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Prayers

Orthodox prayers and hymns for Pascha, Easter

Pascha is Orthodox Easter. For 40 days, every prayer begins with “Christ is risen!”

Picture: Rembrandt, Christ and Saint Mary Magdalene at the Tomb, 1638

9 prayers and 1 to the saints

On the night of Pascha

The Paschal troparion

Christ is risen

Christ is risen from the dead,trampling down death by death,and giving lifeto those in the tombs.Three times

Traditional wording, 1906

Christ is risen from the dead,trampling down Death by death,and upon those in the tomb bestowing life.

It is the main short hymn of Pascha, sung again and again on Easter night in Greek, Slavonic, Arabic and many other languages.

Plain English by Wiser Walk, from the Greek, with Hapgood’s 1906 translation beside it. How the wording is made. Traditional wording: Isabel F. Hapgood, Service Book of the Holy Orthodox-Catholic Apostolic Church, 1906.

Where it comes from, and the Greek

The canon’s first ode

The Day of Resurrection

The day of resurrection!Let us be radiant, O peoples!Pascha, the Lord’s Pascha!

For Christ our God has brought us overfrom death to lifeand from earth to heaven,as we sing the song of victory.

Let us make our senses pure,and we shall see Christflashing out in the unapproachable lightof the resurrection,and we shall hear Him say plainly, “Rejoice!”,as we sing the song of victory.

Let the heavens rejoice, as is right,and let the earth be glad.Let the whole world keep the feast,all that is seen and all that is unseen.For Christ is risen,the joy that never ends.

Traditional wording, 1906

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 heavenhath Christ our God brought us over,singing a song of victory!

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.

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!

It is the first song of the canon of Pascha, the chain of hymns at the heart of the Easter night service. It sings of Christ bringing us over from death to life.

Plain English by Wiser Walk, from the Greek, with Isabel Hapgood’s 1906 translation beside it. How the wording is made. Traditional wording: Isabel F. Hapgood, Service Book of the Holy Orthodox-Catholic Apostolic Church, 1906.

Where Hapgood says “the Passover”, the plain wording keeps the Greek word, Pascha.

Where it comes from, and the Greek

Paschal canon

Ode 1The day of resurrection!Let us be radiant, O peoples!Pascha, the Lord’s Pascha!For Christ our God has brought us overfrom death to lifeand from earth to heaven,as we sing the song of victory.

Let us make our senses pure,and we shall see Christflashing out in the unapproachable lightof the resurrection,and we shall hear Him say plainly, “Rejoice!”,as we sing the song of victory.

Let the heavens rejoice, as is right,and let the earth be glad.Let the whole world keep the feast,all that is seen and all that is unseen.For Christ is risen,the joy that never ends.

The first verse again, then “Christ is risen” three timesJesus has risen from the tomb, as He foretold,and has given us eternal life and great mercy.

Ode 3Come, let us drink a new drink,not one drawn by a wonder from a barren rock,but the fountain of incorruptionthat Christ has poured out like rain from the tomb.In Him we are made firm.

Now all things are filled with light,heaven and earth and the places under the earth.So let all creation keep the feastof Christ’s rising,in which it is made firm.

Yesterday I was buried with You, O Christ;today I rise with You as You rise.Yesterday I was crucified with You.Glorify me with You, O Savior,in Your kingdom.

The first verse again, then “Christ is risen” three timesJesus has risen from the tomb, as He foretold,and has given us eternal life and great mercy.

Ode 4Let Habakkuk, who spoke the words of God,stand with us at the divine watchand show us the angel bright with light,who cries out in a ringing voice:“Today salvation has come to the world,for Christ has risen as the Almighty.”

Christ appeared as a male,for He opened a virgin’s womb.As a mortal He is called a Lamb.As One Who never knew a stainHe is called spotless, our Pascha.And as true GodHe is called perfect.

Like a yearling lamb,our blessed and gracious Crownof His own will was sacrificed for all,the Pascha that makes us clean.And from the tomb, in beauty,the Sun of righteousness has shone on us again.

David, the forefather of God,leaped and danced before the ark,which was a shadow of things to come.Let us, God’s holy people,who see the signs fulfilled,rejoice in God,for Christ has risen as the Almighty.

The first verse again, then “Christ is risen” three timesJesus has risen from the tomb, as He foretold,and has given us eternal life and great mercy.

