On Lord, I have cried…, 6 stichera: 3 of the feast, in Tone I: Special Melody: Joy of the ranks of heaven…—

The Creator of all and Bestower of life, the Word Who is co-eternal with the divine Father, He Who of His own will took flesh of the Virgin and became man, hath in His ineffable wisdom poured forth teachings upon all, in that He is good.

At the mid-point of the feast of the Jews, O Christ, Thou didst stand forth in the Temple, teaching the Law with authority, O Master, reproaching the Scribes, as it is written, and inspiring awe with the wisdom of Thy words and by showing forth miracles.

The Bestower of wisdom, Who poureth forth good things, Who poureth forth divine streams from an ever-flowing fountain, said: “Come unto Me, ye who thirst, and draw forth the water of life. And He saith: Rivers of divine gifts shall flow forth from within you.”

And 3 stichera from the Menaion.

Glory…, the composition of John the Monk, in Tone I—

The midpoint of the days of Pentecost hath arrived, whereon Christ, disclosing His divine power a little, gave strength to the paralytic, raising him up from his bed. He Who as God worketh miracles in a created body, hath bestowed upon men life everlasting and great mercy.

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

How can we not marvel at thy giving birth to the God-man, O all-honored one. For without having accepted the temptation of a man, O all-immaculate one, without a father thou gavest birth in the flesh to a Son Who was begotten without a mother before the ages, without His undergoing change, confusion or division, and yet preserving intact the character of both essences. Wherefore, O Virgin Mother and Mistress, entreat Him, that the souls of those who in Orthodox manner confess thee to be the Theotokos be saved.

Aposticha stichera, in Tone III—

Of the resurrection: By Thy Cross hast Thou destroyed the might of death, O Christ our Savior, and hast set at naught the deception of the devil. And the human race, saved by faith, ever offereth a hymn unto Thee.

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

All things have been illumined by Thy resurrection, O Lord; paradise hath again been opened, and all creation, praising thee, ever offereth a hymn unto Thee.

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

I glorify the power of the Father and the Son, and I hymn the authority of the Spirit: the indivisible and uncreated Godhead, the consubstantial Trinity, Who reigneth unto the ages of ages.

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

O Christ Who by Thy suffering didst darken the sun, and with the light of Thy resurrection hast illumined all things: Accept Thou our evening hymnody, O Thou Who lovest mankind.

Glory…, Now & ever…, in Tone I—

Thou didst go to the Temple, O Wisdom of God, at the midpoint of the feast, teaching and rebuking the disobedient Jews, the Pharisees and Scribes, and crying out with boldness to them: “Let him who thirsteth come unto Me and drink the water of life, and he shall thirst no more. He who believeth in My goodness, rivers of everlasting life will pour forth from within him.” O Thy goodness and compassion! O Christ our God, glory to Thee!

Then, Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart…, the troparion of the feast, and dismissal

At God is the Lord…, the troparion of the feast, thrice.

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

Christ hath risen from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep, the Firstborn of creation, the Creator of all that existeth; and in Himself He hath restored the nature of our race which had become corrupt. No longer dost thou have dominion, O death, for the Master of all hath destroyed thy realm!

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

Having tasted the fruit of death, O Lord, Thou didst cut off the bitterness of death by Thine arising, and hast strengthened man against it, revoking the defeat of the primal curse. O Lord, Defender of our life, glory be to Thee!

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

We hymn thee who hast mediated the salvation of our race, O Virgin Theotokos; for thy Son and our God, accepting suffering through the Cross in the flesh He had received of thee, hath delivered us from corrupt-ion, in that He is the Lover of mankind.

