Did you know that there are two dates for Easter? One follows the Jewish Passover and is lunar, the other determined by solar calculation. This disagreement dates back to at least the late 2nd century.

This week I'm in Eastern Europe, where the orthodox date of Easter is observed. In 2009 it is 19 April, not the same as the Catholic date of 12 April. (The original Easter date, probably 5 April [33 AD], comes around only every so often.)

All around the world today, believers in many nations are are affirming: "Christ is arisen."  The expected response: "He is arisen indeed."

  • Christos voskres! Voistinu voskres! (Russian)
  • Harisutosu fukkatsu! Jitsu ni fukkatsu! (Japanese)
  • Al-Masīḥ qām! Ḥaqqan qām! (Arabic)
  • Hameshiach qam! Be'emet qam! (Hebrew)
  • Christos aneste.  Alethos Aneste. (New Testament Greek)

Learn how to say it in many different ways (tongues). Click here.

To learn about the origins of Easter, click here.