Holy Week and Pascha (1 of 2)

Great (Good) Friday

On Great Friday we commemorate the redeeming sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, who for our sakes voluntarily endured being spat upon, beaten, buffeted in the face, jeered at, pierced with the nails and the spear, and, in conclusion, death upon the Cross. Wherefore, the Service for Matins is entitled: THE

Office of the Holy and Redeeming Sufferings of Our Lord Jesus

Curist; and its characteristic feature consisteth in the reading of the Twelve Gospels, which narrate the same.

Matins beginneth in the same manner as on Thursday. While: Alleluia, and When the glorious disciples . . . (see GREAT THURSDAY) are being sung, the Clergy come forth from the Sanctuary with the book of the Gospels to the centre of the Temple, place the book on the lectern, light tapers (as do the People also), and cense the Temple and those present. Then the Little Litany:

Again, yet again, .. . with the Exclamation:

For thine are the kingdom and the power...

That he will graciously vouchsafe unto us: azd the rest. (See page 30.)

Glory to thy Passion, O Lord. (Before each Gospel.)

Then the Gospels. John xiii. 31-xviii. 1. John xviii. 1-28. Matt. xxvi.

Glory to thy long-suffering, O Lord. (After each Gospel.) After the first Gospel, the Antiphon, in Tone VILL.

The Princes of the people are assembled against the Lord, and against his Christ.

Thou hast laid upon me the word of transgression, O Lord: Lord, forsake me not.

Let us offer unto Christ our pure affections, and as his friends let us sacrifice our souls for his sake; and let us not be oppressed, like unto Judas, with the cares of life, but in our closets let us cry aloud: Our Father, who art in heaven, from the Evil One deliver thou us. After the second Gospel, the Antiphon, in Tone V. To-day doth Judas abandon the Master, and accept the devil: he is blinded by the passion of cupidity; being darkened, he falleth away from the light. For how can he see who, for thirty pieces of silver, hath sold the Light? But he who hath suffered for the world hath shone upon us. Unto him let us cry aloud:

Lord, who hast suffered, and who hast compassion upon men, glory to thee.

After the third Gospel, the Antiphon, in Tone VITI.

Unto those who unlawfully did seize thee, having suffered much, thus didst thou cry, O Lord: If ye smite the Shepherd, and scatter abroad the twelve sheep, my disciples, I might present more than twelve legions of Angels. But I will forbear, that the obscure and secret things, which I have revealed unto you through my prophets, may be fulfilled. Glory, O Lord, to thee.

After the fourth Gospel, the Antiphon, in Tone VT.

He who decketh himself with light as it were with a garment, stood naked at the judgment seat, and received buffetings upon the cheek from the hands of those whom he had created. The iniquitous people, also, did nail to the Cross the Lord of glory. Then was the veil of the Temple rent in twain, and the sun was darkened, for it could not endure to behold God affronted, before whom all things do quake. Unto him let us bow down.

After the fifth Gospel, the Antiphon, in Tone VI. The assembly of the Jews besought Pilate to crucify thee, O Lord. For though they found no fault in thee, they liberated the guilty Barabbas, and condemned thee, the Just One, and became guilty of the sin of foul murder. But grant, O Lord, their reward unto those who vainly wrought evil against thee.

But besides the above Antiphons, between the reading of the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth Gospels, are sung three more Antiphons. The Little Litany and a Sitting-Hymn (Syedálen) are said and sung; and the customary censing of the performed.

After the sixth Gospel, the Beatitudes, with their Hymns (Tropart), are chanted, and the Gradual (Prokimen)

They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.

After the seventh Gospel, Psalm It. 25 read. After the eighth Gospel, is sung the THREE-SONG CANON, Tone VI. Theme-Song V. (Irmós. My soul awake th early unto thee, O God, who through tenderness of heart didst exhaust thyself for the fallen, yet without change of Essence; and being thyself without passion, didst condescend unto thy Passion. Grant peace unto me who have fallen, O thou who lovest mankind. (Thrice.)

Refrain. Glory to thee, O our God; glory to thee.

