Sunday Octoechos Services

Sunday Services in the First Tone

Saturday Evening Great Vespers

After the Introductory Psalm, the usual chanting from the Psalter. On Lord, I have cried…

The Resurrectional Stichera, in Tone I:

Stichos: Bring my soul out of prison,/ that I may confess Thy name.

Accept Thou our evening prayers, O holy Lord,/ and grant us remission of sins,// as Thou alone art He Who hath shown forth the resurrection in the world.

Stichos: The righteous shall wait patiently for me/ until Thou shalt reward me.

Encircle Sion and embrace it, O ye people,/ and therein give glory unto Him Who hath risen from the dead;// for He is our God, Who hath delivered us from our iniquities.

Stichos: Out of the depths have I cried unto Thee, O Lord;/ O Lord, hear my voice.

Come, ye people, let us hymn and worship Christ,/ glorifying His resurrection from the dead;/ for He is our God, Who hath delivered the world/ from the deception of the enemy.

Stichos: Let Thine ears be attentive/ to the voice of my supplication.

Make merry, O ye heavens!/ Trumpet forth, ye foundations of the earth!/ Cry aloud in gladness, O ye mountains!/ For, lo! Emmanuel hath nailed our sins to the Cross;/ He hath slain death, granting us life, having raised up Adam,// in that He loveth mankind.

Stichos: If Thou shouldst mark iniquities, O Lord, O Lord, who shall stand?/ For with Thee there is forgiveness.

Let us hymn the One Who of His own will was crucified in the flesh for our sake,/ Who suffered, and was buried,/ and rose from the dead;/ and let us chant, saying:/ Establish Thy Church in Orthodoxy, O Christ,// and bring peace to our life, in that Thou art good and lovest mankind.

Stichos: For Thy name’s sake have I patiently waited for Thee, O Lord, my soul hath waited patiently for Thy word,/ my soul hath hoped in the Lord.

Standing before Thy life-receiving tomb,/ unworthy as we are,/ we offer glorification to Thine ineffable loving-kindness,/ O Christ our God;/ for Thou didst accept the Cross and death,/ O Sinless One,/ that Thou mightest grant resurrection to the world,// in that Thou lovest mankind.

Stichos: From the morning watch until night, from the morning watch/ let Israel hope in the Lord.

Let us hymn the Word Who with the Father/ is equally without beginning and equally everlasting,/ Who issued forth ineffably from the Virgin’s womb,/ Who of His own will accepted the Cross and death for our sake,/ and rose from the dead in glory;/ and let us say: O Lord, Bestower of life,// Thou Savior of our souls, glory be to Thee!

Then stichera for the saint from the Menaion.

Glory… from the Menaion. Now and ever…

The dogmatic theotokion, in Tone I:

Let us hymn the Virgin Mary,/ the glory of the whole world,/ who sprang forth from men and gave birth unto the Master,/ the portal of heaven, and the subject of the hymnody of the incorporeal hosts/ and adornment of the faithful;/ for she hath been shown to be heaven and the temple of the Godhead./ Having destroyed the middle-wall of enmity,/ she hath brought forth peace and opened wide the kingdom./ Therefore, having her as the confirmation of our faith,/ we have as champion the Lord born of her./ Wherefore, be of good courage!/ Yea, be ye of good cheer, O people of God,// for He vanquisheth the foe, in that He is almighty!

Entrance. O gladsome Light…

The daily prokimenon, in Tone VI:

The Lord is King, He is clothed with majesty.

Stichos: The Lord is clothed with strength and He hath girt Himself.

Stichos: For He hath established the world which shall not be shaken.

Stichos: Holiness becometh Thy house, O Lord, unto length of days.

The aposticha stichera, in Tone I:

By Thy passion have we been freed from passions, O Christ,/ and by Thy resurrection have we been delivered from corruption.// O Lord, glory be to Thee!

Stichos: The Lord is King,/ He is clothed with majesty.

Let creation rejoice! Let the heavens make merry!/ Let the nations clap their hands with gladness!/ For Christ our Savior hath nailed our sins to the Cross;/ having slain death,/ He hath given life, having raised up fallen Adam,/ the common ancestor of all,// in that He loveth mankind.

Stichos: For He hath established the world/ which shall not be shaken.

As King of heaven and earth,/ O Unapproachable One,/ Thou wast of Thine own will crucified in Thy love for mankind,/ and Hades, encountering it below,/ was filled with bitterness, and the souls of the righteous, receiving it, rejoiced./ And Adam, beholding Thee, his Fashioner,/ in the nethermost parts, arose./ O the wonder!/ How is it that the Life of all hath tasted death?/ Yet Thou didst desire to enlighten the world/ which crieth aloud and saith:// O Lord, Who hast risen from the dead, glory be to Thee!

