Videvshe" has been known since the time of the ancient church and has its analogue in the text of the Western liturgy. In the Eastern Church, the most important church singing is Pascha and its solemn divine service. The very fact of the resurrection of the Lord Christ and his gift of eternal life to people causes every sincere Christian awe, accompanied by joy. The soul rejoices and wishes to glorify its God not only in words, but also by performing Easter hymns. The essence of the Christian faith and its truth, the wonderful light of Christ's Resurrection are contained in the solemn and reach the believers through highly artistic songs, with which it is literally permeated.

Since apostolic times, Easter hymns, like other church hymns, have been an integral part of the divine services of the Christian church. Tradition has preserved for us the order of singing at joint Christian meetings.

1. IN church singing absolutely all Christians took part, as evidenced by John Chrysostom.
2. The Apostolic decrees tell us that during public worship, Christians of the first centuries used to sing the so-called victory song “Holy, Holy, Holy!”.
3. There was also solitary singing (especially common among the Egyptian hermits), when only one singer sang, and the rest of the believers listened to Easter or other holidays being sung. This is how singers for the clergy appeared.

In 365, the Council of Laodicea abolished universal church hymns (when every parishioner took part in it) and approved the status of singers capable of this occupation for a number of reasons and new realities that the church faced. By the 4th century AD, antiphonal (two-choir) singing spread in churches. According to legend, it was this way of singing (when two choirs sing in turn) that the disciple of the Apostle John, Ignatius the God-bearer, heard from the angels. With the cessation of persecution of Christians, Easter chants and other liturgical songs acquired solemnity and ceremoniality.

By the 4th century, the number of songs had increased significantly. Separate choirs or kliros appeared (right and left). The hymns of Holy Pascha themselves have become more refined and complex, requiring special education and skill.

Chants during Holy Saturday

On the eve of Easter, during the divine service of Great Saturday, they remember the descent of Christ after the resurrection into hell and perform the corresponding Easter hymns. At the performed liturgy, the ancient text “Quiet Light…” and other verses are sung.

Also during the liturgy, the song “Yelitsy” is performed, which reminds the Orthodox of those times when, before Easter, in the early church, all the catechumens (prepared for baptism) were baptized. After a sermon on the meaning of Christ's resurrection and what changes his followers must make (spiritually resurrect to a new life), Psalm 81 "Rise, O God" is sung, which prophesies about the power of the risen Christ.

Other verses of the same psalm are also sung, during which the priests change into white robes, by analogy with the holy angels in white robes who proclaimed the resurrection of the Lord. Then the song “Let all flesh be silent” is performed, where the church calls on every believer to be silent, indulge in meditation on Jesus and rejoice in his heart about His resurrection.

Another song performed during the liturgy on Holy Saturday is irmos 9 of the song of the canon “Do not cry” and “Vosta”, which traces the transition from the humiliated state of the Lord who died in agony to joy about him as risen from the tomb and revealed the wonderful light of Christ's Sunday .

Hymns during the Easter service

What Easter hymns are performed at the most important service of the year?

When	What's happening
At the festive midnight, at the moment of waiting for the Resurrection of Christ.	Priests. They sing in a closed altar (symbol of heaven) the song "Your Resurrection, Christ the Savior." Then the priests sing the same song again, but with the curtain of the altar already open.
After the opening of the royal gates.	The priests sing the same song again, and the choir echoes them.
The Easter chime and procession begins.	Making a detour around the temple, believers perform spiritual hymns, for example, “Your Resurrection”, when the priest overshadows the western closed doors of the temple (a symbol of the tomb of Christ) with a cross and sings the joyful troparion “Christ is Risen” three times.
Then other hymns of Holy Pascha are sung.	The psalm of King David “Let God rise again” is sung, and the choir echoes the words “Rejoice, Christ is risen”, as if in response to the firm conviction of the righteous of the era Old Testament the resurrection of the future Messiah. The Easter canon is performed - the solemn hymn of John of Damascus, dedicated to the Resurrection of the Lord. A song sounds, which tells of faithful women who were the first to know that their Lord is not among the dead. The refrain of the 9th song of the canon “Magnifies the soul” and the song dedicated to the Virgin Mary “Virgin, rejoice” are performed. The Easter stichera (a hymnographic text to the words of the psalms) are sung.
The Bright Matins are coming to an end.	It ends with the Announcement of John Chrysostom and the singing of the troparion dedicated to his person and work. At the conclusion of the entire festive liturgy, the priest performs the first half of "Rejoice, Christ is Risen ...", he is echoed by the choir.
After the holiday vacation (Easter holidays).	The choir performs three times at a fast pace the Easter chant "Rejoice, Christ is Risen ...".

