As Christians around the globe celebrate Easter, a profound sense of renewal and hope permeates the air. On April 19, 2025, Archbishop Gregory J. Hartmayer of Atlanta greeted congregants with the jubilant proclamation, "Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!" This age-old greeting encapsulates the joy of Easter, marking the culmination of a season dedicated to prayer, penance, and fasting during Lent. Hartmayer emphasized that this period of reflection is designed to reorient believers from selfishness towards a life lived in communion with God.
In his Easter message, Hartmayer encouraged Christians to embody the transformative power of the Resurrection, stating, "The power of Jesus, risen from the dead, manifests itself in us." He called for a celebration that not only honors the Resurrection but also inspires believers to witness their faith joyfully, sharing the renewed life they experience with others.
Meanwhile, across the Atlantic in Greece, the celebration of Easter took on a unique cultural flavor. Thousands gathered in churches for the midnight Resurrection service known as Anastasi, where the atmosphere was charged with anticipation. As the clock struck midnight, priests proclaimed, "Christos Anesti!" (Christ is Risen!), and the congregation responded joyfully, "Alithos Anesti!" (Truly, He is Risen!).
This year, the festivities included a spectacular display of fireworks lighting up the night sky, ringing church bells, and heartfelt embraces among families and friends. Worshippers carried lit candles home, a symbolic act believed to bring blessings, often marking a traditional cross made from the candle’s soot above their doorways.
The celebration continued with the age-old tradition of egg cracking, or tsougrisma, where red-dyed eggs are tapped against each other as friends exchange the Easter greeting. The egg, a symbol of the sealed tomb of Jesus, represents His resurrection as participants crack the shells, signifying new life. Following this, families enjoyed magiritsa, a traditional Greek soup made from lamb offal, which marks the end of the 40-day Great Lent period.
On April 20, Bishop Paul Barker reflected on the significance of the Resurrection in his homily, noting that while many witnessed Jesus' birth and miracles, no one was present to witness His resurrection. He stated, "When the cold corpse began to warm up into a transformed body, no one noticed." This absence of witnesses did not diminish the event's impact; rather, it underscores the profound transformation that occurred within Jesus' followers, shifting them from fear to faith.
Barker pointed out that the Resurrection of Jesus fulfills all of God’s promises from the Old Testament, stating, "The resurrection of Jesus creates hope because Jesus is the first fruits of all who believe." His message resonated with the theme of hope, emphasizing that the Resurrection assures believers of their own future resurrection and life beyond death.
In Westminster Cathedral, Cardinal Vincent Nichols delivered a poignant homily during the Easter Vigil on the same night as the Greek celebrations. He explained how Christ brings light to every realm of darkness, using the song of St. Francis of Assisi to illustrate this theme. He described how the vigil night is illuminated by the Risen Lord, saying, "Beautiful, playful, robust and strong. These are words to treasure as we come to see how the fire we have witnessed becomes fully focused, concentrated almost, into one candle, representing one man, Jesus, the Christ."
Cardinal Nichols also prayed for those suffering in what he termed a "living hell," emphasizing the need for peace and compassion in a world often marred by conflict. He highlighted the fire as a symbol of God’s creative Spirit, which not only brings light to darkness but also signifies the hope of renewal and salvation.
As the Paschal Candle was carried through the Cathedral, the flame of the Risen Christ was passed among the congregation, symbolizing the light of faith that believers are called to share with the world. Nichols encouraged all to embody the qualities of beauty, playfulness, robustness, and strength in their daily lives, reflecting the joy and hope of the Resurrection.
These Easter celebrations across various cultures and communities reveal a universal theme: the Resurrection of Jesus is not merely a historical event but a transformative reality that continues to inspire hope and renewal in the hearts of believers. Whether through the joyous proclamations in Atlanta, the rich traditions in Greece, or the heartfelt homilies in Westminster, the message remains clear: Christ is alive, and His victory over death brings new life to all who believe.
As this Easter season unfolds, may the joy and peace of the Risen Christ fill the hearts of all, encouraging them to share this light with others, illuminating the paths of those in darkness.