And its two Hymns, each six times, with the Refrain: Glory . . . now, and ever, the Theme-Song; the Little Litany , the Collect-Hymn (Kondák) (see page 217); and the Ikos. Then, Theme-Song VIII. (Irmós. The divine Children put to shame the monument of blasphemous wrath. And the unlawful Council, raging against Christ, took counsel in vain, when they sought to slay him who holdeth life in the hollow of his hand; whom, also, let all creation bless, magnifying him unto all the ages. And its four Hymns, with the Refrain. Theme-Song IX. (Irmós. More honourable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, thou who without defilement barest God the Word, true Birth-giver of God, we magnify thee.

And its four Hymns, with the Refrain. The Exapostilárion. In one moment thou didst graciously vouchsafe Paradise unto the wise thief, O Lord: Illumine thou me, also, by the tree of the Cross, and save me. After the ninth Gospel: Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord: wath its Stanzas (Stikhtri). As:

Two treacherous things hath my first-born son, Israel, done: He hath abandoned my fountain of living water, and hath digged for himself a well of contrition; he hath crucified me on the Cross, and hath asked for himself and hath released Barabbas. Heaven was affrighted thereat, and the sun hid its rays, but thou, O Israel, hast not been ashamed, but hast delivered me over unto death. Forgive them, Father they know not what they have done. After the tenth Gospel: Glory be to God on high, . . . (see page 34) is read; then the Litany:

Let us complete our morning prayer After the eleventh Gospel, the CANTICLES OF THE PSALMS. AS: All creation was confounded with terror when it beheld thee suspended on the Cross, O Christ. The sun was darkened, and the foun-' dations of the earth were shaken: all things suffered in sympathy with him who had created all things. O Lord, who of thine own good will didst suffer for us, glory to thee. Then the final censing.

After the twelfth Gospel, the ending of Matins. It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, . . . O Holy God, Holy Mighty, .;. .. Our Father, The Hymn (Tropdr), in Tone IV. Thou hast ransomed us from the curse of the law by thy precious blood; when thou wast nailed to the Cross and pierced with a spear, thou didst pour forth immortality for men, O our Saviour: glory to thee. The Augmented Litany, and the Benediction. May he who, for the sake of us men, and for our salvation, deigned to endure terrible sufferings, and the life-giving Cross, and voluntary burial, Christ, our true God: and the rest, as usual. (See page 122.)

The First Hour is not joined to Matins, but is read separately, together with the Third, Sixth and Ninth Hours. THE IMPERIAL Hours. (Composed by Cyril of Alexandria.)

First Hour. Psalms v., ii., xxii. Hymn (Tropár). When thou wast crucified, O Christ, the tormentor was overcome, the power of the enemy was shattered; for neither Angel nor man, but the Lord himself hath saved us: Glory to thee. The Parable (Paremiyd). Zech. xix. 10-13. The Gospel. Matt. xxvii. 1-56.

The Collect-Hymn (Konddk), in Tone VIII. Come, all ye, let us sing him who was crucified for us. For him did Mary behold on the Tree, and say: Even though thou sufferest crucifixion, yet art thou my Son and my God.

Tuirp Hour. Psalms xxxv., cix., li. The Hymn, in Tone VI. The Jews who had passed through the Red Sea by the rod, condemned to death and crucified on the Cross thee, O Lord, the life of all men; and they who had sucked honey from the rock brought gall unto thee; but of thine own good will didst thou suffer, and free us from the works of the enemy. O Christ, glory to thee.

The Gospel, Mark xv. I-41.

The Collect-Hymn. Come, all ye, ... (See First Hour, above.) Sixth Hour. Psalms liv., cxl., xci. The Hymn, in Tone II. Thou hast effected salvation on earth, O Christ our God, thou hast stretched out thy most pure hands on the Cross, collecting together all the Gentiles, who cried: Glory to thee, O Lord.

The Gospel. Luke xxiii. 32-49.

The Collect-Hymn (Kondak). Come, all ye, . . . (See.above.) Ninth Hour. Psalms lxix., lxx, lxxxvi. The Hymn (Tropdr). When the thief beheld the Author of Life hanging upon the Cross, he said: If thou, who art crucified with us, wast not God incarnate, the sun would not have hidden its rays, neither would the earth have quaked with trembling. But do thou, who sufferest all things, remember me in thy kingdom, O Lord.

The Collect-Hymn. (See above.) The Typical Psalms are as usual. In order that the fast which the Holy Church imposeth upon the faithful in her great affliction at the removal of her Bridegroom may not be broken, the Liturgy is not celebrated on Great Friday. The sacrifice, on that day, is offered on Golgotha. (Only in case the Feast of the Annunciation falleth on that day the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom is celebrated.)

