Christos Anesti (Χριστός Ανέστη) & Spring Rebirth

A BEAUTIFULLY BROKEN EASTER MESSAGE

The Easter window in St George's church Benenden, Kent.

Happy Easter! The early Christian church thought it would be a good idea to connect Christ’s resurrection with the beginning of Spring.

I guess the idea is that Jesus conquering death is similar to the rebirth that takes place after all the trees and plants seem to have died during Winter.

It doesn’t matter if you are Christian, you can still celebrate Easter as a way of borrowing springtime energy, to be reborn to your best self, as a time to begin connecting with a larger frame of existence than the confines of your body.

Happy Easter, joyous Spring! 

Photos: St George’s Anglican Church, Benenden, Kent.

Christos Anesti (Χριστός Ανέστη) – Greeks greet each other with this starting after midnight on Easter Sunday. This phrase means, “Christ is Risen.”

Alithos Anesti (Aληθώς ανέστη!) – This is the response to the phrase, Christos Anesti. It means, “Truly, He is Risen.” You only say this to someone who has just said, “Christos Anesti” to you.

Paschal Greetings Originate in the Bible

There isn’t much information available as to the history of these phrases other than the fact that they are mentioned in the Bible. Most Christian cultures have these phrases translated into their native languages and the phrases can be traced to various books in the New Testament. Here’s a look:

Matthew 27:64:

64Therefore command the tomb to be made secure until the third day; otherwise his disciples may go and steal him away, and tell the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead,’ and the last deception would be worse than the first.”

Matthew 28:6-7

6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

Mark 16:6

6But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him.

Luke 24:34

34They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!”