Easter Tuesday in the Eastern Christian liturgical calendar is part of Bright Week, the time when the joyful celebration of Christ’s Resurrection continues. While Easter Sunday and Monday are marked by grand liturgies and communal feasts, Easter Tuesday (known in some traditions as Emmaus Tuesday) focuses on the post-Resurrection encounter of Christ with His disciples on the road to Emmaus.
The story of Emmaus is found in the Gospel of Luke (Luke 24:13-35). After Christ’s Resurrection, two of His disciples are traveling from Jerusalem to Emmaus. As they walk, they are disheartened and confused by the recent events—Christ’s crucifixion and death. As they walk, they meet a stranger who begins to explain to them the Scriptures, showing how Christ had to suffer and die before entering His glory.
Eventually, they recognize that the stranger is Jesus Himself, but at the moment of recognition, He vanishes from their sight. This encounter is significant because it is a post-Resurrection revelation in which Christ opens their minds to understand the Scriptures and the meaning of His death and Resurrection.
This story is seen as symbolizing the spiritual journey of every Christian—initial confusion and doubt, followed by the revealing of the truth through Christ, who is the Word of God.
Easter Tuesday is traditionally associated with the Emmaus story, as it commemorates Christ’s appearance to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. It reflects a key post-Resurrection appearance where Christ explains the meaning of His suffering and death to those who are still struggling to understand the events of Good Friday and Easter.
This encounter is deeply important because it represents Christ’s continued teaching and presence with His disciples, even after His Resurrection. It is a reminder that the Resurrection is not just a past event but an ongoing revelation of God’s plan of salvation.
The traditional Paschal greeting in Eastern Christianity is “Khrystos Voskres!” (“Christ is Risen!”), which is often responded to with “Voistynu Voskres!” (“Indeed, He is Risen!”). This greeting is an expression of joy and celebration of the Resurrection.
This greeting is not just for Easter Sunday but extends throughout Bright Week, including Easter Tuesday. It is a way to continue to proclaim the good news of the Resurrection in the days following Pascha.
The phrase “Yavyvsia Simonovi” (“He appeared to Simon”) is a specific reference to an event mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15:5, where St. Paul writes that Christ appeared to Simon Peter (sometimes referred to as Cephas) before appearing to the other disciples and apostles.
The appearance to Peter is significant because Peter was the leader among the apostles and had denied Christ three times before the Crucifixion. The Resurrection appearance to Peter signifies that Christ’s victory over death extends even to those who had faltered or betrayed Him, offering them forgiveness and restoration.
By greeting with “Yavyvsia Simonovi”, the faithful are acknowledging that Christ’s Resurrection is not just for the righteous but for all, including those who have fallen short. This greeting emphasizes God’s mercy, forgiveness, and the restorative power of the Resurrection.
On Easter Tuesday, the Church continues to celebrate the joy of Pascha, though the liturgy is somewhat less grand compared to the Paschal Vigil and Easter Sunday. The hymns and prayers continue to reflect the Paschal theme, and the Paschal Troparion (the hymn proclaiming Christ’s Resurrection) is still sung, with the joyful refrain:
“Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs, bestowing life!”
The Gospel reading on Easter Tuesday typically reflects the post-Resurrection appearances of Christ. For example, the Gospel of Luke 24:13-35 (the Road to Emmaus) is often read, drawing the faithful into the experience of the disciples as they recognize the living Christ in their midst.
In Ukrainian tradition, Easter Tuesday (Polyvaljniy Ponedilok) is still considered a part of the Paschal celebration. While it may not have the same grand liturgical observance as Easter Sunday or Monday, the day is still celebrated with joy and commemorates the continuing joy of Christ’s Resurrection.
Greeting with “Khrystos Voskres” and “Yavyvsia Simonovi” in Ukrainian homes and churches reinforces the theme of resurrection, forgiveness, and renewal that permeates the entire Paschal season.
In some Ukrainian communities, Easter Tuesday is also associated with continued family gatherings and social interactions. The Paschal meal continues, and the joy of the Resurrection remains evident in the actions and words of the people.
In summary, Easter Tuesday (often referred to as Emmaus Tuesday) in the Eastern Christian tradition continues the celebration of Christ’s Resurrection. It is marked by the commemoration of the encounter of Christ with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, where He reveals Himself and explains the meaning of the Scriptures. The greeting of “Khrystos Voskres” and the phrase “Yavyvsia Simonovi” (“He appeared to Simon”) are deeply rooted in the liturgical and scriptural traditions. They connect the faithful to the joy of the Resurrection and emphasize God’s mercy and forgiveness, highlighting the universal nature of Christ’s triumph over death.
In the Ukrainian tradition, Easter Tuesday, while a quieter observance than Easter Sunday, is still a joyous day of proclamation and a continuation of the Paschal celebration, focusing on the ongoing revelation of Christ and the deepening of the Resurrection experience for the faithful.