Vespers

Especially affecting is Vespers, which is celebrated on Great Friday at four o'clock, when the winding-sheet (plashischanttza) is brought into the centre of the Temple.

Before the beginning of the service the winding-sheet is laid on the Altar. The Senior Priest vesteth himself in all the ecclesiastical vestments pertaining to his rank. The beginning of the service is as usual. The Stanzas (Stikhirz) of:

Lord, I have cried:

I. Zone /. All creation was confounded with terror when it beheld thee suspended on the Cross, O Christ. The sun was darkened, and the foundations of the earth were shaken: all things suffered in sympathy with him who had created all things. O Lord, who of thine own good will didst suffer for us, glory to thee. II. Zone If, To-day the Virgin undefiled, beholding thee, the Word, uplifted upon the Cross, weeping with the tender love of a mother, was sore wounded in the heart, and moaned grievously from the depths of her soul, wiping her face with her hair. Wherefore also beating her hands, she cried piteously: Woe is me, O my Son divine! Woe is me, O Light of the World! Why hast thou departed from mine eyes, O Lamb of God? For which cause also the host of the Bodiless Powers were seized with trembling, and said:

Lord Ineffable, glory to thee!

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

be accomplished: he who is intangible is held fast; he who loosed Adam from the curse is bound; he who trieth the heart and reins unlawfully is tried; he is confined in darkness who confined the abyss before Pilate standeth he before whom stand the Powers of Heaven the Creator is buffeted in the face by the hand of the creature; to the Tree is adjudged he who judgeth the living and the dead; the Destroyer of Hellis confined in the tomb. O Benignant Lord, who compassionately endurest all things, and savest all men from the curse, glory to thee. The Entrance with the Gospels. O gladsome radiance . . . (Page 8.) The Gradual (Prokimen). They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. The Parables (Paremit). Exodus xxxiii. 11-23; Job xlii. 12-17 Isaiah The Augmented Litany. Let us all say, ...; The Litany of Supplication. Let us complete . .. . (See page 35.)

When Joseph, together with Nicodemus, had taken from the Tree thee, who clothest thyself in light as in a garment, and beheld thee dead, naked and unburied, that compassionate man was seized with weeping, and with lamentation said: Woe is me, O sweetest Jesus, whom so little while ago the sun beheld hanging on the Cross, wrapped in darkness, while the earth did quake and the veil of the Temple was rent in twain! But lo, now I behold thee, who for my sake, of thine own good will, hast endured death. How shall I bury thee, O my God? Or with what winding-sheet shall I enshroud thee! With what hands shall I touch thy body incorruptible? Or what songs shall I sing at thy forth going, O Bountiful One? I exalt thy sufferings. In song also will I glorify thy burial, with Resurrection, crying:

Lord, glory to thee! During this time, the Senior Priest, accompanied by the Deacon with a taper, censeth round about the Altar, thrice. Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, ...O Holy God, Holy Mighty, ... Our Father,... For thine is the king- And the Choir singeth Noble Joseph, when he had taken thy pure Body from the Tree, did wrap it in fine linen and spices, and sorrowing did lay it in a new sepulchre.

An Angel stood before the Myrrh-bearing Women at the tomb, crying: Spices are meet for the dead, but Christ hath revealed himself as a stranger to corruption. While these Hymns are being sung, the Clergy lift the winding-sheet from the Altar, and preceded by assistants bearing tapers, they make the circuit of the Altar, bearing the winding-sheet on their heads. And they go to the centre of the Temple and lay it on the tomb there prepared. Then followeth a triple censing of the winding-sheet, and of the whole Temple, and of those present. An address appropriate to the day is generally made here. Then the

Benediction

May he who for the sake of us men, and for our salvation, deigned to endure terrible sufferings, and the life-giving Cross, and voluntary burial, Christ, our true God: and the rest, as usual. (See page 122.) The faithful, following the example of the Priest, approach the grave of the Lord, kneeling and kissing it.

Great Saturday

On Great Saturday the Church commemorateth the Burial of the body of our Lord Jesus Christ, and his descent into Hell. As a watch was set over the tomb of the Saviour, in like manner, during the whole course of the Matins service the Clergy hardly depart from the tomb of the winding-sheet; while during the Hours and the Liturgy, all the ex its from the sanctuary are performed around the winding-sheet; as, for example, the Little and Great Entrances.

