Everyone who is devout and a lover of God, let them enjoy this beautiul and radiant Feast of Feasts [Easter]! If anyone is a wise servant, rejoice and enter into the joy of the Lord. If anyone has been wearied in fasting, now receive your recompense. Let no one fear Death, for the Savior’s death has set us free! He that was taken by Death has annihilated it! He descended into Hell, and took Hell captive! He embittered it when it tasted of His Flesh! And anticipating this Isaiah exclaimed, “Hell was embittered when it encountered thee in the lower regions.” It was embittered, for it was abolished! It was embittered, for it was mocked! It was embittered, for it was purged! It was embittered, for it was despoiled! It was embittered, for it was bound in chains! It took a body, and face to face met God! It took earth, and encountered Heaven! It took what it saw, but crumbled before what it had not seen!

“O Death, where is your sting? O Hell, where is your victory?”

Christ is risen, and you are overthrown! Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen! Christ is risen, and the Angels rejoice! Christ is risen, and Life reigns! Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in the tombs! For Christ being raised from the dead, has become the firstfruits of them that slept. To Him be glory and dominion through all the ages of ages!

—John Chrysostom, Easter Homily