Ode 5Let us rise very early, before dawn,and bring the Master a hymn in place of myrrh,and we shall see Christ,the Sun of righteousness,making life dawn for all.

Those held in the chains of Hadessaw Your boundless mercy, O Christ,and hurried to the light with joyful feet,clapping their hands for the eternal Pascha.

Let us go out with lamps in our handsto meet Christ coming out of the tomb like a bridegroom,and let us keep God’s saving Paschawith the ranks of angels who love the feast.

The first verse again, then “Christ is risen” three timesJesus has risen from the tomb, as He foretold,and has given us eternal life and great mercy.

Ode 6You went down to the lowest parts of the earth, O Christ,and broke the everlasting barsthat held those who were bound.And on the third day You rose from the tomb,as Jonah came out of the great fish.

Keeping the seals whole, O Christ,You rose from the tomb,You Who left the Virgin’s gate lockedwhen You were born.And You have opened to usthe gates of Paradise.

O my Savior, the living sacrificethat, as God, could not be slain!Of Your own will You offered Yourself to the Father,and when You rose from the tombYou raised with You Adam and all his race.

The first verse again, then “Christ is risen” three timesJesus has risen from the tomb, as He foretold,and has given us eternal life and great mercy.

Ode 7He Who saved the young men from the furnacehas become man and suffers as a mortal.By His suffering He clothes what is mortalin the beauty of incorruption,the only God of our fathers,blessed and glorified above all.

Women wise in God ran after You with myrrh.They sought You with tears as one who had died,but they worshiped You with joy as the living God,and told Your disciples, O Christ,the good news of the mystical Pascha.

We keep the feast of the death of death,the overthrow of Hades,the first fruits of another life, the life eternal.Leaping for joy we praise the One Who caused it,the only God of our fathers,blessed and glorified above all.

How truly holy and festiveis this saving night, bright with light!It is the herald of the shining day of the rising,on which the Light beyond timeshone on all from the tomb in the body.

The first verse again, then “Christ is risen” three timesJesus has risen from the tomb, as He foretold,and has given us eternal life and great mercy.

Ode 8This is the chosen and holy day,the first of the week, its queen and lady,the feast of feastsand the festival of festivals,on which we bless Christ for ever.

Come, on this glorious day of the rising,let us share in the new fruit of the vineof divine joy,and in the kingdom of Christ,praising Him as God for ever.

Lift up your eyes, O Zion, and look around you!For see, your children have come to you,shining with God’s light like stars,from the west and the north,from the sea and the east,blessing Christ in you for ever.

Almighty Father, Word and Spirit,one nature united in three Persons,above all being and all divinity!Into You we have been baptized,and we bless You for all ages.

The first verse again, then “Christ is risen” three timesJesus has risen from the tomb, as He foretold,and has given us eternal life and great mercy.

Ode 9Magnify, O my soul, the One Who suffered of His own will,was buried, and rose from the tomb on the third day.

Shine, shine, O new Jerusalem,for the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.Dance now and be glad, O Zion!And you, pure Mother of God, take delightin the rising of the One you bore.

Magnify, O my soul, Christ the Giver of life,Who rose from the tomb on the third day.“Shine, shine, O new Jerusalem” again

An angel flashing with light cried out to the women:“Stop your weeping, for Christ has risen.”

O how divine, how dear, how very sweet is Your voice!For You have truly promised, O Christ,to be with us to the end of the age.We the faithful hold fast to that voiceas the anchor of our hope, and we rejoice.

For Christ has risen,trampling down death and raising the dead.Rejoice, O peoples!

O Christ, great and most holy Pascha!O Wisdom and Word and Power of God!Grant that we may share in You more fullyin the day of Your kingdom that knows no evening.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Magnify, O my soul, the might of the Godhead,three in Persons and undivided.

With one voice, O Virgin, we the faithful call you blessed:Rejoice, gate of the Lord!Rejoice, living city!Rejoice, for through you the light of the One born of you,the light of the resurrection from the dead,has shone on us today.

Now and ever, and for ever and ever. Amen.

Rejoice, O Virgin, rejoice!Rejoice, O blessed one!Rejoice, O glorified one!For your Son has risen from the tomb on the third day.

Be glad and rejoice, O divine gate of the light!For Jesus, Who sank into the tomb, has dawned,shining brighter than the sun,and has filled all the faithful with light,O Lady, given grace by God.

