Paschal greeting
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The Paschal greeting, also known as the Easter Acclamation, is an Easter custom among Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Catholic, and Anglican Christians. It is also found among some Christians from liturgical Protestant denominations, such as certain Anglicans and Lutherans.[citation needed] One is to greet another person with "Christ is risen!" and the response is "He is risen indeed!" with many variants in English and other languages (compare Matthew 27:64, Matthew 28:6–7, Mark 16:6, Luke 24:6, Luke 24:34).
Similar responses are also used in the liturgies of other Christian churches, but not so much as general greetings.[citation needed]
Examples
Eastern Orthodox
The greeting and reply are:
Christ is Risen! – Truly He is Risen!
- In the original language, Greek: Χριστὸς ἀνέστη! – Ἀληθῶς ἀνέστη! (Khristós anésti! – Alithós anésti!)
- In the most widely used language, Church Slavonic: Хрїсто́съ воскре́се! – Вои́стинꙋ воскре́се! (Xristósŭ voskrése! – Voístinu voskrése!)
A list in 57 languages is found at the website of the Orthodox Church in America.
In some cultures, such as in Russia and Serbia, it is also customary to exchange a triple kiss of peace on the alternating cheeks after the greeting.
Catholic
In the Latin Rites the traditional greeting on Easter morning is "Christ is risen" to which the response is "He is risen indeed. Alleluia!" This ancient phrase echoes the greeting of the angel to Mary Magdalene, to Mary the mother of James, and to Joseph, as they arrived at the sepulchre to anoint the body of Jesus: "He is not here; for he has risen, as he said" (Matt 28:6).