Stichos: Holiness becometh Thy house, O Lord,/ unto length of days.

The myrrh-bearing women arrived at Thy tomb with haste and lamentation,/ bearing myrrh; and failing to find Thine all-pure body,/ yet learning from the angel of the new and all-glorious wonder,/ they said to the apostles:// “The Lord is risen, granting the world great mercy!”

Glory… if there is a doxasticon provided.

If not, Glory…, Now and ever…, Theotokion:

Behold, the prophecy of Isaiah hath been fulfilled,/ for a Virgin hath given birth,/ and after giving birth hath remained a Virgin as before./ For God was born;/ therefore He began nature anew./ O Mother of God,/ disdain not the supplications of thy servants,/ which are offered unto thee in thy temple;/ but as thou bearest the Compassionate One in thine arms,/ have pity on thy servants,// and beseech Him that our souls be saved.

Then, Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart…

Trisagion through Our Father.

Resurrectional troparion, in Tone I:

When the stone had been sealed by the Jews,/ And the soldiers were guarding Thine immaculate Body,/ Thou didst arise on the third day, O Savior,/ granting life unto the world./ Wherefore, the Hosts of the Heavens/ cried out to Thee, O Life-giver:/ Glory to Thy Resurrection, O Christ./ Glory to Thy kingdom.// Glory to Thy dispensation, O only Lover of mankind!

Glory…, Now and ever…, Theotokion:

When Gabriel announced to thee, “Rejoice!”/ O Virgin,/ the Master of all became incarnate within thee, the holy ark, at his cry,/ as the righteous David said./ Thou wast shown to be more spacious than the heavens,/ having borne thy Creator./ Glory to Him Who made His abode within thee!/ Glory to Him Who came forth from thee!// Glory to Him Who hath set us free by thy birthgiving!

And the rest of the service followeth in order.

Sunday Morning Matins

After the Six Psalms, we chant God is the Lord… in Tone I, and sing the resurrectional troparion, twice, and the theotokion, once. Then the usual chanting of the Psalter.

After the first chanting of the Psalter, these resurrectional sessional hymns, in Tone I:

The soldiers guarding Thy tomb, O Savior, became as dead men because of the radiance of the angel who appeared before them, proclaiming the resurrection to the women. We glorify Thee, the Destroyer of corruption, and we bow down before Thee, our one God Who hast risen from the grave.

Stichos: Arise, O Lord my God, let Thy hand be lifted high; forget not Thy paupers to the end.

Nailed to the Cross of Thine own will, and laid in the tomb as one dead, O compassionate Bestower of life, by Thy death Thou didst break the dominion [of death], O Mighty One; for the gate-keepers of hades trembled before Thee, and Thou didst raise up with Thyself the dead of ages past, in that Thou alone lovest mankind.

Glory…, Now and ever…, Theotokion:

We who with love flee to thy goodness all know thee to be the Mother of God, who even after giving birth wast truly shown to be a virgin; for thee do we sinners have as our intercession, and we have acquired thee, who alone art most immaculate, as our salvation amid perils.

After the second chanting of the Psalter, these resurrectional sessional hymns, in Tone I:

Special Melody, When the stone…

Very early the women arrived at the tomb and, beholding the appearance of the angel, they trembled. The tomb shone forth life, and the miracle filled them with awe. Wherefore, going to the disciples, they proclaimed the resurrection: Christ hath made hell captive, in that He alone is mighty and powerful; and destroying the fear of damnation by the Cross, He hath raised up with Himself all who had fallen prey to corruption!

Stichos: I will confess Thee, O Lord, with my whole heart, I will tell of all Thy wonders.

Thou wast nailed to the Cross, O Life of all, and wast reckoned among the dead, O immortal Lord. Thou didst rise on the third day, O Savior, with Thee raising Adam up from corruption. Wherefore, the hosts of heaven cried out to Thee, O Christ, Bestower of life: Glory to Thy resurrection! Glory to Thy condescension, O Thou Who alone lovest mankind!

Glory…, Now and ever…, Theotokion:

O Mary, precious receptacle of the Master, raise us up who have fallen into the chasm of grievous despondency, transgressions and sorrows; for thou art salvation, help and mighty intercession for sinners, and thou savest thy servants.

Blessed are the blameless in the way… followed by the troparia The assembly of the angels…

Little litany, and this hypacoï, in Tone I:

The repentance of the thief stole paradise, and the lamentation of the myrrh-bearers announced joy: for Thou didst arise, O Christ God, granting great mercy to the world.