The angel cried out to her who is full of grace:“Pure Virgin, rejoice!And again I say, rejoice!Your Son has risen from the tomb on the third day.”“Shine, shine, O new Jerusalem” again, then “Christ is risen” three times

Jesus has risen from the tomb, as He foretold,and has given us eternal life and great mercy.

Traditional wording, 1906

Ode 1The 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!Christ is risen from the dead!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.Christ is risen from the dead!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!

Ode 3O come, let us quaff 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.Christ is risen from the dead!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.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.

Ode 4May 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.Christ is risen from the dead!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.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.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: For Christ is risen, in that He is almighty.

Ode 5Right early let us wake, and unto the Lord bring a song instead of myrrh, and we shall behold Christ, the Sun of Righteousness, Who lighteth the life of all mankind.Christ is risen from the dead!When they who were led captive in the bonds of Hell beheld Thy loving-kindness infinite, O Christ, they hastened to the light with joyful feet, exalting the Passover Everlasting.Bearing lights, let us go forth to meet Christ, Who cometh forth from the grave like a bridegroom. And with the hierarchy of Angels who love and praise, let us celebrate the ransoming Passover of God.

Ode 6Thou didst descend into the nethermost parts of the earth, O Christ, and didst shatter the bonds eternal which held the prisoners in captivity: and after three days Thou didst rise again from the grave, like Jonah from the whale.Christ is risen from the dead!O Christ, Who didst not break the Virgin’s gate by Thy birth, Thou didst rise again from the dead, having kept intact the seals; and Thou hast opened unto us the gates of Paradise.O my Saviour, the sacrifice living and unslain, which, inasmuch as Thou art God could not be slain! When Thou, of Thine own will, hadst offered up Thyself unto the Father, Thou didst raise up with Thee also, in that Thou Thyself didst rise from the grave, Adam, the father of our race.

Ode 7He Who delivered the Holy Children from the fiery furnace, when He was made man did suffer like unto a mortal; and through His Passion He doth clothe the mortal in the dignity of immortality, He, the only God of our fathers, blessed and exceedingly glorified.Christ is risen from the dead!The godly-wise women followed after Thee in haste with sweet-smelling spices. But Him Whom they sought with tears as dead, they joyfully adored as the living God, and announced unto Thy disciples, O Christ, the glad tidings of the mystical Passover.We celebrate the death of Death, the annihilation of Hell, the beginning of a life new and everlasting. And in ecstasy we sing praises unto the Author thereof, the only God of our fathers, blessed and exceeding glorious.For holy, in very truth, and worthy of all solemn triumph, is this redeeming and radiantly effulgent night, the harbinger of the bright-beaming Day of the Resurrection, on which the Light Eternal that hath no bounds shone forth in the flesh from the grave for all mankind.

Ode 8This is the chosen and holy Day, like unto no other, the King and Lord of Sabbaths, the Feast of Feasts, and the Triumph of Triumphs: Wherein let us bless Christ forevermore!Christ is risen from the dead!O come, on this auspicious day of the Resurrection, let us partake of the fruit from the new vine of divine gladness of the kingdom of Christ, in song magnifying Him as God forevermore.Cast thine eyes about thee, O Zion, and behold! For lo! from the West and from the North, and from the Sea and from the East, as to a light by God illumined, have thy children assembled unto thee, blessing Christ forevermore.O most Holy Trinity, our God, glory to Thee!O Father Almighty, the Word and the Spirit, one Essence in Three Persons, exceeding high and most divine! Into Thee have we been baptized, and Thee will we bless unto all the ages.