The beginning of Matins is as usual. While:

Lord: is being sung, the Holy Door is opened, and the Clergy come forth to the centre of the Temple. The winding-sheet and the Temple are censed. The Hymns (Tropari), in Tone II. I. Noble Joseph, when he had taken thy pure Body from the Tree, did wrap it in fine linen and spices, and sorrowing did lay it in a new sepulchre. II. When thou didst descend into Hell, O Life Immortal, then didst thou annihilate Hell with the radiance of thy divinity. And when thou hadst raised up all the dead from the nethermost regions, all the Powers of heaven cried aloud: O Life-giver, Christ our God, glory to thee! as a stranger to corruption.

read (Psalm cxix.), each verse being followed by Eulogies of the dead and buried Lord. This selection of Psalms is divided into three parts, separated by the Little Litany, and an Exclamation. Examples of the Eulogies. Tone V. Part I. I. Thou didst lay down thy life in the grave, O Christ, and the Angelic Host was affrighted, glorifying thy condescension. dead out of Hell.

Exclamation. (After the Litany.) For blessed is thy Name, and glorified is thy kingdom, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

the dominion of the enemy.

Thy hands have made me, and fashioned me; give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments. II. Meet is it that we should magnify thee, the Creator of all men: for by thy sufferings we have immortality, O thou who deliverest us from corruption.

when it beheld thee, the light which knoweth no setting, O Christ, entering into the grave in the flesh. IV. Thou didst fall asleep in the grave, O Christ, with sleep which is natural to creatures, and from the heavy sleep of sin didst raise up the human race.

Exclamation. (After the Litany.) For holy art thou, O our God, who restest on the cherubimic throne of glory, and unto thee do we ascribe glory, together with thy Father who is from everlasting, and thine all holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Choir, Amen.

Part /Il. Tone ll.

Eulogies. I. All nations bring a song to thy burial, O my Christ. O look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that love thy Name. II. He of Arimathea, having taken thee from the Tree, and wrapped thee in a winding-sheet, interreth thee in the tomb.

unto thee, O my Christ.

IV. Ocome, all creation, let us bring the parting songs to the Creator. Exclamation. For thou art the King of Peace, O Christ our God, and unto thee do we ascribe glory, together with thy Father who is from everlasting, and thine all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

Sunday Matins, page 28), Psalm li., and THE CANON. Jone VI.

Theme-Songs ([rmost). 1. The children of those that were saved, hid under the earth Him who of old drowned in the waves of the sea the tormentor pursuing. And let us like the virgins sing unto the Lord, When Creation beheld thee, who didst suspend the whole earth IV. When Habakkuk by anticipation beheld thy exhaustion divine pany of those who were in Hell: for thou art almighty.

V. When Isaiah beheld the light which knoweth no setting of thy divine manifestation, that was graciously made unto us, O Christ, his soul longed for thee in the night-season, and he cried: The dead shall rise, and those who lie in the grave shall be awakened, and all the earth-born shall rejoice.

VI. Jonah was seized but was not held in the belly of the whale, in that he represented the type of thee, who didst suffer and give thyself over unto burial; and he came forth from the monster as from a chamber of repose, and spake unto the guards: Ye that regard lying vanities have forsaken your own mercy. The Collect-Hymn (Kondak). The Immortal One who imprisoned the deep is beheld dead, and, wrapped with spices and a winding-sheet, is laid in the tomb as he were mortal; and the women have come to anoint him with spices, weeping bitterly and crying: This is the blessed Saturday whereon Christ, having fallen asleep, shall rise again on the third day.

the fiery furnace from the flames, is laid dead, bereft of breath, in the grave, for the salvation of us who sing: O God our Redeemer! l Blessed art thou.

the earth be shaken! For lo, he who dwelleth on high is numbered among the dead and is lodged in the narrow grave. Ye Children, bless ye Priests, sing praises; ye People, magnify him unto all the ages! IX. Lament not for me, O Mother, when thou beholdest in the tomb the Son whom, without seed, thou didst conceive in thy womb, for I shall rise again, and glorify myself; and in that I am God, I will raise in glory that hath no ending those who, with faith and love, do magnify thee.

(While the Canon is being sung, the Senior Priest arrayeth himself in his full vestments.)

