On Lord, I have cried…, 6 stichera: 3 of the feast, in Tone II: Special Melody: When from the Tree…—

The women disciples of Christ rejoiced to hear the words of the angel, for thereby did they learn of the resurrection of Him Who was reckoned among the dead for our sake. Yet before, when the myrrh-bearers stood before the tomb mourning for Christ, seeing the stone which had been suddenly rolled away they were perplexed by its removal.

The myrrh-bearing women, disciples of Christ, who imparted unceasing and divine joy to the divine and sacred disciples, carried out the command of the divine angel, whose white garments filled them with awe, saying: “Hades hath been made captive by the most salvific resurrection of the King Who died for our sake!”

The divine women disciples of Christ, who put forth lamentation and streams from a fountain of tears, now bear words of joy unto the witnesses of grace, announcing to them the arising of the Word and the joy which shone forth from the tomb. Wherefore, instead of grief they all-gloriously heard a voice which commanded them to rejoice.

And 3 stichera from the Menaion.

Glory…, Now & ever…, in Tone VI—

Arriving at Thy tomb and seeing the seals of the sepulcher, yet failing to find Thine all-pure body, the myrrh-bearing women came with haste, lamenting and saying: “Who hath stolen our Hope? Who hath taken the Dead One, naked and embalmed with myrrh, the only consolation of His Mother? O how hath He died Who hath given life to the dead? How hath He been buried Who hath made hades captive? Yet rise Thou of Thine own power, O Savior, on the third day, as Thou hast said, Who savest our souls!”

Then, O gladsome Light…, and the prokimenon of the day.

Aposticha stichera, in Tone II—

Of the Cross: O Christ God my Savior, Who didst save Peter in the sea, save me by the power of the Cross, and have mercy on me.

Stichos: Unto Thee have I lifted up mine eyes, unto Thee that dwellest in heaven. Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hands of their masters, as the eyes of the handmaid look unto the hands of her mistress, so do our eyes look unto the Lord our God, until He take pity on us.

Of the resurrection: With the archangels let us hymn the resurrection of Christ; for He is the Redeemer and Savior of our souls, and is coming again in dread glory and mighty power, to judge the world which He fashioned.

Stichos: Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us, for greatly are we filled with abasement. Greatly hath our soul been filled therewith; let reproach come upon them that prosper, and abasement on the proud.

Martyricon: The choirs of the martyrs opposed the tyrants, saying: “We fight for the King of hosts! And even though ye have subjected us to fire and tortures, we will not reject the power of the Trinity!”

Glory…, Now & ever…, in Tone VI—

Joseph begged the body of Jesus and placed it in his new sepulcher, for it was fitting that He issue forth from the tomb as from a bridal chamber.

O Lord Who didst break the dominion of death and open to men the gates of paradise, glory to Thee!

Then, Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart…; troparia of the feast, and dismissal.

At God is the Lord…, the troparia of the feast. 

After the first chanting of the Psalter, these sessional hymns, in Tone II—

Thou didst work salvation in the midst of the earth, O Christ God, and on the Cross didst stretch out Thine all-pure hands, gathering to Thee all the nations, who cry: Glory to Thee, O Lord!

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

Rising from the tomb, Thou didst break the bonds of hades and abolish the sentence of death, O Lord Who hast delivered all from the snares of the enemy; and Thou Who didst reveal Thyself to Thine apostles didst send them forth to preach, and through them didst impart Thy peace unto the whole world, O Thou Who alone art greatly merciful.

Stichos: Wondrous is God in His saints, the God of Israel.

Martyricon: O passion-bearers of the Lord blessed is the ground which was drenched in you; blood, and holy the temples which have received your bodies; for ye rebuked the enemy at your trials, and preached Christ with boldness. Entreat Him, in that He is good, we pray, that our souls may be saved.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Stavrotheotokion—

Standing before Thy Cross, she who gave birth to Thee without seed was unable to watch Thee suffering unjustly, O Christ, and she lamented and, weeping, cried out to Thee: “How is it Thou sufferest, O my Son most sweet, Who by nature art dispassionate? I hymn Thy surpassing goodness!”