Ode 9My soul doth magnify the Life-giver, Who rose again from the grave on the third day.Shine, shine, O New Jerusalem! for the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. Keep high holiday now and be glad, Zion! And rejoice thou, O pure Birth-giver of God, in the rising again of Him Whom thou didst bear!My soul doth magnify Him Who, of His own good will, suffered and was buried, and rose again on the third day.Christ the New Passover, the living Sacrifice, the Lamb of God, taketh away the sins of the world.O how divine! O how loving-kind! O how most sweet is Thy word, O Christ! For Thou hast faithfully promised to be with us, even unto the end of the world. Having, therefore, this firm foundation of hope, we faithful do rejoice.The Angel cried unto her who is full of grace: Hail, O Pure Virgin! And again, I say: Hail! Thy Son is risen from His three days’ sojourn in the grave, and hath raised up the dead: Rejoice, O ye people!In that Thou Thyself didst sleep in death, Thou hast raised up again the dead of all the ages, roaring royally, like unto the Lion of Judah.Mary Magdalen ran to the sepulchre, and when she beheld Christ, she questioned Him, as He had been the gardener.O Christ, the Passover great and most holy! O Wisdom, Word and Power of God! Grant that we may more perfectly partake of Thee in the day which knoweth no night of Thy kingdom.The Angel, dazzling the Women, cried: Desist from tears, for Christ is risen.Christ is risen, trampling down Death and raising again the dead: Rejoice, O ye people!To-day doth every creature rejoice and shout for joy. For Christ is risen, and Hell is led in captivity.Today hath the Lord led Hell in captivity, raising up the prisoners which from eternity it had held in bitter bondage.My soul doth magnify the majesty of the Godhead, of Three Persons and undivided.Rejoice, O Virgin! Rejoice, O Blessed One! Rejoice, O greatly glorified One! For thy Son is risen from His three days’ sojourn in the grave.

The whole canon of Easter night, from “The day of resurrection” to “Shine, shine, O new Jerusalem”. The service books credit it to St John of Damascus.

Plain English by Wiser Walk, from the Greek, with Hapgood’s 1906 translation beside it. How the wording is made. Traditional wording: Isabel F. Hapgood, Service Book of the Holy Orthodox-Catholic Apostolic Church, 1906.

Hapgood gives the canon as the Russian books sing it: “Christ is risen from the dead!” before each verse and a longer set of refrains in the ninth ode, without the two hymns to the Mother of God at its end. After each ode she gives the repeats only by their first words.

Where it comes from, and the Greek

Kontakion of Pascha

Though You went down into the grave, O Immortal One,You destroyed the power of Hades,and You rose as victor, O Christ God.

You said to the women who brought spices, “Rejoice!”and You gave peace to Your apostles,You Who give resurrection to the fallen.

Traditional wording, 1906

Though Thou didst descend into the grave, O Deathless One,yet didst Thou annihilate the power of Hell,and didst rise again as conqueror, O Christ our God,

announcing unto the Myrrh-bearing Women: Rejoice!and giving peace unto Thine Apostles,and bestowing Resurrection upon the fallen.

It is the second short hymn of Pascha. It follows Christ from the grave, where He broke the power of Hades, to the women He greeted and the apostles He gave peace.

Plain English by Wiser Walk, from the Greek, with Isabel Hapgood’s 1906 translation beside it. How the wording is made. Traditional wording: Isabel F. Hapgood, Service Book of the Holy Orthodox-Catholic Apostolic Church, 1906.

Where Hapgood says “Hell”, the Greek says Hades.

Where it comes from, and the Greek

Having beheld the Resurrection

Having seen the resurrection of Christ,let us worship the holy Lord Jesus,the only sinless One.

We worship Your Cross, O Christ,and we praise and glorifyYour holy resurrection.For You are our God;we know no other but You;we call on Your name.

Come, all you faithful,let us worship Christ’s holy resurrection.For see: through the Crossjoy has come to all the world.

Always blessing the Lord,we praise His resurrection.For He endured the Cross for us,and by death He destroyed death.

Traditional wording, 1894

Having beheld the Resurrection of Christ,let us adore the holy Lord, Jesus, Who only is sinless.

Thy Cross, O Christ, do we adore;and Thy holy Resurrection hymn and glorify:for Thou art our God, beside Thee we know none other,Thy Name do we name.

Come, all ye Faithful, let us adore Christ’s holy Resurrection:for, behold, there is come, through the Cross, joy unto all the world.

Continually blessing the Lord, we hymn His Resurrection.For having endured the Cross for us,He hath by death destroyed death.

Sung three times on the night of Pascha, and every day after it until the Ascension. It is first known from Jerusalem, the city of the empty tomb.

Plain English by Wiser Walk, from the Greek, with Robertson’s 1894 translation beside it. How the wording is made. Traditional wording: J. N. W. B. Robertson, The Divine Liturgies, 1894.

Where it comes from, and the Greek

With the verses of “Let God arise”

Paschal stichera

VerseLet God arise, let His enemies be scattered,and let those who hate Him flee from before His face.

