concept
Paschal greeting ("Christ is risen")
Christ is risen
also: Христос воскрес, Khristos voskrese
The traditional Orthodox Easter greeting, exchanged among believers throughout Paschal week with the response "Truly He is risen," often accompanied by a triple kiss; its appearance among the very first words spoken in the story marks how completely the greeting has taken over ordinary speech on this night.
Reading notes
- To N. A. Leikin, 10 April 1889. Moscow. §3 he is risen indeed
The traditional Orthodox Easter exchange ("Christ is risen" / "He is risen indeed") that Russians used as a greeting formula throughout Easter week; Chekhov's letter is dated within that week.
- On Holy Night §13 Christ is risen
Khristos voskrese! is the traditional Orthodox Paschal (Easter) greeting, exchanged with the response "Voistinu voskrese!" ("Truly He is risen!") and typically accompanied by a triple kiss; hearing the bells, the peasant crosses himself and speaks the greeting before the ferry has even arrived, showing how completely the greeting has already displaced ordinary speech on this night.