The Descent into Hades
Christ is Risen!
On the Great and Holy Sunday of Pascha, we celebrate the Life-giving Resurrection of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ.
This is the feast of feasts and the festival of festivals. The Church proclaims the victory of Christ over death, and we hear the radiant words of the Paschal homily: “Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in the tomb.”
In this lesson, students are led through the Gospel proclamation of the Resurrection—from the empty tomb and the angel’s announcement, to the appearances of the risen Christ to the Myrrh-bearing Women and the Apostles. Alongside these Gospel accounts, the lesson draws students into the icon of the Anastasis (Descent into Hades), where Christ tramples down death, breaks its gates, and raises Adam and Eve, revealing the fullness of His victory and the restoration of humanity.
This lesson includes:
The Gospel accounts of the Resurrection
The icon of the Anastasis and what it reveals
Four additional icons of the Resurrection narrative
The Descent into Hades and Christ’s victory over death
Age-appropriate discussions, activities, and coloring sheets
Resurrection of Christ & Descent into Hades
The Myrrh-bearing women at the Empty Tomb — “He is not here”
“Rejoice” — the risen Christ appearing to the two Marias
Mary Magdalene at the Tomb — “Cease Touching Me”
Saints Peter and John Running to the Tomb
May we enter more deeply into the joy of the Resurrection, and together proclaim:
Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life!
In Christ,
Three Hierarchs Academy Press
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