Today a sacred Pascha has been shown to us:a new and holy Pascha,a mystical Pascha,a Pascha worthy of all honor,a Pascha that is Christ the Redeemer,a spotless Pascha,a great Pascha,the Pascha of the faithful,a Pascha that has opened to us the gates of Paradise,a Pascha that makes all the faithful holy.

VerseAs smoke vanishes, so let them vanish;as wax melts before the fire.

Come from what you have seen,you women who bring good news,and say to Zion:“Receive from us the good news of joy,the resurrection of Christ!”Take delight, dance and be glad, O Jerusalem,now that you have seen Christ the Kingcoming out of the tomb like a bridegroom.

VerseSo sinners will perish before the face of God,and let the righteous be glad.

Very early in the morningthe women who brought myrrhstood at the tomb of the Giver of life.They found an angel sitting on the stone,and he spoke to them and said:“Why do you seek the Living One among the dead?Why do you mourn the One Who is beyond decayas if He lay in decay?Go and proclaim it to His disciples.”

VerseThis is the day that the Lord has made;let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Pascha of delight!Pascha of the Lord! Pascha!A Pascha worthy of all honor has dawned for us.Pascha! Let us embrace one another in joy.O Pascha, ransom from sorrow!For today Christ shone out from the tombas from a bridal chamber,and filled the women with joy, saying:“Proclaim it to the apostles.”

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,now and ever, and for ever and ever. Amen.

It is the day of the resurrection!Let us be radiant with the feast,and let us embrace one another.Let us call even those who hate us“brothers”.Let us forgive everythingfor the sake of the resurrection,and so let us cry out:

Christ is risen from the dead,trampling down death by death,and giving lifeto those in the tombs.Sung again and again while all greet one another with a kiss

Traditional wording, 1906

Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered.

To-day is the holy Passover revealed unto us: the Passover new and holy:the Passover mystical, the Passover all-august, Christ, the Passover and the Atonement.The spotless Passover, the great Passover, the Passover of the faithful,the Passover which openeth unto us the gates of Paradise; the Passover which sanctifieth all the faithful.

Like as the smoke vanisheth, so shalt Thou drive them away.

O come from the vision, ye Women, heralds of good tidings, and say ye unto Zion:Receive from us the glad tidings of joy of the Resurrection of Christ.Adorn thyself! Leap for joy and rejoice, O Jerusalem,in that thou beholdest Christ the King, like a Bridegroom come forth from the grave.

Let the ungodly perish at the presence of God. But let the righteous rejoice.

When the Myrrh-bearing Women stood, very early in the morning, before the sepulchre of the Life-giver,they found an Angel sitting upon the stone. And he proclaimed unto them, saying:Why seek ye the living among the dead? Why mourn ye the Incorruptible amid corruption?Go, proclaim the glad tidings to His disciples.

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

The Passover joyful, the Passover, the Passover of the Lord, the Passover all-majestic hath shone forth upon us!The Passover! With joy let us embrace one another! O Passover, release from sorrow!For to-day from the tomb, as from a chamber of repose, hath Christ shone forth,and hath filled the Women with joy, saying: Proclaim the glad tidings to the Apostles.

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

The Day of Resurrection! Let us be illumined with the solemn Feast! Let us embrace one another.Let us say: Brethren! And because of the Resurrection let us forgive all things to those who hate us,and in this wise exclaim:Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down Death by death, and upon those in the tomb bestowing life.

These Easter hymns are sung near the end of the night, each after a verse of Psalm 68 or Psalm 118. They sing of the women at the tomb and of Christ coming out of it like a bridegroom.

Plain English by Wiser Walk, from the Greek, with Hapgood’s 1906 translation beside it. How the wording is made. Traditional wording: Isabel F. Hapgood, Service Book of the Holy Orthodox-Catholic Apostolic Church, 1906.

Hapgood gives the verses of the Psalms shorter, as the Slavonic books sing them, and calls Pascha “the Passover”.

Where it comes from, and the Greek

The last of the stichera

Let us embrace one another

It is the day of the resurrection!Let us be radiant with the feast,and let us embrace one another.

Let us call even those who hate us“brothers”.Let us forgive everythingfor the sake of the resurrection,and so let us cry out:

Christ is risen from the dead,trampling down death by death,and giving lifeto those in the tombs.