Holy is the Lord our God. . . . Let everything which hath breath praise the Lord. ... (Zone J/.) Most blessed art thou, O Virgin

Priest. Glory to thee, who hast shown us the light.

Choir. Glory be to God on high, When the Gloria in Excelsis hath been finished, and while the affecting Thrice- Holy (O Holy God, Holy Mighty, . . . ) is being sung, and all the bells are rung, the Senior Priest taketh from the winding-sheet the book of the Holy Gospels which lieth thereon, and with it, beneath the winding-sheet, which is upheld by the Priests, while the Deacons cense, he performeth the procession of bearing the winding-sheet around the Church. When the circuit hath been completed, they carry the winding-sheet back into the Church, and the procession halteth in Sront of the Holy Door. Here the Exclamation: Wisdom! is made, and the Hymn: Noble Joseph, . . . (see page 220) is sung. The winding-sheet is then replaced on the tomb, and upon the winding-sheet is laid the book of the Holy Gospels.

Then follow: The Parables (Paremtt), Ezek. xxxvii. 1-14; the Epistle, Cor. v. and the Litany of Supplication, Let us complete ... (See page 36.) The Benediction. May he who, for the sake of us men, and for our salvation, endured dire sufferings, and the life-giving Cross, and voluntary burial in the flesh, Christ our true God: and the rest. (See The Choir then singeth the Stanza (Stikhtra), in Tone V.

O come, let us bless Joseph ever-memorable, who came by night unto Pilate, and begged the Life of all men: Give me this stranger, who hath not where to lay his head; give me this stranger, whom a crafty disciple hath betrayed unto death; give me this stranger, whose Mother, when she beheld him hanging on the Cross, cried with weeping, and with maternal feeling exclaimed: Woe is me, woe is me, my child! Woe is me, my Light, and the beloved of my bosom! that which was foretold in the church by Simeon to-day hath come to pass! A weapon shall pierce thy heart, but into the joy of the Resurrection shall thy lament be changed. We worship thy sufferings, O Christ; we worship thy sufferings, O Christ; we worship thy sufferings, O Christ, and thy holy Resurrection. Then the First Hour is read. On Great Saturday, the Third, Sixth and Ninth Hours,as usual; the Hymn; Noble Joseph, .. . (see page 220); the Collect-Hymn (Kondák): The Immortal One who imprisoned the deep . . . (See page 222.) The Liturgy of St. Basil the Great is used, and is celebrated after Vespers. But as the Vespers refer to the following day, in it the joyous songs of the Resurrection are united with the songs of Great Saturday. Vespers beginneth; Blessed is the kingdom; the Sunday Verses (Stikhtri) of the First Tone, to:

Lord, I have called; the Hymn to the Birth-giver of God Bogoróditchen

Let us sing the praises of Mary, Virgin, Door of heaven, Glory of all the world, sprung forth from man, who also bare the Lord; the Song of the Bodiless Powers, and the Enriching of the faithful. For she revealed herself as Heaven and the Temple of the Godhead. She destroyed the bulwarks of enmity, and ushered in peace, and threw open the kingdom. Wherefore, in that we possess this confirmation of our faith, we have a defender, even the Lord who was born of her. Be bold, therefore, be bold, ye people of God, for he) the All-Powerful, shall vanquish your foes. The Entrance is made with the Gospels. After: O gladsome radiance. .'. (page 8); the Parables (Paremit), Genesis i. I-13; Isaiah Ix. 1-16; Exodus During the reading of the concluding verses of the sixth Parable (Paremiyd), the Choir singeth - For gloriously hath he glorified himself.

The Parables (Paremit). Zeph. iii. 8-15; Kings xvii. 8-24; Isaiah lxi. to, 11, Children, Apocrypha). During the reading of the concluding verses of the Fifteenth Lesson, the Choir singeth: Sing ye unto the Lord, and exalt him forever.