Songs of Ascent

Antiphon I, in Tone I:

When I am sorrowful,/ hearken unto my pain, O Lord.// Unto Thee do I cry.

Unceasing divine desire befitteth those in the wilderness,// who are beyond this vainglorious world.

Glory…, Now and ever…

Worship and glory are due the Holy Spirit,/ as also to the Father and the Son./ Wherefore, let us hymn the single dominion// of the Trinity.

Antiphon II

Thou hast brought me up to the mountains of Thy laws, O God.// Illumine me with the virtues, that I may hymn Thee.

Taking me in Thy right hand, O Word,/ preserve and protect me,// that the fire of sin may not consume me.

Glory…, Now and ever…

By the Holy Spirit is every creature restored,/ returning to its primal state;// for He is equal in power with the Father and the Son.

Antiphon III

My spirit was glad and my heart rejoiceth/ for those who said to me:// Let us enter into the courts of the Lord.

There is great fear in the house of David,/ for there, when the thrones are set up,// all the tribes and nations of the earth will be judged.

Glory…, Now and ever…

It is meet and fitting to offer honor and worship, glory and power unto the Holy Spirit,/ as to the Father and the Son,/ for the Trinity is a unity in nature,// but not in Persons.

Prokimenon, in Tone I:

Now will I arise, saith the Lord; I will establish them in salvation, I will be manifest therein.

Stichos: The words of the Lord are pure words.

Let every breath praise the Lord.

The appointed Resurrectional Gospel.

Then, this resurrectional hymn, in Tone VI:

Having beheld the resurrection of Christ, let us worship the holy Lord Jesus, the only Sinless One. We worship Thy Cross, O Christ, and Thy holy resurrection we hymn and glorify. For Thou art our God, and we know none other beside Thee, we call upon Thy name. O come, all ye faithful, let us worship Christ’s holy resurrection, for behold, through the Cross joy hath come to all the world. Ever blessing the Lord, we hymn His resurrection; for, having endured crucifixion, He hath destroyed death by death.

Psalm 50: Have mercy on me, O God…

Glory… Through the prayers of the apostles, O Merciful One, blot out the multitude of our transgressions.

Now and ever… Through the prayers of the Theotokos, O Merciful One, blot out the multitude of our transgressions.

Then, in Tone VI:

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy; and according to the multitude of Thy compassions, blot out my transgression.

Then, this sticheron:

Jesus having risen from the grave, as He foretold, hath given us life eternal, and great mercy.

Then, the Prayer: Save, O God, Thy people… followed by the exclamation: Through the mercy and compassions and love for mankind…

The Canons, in Tone I:

Ode I

Irmos: Thy victorious right arm/ hath in godly manner been glorified in strength;/ for as almighty, O Immortal One,/ it smote the adversary,// fashioning anew the path of the deep for the Israelites.

Refrain: Glory to Thy Holy Resurrection, O Lord!

O Thou Who in the beginning didst divinely fashion me out of dust with Thine all-pure hands, Thou didst stretch out Thine arms upon the Cross, calling forth from the earth my corrupt body, which Thou hadst received from the Virgin.

Thou didst assume mortality for my sake and didst surrender Thy soul unto death, O Thou Who by Thy divine breath didst instill my soul within me; and having loosed the everlasting bonds, thou didst glorify it with incorruption, raising it up with Thee.

Theotokion: Rejoice, O well-spring of grace! Rejoice, O ladder and door of heaven! Rejoice, O lampstand and golden jar, thou unquarried mountain, who for the world gavest birth unto Christ, the Bestower of life!

Canon of the Cross and the Resurrection

Ode 1, same tone.

Irmos: Christ is born…

Refrain: Glory to Thy Precious Cross and Resurrection, O Lord.

Christ deifieth me, assuming my flesh; Christ exalteth me, humbling Himself; Christ, the Bestower of life, maketh me dispassionate, suffering in His fleshly nature. Wherefore, I chant a hymn of thanksgiving, for He hath been glorified!

Crucified, Christ lifteth me up; put to death, Christ raiseth me up with Himself Christ giveth me life. Wherefore, clapping my hands in gladness, I chant a hymn of victory to the Savior, for He hath been glorified.

Theotokion: O all-pure Virgin, thou didst conceive God; in virginity thou didst give birth unto Christ Who of thee had become incarnate: the Only-begotten One, one in hypostasis, the Son Who is known in two natures, for He hath been glorified.

