"He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him." Matthew 28:7
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Words: John of Damascus (675-749) (Αναστασεωσ ημερα); translated from Greek to English by John Mason Neale, 1862.
Music: "Lancashire," Henry Thomas Smart, 1835
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John Mason Neale described how early Greek Christians sang this hymn:
As midnight approached, the archbishop, with his priests, accompanied by the king and queen, left the church and stationed themselves on the platform, which was raised considerably from the ground, so that they were distinctly seen by the people. Everyone now remained in breathless expectation, holding an unlighted taper in readiness when the glad moment should arrive, while the priests still continued murmuring their melancholy chant in a low half whisper. Suddenly a single report of a cannon announced that twelve o'clock had struck and that Easter Day had begun; then the old archbishop, elevating the cross, exclaimed in a loud, exulting tone, "Christ¡os anes¡te!" "Christ is risen!" and instantly every single individual of all that host took up the cry…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.