسيح قام من بين الأموات

و وطئ الموت بالموت

و وهب الحياة

للذين في القبور

Transliteration:

Al-Masīh qām min baīni'l-amwāt

Wa wati'a al-mawt bi'l-mawt

Wa wahab al-hayāt

Lil-ladhīna fī'l-qubūr!

Romanian

Hristos a înviat din morţi,

Cu moartea pre moarte călcând,

Şi celor din morminte

Viaţă dăruindu-le!

Spanish

Cristo ha recucitado de los muertos,

Por la muerte la muerte ha llando,

Y a los que estan en las tumbas

La vida dando!

Latin

Christus resurrexit a mortuis,

Morte mortem calcavit,

Et entibus in sepulchris

Vitam donavit.