After the second chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone II: Special Melody: Of Thy compassion…—

The honored myrrh-bearers, who came to Thy tomb, O Savior, to anoint their Master with myrrh, considered Thee to be a mortal; but the angel announced to them the joy: “The Lord hath risen! Wherefore, proclaim ye to the apostles His truly awesome resurrection from the tomb!”

Glory…, Now & ever…: The foregoing is repeated.

Then, Having beheld the resurrection of Christ…, and Psalm 50.

Canon of the feast, with 8 troparia, including the irmos; and that from the Menaion, with 4 troparia. Kontakion and exapostilarion of the feast.

On the Praises, 4 stichera, in Tone II—

Having willingly impoverished Thyself for the sake of Adam’s poverty, O Christ God, Thou didst come to earth and wast incarnate of the Virgin; and Thou didst accept crucifixion, that Thou mightest free us from slavery to the enemy. Glory to Thee, O Lord! Twice

“Rejoice and be glad, O ye people!” the angel, seated upon the stone of the tomb, announced to us, saying: “Christ is risen from the dead, the Savior of the world; and He hath filled all things with sweet savor. Rejoice, ye people, and be glad!”

Martyricon: The multitudes of Thy saints entreat Thee, O Christ: Have mercy and save us, in that Thou lovest mankind!

Glory…, Now & ever…, in Tone I—

With fear the women came to the tomb, seeking to anoint Thy body with spices; and not finding it, they expressed their perplexity one to another, not knowing of the resurrection. But an angel stood before them and said: “Christ hath risen, Who bestoweth great mercy upon us!”

Aposticha stichera of the feast, in Tone II—

“Can the Deliverer be among the dead?” the myrrh-bearers, the disciples of Christ, cried out with lamentations; “Can the all-great Sun be under the ground even to this day, or hath He risen as He said?” But as they wept thus, an angel uttered truly divine joy: “Christ is risen! Haste ye and proclaim unto all His divine resurrection from the tomb!”

Stichos: Thou hast been gracious, O Lord, unto Thy land; Thou hast turned back the captivity of Jacob.

The honored myrrh-bearers prepared myrrh when it was still dark on the first day after the Sabbath, and they came to Thy tomb, O Christ, to anoint Thy divine and all-pure body. But when they learned of Thy resurrection, they hastened to announce it to the initiates of Thy mysteries, for Thou hadst greeted them first from the tomb, crying out, “Rejoice!” O Thou Who greatly lovest mankind.

Stichos: Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

With costly spices His women disciples hastened to anoint as one dead God Most High, Who was buried in the ground; but seeing a young man sitting in the sepulcher, clothed in shining raiment, they were filled with awe. Wherefore, when they learned of the Word’s arising from the tomb on the third day, they announced it to the apostles.

Glory…, Now & ever…, in Tone V—

With Nicodemus, Joseph took Thee down from the Tree, Who dost clothe Thyself with light as with a robe; and seeing Thee dead, naked, unburied, he took up heartfelt weeping and said, lamenting: “Woe is me, O Jesus most sweet! When the sun beheld Thee hanging upon the Cross but a little while past, it shrouded itself in darkness, and the earth quaked in fear, and the veil of the temple was rent in twain. But lo! now I see Thee, Who of Thine own will didst undertake to die for my sake. How can I bury Thee, O my God, or how can I wind Thee in a shroud? With what hands shall I touch Thy body? Or what hymns shall I chant for Thy departure, O Compassionate One? I magnify Thy sufferings, and I hymn Thy burial and resurrection, crying out: O Lord, glory to Thee!”

Then, the troparia of the feast, First Hour, and dismissal.