The Little Litany; Exclamation:

For holy art thou . . .: the Thriceholy: Ye who have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. The Gradual, in the Fifth Tone: Let all the earth worship thee, and sing thee, yea, let it sing unto thy Name, O Most Highest. The Efzstle. Romans vi. 3-11. instead of: Alleluia: Arise, O God, judge the earth; for thou shalt inherit all nations with its Verses (Sttkht); (Psalm lxxxii.). While these are being sung, the Clergy change their sombre vestments for light vestments, in preparation for the reading of the Gospel concerning Christ's Resurrection: Matt. xxviii. 1-20. Ln place of the Cherubimic Hymn Let all mortal flesh hold its peace, and stand with fear and trembling, and meditate nothing earthly within itself: for the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords cometh to be slain, and to give himself to be the food of the faithful. And before him also come the Angelic Hosts with all dominion and power, the many-eyed Cherubim, and the six-winged Seraphim, covering their faces, and crying aloud the song: Alleluia. The Communion Hymn.

The Lord is risen, as though he slept, and he who saveth us is risen from the dead.

In place of: Meet is it:

Lament not for me, O Mother, when thou beholdest in the tomb the Son whom, without seed, thou didst conceive in thy womb: for I shall rise again and glorify myself; and in that I am God, I will raise in glory that hath no ending those who with faith and love do magnify thee. After the Liturgy it is customary to have the Blessing of the Loaves and the Wine, wherewith the faithful may strengthen themselves before they listen to the reading of the Acts of the Apostles. In the evening the reading of the Acts of the Apostles taketh place. The Priest bestoweth the blessing: Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy upon us. Then followeth the reading of the Acts. It is the custom to have a number of readers, who succeed one another, and read the Acts until the very beginning of the Easter Midnight Service (Polunétchnitza), which precedeth the Easter Matins.

The Easter Midnight Service generally beginneth in such a way that it shall be finished at midnight, as the beginning of the Easter Refrain is always made to coincide with the midnight stroke of the bells. The order of the Midnight Service 1s as followeth

Priest. Blessed is our God... . . .

Reader. O Holy God, Holy Mighty, . . .; Our Father, . . .; O come, let us worship . . .; the Canon of Great Saturday: The children of those . . . (See page 221.) While: Lament not for me, O Mother,. . . (the Minth Theme-Song) is being sung, the Priest reverently beareth the winding-sheet from the centre of the Temple to the Sanctuary, and layeth it on the Altar. Then the doors are closed. The Litany;: Have mercy upon us, O God, . . .; O Holy God, Holy Mighty, Our Father, ...; the Hymn (Tropdr) in Tone II., When thou didst descend into Hell, . . . (see age 220) for Sunday; the Little Benediction.

Easter

Easter, the Feast of Feasts, is celebrated by the Church with special solemnity. The Temple is filled with the fragrance of incense and myriads of lights the Clergy are arrayed in their choicest light-hued vestments. All the People hold lighted tapers in their hands. All these things denote the flood of joy and grace which proceeded from the Resurrection of the Saviour.

At midnight the Holy Door is opened; and it remaineth open for the whole of Easter week. The Rector, with the censer and the triple candlestick and cross, censeth the Altar, then, accompanied by his fellow-clergy, who bear the book of the Holy Gospels and the holy images, and the Deacons who cense, and preceded by a procession of the cross with the church banners and lights, he goeth forth from the church, all singing with him the chant of joy: The Angels in heaven, O Christ our Saviour, sing thy Resurrection. 7hzs chant is taken up and continued by the Choir and the People thus: And do thou enable us on earth to glorify thee with a pure heart. They triumphantly make the circuit of the church, the bells pealing the while, and then all enter the porch, the doors leading therefrom into the Temple remaining closed. Across this western door the procession rangeth itself with the Gospels, and images; and the Priest, holding the censer in his right hand, and the triple candlestick with the cross in his left, censeth the Holy Things, and the Brethren, and all the People, and also the closed door, in the form of a cross. After this he beginneth

Glory to the Holy, Consubstantial, Life-giving and Undivided Trinity, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

Priest. Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down Death by death, and upon those in the tomb bestowing life. (Thrice.) And the Choirs sing this thrice also. Then the Priest intoneth the Verses: 1: Let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered, and let them also that hate him flee before him. And after each Verse the Choirs respond Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down Death by death, and upon those in the tomb bestowing life. 2: Like as the smoke vanisheth, so shall they vanish, and like as wax melteth at the tre. 3: So let the ungodly perish at the presence of God, but let the righteous rejoice.

4: This is the day which the Lord hath made: we will rejoice and be glad in it. i

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Then the Priest chanteth, in a louder voice: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down Death by death. Then the closed doors are opened, and the Priest entereth with the honourable cross, preceded by the tapers, and by the Brethren singing And upon those in the tomb bestowing life. And thereupon the Priests go to the holy Sanctuary.