Traditional wording, 1891

It is the day of Resurrection,let us be enlightened by the Triumph,and let us embrace each other.Let us say, Brethren! even to them that hate us.Let us forgive all offences at the Resurrection,and thus let us exclaim,

Christ is risen from the dead,death by death down doth He tread,and on those within the tombs He bestoweth life.

It is sung on Easter night just before the people greet one another with a kiss. It asks us to call even those who hate us “brothers” and to forgive everything for the sake of the resurrection.

Plain English by Wiser Walk, from the Greek, with G. V. Shann’s 1891 translation beside it. How the wording is made. Traditional wording: G. V. Shann, Euchology: A Manual of Prayers of the Holy Orthodox Church, 1891.

Shann puts the last lines, “Christ is risen”, into rhyme.

Where it comes from, and the Greek

Also called the Catechetical homily

Paschal homily of St John Chrysostom

If anyone is devout and a lover of God,let them enjoy this beautiful and radiant festival.

If anyone is a grateful servant,let them enter rejoicing into the joy of their Lord.

If anyone has worn themselves out with fasting,let them now receive their wage.

If anyone has worked from the first hour,let them receive today what is justly theirs.

If anyone came after the third hour,let them keep the feast with thanks.

If anyone arrived after the sixth hour,let them have no doubts,for they will lose nothing.

If anyone was delayed until the ninth hour,let them come near and not hesitate.

If anyone arrived only at the eleventh hour,let them not be afraid of being late.

For the Master is generous.He receives the last as He receives the first.He gives rest to the one who came at the eleventh houras to the one who worked from the first.

He has mercy on the lastand cares for the first.To the one He gives,and to the other He gives freely.

He accepts the deedsand welcomes the intention.He honors the actand praises the purpose.

So enter, all of you, into the joy of our Lord.You who came first and you who came after,receive your reward.

Rich and poor, dance together.You who were disciplined and you who were careless,honor the day.You who have fasted and you who have not,rejoice today.

The table is full: enjoy it, all of you.The calf is ample: let no one go away hungry.Let all enjoy the banquet of faith.Let all receive the riches of goodness.

Let no one mourn being poor,for the kingdom has appeared for all.

Let no one weep over their sins,for forgiveness has dawned from the tomb.

Let no one fear death,for the Savior’s death has set us free.

Held fast by death, He snuffed it out.He Who went down to Hadesplundered Hades.He made it bitterwhen it tasted His flesh.

Isaiah foresaw this and cried out:“Hades,” he says, “was embitteredwhen it met You below.”

It was embittered, for it was abolished.It was embittered, for it was mocked.It was embittered, for it was put to death.It was embittered, for it was overthrown.It was embittered, for it was bound in chains.

It took a body, and came face to face with God.It took earth, and met heaven.It took what it saw,and fell by what it did not see.

O death, where is your sting?O Hades, where is your victory?

Christ is risen, and you are overthrown.Christ is risen, and the demons have fallen.Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice.Christ is risen, and life reigns.Christ is risen, and not one of the dead is left in the tomb.

For Christ, raised from the dead,has become the first fruitsof those who have fallen asleep.To Him be glory and powerfor ever and ever. Amen.

Traditional wording, 1906

If any man be devout and loveth God, let him enjoy this fair and radiant triumphal feast.If any man be a wise servant, let him rejoicing enter into the joy of his Lord.If any have laboured long in fasting, let him now receive his recompense.If any have wrought from the first hour, let him to-day receive his just reward.If any have arrived at the sixth hour, let him have no misgivings; because he shall in nowise suffer therefor.If any have delayed until the ninth hour, let him draw near, fearing nothing.If any have tarried even until the eleventh hour let him, also, be not alarmed at his tardiness;

for the Lord, Who is jealous of His honour, will accept the last even as the first;He giveth rest unto him who cometh at the eleventh hour, even as unto him who hath wrought from the first hour.And He showeth mercy upon the last, and careth for the first; and to the one He giveth, and upon the other He bestoweth gifts.And He both accepteth the deeds, and welcometh the intention, and honoureth the acts and praiseth the offering.

Wherefore, enter ye all into the joy of your Lord; and receive ye your reward, both the first, and likewise the second.Ye rich and poor together, hold ye high festival. Ye sober and ye heedless, honour ye the day.Rejoice to-day, both ye who have fasted and ye who have disregarded the fast.The table is full-laden; feast ye all sumptuously. The calf is ample; let no one go hungry away.Enjoy ye all the feast of faith: Receive ye all the riches of loving-kindness.