Canon of the Theotokos

Ode 1, same tone.

Irmos: Thy victorious right arm…

Refrain: O most holy Theotokos, save us.

What fitting hymnody can our weakness offer thee, who alone art full of grace, to whom Gabriel hath mystically taught us to chant: “Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos, Mother unwedded!”

With a most pure heart, O ye faithful, let us spiritually cry out to the Ever-virgin Mother of the King of the hosts on high: Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos, Mother unwedded!

Immeasurable is the depth of thine incomprehensible birthgiving, O most pure one; wherefore, with undoubting faith we make offering unto thee in purity, saying: Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos, Mother unwedded!

Then, the canon from the Menaion, and the katavasia as prescribed by the Typicon.

Ode III

Irmos: O Thou Who alone hast known the weakness of human nature,/ having in Thy mercy formed Thyself therein:/ Thou girdest me about with power from on high,/ that I may chant to Thee:/ Holy is the living temple of Thine ineffable glory,// O Thou Who lovest mankind!

As God, O Good One, Thou hast taken pity on me who have fallen; and it being Thy good pleasure to come down to me, Thou hast by Thy crucifixion raised me up to cry unto Thee: Holy is the Lord of glory, immutable in goodness!

As enhypostatic Life, O Christ, clothing Thyself in me who have become corrupt, in that Thou art the God of loving-kindness, and descending to my mortal dust, O Master, Thou didst destroy the dominion of death; and having risen after three days of death, Thou hast clothed me in incorruption.

Theotokion: Conceiving God in thy womb through the all-holy Spirit, O Virgin, thou didst remain unconsumed; for the bush which burned without being consumed clearly, to Moses the Law-giver, proclaimed thee beforehand, who received the unbearable Fire.

Canon of the Cross and Resurrection

Irmos: To Christ God, Who before the ages…

To Christ God, Who took the lost sheep upon His shoulder and by the Tree erased its sin, let us cry aloud: Holy art Thou, O Lord, Who hast lifted up our horn!

O ye faithful, in truth and a godly spirit let us serve Him Who led Christ, the great Shepherd, out of hell and doth manifestly shepherd the nations through the apostles, His hierarchy.

Theotokion: Unto Him Who is God over all, the Son Who without seed willingly became incarnate of the Virgin, and by His divine power preserved her who gave Him birth as a pure virgin even after birthgiving, let us cry: Holy art Thou, O Lord!

Canon of the Theotokos

Irmos: O Thou Who alone hast known…

O Virgin, following the sayings of the prophets, we truly call thee the light cloud; for the Lord came upon thee to cast down the handiworks of the falsehood of Egypt and to enlighten those who worship them.

The choir of the prophets truly called thee the sealed well-spring and the closed door, clearly describing for us the signs of thy virginity, O most hymned one, which thou didst preserve even after giving birth.

Accounted worthy to perceive the transcendent Mind as far as he was able, Gabriel offered thee a cry of joy, O immaculate Virgin, openly announcing the conception of the Word and proclaiming His ineffable birth.

Ode IV

Irmos: Gazing with the eyes of foresight upon thee,/ the mountain overshadowed by the grace of God,/ Habbakuk prophesied that the Holy One of Israel/ would come forth from thee,// for our salvation and restoration.

Who is this Savior Who issueth forth from Edom, wearing a crown of thorns, His robe stained red, lifted up upon the Tree? He is the Holy One of Israel, [Who is come] for our salvation and restoration!

Behold, ye disobedient people, and be ashamed! For He Whom ye madly asked Pilate to lift up on the Cross as a malefactor hath destroyed the power of death and risen as God from the tomb!

Theotokion: O Virgin, we know thee to be the tree of life; for it is no fruit deadly for men to eat which thou hast put forth, but the delight of everlasting Life, for the salvation of us who hymn thee.

Canon of the Cross and the Resurrection

Irmos: A Rod from the root of Jesse…

Who is this Beautiful One from Edom, Whose robe is dyed red by the grapes of Bozrah? He Who is comely as God, and as man weareth vesture of flesh stained with blood? Unto Him, O ye faithful, let us chant: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Showing Himself to be the High Priest of the good things to come, Christ destroyed our sins; and indicating the strange way by His own blood, as our forerunner He hath entered the higher and more perfect tabernacle, the Holy of holies.

Theotokion: O most hymned one, of Him Who for our sake revealed Himself as the new Adam thou didst request the ancient debt of Eve; for uniting noetic and animate flesh to Himself by His pure conception, from thee did Christ issue forth, the one Lord in two natures.

