Lent has not yet begun and already I’m plunging into the culmination of Pascha, but I could not resist sharing this jewel. For several years all I had was just a sound clip of the first minute or so of this mind-blowing and spiritually moving performance.

But I located it on Youtube and am pleased to share it with you. This is a traditional Eastern Orthodox chant that dates back to the time of the Apostles. A similar version exists in the Byzantine Catholic Church, to which I belong. Ordinarily, the synthesized music you hear would be sung by a full, polyphonic choir.

This version is sung by Irene Papas, accompanied by the incomparable Vangelis. It is indescribably beautiful and I am not ashamed to say I weep every time I hear it - although the late and much beloved Fr. Leonard Kubierski would admonish me for doing so, insofar as one ought to rejoice and not weep at the resurrection of Christ.

Perhaps I’m simply weeping for my own faults. I suppose only God knows that answer. That’s why I chuckle at those who think they have all the answers either for or against the case of God’s existence. I’m still struggling with the questions.

For those interested, here are the Greek words, followed by a transliteration and finally a translation into English:

Χριστὸς ἀνέστη ἐκ νεκρῶν,
θανάτῳ θάνατον πατήσας,
καὶ τοῖς ἐν τοῖς μνήμασι,
ζωὴν χαρισάμενος!

Transliteration:

Khristos anesti ek nekron,
Thanato thanaton patisas,
Kai tis en tis mnimasi
Zo-in kharisamenos!

Translation:

Christ is risen from the dead,
Trampling down death by death,
And upon those in the tombs
Bestowing life!