Let no one bewail his poverty, for the universal kingdom hath been revealed.Let no one weep for his iniquities, for pardon hath shone forth from the grave.Let no one fear death, for the Saviour’s death hath set us free.

Inasmuch as He was held captive of it, He hath annihilated it. By descending into Hell, He made Hell captive.He angered it when it tasted of His flesh.And Isaiah, foretelling this, did cry: Hell, said he, was angered, when it encountered Thee in the lower regions.It was angered, for it was abolished. It was angered, for it was mocked.It was angered, for it was slain. It was angered, for it was fettered in chains.It took a body, and met God face to face. It took earth, and encountered Heaven.It took that which was visible, and fell upon the invisible.

Death, where is thy sting? O Hell, where is thy victory?Christ is risen, and thou art overthrown. Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen.Christ is risen, and the Angels rejoice. Christ is risen, and life reigneth.Christ is risen, and not one dead remaineth in the grave.For Christ, being risen from the dead, is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.To Him be glory and dominion unto ages of ages. Amen.

It is read aloud at the end of the night while everyone stands. It welcomes all to the feast, whether they fasted or not, and ends on Christ’s victory over death.

Plain English by Wiser Walk, from the Greek, with Hapgood’s 1906 translation beside it. How the wording is made. Traditional wording: Isabel F. Hapgood, Service Book of the Holy Orthodox-Catholic Apostolic Church, 1906.

Hapgood leaves out the line on the third hour and one of the lines on Hades, and calls Hades “Hell”.

Where it comes from, and the Greek

Through Bright Week

Paschal Hours

Through the prayers of our holy fathers,Lord Jesus Christ our God,have mercy on us. Amen.

Christ is risen from the dead,trampling down death by death,and giving lifeto those in the tombs.Three times

Having seen the resurrection of Christ,let us worship the holy Lord Jesus,the only sinless One.We worship Your Cross, O Christ,and we praise and glorifyYour holy resurrection.For You are our God;we know no other but You;we call on Your name.Come, all you faithful,let us worship Christ’s holy resurrection.For see: through the Crossjoy has come to all the world.Always blessing the Lord,we praise His resurrection.For He endured the Cross for us,and by death He destroyed death.Three times

The women with Mary came before the dawnand found the stone rolled away from the tomb.They heard the angel say:“Why do you seek among the deadthe One Who lives in everlasting light,as if He were a mortal man?See the grave cloths.Run and tell the worldthat the Lord is risen and has put death to death.For He is the Son of GodWho saves the human race.”

Though You went down into the tomb, O Immortal One,You destroyed the power of Hades,and You rose as victor, O Christ our God.You said to the women bearing myrrh, “Rejoice!”and You give peace to Your apostles,You Who grant resurrection to the fallen.

O Christ, You were in the tomb with Your body,in Hades with Your soul, for You are God,in Paradise with the thief,and on the throne with the Father and the Spirit,filling all things, O boundless One.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

How full of life,how much fairer than Paradise,and truly brighter than any royal bridal chamberYour tomb has proved to be, O Christ:the fountain of our resurrection.

Now and ever, and for ever and ever. Amen.

Rejoice, holy and divine dwelling of the Most High!For through you, O Mother of God,joy is given to those who cry out:“Blessed are you among women,O all-blameless lady.”

Lord, have mercy.Forty times

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,now and ever, and for ever and ever. Amen.

More honorable than the cherubim,and beyond compare more glorious than the seraphim,without corruption you gave birth to God the Word:true Mother of God, we magnify you.

Christ is risen from the dead,trampling down death by death,and giving lifeto those in the tombs.Three times

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,through the prayers of Your most pure Mother,of our holy and God-bearing fathersand of all the saints,have mercy on us. Amen.

Traditional wording, 1906

Christ is risen from the dead,trampling down Death by death,and upon those in the tomb bestowing life.

In that we have beheld the Resurrection of Christ,let us bow down before our holy Lord Jesus, the only sinless One.Thy Cross do we adore, O Christ,and Thy holy Resurrection we laud 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 adore Christ's holy Resurrection:for lo, through the Cross is joy come into all the world.Ever blessing the Lord, let us sing His Resurrection.For in that He endured the Cross, He hath destroyed Death by death.

