On Lord, I have cried…, 6 stichera: 3 of the feast: Idiomela, in Tone II—

Very early in the morning, the myrrh-bearing women, bearing spices, reached the tomb of the Lord; and finding that which they had not expected, they pondered piously the rolling away of the stone, and said one to another: “Where are the seals of the tomb? Where is the watch set by Pilate, and the careful security?” But a radiant angel was a herald for the bewildered women, and he said unto them: “Why do you seek with lamentation the Living One Who hath enlivened the human race? Christ our God hath risen from the dead as almighty!”—He Who granteth incorruption and life, enlightenment and great mercy to us all!”

“Why mingle ye myrrh with tears, O ye women disciples? The stone hath been rolled away; the tomb is empty. Behold, corruption hath been trampled down by life, the seals and the sleeping guardsmen of those who are wickedly contumacious bearing manifest witness. That which is mortal hath been saved by the flesh of God. Hades lamenteth. Hastening with joy, say unto the apostles: Christ, Who hath slain death, the Firstborn from among the dead, goeth before you into Galilee.”

Early in the morning, seeking Thy tomb with diligence, the myrrh-bearing women sought Thee, O Christ, to anoint Thine all-pure body; and having heard the words of the angels, they proclaimed to the apostles the joyous tidings, that the Author of our salvation, Who hath made death captive and granteth the world everlasting life and great mercy, hath risen from the dead.

And 3 stichera from the Menaion.

Glory…, 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!”

Now & ever…: Dogmatic theotokion, in Tone II—

The shadow of the law passed away when grace arrived; for, as the bush wrapped in flame did not burn, so as a virgin didst thou give birth and remain a virgin. In place of the pillar of fire, the Sun of righteousness hath shone forth. Instead of Moses, Christ is come, the salvation of our souls.

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

Aposticha stichera of the resurrection, in Tone II—

Come ye, let us worship God the Word, Who was begotten of the Father before the ages, and became incarnate of the Virgin Mary: for, having endured the Cross, He was given over to burial, as He Himself willed; and having risen from the dead, He hath saved me, a man astray.

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

Christ our Savior, having nailed to the Cross the handwriting which is against us, blotted it out and abolished the might of death. We worship His resurrection on the third day.

Stichos: For He established the world, which shall not be moved.

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

Thy resurrection, O Christ Savior, illumined the whole universe; and Thou didst call back Thine own creation. O all-powerful Lord, glory be to Thee!

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, Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart…; Trisagion; Troparia: The noble Joseph…; Glory…, When Thou didst descend…; Now & ever…, Standing before the myrrh-bearing women…; Litany, and dismissal.

Thus is the service celebrated for all the Fridays of the period of Pentecost.

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

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

Without hindering the Jews from sealing the stone of the tomb, in arising Thou didst bestow the rock of faith upon all. O Lord, glory be to Thee!

Stichos: Arise, O Lord my God, let Thy hand be lifted high; forget not Thy paupers to the end. O Thou Who didst not empty Thine all-pure bosom in the highest, Thou didst accept burial and resurrection for all. O Lord, glory to Thee!

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

All of thy most glorious mysteries are beyond comprehension, O Theotokos; for, thy purity sealed and thy virginity intact, thou art known to be a true Mother, having given birth unto God. Him do thou entreat, that our souls be saved.

After the second chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone II—

The choir of Thy disciples rejoiceth with the myrrh-bearing women; for with them they celebrate a common festival, unto the glory and honor of Thy resurrection; and through them do we cry out to Thee, O Lord Who lovest mankind: Grant great mercy to Thy people!

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

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

Canon of the feast, with 6 troparia, including the irmos; that of the saint of the temple, with 4 troparia; and that from the Menaion, with 4 troparia. Kontakion and exapostilarion of the feast.

On the Praises, 4 stichera, in Tone II—

Every breath, all creation, glorifieth Thee, O Lord, in that Thou didst abolish death by the Cross, that Thou mightest show the peoples Thy resurrection from the dead, in that Thou alone lovest mankind.

Let the Jews say how the soldiers who kept watch lost the King! Why did the stone not keep in the Rock of life? Either let them give up the Buried One or worship the Risen One, saying with us: Glory to the magnitude of Thy compassions, O our Savior! Glory be to Thee!

“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!”

Before Thou wast conceived, O Lord, the angel brought the salutation ‘Rejoice!’ to her who is full of grace; and an angel rolled away the stone of Thy glorious tomb at Thy resurrection: the one, instead of grief, announcing tidings of gladness; and the other, instead of death, proclaiming to us the Master the Giver of life. Wherefore, we cry out to Thee: O Lord, Thou Benefactor of all, glory be to Thee!

Glory…, Now & ever…, in Tone I—

The Magdalene and another Mary came to the tomb, seeking the Lord; and they beheld an angel bright as lightning, seated upon the stone, who said to them: “Why seek ye among the dead Him Who is alive? He hath risen, as He said. Ye shall find Him in Galilee. Unto Him let us cry out: O Lord Who hast arisen from the dead, glory to Thee!”

Aposticha stichera, in Tone II—

Automelon: When from the Tree the Arimathæan took Thee down, the Life of all, wrapping Thee with spices in a winding-sheet, O Christ, he was moved by love to kiss Thine incorrupt body with his heart and lips. Yet, beset by fear, he cried out unto Thee, rejoicing: “Glory to Thy condescension, O Thou Who lovest mankind!”

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

When for all Thou wast laid in a new tomb, O Deliverer of all, seeing Thee, hades, worthy of all mockery, was affrighted: its bars were shattered, its gates broken down, the graves were opened, and the dead arose. Then Adam, rejoicing, cried out to Thee in thanksgiving: Glory to Thy condescension, O Thou Who lovest mankind!

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 a tomb as from a royal chamber. O Lord Who didst break the dominion of death and open to men the gates of paradise, glory to Thee!

Then, It is good to give thanks to the Lord…, and the troparia. First Hour, and dismissal.

On the Beatitudes, 6 troparia, from Ode IX.

Prokimenon, in Tone VI—

O Lord, save Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance.

Stichos: Unto Thee, O Lord, will I cry; O my God, be not silent unto me.

Reading from the Acts of the Apostles, §22 [9:19-31]

In those days was Saul certain days with the disciples who were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. But all who heard him were amazed, and said: “Is not this he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?” But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: but their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket. And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him. Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Cæsarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus. Then had the churches rest throughout all Judæa and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, were multiplied.

Alleluia, in Tone VIII—

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

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

Gospel According to John, § 52 [15:17-16:2]

The Lord said to His disciples: “These things I command you, that ye love one another. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love its own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you: The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept My saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for My name’s sake, because they know not Him Who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin. He who hateth Me hateth My Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both Me and My Father. But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law: They hated Me without a cause. But when the Comforter is come, Whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, Who proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me: and ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with Me from the beginning. These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.”

Communion verse—

Receive ye the Body of Christ; taste ye of the fountain of immortality.