Canon of the Theotokos

Irmos: Gazing with the eyes of foresight…

Hearken, O heaven, to the wonders! Pay heed, O earth! For the daughter of fallen Adam who was made of dust hath been appointed for God, to be the Mother of her own Creator, for our salvation and restoration.

We hymn thy great and awesome mystery, for, hiding Himself from the captains of the armies of heaven, He Who Is descended upon thee like rain upon the fleece, for our salvation, O all-hymned one.

O most hymned Theotokos, thou Holy of holies, expectation of the nations and salvation of the faithful: From thee hath the Deliverer, Lord and Bestower of life shone forth, Whom do thou entreat, that thy servants be saved.

Ode V

Irmos: O Christ Who hast enlightened the ends of the world/ with the radiance of Thy coming/ and illumined them by Thy Cross:/ With the light of Thy divine knowledge// enlighten the hearts of those who hymn Thee in Orthodox manner.

The Jews put the great Shepherd and Lord of the sheep to death by the Tree of the Cross; but the dead buried in hades did He deliver, like sheep, from the dominion of death.

Having announced peace by Thy Cross and proclaimed remission to those held captive, O my Savior, Thou didst put to shame him who hath dominion, as though he were naked, by Thy divine resurrection showing him to be impoverished.

Theotokion: Disdain not the requests of those who petition thee with faith, O most hymned and all-pure one, but accept and convey them to thy Son, the one God and Benefactor; for thee have we acquired as our intercessor.

Canon of the Cross and Resurrection

Irmos: As God of peace…

O the richness, O the depth of the wisdom of God! Laying hold of the wise, the Lord delivered us from their wiles; for having of His own will suffered in the weakness of the flesh, by His might He hath raised up the dead, granting them life.

Christ God, He Who Is, uniteth Himself to the flesh for our sake, and is crucified and dieth; He is buried, and riseth again, and with His flesh He ascendeth unto the Father in splendor. And therewith He shall come and save those who worship Him in piety.

Theotokion: O pure virgin, Holy of holies, thou gavest birth to the Holy One of the saints, Christ the Deliverer Who sanctifieth all; wherefore, we proclaim thee, the Queen and Mistress of all, as the Mother of the Author of creation.

Canon of the Theotokos

Irmos: O Christ Who hast enlightened…

The hosts of heaven are gladdened at the sight of thee, and with them the companies of men rejoice; for they have been joined together by thy birthgiving, O Virgin Theotokos, which we glorify as is meet.

Let all the tongues and thoughts of men be moved to the praise of thee who art truly the adornment of mankind, for the Virgin standeth forth, clearly raising to glory those who with faith hymn her wonders.

The hymns and laudation of the most wise, which are offered unto the Virgin Mother of God, are glorious; for she became the temple of all-divine glory, and we glorify her as is meet.

Ode VI

Irmos: The uttermost abyss hath engulfed us,/ and there is none to deliver us./ We are accounted as lambs for the slaughter./ Save Thy people, O our God,// for Thou art the strength and correction of the weak!

We were grievously wounded by the offense of the first-created man, O Lord, but we have been healed by the wounds wherewith Thou wast wounded for us, O Christ; for Thou art the strength and correction of the weak.

Thou hast led us up out of hades, O Lord, having slain the all-devouring monster and set his power at nought by Thy might, O Omnipotent One; for Thou art Life, Light and Resurrection.

Theotokion: The ancestors of our race rejoice in thee, O all-pure virgin, receiving through thee the Eden which they lost through transgression; for thou wast pure before giving birth and art so after birthgiving.

Canon of the Cross and Resurrection

Irmos: The sea monster spewed forth…

Christ God, the dispassionate and immaterial Mind, doth associate Himself with the mind of man, which standeth midway between the divine Essence and the grossness of the flesh; and, wholly immutable, He hath united Himself unto all of me, that, crucified, He might grant salvation unto the whole of me who have fallen.

Tripping, Adam fell and was broken, deceived of old by the hope of deification; yet he ariseth, deified through union with the Word, and through His suffering receiveth dispassion, and is glorified as a son, sitting upon the throne with the Father and the Spirit.

Theotokion: Without leaving the bosom of the unoriginate Father, He Who before was begotten without mother and becameth incarnate without father, Who as God reigneth in righteousness, made His abode in the bosom of the pure Maiden. His descent without lineage is awesome and ineffable.

Canon of the Theotokos

Irmos: The uttermost abyss…

As servants the ranks of heaven attend thy birthgiving, marvelling, as is meet, at thy seedless parturition, O Ever-virgin; for thou wast pure before birthgiving and art so even after giving birth.

