Eastertide lasts fifty day. By my reckoning, we have 46 more to go. Let’s keep the celebration going. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

The Collect for Thursday in Easter Week

Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ's Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Paschal Troparion and a Modern Worship Song

What’s old is new again. The Paschal Troparion is a brief refrain sung in the Churches of the East, early on Easter morning and continuing through the following eight days. (The Octave of Easter.) Christians may have been singing it as early as the 2nd-century.

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

Something new, is actually old. The worship leader and songwriter, Matt Maher, has included the first portion of the Paschal Troparion in his song, “Christ is Risen from the Dead.”

Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake!
Come and rise up from the grave

Christ is risen from the dead
We are one with Him again
Come awake, come awake!
Come and rise up from the grave

Oh death! Where is your sting?
Oh hell! Where is your victory?
Oh Church! Come stand in the light
The glory of God has defeated the night
Oh death! Where is your sting?
Oh hell! Where is your victory?
Oh Church! Come stand in the light
Our God is not dead, He's alive, He's alive - listen here: Matt Maher, 2009.

Ivanka Demchuk, Resurrection