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:
- Christos anesti ek nekron,
- Thanato thanaton patisas,
- Kai tis en tis mnimasi
- Zo-in charisamenos!
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
- Хрїсто́съ воскре́се и́зъ ме́ртвыхъ,
- Сме́ртїю сме́рть попра́въ,
- И сѹ́щымъ во гробѣ́хъ
- живо́тъ дарова́въ!
- This language is not well-supported on many systems, so it may not appear as intended here.
- Transliteration:
- Christos voskrese iz mertvikh,
- Smertiu smert poprav,
- E soushchim vo grobyekh
- Zhivot darovav!
- Arabic (transliteration only)
- Al masih qam baini'lamwat,
- Wa wati al mowt bil mowt,
- Wa wahalba'l haya
- Lil ladhina fi'l qubur!
- 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.
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