Every day during Easter and until the feast of the Ascension, the song “The Resurrection of Christ Who Seeed” is sung (hereinafter: “let us bow to the Saint ...”).

Everyday Easter songs

At Pascha, the hymn "Seeing the Resurrection of Christ" is sung three times. Historians agree that this work was written in Jerusalem. It is directly related to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher (the presence of the words: “Let us bow to the Holy Resurrection of Christ”).

The beauty of the word “Seeing the Resurrection of Christ” inspired such great composers as S. Rachmaninov, A. Vedel and A. Grechaninov to create everyday (non-church) versions of singing “Seeing the Resurrection”. In addition to "The Resurrection of Christ Who Seen", "The Wonderful Light of Christ's Resurrection" also belongs to the everyday choral Easter songs. In moments of despondency, the Orthodox are encouraged to read at home.

From ancient times Eastern church does not recognize the instrumental accompaniment of hymns at divine services. This is explained by the fact that musical instruments have always been used in the performance of religious rites by pagans, and also by the fact that a Christian must come to worship his Creator and give Him glory not with the help of man-made things, but with his voice.

In many churches in Moscow, parishioners try to sing along, in some churches even “folk singing” is practiced. It is also possible to participate in worship in silence. But in any case, it would be good to understand the liturgical texts, it is convenient to follow with your eyes the text of the key liturgical hymns. We place the text for the Easter service.

CHANTS FOR NATIONAL SINGING

BRIGHT RESURRECTION OF CHRIST. EASTER

Stichira, ch.6:

Your Resurrection, Christ the Savior, Angels sing in heaven, and make us on earth glorify You with a pure heart.

Troparion, ch.5:

Christ is risen from the dead by death trampling down death, and bestowing life on those in the tombs.

Irmos of the Easter canon:

Resurrection day, let's be enlightened, people: Easter, Lord's Easter! From death to life and from earth to heaven, Christ God has brought us, singing victoriously.

Come, we drink new beer, not miraculous from a barren stone, but an incorruptible source, from the tomb of Christ, we are affirmed in Nemzha.

Ipakoi, tone 4:

Having anticipated the morning even about Mary, and having found the stone rolled away from the tomb, I hear from the Angel: in the light of the ever-present Existing with the dead, what are you looking for, like a man? See the linen of the tomb, preach and preach to the world, as the Lord has risen, killing death, as the Son of God, saving the human race.

On the Divine Guard, may the God-speaking Habakkuk stand with us and show the luminiferous Angel, clearly saying: today is the salvation of the world, as Christ is risen, as Omnipotent.

Let us morning deep in the morning and instead of the world we will bring a song to the Lord, and we will see Christ the truth of the Sun, shining life to all.

You descended into the underworld of the earth and crushed the eternal faiths containing the bound, Christ, and three days, like from the whale Jonah, you resurrected from the tomb.

Kontakion, tone 8:

Even if you descended into the grave, Immortal, but you destroyed the power of hell and resurrected you, like a conqueror, Christ God, prophesying to the myrrh-bearing women: Rejoice, and grant peace to your apostle, give resurrection to the fallen.

Delivering the youths from the cave, being a Man, he suffers like a mortal, and splendor will clothe the mortal passion in incorruption, God is blessed of the fathers and glorified.

This appointed and holy day, One Sabbath is the King and Lord, feasts and celebrations are celebrations: let us bless Christ forever.