When they who came 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.

Though Thou didst descend into the grave, O Deathless One,yet didst Thou annihilate the power of Hell,and didst rise again as conqueror, O Christ our God,announcing unto the Myrrh-bearing Women: Rejoice!and giving grace unto Thine Apostles,and bestowing Resurrection upon the fallen.

In the Grave with the body, but in Hell with the soul, in that Thou art God;in Paradise with the thief, and on the throne with the Father and the Spirit,wast Thou, O Christ, filling all things, in that Thou art infinite.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

As life-bearing, as of a truth than Paradise more fair,and than every royal palace more brighthath been revealed Thy tomb, the source of our Resurrection, O Christ.

Now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Hail, O thou hallowed, divine abode of the Most High!For through thee, O Birth-giver of God, was joy given unto those who cry aloud to thee:Blessed art thou among women, O Lady all-undefiled!

Lord, have mercy.

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.

A short service of Easter hymns. Through Bright Week the Russian prayer book sets it in place of the usual morning and evening prayers at home.

Plain English by Wiser Walk, from the Church Slavonic and the Greek, with Hapgood’s 1906 translation beside it. How the wording is made. Traditional wording: Isabel F. Hapgood, Service Book of the Holy Orthodox-Catholic Apostolic Church, 1906.

Hapgood gives the order as it is said in church. The prayers that open and close it at home are not in her book.

Where it comes from, and the Church Slavonic

To the Mother of God

The angel cried

The angel cried out to her who is full of grace:“Pure Virgin, rejoice!And again I say, rejoice!Your Son has risen from the tomb on the third day.”

Shine, shine, O new Jerusalem,for the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.Dance now and be glad, O Zion!And you, pure Mother of God, take delightin the rising of the One you bore.

Traditional wording, 1906

The Angel cried unto her who is full of grace:Hail, O Pure Virgin! And again, I say: Hail!Thy Son is risen from His three days’ sojourn in the grave,and hath raised up the dead: Rejoice, O ye people!

Shine, shine, O New Jerusalem! for the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.Keep high holiday now and be glad, Zion!And rejoice thou, O pure Birth-giver of God,in the rising again of Him Whom thou didst bear!

Sung at the Liturgy from Pascha to the Ascension in place of “It is truly right”, with “Shine, shine, O new Jerusalem”. The two verses also close the canon of Easter night.

Plain English by Wiser Walk, from the Greek, with Hapgood’s 1906 translation beside it. How the wording is made. Traditional wording: Isabel F. Hapgood, Service Book of the Holy Orthodox-Catholic Apostolic Church, 1906.

Hapgood follows the Slavonic, which adds “and hath raised up the dead: Rejoice, O ye people!”. The Greek ends on the third day.

Where it comes from, and the Greek

Scripture for this

5But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, Who was crucified. 6He is not here; He has risen, just as He said! Come, see the place where He lay. 7Then go quickly and tell His disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him.’ See, I have told you.”

Matthew 28:5-7 The angel at the empty tomb tells the women that Jesus has risen, just as He said, and sends them to tell His disciples.

33And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, gathered together 34and saying, “The Lord has indeed risen and has appeared to Simon!”

Luke 24:33-34 The disciples greet the two from Emmaus that first Easter evening with the news that the Lord has really risen.

19It was the first day of the week, and that very evening, while the disciples were together with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them. “Peace be with you!” He said to them. 20After He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

John 20:19-20 That evening Jesus stood among His disciples and said “Peace be with you!” They rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

But God raised Him from the dead, releasing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep Him in its grip.

Acts 2:24 Peter at Pentecost: God raised Jesus from the dead, for it was impossible for death to keep Him in its grip.

For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, He cannot die again; death no longer has dominion over Him.

Romans 6:9 Christ, raised from the dead, cannot die again. Death no longer has any power over Him.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead …

1 Peter 1:3 By His great mercy God has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.

Bible text: Berean Standard Bible, public domain.

A psalm for this

For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay.

Psalm 16:10

At Pentecost Peter preached that David here “spoke about the resurrection of the Christ”, Whose body did not see decay (Acts 2:31).

To read · about 45 minutes Melito of Sardis, On Pascha A sermon for Pascha from the 2nd century, lost and found in 1940. Read

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