The Incorporeal One Who existeth from before time, the Word Who createth all things by His will, and as Almighty brought the armies of the incorporeal beings out of non-existence, hath become incarnate of thee, O all-pure one.

The enemy was slain by thy life-bearing Fruit, O thou who art full of the grace of God; hades hath been manifestly trampled down, and we who were in bonds have been freed. Wherefore, I cry: Destroy Thou the passions of my heart!

Kontakion, in Tone I:

Special Melody: When Thou shalt come…

As God, Thou didst arise from the tomb in glory,/ and Thou didst raise the world together with Thyself./ And mortal nature praiseth Thee as God,/ and death hath vanished./ And Adam danceth, O Master,/ and Eve, now freed from fetters, rejoiceth as she crieth out:/ Thou art He, O Christ,// that grantest unto all resurrection.

Ikos: Let us hymn as God the Almighty Who rose on the third day, Who broke down the gates of hades, Who raised up from the grave those held there from ages past, and Who appeared to the myrrh-bearing women, as He was well pleased to do, telling them first to rejoice and to proclaim joy unto the apostles, in that He alone is the Bestower of life; wherefore, with faith the women proclaimed the signs of victory to the disciples. Hades groaneth and death uttereth lamentation; the world is filled with gladness, and all rejoice with it, for Thou, O Christ, didst grant resurrection unto all.

Ode VII

Irmos: O Theotokos, we, the faithful,/ perceive thee to be a noetic furnace;/ for, as the supremely Exalted One saved the three youths,/ in thy womb the praised and most glorious God of our fathers/ wholly renewed the world.

The earth was afraid, the sun hid itself, the light grew dim, the divine veil of the temple was rent in twain, and the rocks split asunder; for the Righteous One, the praised and all-glorious God of our fathers, hung upon the Cross.

Wounded among mortals of Thine own will for our sake, as though helpless, O supremely Exalted One, Thou, the praised and all-glorious God of our fathers, didst free all and raise them up with Thyself by Thy mighty hand.

Theotokion: Rejoice, O well-spring of the water of eternal life! Rejoice, paradise of delight! Rejoice, bulwark of the faithful! Rejoice, thou who knewest not wedlock! Rejoice, universal joy, through whom the praised and all-glorious God of our fathers hath shone forth!

Canon of the Cross and Resurrection

Irmos: The children raised together…

Of old, the earth was cursed, having been stained with the blood of Abel by his murderous brother’s hand; but dyed with Thy divinely shed blood it hath been blessed, and leaping up it crieth: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

Let the God-opposing people of Judæa lament their audacity in slaying Christ; but let the gentiles be glad, and let them clap their hands and cry aloud: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

Lo! the radiant angel cried out to the myrrh-bearing women: “Come and see the signs of the resurrection of Christ—the winding-sheet and the tomb—and cry aloud: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!”

Canon of the Theotokos

Irmos: O Theotokos, we, the faithful…

O Theotokos, in prophecy Jacob perceived thee to be a ladder, for through thee did the supremely Exalted One appear on earth and dwell with men, as was His good pleasure: the praised and all-glorious God of our fathers.

Rejoice, O pure one! From thee hath the Shepherd, the supremely Exalted One, come forth, in His unapproachable compassion truly clothing Himself in the skin of Adam, in me, in all of man: the praised and all-glorious God of our fathers.

The preëternal God truly became the new Adam through thy pure blood. Him do thou now entreat that He restore me who have grown old, who cry: Praised and all-glorious is the God of our fathers!

Ode VIII

Irmos: Shining in the furnace more brightly/ than gold in a crucible in the beauty of their piety,/ the children of Israel said:/ Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!// Hymn and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

O Word of God, Who by Thy will dost create and refashion all things, transforming the shadow of death into life everlasting by Thy sufferings: Thee do all of us, the works of the Lord, unceasingly hymn and supremely exalt for all ages.

Thou didst destroy distress and misery within the gates and strongholds of hades, O Christ, rising from the tomb on the third day. Thee do all Thy works unceasingly hymn and supremely exalt as Lord for all ages.

Theotokion: Let us hymn her who without seed supernaturally gave rise to Christ, the Pearl of great price, through the divine Effulgence; and let us say: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord! Hymn and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Canon of the Cross and Resurrection

Irmos: The dew-bearing furnace…

Come, O ye people, let us bow down before the place where the all-pure feet stood, and to the divine Tree where Christ stretched out His life-creating arms for the salvation of all men; and standing round about the tomb of Life, let us chant: Let all creation bless and exalt the Lord supremely for all ages!

