For those of you who know this song, a big smile has just crossed your face because you have felt the joy of singing this very song to the Lord's Mother.
To truly enter into the joy of this glorious prophetic and precious song, you must hear it sung by a church that has just gone through lent in preparation for the glorious event of the rising of our Lord. More importantly, you must hear a church full of children belt out this song during the Paschal season. I believe it is truly one of the greatest sounds you'll ever hear.
Everyone loves this song. It is sung with varying melodies, depending on which church you belong to, but the words are all essentially the same. It is a festive song, which means it's sung with a more upbeat tempo than the hymns sung during lent.
The next time you run into an Orthodox Christian, ask if they know the song. They will more than likely smile and say, "Oh, I love that song! It's one of my favorite Paschal hymns!" And if your lucky enough, they'll just start belting it out right there on the spot for you, just like my godmother did right after I became Orthodox and was about to experience my first Pascha in the Church. It was great, and still is.
Oh, I can't resist, here let me sing for you!
The angel cried to the Lady full of grace,
rejoice, rejoice O pure Virgin.
Again, I say rejoice Thy Son has risen from His three days in the tomb.
With Himself he has raised all the dead.
Rejoice, rejoice all ye people.
Shine, Shine O New Jerusalem,
The glory of the Lord has shone on thee.
Exalt now exalt and be glad O Zion.
Be radiant O pure Theotokos in the resurrection, the resurrection of Thy Son!