After the second chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone VIII: Special Melody: Of the Wisdom of the Word…—

At the mid-point of the feast of the Law, O my Savior, Thou wast teaching in the Temple, reproaching the mindlessness of the unbelieving Hebrews, and, as the One Who loveth mankind, crying out to the people with a divine voice, Thou didst exclaim: “Let him who thirsteth come to Me and drink!” Wherefore, Thou didst promise those who believe that Thou wouldst grant them the water of gladness from the fountain of incorruption; for which cause we cry unto Thee: O Christ God, send down Thy Holy Spirit, and save us, in that Thou alone art greatly merciful! Twice

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

Canon I 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 of the resurrection, in Tone III—

Come, all ye nations, and understand the power of the dread mystery; for Christ the Savior, Who in the beginning was the Word, was crucified for our sake and buried, and rose from the dead, that He might save all. Let us worship Him.

Those who guarded Thee declared all the wonders, O Lord; but the council of vainglory filled their hands with a reward, intending thus to conceal Thy resurrection, which the world doth glorify. Have mercy upon us!

All were filled with joy, experiencing the resurrection; for Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and found an angel seated upon the stone, clad in shining raiment, who said: “Why seek ye the Living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen as He said, going before you to Galilee!”

In Thy light do we behold light, O Master Who lovest mankind; for Thou didst rise from the dead, granting salvation to the human race. Let all creation glorify Thee Who alone art sinless. Have mercy upon us!

Glory…, Now & ever…, the composition of Anatolius, in Tone IV—

Having been enlightened by the resurrection of Christ the Savior, and reached the midpoint of the feast of the Lord, O brethren, let us most ardently keep the commandments of God, that we may be worthy to celebrate also the ascension and to receive the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Aposticha stichera, in Tone II: Special Melody: O house of Ephratha…—

The gushing fountain of Thy wisdom poureth forth the water of the Spirit, and drinking thereof, we are filled with divine dogmas.

Stichos: Remember Thy congregation which Thou hast purchased from the beginning.

Truly was the cruel Hebrew race wounded, when it listened to Thee, O Word, teaching the people the doctrines of salvation.

Stichos: God is our King before the ages, He hath wrought salvation in the midst of the earth.

Thou didst come to Sion, O Creator, and didst stand in the midst of Thy people, and didst give them the grace of salvation.

Glory…, Now & ever…, in Tone IV—

O Lord, before Thy precious Cross, at the mid-point of the feast, Thou didst enter the Temple, teaching the Jews with boldness the things set down by Thee through Moses in the Law; but, amazed at the ineffable mystery of Thy wisdom, O Christ, with envy they plotted against Thee, murmuring: “How doth He know the Scriptures, not having studied them?” not aware that Thou art the Savior of our souls.

On the Beatitudes, 6 troparia from Ode V of the canons of the feast.

Prokimenon of the feast, in Tone III—

Great is our Lord, and great is His strength, and of His understanding there is no measure.

Stichos: Praise ye the Lord, for a psalm is a good thing; let praise be sweet unto our God.

Reading from the Acts of the Apostles, §29 [12:1-11]

In those days, Herod the Icing stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the Church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Passover to bring him forth to the people. Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the Church unto God for him. And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying: “Arise up quickly” And his chains fell off from his hands. And the angel said unto him: “Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals.” And so he did. And he said unto him: “Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.” And he went out, and followed him; and knew not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision. When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of its own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him. And when Peter was come to himself, he said: “Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent His angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.”

Alleluia, of the feast, in Tone I—

Stichos: Remember Thy congregation which Thou hast purchased from the beginning.

Stichos: God is our King before the ages, He hath wrought salvation in the midst of the earth.

Gospel According to John, §31 [8:31-42]

The Lord said to the Jews who came to Him: “If ye continue in My word, then are ye My disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” They answered Him: “We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest Thou, Ye shall be made free?” Jesus answered them: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house forever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill Me, because My word hath no place in you. I speak that which I have seen with My Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.” They answered and said unto him: “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said unto them: “If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill Me, a man Who hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. Ye do the deeds of your father.” Then said they to Him, “We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.” Jesus said unto them: “If God were your Father, ye would love Me: for I proceeded forth and came from God.”

Communion verse of the feast—

“He who eateth My flesh and drinketh My blood abideth in Me, and I in him,” said the Lord. Alleluia. Thrice