The all-iniquitous slander of the God-slaying Jews hath been exposed; for He Whom they called a deceiver hath risen as One powerful, mocking the foolish seals. Wherefore, rejoicing, let us chant: Let all creation bless and exalt the Lord supremely for all ages!

Triadicon: Theologizing the glory [of God] in three holy Persons and one Dominion, as servants the all-pure seraphim glorify the Godhead of three Hypostases. And with them we piously chant: Let all creation bless and exalt the Lord supremely for all ages!

Canon of the Theotokos

Irmos: Shining in the furnace…

The radiant bridal-chamber, whence Christ the Master of all issued forth like a Bridegroom, let us all hymn, crying aloud: Hymn the Lord, all ye works of the Lord, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Rejoice, O glorious throne of God! Rejoice, bulwark of the faithful, through whom Christ hath shined light upon those in darkness, who call thee blessed and cry aloud: Hymn the Lord, all ye works of the Lord, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

O most hymned Virgin who for us gavest birth to the Lord, the Author of our salvation, pray for all who earnestly cry out: Hymn the Lord, all ye works of the Lord, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Then we chant the Hymn of the Theotokos: My soul doth magnify the Lord… with the refrain More honorable than the cherubim…

Ode IX

Irmos: The bush which burnt with fire yet was not consumed/ showed forth an image of thy pure birthgiving./ And we pray now that the furnace of temptations/ which rageth against us may be extinguished,// that we may magnify thee unceasingly, O Theotokos.

How have the iniquitous and disobedient people, plotting evils, justified a proud and ungodly man, yet condemned to the Tree the Righteous One, the Lord of glory, Whom we magnify as is meet?

O Savior, Thou unblemished Lamb Who takest away the sins of the world: Thee Who hast risen on the third day do we glorify with the Father and Thy divine Spirit; and, theologizing, we magnify the Lord of glory.

Theotokion: Save Thy people, whom Thou hast acquired by Thy precious blood, O Lord, granting peace to Thy churches through the supplications of the Theotokos, O Thou Who lovest mankind.

Canon of the Cross and Resurrection

Irmos: A strange and most glorious…

Thy Cross, O Lord, hath been glorified by Thine ineffable power, for Thy weakness hath been revealed unto all as transcending power. Thereby have the mighty been cast down upon the earth, and the poor are lifted up to the heavens.

Our vile death hath been put to death, for, appearing unto those in hades, O Christ, Thou didst grant them resurrection from the dead; wherefore, chanting, we magnify Thee as hypostatic Life, Resurrection and Light.

Triadicon: O ye divinely wise people, we are saved, trusting in the unoriginate and indivisible Essence, the one Godhead which is known in three singular divine Hypostases — the Father, the Son and the Spirit.

Canon of the Theotokos

Irmos: The bush which burnt with fire…

Thou didst spring forth from the root of David, the prophet and ancestor of God, O Virgin; and thou hast truly glorified David, giving birth to the prophesied Lord of glory, Whom we magnify as is meet.

Every rule of praise is overturned by the magnitude of thy glory, O all-pure one. Yet accept the hymns of praise which we, thine unworthy servants, earnestly offer thee with love, O Mistress Theotokos.

Thy wonders are past understanding! For thou, O most pure Virgin who alone outshinest the sun, hast enabled all to understand the newest of wonders, thine incomprehensible birthgiving. Wherefore, we all magnify thee.

After the katavasia, the little litany.

Then, Holy is the Lord our God! thrice;

and the matins exapostilarion.

On the Praises, 8 stichera, in Tone I:

Stichos: To do among them the judgment that is written./ This glory shall be to all His saints.

We hymn Thy saving Passion, O Christ,// and glorify Thy resurrection.

Stichos: Praise ye God in His saints,/ praise Him in the firmament of His power.

O Lord Who endured the Cross, abolished death and rose from the dead:/ Bring peace to our life,// as Thou alone art almighty.

Stichos: Praise Him for His mighty acts,/ praise Him according to the multitude of His greatness.

O Christ Who by the resurrection madest hades captive/ and raised men from the dead,// count us worthy to hymn and glorify Thee with a pure heart.

Stichos: Praise Him with the sound of trumpet,/ praise Him with psaltery and harp.

Glorifying Thy divine condescension, we hymn Thee, O Christ./ Thou wast born of the Virgin and yet wast not separated from the Father;/ Thou didst willingly suffer as a man and didst endure the Cross/ and rise from the tomb, issuing forth therefrom/ as from a bridal chamber,/ that Thou mightest save the world.// O Lord, glory to be Thee!

