What do you think about when Syria is mentioned today? Anything in the news about Syria has been troubling these days, and their people have suffered for so long. 

Few people in our congregations know that “The Day of Resurrection”, one of our most loved Easter hymns, was written in Damascus, Syria, in the 7th century, about 1370 years ago. The fact that this hymn has stayed important and meaningful for so many years is already incredible, but the Easter tradition of the time is even more so. The Easter ritual in those 7th century days, which I am about to describe, continues in many ways to this day in the Greek Orthodox Church, which this year will be celebrating Easter on April 19. (Most years, Western Christian churches and Eastern Orthodox churches celebrate Easter on different dates.)

On the evening of Good Friday, all the church’s worshippers gathered at the church. They then lifted the altar and moved it out of the way. Of course, back then, there were no floors, so the tradition included digging a hole where the altar had been, placing a cross in the hole and burying it with dirt, and then replacing the altar back on top of it. 

In the early days of Christian history, all significant events were celebrated the night before. The whole community gathered at the church on Easter Eve and began by singing “The Day of Resurrection” in the dark. Then everyone lit candles to dispel the darkness.

What had been silence was then suddenly shattered by bells, drums, trumpets, and even canons. Then the real focus of this extraordinary celebration occurred. The altar was lifted and moved, and the buried cross was dug up and lifted high, with shouts from all the people of “Christ is risen!” 

Can you imagine such a feeling of joyous celebration?