Is Christ risen or is he risen: how to speak correctly, what to answer

The phrase "Christ is risen!" and the answer "Truly He is risen!" are not just a traditional Easter greeting, but a deeply rooted confession of faith, a living part of the Russian Orthodox and cultural tradition.

These words are heard from the first moments of Easter night and throughout the entire period after the feast of the Bright Resurrection of Christ until the feast of the Ascension of the Lord. For a believer, this is not a routine greeting, but a real spiritual joy, an expression of the victory of life over death, light over darkness.

The essence of the Easter greeting, how to pronounce it correctly and what to answer is in the Izvestia material.

"Christ is risen!" — "Truly risen!": the essence of Easter greetings

The origin of the Easter greeting goes back to ancient times. Christians greeted each other with words about the resurrection of Christ. It was not just a formality, but a kind of brief confession of faith in the risen Savior. Such a greeting seemed to unite all believers into one family.

Over time, this greeting became part of the liturgical text, especially pronounced in the Paschal canon written by St. John of Damascus.

"Christ is risen!" is the proclamation of the central event of the Christian faith. This is not just a reminder of a miracle two thousand years ago, but a living reality: Christ has risen, and by doing so He overcame death and opened the way to eternal life for everyone.

"He is truly risen!" is the answer, the confirmation of this faith. This is not a polite agreement, but a sincere testimony: yes, truly, truly, not symbolically, but in fact, he is risen.

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Is Christ risen or is he risen: how to speak and answer correctly

You can often hear people saying "Christ is risen" instead of "Christ is risen," especially in colloquial speech. This raises doubts among some: but what is the right thing to do?

The form "risen" is the Church Slavonic verb form in the past tense, third person, singular. This is a grammatically absolutely correct expression in the liturgical context and tradition of the Church.

The form "resurrected" is the modern Russian language. It is also true in meaning, but it is not part of the established Easter greeting.

It is correct and traditional to say: "Christ is risen!" — "Truly he is risen!"

It is acceptable, but not canonical: "Christ is risen!" — "Truly risen!" (in an informal setting)

However, in churches, at worship services, in religious texts and among believers, it is the Slavic "resurrection" that is accepted.

If you are greeted with the words "Christ is risen!", you need to respond: "Truly he is risen!". It is a form of joy, belonging, and an expression of faith.

Although the Church Slavonic form is preferred, the main thing is not the accuracy of the word, but the spirit with which it is pronounced. If a person wholeheartedly says "Christ is risen," this is also joy and faith. But if you want to follow the tradition, then you should use the form "risen" as a tribute to the liturgical culture and the millennial heritage.