Stichos: Praise Him with timbrel and dance,/ praise Him with strings and flute.

When Thou wast nailed to the Tree of the Cross,/ the might of the enemy was slain,/ creation trembled with the fear of Thee,/ and hades was made captive by Thy might./ Thou didst raise the dead from the graves, and didst open paradise to the thief.// O Christ our God, glory be to Thee!

Stichos: Praise Him with tuneful cymbals, praise Him with cymbals of jubilation./ Let every breath praise the Lord.

When the honorable women, lamenting, arrived with haste at Thy grave/ and found the tomb open;/ and, learning of the new and all-glorious wonder from the angel,/ they announced to the apostles that the Lord had risen,// granting the world great mercy.

Stichos: Arise, O Lord my God, let Thy hand be lifted high;/ forget not Thy paupers to the end.

We bow down before the divine wounds of Thy sufferings, O Christ God,/ and to the sacrifice of the Master,/ which was revealed by God in Sion/ in the fullness of time;/ for the Sun of righteousness hath illumined those who sleep in darkness,/ guiding them to never-waning splendor.// Glory be to Thee, O Lord!

Stichos: I will confess Thee, O Lord, with my whole heart,/ I will tell of all Thy wonders.

Give ear, O tumultuous Jewish race!/ Where are they who went to Pilate?/ Let the soldiers who kept watch say where the seals of the tomb are!/ Where hath the Buried One been laid?/ Where was He sold Who hath not been sold?/ How was the treasure stolen?/ Why slander ye the resurrection of the Savior,/ O most iniquitous Jews?/ He hath arisen Who is free among the dead,// and granteth the world great mercy!

Glory… The matins Gospel sticheron.

Now and ever…, Theotokion, in Tone II:

All-blessed art thou, O Virgin Theotokos,/ for by Him Who became incarnate through thee hath hades been made captive,/ Adam restored, the curse annulled, Eve set free,/ death slain, and we have been given life./ Wherefore, chanting, we cry aloud:// Blessed is Christ God Who hath been thus well pleased! Glory be to Thee!

Great Doxology, and the resurrectional troparion:

Today is salvation come unto the world;/ let us sing praises to Him that arose from the tomb,/ and is the Author of our life./ For, having destroyed death by death,/ He hath given us the victory and great mercy.

Then the litanies and the dismissal.

Sunday Morning Divine Liturgy

On the Beatitudes, these troparia, in Tone I:

Through food did the enemy lead Adam forth from paradise; but by the Cross hath Christ led back to it the thief who cried: Remember me when Thou comest in Thy kingdom!

With Adam and the thief I worship Thy sufferings and glorify Thy resurrection; and I cry out with a splendid voice: Remember me, O Lord, when Thou comest in Thy kingdom!

O Sinless One, of Thine own will Thou wast crucified. and placed in the tomb; yet Thou didst arise as God, raising up with Thyself Adam who crieth out: Remember me when Thou comest in Thy kingdom!

Raising up the temple of Thy body by Thy resurrection on the third day, O Christ God, Thou didst raise up Adam and his descendants, who cry: Remember us when Thou comest in Thy kingdom!

Very early, the myrrh-bearing women arrived, weeping, at Thy tomb, O Christ God; and they found an angel sitting there, clad in white garments, who said: What seek ye? Christ is risen! Lament no longer!

When Thine apostles went to the mountain whither Thou hadst commanded them to go, and saw Thee, O Savior, they worshipped Thee; and Thou didst send them unto the nations, to teach and baptize them.

Triadicon: Let us worship the Father, let us glorify the Son, and together let us hymn the all-holy Spirit, crying out and saying: O most holy Trinity, save us all!

Theotokion: Thy people bring Thy Mother before Thee to make supplication, O Christ. Through her entreaties grant us Thy compassions, O Good One, that we may glorify Thee Who hast shone forth upon us from the tomb.

Resurrectional troparion, in Tone I:

Kontakion, in Tone I:

As God, Thou didst arise from the tomb in glory,/ and Thou didst raise the world to-gether with Thyself./ And mortal nature praiseth Thee as God,/ and death hath van-ished./ And Adam danceth, O Master,/ and Eve, now freed from fetters, rejoiceth as she crieth out:/ Thou art He, O Christ,// that grantest unto all resurrection!

Prokimenon, in Tone I:

Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we have hoped in Thee.

Stichos: Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous; praise is meet for the upright.

Alleluia, in Tone I:

The God that giveth avengement unto me hath subdued peoples under me.

Stichos: It is He that magnifieth the salvation of His king and worketh mercy for His anointed, for David, and for his seed unto eternity.

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