Christ is risen from the grave! Trampling down death by death!
And upon those in the tombs bestowing life!
The Christus Victor theme is a prominent one in Scripture. Apostle Paul wrote:
For he [Christ] must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
(I Corinthians 15:25-26)
The icon to the left shows Christ as the Vanquisher of death. We see Christ standing on top the shattered doors of hell and death lying in abject defeat. We also see him pulling Adam and Eve from the tombs into everlasting life.
The Christus Victor theme is also prominent Athanasius the Great’s On the Incarnation:
So has death been conquered and branded for what it is by the Saviour on the cross. It is bound hand and foot, all who are in Christ trample it as they pass and as witnesses to Him deride it, scoffing and saying, “O Death, where is thy victory? O Grave, where is thy sting?” (§ 27)
If, then, it is by the sign of the cross and by faih in Christ that death is trampled underfoot, it is clear that it is Christ Himself and none other Who is the Archvictor over death and robbed it of its power. Death used to be strong and terrible, but now, since the sojourn of the Saviour and the death and resurrection of His body, it is despised; and obviously it is by the very Christ Who mounted on the cross that it has been destroyed ad vanquished finally. (§ 29)
Truly He is risen!
Yes, He is risen!
Blessed Pascha to you, Robert. Christ is Risen!
Christ is risen!
Notice that Christ hold Adam and Eve by their wrists, not by their hands. This shows that He alone is responsible for their raising. He raises them, it is not a joint effort. Also, some icons have Christ only grasping Adam, as He, the New Adam, raises the old Adam.
Good point!
Robert