Shine, shine, new Jerusalem: the glory of the Lord is exalted upon you, now rejoice and be glad, Zion. You, Pure One, show off, Mother of God, about the rise of Your Nativity.

An angel crying out of Grace: Pure Virgin, rejoice, and again the river, rejoice: Your Son is risen three days from the tomb, and having raised the dead, people, rejoice

Exapostilary:

Having fallen asleep in the flesh, as if dead, King and Lord, thou hast risen three days, raised Adam from aphids and abolished death: Easter of incorruption, salvation of the world. [Thrice.]

EASTER POSTERS:

Verse: May God arise and his enemies be scattered.

Sacred Pascha appears to us today: New Holy Pascha: Mysterious Pascha: All-Honorable Pascha: Christ the Deliverer Pascha: Immaculate Pascha: Great Pascha: Easter of the Faithful: Easter that opens the doors of Paradise to us: Easter that sanctifies all the faithful.

Verse: Like smoke disappears, let them disappear.

Come from the vision, wife of the evangelist, and cry to Zion: receive from us the joys of the annunciation of the Resurrection of Christ: show off, rejoice and rejoice, Jerusalem, seeing the King of Christ from the tomb, as if the bridegroom is happening.

Verse: So let the sinners perish from the Face of God, but let the righteous rejoice.

The myrrh-bearing wife, in the morning, appeared deep in the tomb of the Giver of Life, having found an Angel sitting on a stone, and that, having proclaimed to them, she said: what are you looking for the Living One with the dead? Why are you crying incorruptible in aphids? Go, preach to His disciples.

Verse: This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Red Easter, Easter, Lord's Easter! Easter is all-honourable to us. Easter! We embrace each other with joy. Oh Easter! Deliverance of sorrow, for from the tomb today, as from the chamber, having exalted Christ, fill the women with joy, saying: preach the apostle.

Glory, and now: Resurrection day, and let us shine with triumph, and embrace each other. Rzem: brethren, and let us forgive those who hate us all by the Resurrection, and let us cry out like this: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death and bestowing life on those in the tombs.

Troparion: Christ is risen from the dead by death trampling down death, and bestowing life on those in the tombs

The entire festive Liturgy consists of special Paschal hymns - hymns to the Risen Christ. The service is accompanied by practically uninterrupted singing, which personifies the unceasing joy of the faithful. Easter hymns are distinguished by special majesty and solemnity, since they glorify the main event of the entire Christian world - the victory of Christ over death. They are often sung by parishioners together with the choir, and not only during the night service, but also during the Easter holidays.

Your Resurrection, Christ the Savior, / Angels sing in heaven, / and grant us on earth / with a pure heart / glorify you.

Troparion of Easter

Christ is risen from the dead, / trampling down death by death / and bestowing life on those in the tombs.

And thou hast descended into the tomb, immortal, / but thou hast destroyed the power of hell, / and thou art risen, like the Conqueror, Christ God, / prophesying to the myrrh-bearing women: Rejoice! / and by Your apostle grant the world, / give the Resurrection to the fallen.

Easter / sacred to us today seemed; / Easter is new holy; / Easter is mysterious; / Holy Easter. / Easter Christ the Redeemer; / Immaculate Easter; / Great Easter; / Easter of the faithful. / Easter opens the doors of paradise to us. / Pascha sanctifies all the faithful.

An angel crying out of Grace: / Pure Virgin, rejoice! / And pack the river: rejoice! / Your Son is risen / three days from the tomb / and raised up the dead, / people, rejoice.

Having seen the Resurrection of Christ, / let us worship the Holy Lord Jesus, / the only sinless one, / we bow to Your Cross, Christ, / and we sing and glorify Your holy Resurrection: / Thou art our God, / unless we know otherwise, / we call Your name. / Come all faithful, / let us bow to the Holy Resurrection of Christ: / behold, the joy of the whole world has come by the Cross. / Always bless the Lord, / sing His Resurrection: / having endured the crucifixion, / destroy death with death.

By a wave of the sea / who hid in ancient times, / the persecutor of the tormentor, hiding under the earth / the saved youths; / but we, like maidens, / sing to the Lord, / gloriously be glorified.