It is spring again and during this time of the year Orthodox Christians welcome the brightest holiday – Easter. The most important period of the long preparations for welcoming the holiday is the Holy Week. For Christians the last days of the earthly life of Jesus Christ are a prelude to eternal life. During the Holy Week the Church serves liturgies are related to Christ’s way to Golgotha, his suffering and the redemption he brought to mankind from the cross.

The Resurrection of Christ unites the faithful with the triumph of good over evil and of life over death. On Saturday evening before Easter temples are filled with believers who come for the solemn service. The priest who leads it comes out carrying the paschal trikirion or triple-candlestick and all believers light their candles from it. Meanwhile, the chant “Vozkresenie Tvoe Hriste Spase” (Thy Resurrection Saved) is sung.

 "The Living God is the Creator of freedom. He can only act as a flow of light, a stream of love, goodness and beauty towards the hearts of those who voluntarily turn to Him. When we turn away from him, he seems disconnected from His creation." With these words by Olivier Clement, a professor at the Orthodox Theological Institute in Paris, we end today’s festive concert. You can hear the full text accompanying the selection of chants and the chants themselves in the audio file.

English: Alexander Markov

Audio file contains the following chants:

-  Razboinika Blagorazumnago (The Good Thief)

-  Vozkresenie Tvoe Hriste (Thy Resurrection, Oh Christ), performed by the Sofia Boys Choir, conducted by Adriana Blagoeva.

-  Hristos Vozkrese! (Troparion to Christ’s Resurrection), in the rendition of the head of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church Patriarch Neophyte.

-  Voskresen triptych (Resurrection of Christ Triptych)