Then the Deacon saith the Litany of Peace (page 26).

Exclamation.

For unto thee are due all glory, honour and worship, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Then the principal Priest beginneth the Canon, composed by St. John of Damascus. And at the beginning of the Canon the Priest censeth the holy pictures, and the Choirs, and the Brethren, according to their rank.

And if the Feast of the Annunciation chance to fall on Easter Day (in which case the Feast is called Kiriopaskha), the Hymns for the Annunciation are added to those for Easter.

The Canon

(During each Theme-Song the Priest censeth.) Canticle I., Tone J.

Theme-Song (Irmós. The Day of Resurrection! Let us be illumined, O ye people! The Passover, the Passover of the Lord! From death unto life, and from earth unto heaven hath Christ our God brought us over, singing a song of victory! Refrain. Christ is risen from the dead! Hymn (Tropár). Let us purify our senses and we shall behold Christ, radiant with the light ineffable of the Resurrection, and shall hear him say, in accents clear: Rejoice! as we sing the song of victory. Refrain, Christ is risen from the dead! Hymn. For meet is it that the heavens should rejoice, and that the earth should be glad, and that the whole world, both visible and invisible, should keep the Feast. For Christ is risen, the everlasting joy! The Choirs. The Day of Resurrection! Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down Death by death, and upon those in the tomb bestowing life. (Thrice.)

The Little Litany.

Deacon. Again, yet again, in peace let us pray to the Lord.

Choir. Lord, have mercy.

Succour us, save us, have mercy upon us, and keep us, O God, by thy grace.

It is customary to make the circuit of the church outside, to typify the women who came, very early in the morning, bearing spices, to anoint the body of our Lord. The Easter Matins are thus begun outside the church, in memory of the Myrrh-bearing Women and the disciples having first received tidings of Christ's resurrection before the entrance to his tomb.

Choir. Lord, have mercy.

Calling to remembrance our most holy, undefiled, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Birth-giver of God and ever-virgin Mary, with all the Saints, let us commend ourselves, and each other, and all our life unto Christ our God.

Choir. To thee, O Lord.

Exclamation.

Priest. For thine is the majesty, and thine are the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

Canticle ITI.

Theme-Song ([rmos). O come, let us qua ff a beverage new, not from a barren rock miraculously called forth; but the Fountain of Immortality springing from the tomb of Christ: on whom also we are founded.

Refrain. Christ is risen from the dead Hymn (Tropár). Now are all things filled with light; heaven, and earth, and the places under the earth. All Creation doth celebrate the Resurrection of Christ, on whom also it is founded.

Hymn. Yesterday, O Christ, was I buried with thee, and to-day I rise again with thy rising. Yesterday was I crucified with thee: Do thou thyself glorify me, O Saviour, in thy kingdom.

Then the Choirs repeat, thrice, the Theme-Song; O come, let us qua ff and sam Christ is risen . . . trampling down Death . . . (Thrice.).

The Little Litany (see page 227). Exclamation.

Priest. For thou art our God, and unto thee do we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

l[pakoi, Tone [Ll.

When they who with the Marys came, forestalling the dawn, and found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre, they heard from the Angel: Why seek ye among the dead, as he were mortal, him who abideth in everlasting light? Behold the grave-clothes: Go quickly, and proclaim to the world that the Lord is risen, and hath slain Death. For he is the Son of God who saveth mankind.

Canticle IV.

Theme-Song ([rvmés). May Habakkuk, divinely speaking, now stand with us in watch divine, and show the radiant Angel crying clearly To-day is salvation come into the world: For Christ is risen, in that he is almighty.

Refrain. Christ is risen from the dead Hymn (Tropdr). Christ revealed himself as of the male sex when he opened the Virgin's womb, and as mortal was called the Lamb. Without blemish, also, is our Passover, in that he tasted not corruption; and as very God perfect was proclaimed. Hymn. Christ, the blessed Crown, like unto a yearling Lamb, of his own good will did sacrifice himself for all, a Passover of purification and from the grave did he, the glorious Sun of Righteousness, shine forth again upon us.

Hymn. David, the ancestor of our God, danced with leaping before the symbolical Ark of the Covenant. Let us also, the holy people of God, beholding the fulfilment of the symbol, rejoice in godly wise: