Easter Songs and Movies

Easter and Lenten music and movies: speaking to the heart

Not coincidentally, our Easter gifts market features Easter and Lenten hymns and religious Easter movies. Music and art transcend our head knowledge and speak not only to the mind but to the heart. To say that Christ is risen is not the same as to sing it. It is one thing to say that God is wondrous, but quite another to be swept up to the height of that wonder by an Easter song.

This section presents CDs and downloadable chants sung at the Church during the Great Lent and the Paschal Vigil. The two are intimately connected. Our vehement prayer during Lent readies us to embrace most fully the majesty and joy of Christ's resurrection.

The Lenten hymns are filled with an air of hopeful repentance and compunction. For example, the hymn “Let my Prayer be Set before You as Incense” – is sung to the words of Psalm 141. It likens our prayers to the fragrant smoke of incense rising in the air. Even though the prayers emanate from the mouth of sinners, we ask God to put them right. You will find this chant on multiple disks, to the music of Chesnokov, Bortnyansky and in the Znamenny chant.

The hymn “Now the Bodies of Heaven” is sung majestically and with a contrite heart. Its two main themes are remorse for our sins and our confidence in the power of God. The majestic song "Today He is Hung upon the Tree” laments the suffering of Christ and anticipates His resurrection as an act of His mercy and love for mankind.

The disks feature Easter worship music, mainly from the Paschal liturgy. The first ode sets the scene by exclaiming, "It is the Day of the Resurrection!". The Paschal Troparion is perhaps the oldest and best-known Easter hymn. In Orthodox churches throughout the world, it is still sung during the Paschal vigil.

Paschal joy exists to be shared. Hymns to the Resurrected Lord are our way to pass the jubilation along, and a CD with Lenten and Easter music is a welcome Christian gift during the Easter season. But it is also a prized present for those who grieve, sorrow or are in despair. For Easter is a victory of life over death and of joy over sadness and sorrow. The discs and videos in this section can bring relief and a ray of hope to a despairing soul.

In the words of a modern Greek elder, the cantor who chants with the grace of God is captured by the Holy Spirit: he does not live in this world, he ascends to the heavens - and imparts this grace on the entire congregation. May the film and music in this section bring you a taste of the Kindom of God and affirm the reality of God’s love.

Christ is risen! Happy Easter!

Please note that the final prices of the items in our catalogue may be different from the quoted ones, depending on your location and method of delivery. We will contact you after you place an order confirming your order and specifying its final cost.