On Lord, I have cried…, 4 stichera of the resurrection, in Tone IV—

Bowing down unceasingly before Thy life-creating Cross, O Christ God, we glorify

Thy resurrection on the third day; for thereby Thou hast restored corrupted human nature, O Almighty, and hast renewed for us the ascent of the heavens, in that Thou alone art good and lovest mankind.

Thou hast loosed the penalty for the disobedience committed through the tree, O Savior, having been nailed of Thine own will to the tree of the Cross; and having descended into hades, O Mighty One, as God Thou didst break asunder the bonds of death. Wherefore, we worship Thy resurrection from the dead, crying out with joy: O Lord Almighty, glory be to Thee!

Thou didst break down the gates of hades, O Lord, and didst destroy the kingdom of death; and Thou didst free the human race from corruption, granting life, incorruption and great mercy to the world.

Come, O ye people, let us hymn the Savior’s rising on the third day, whereby we have been delivered from the unbreakable bonds of hades, and have all received incorruption and life, crying out: O Thou Who alone lovest mankind, Who wast crucified, buried and hast risen, save us by Thy resurrection!

Glory…, in Tone VI—

Finding a Samaritan woman by the Well of Jacob, Jesus, Who covereth the earth with clouds, asked water of her. O the wonder! He Who is upborne by the cherubim conversed with a harlot woman; He Who hath suspended the earth upon the waters asked for water; He Who poureth forth springs and lakes of water seeketh water, although He truly desired to draw to Himself her who was entrapped by the adverse foe, and to give the water of life for her to drink who was grievously consumed in unseemly deeds, for He alone is compassionate and loveth mankind.

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

Thou didst conceive without seed and didst ineffably give birth unto Him Who hath cast down the mighty from their thrones, hath exalted the humble and lifted up the horn of His faithful, who glorify the Cross of Christ, His burial and glorious resurrection. Wherefore, O Theotokos, with unceasing hymns we bless thee, the Mediatress of so many good things, as the one who ever prayeth that our souls be saved.

Aposticha sticheron of the resurrection, in Tone IV—

Having ascended the Cross, O Lord, Thou didst destroy the ancestral curse; and descending into hades, Thou didst free the prisoners of ages past, granting incorruption to the human race. Wherefore, chanting, we glorify Thy life-creating and saving resurrection.

Then, these stichera prosomia, of the all-holy Theotokos, in Tone IV: Special Melody: Called from on high…—

Stichos: I shall commemorate thy name in every generation and generation.

God the Son, Who was timelessly begotten of the unoriginate Father, became man for the sake of His condescension and the salvation of men, that He might then grant paradise to first-created Adam. Then was all nature delivered from the deception of the serpent, and He saved the fallen image, in that He is the One Who changeth all for the better. Hence, He made His Mother a pure and undefiled Bride who gave birth. Her do we all bless as our anchor and haven.

Stichos: Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline thine ear.

In thy womb, O thou who art blessed of God, thou didst have the incarnate Creator of all, Who refashioned man who of old had fallen through the crime of the serpent; for thou didst give birth for us ineffably to God in the flesh, and by thy birthgiving hast freed from corruption all nature which hath waxed old. Wherefore, we hymn and glorify thy grace, O Virgin unwedded. Never cease to pray that our souls be saved.

Stichos: The rich among the people shall entreat thy countenance.

That thou mightest disclose unto us all the multitude of thy mercy and the boundless depth of thy goodness, thou hast wiped away the sins of thy servants; for, as Mother of God, O most immaculate one, thou hast authority over creation, and by thy power arrangest all things as thou desirest. For the grace of the Holy Spirit, manifestly abiding in thee, doth always assist thee in everything, O most blessed one.

Glory…, in Tone VIII—

When for Thine ineffable dispensation Thou didst appear in the flesh, O Christ God, the Samaritan woman, hearing the words of Thee Who lovest mankind, left her water-jar by the well, and hastened to tell those in the city: “Come and see Him Who knoweth men’s hearts! Can He be the awaited Christ, Who hath great mercy?”

Now & ever…, in the same tone—

When Thou didst teach at the midpoint of Pentecost, O Savior, the Jews said: “How doth this man know the Scriptures, not having studied them?” For they did not understand that Thou art the Wisdom Who fashioned the world. Glory to Thee!

Then, Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart…; and after the Trisagion, this resurrectional troparion, in Tone IV—

Having learned the splendid tidings from the angels and cast off the ancestral curse, uttering praise the women disciples of the Lord said to the apostles: Death hath been cast down! Christ God is risen, granting the world great mercy!

Glory…, Now & ever…, that of the feast, in Tone VIII—

In the middle of the feast quench Thou the thirst of my soul with the waters of piety, for Thou didst cry out unto all, O Savior: “Let him who thirsteth come to Me and drink!” O Christ God, Thou Wellspring of life, glory to Thee!

Dismissal.

After the Introductory Psalm, we chant Blessed is the man…, the entire kathisma.

On Lord, I have cried…, 10 stichera: 4 of the resurrection, in Tone IV—

Bowing down unceasingly before Thy life-creating Cross, O Christ God, we glorify Thy resurrection on the third day; for thereby Thou hast restored corrupted human nature, O Almighty, and hast renewed for us the ascent of the heavens, in that Thou alone art good and lovest mankind.

Thou hast loosed the penalty for the disobedience committed through the tree, O Savior, having been nailed of Thine own will to the Tree of the Cross; and having descended into hades, O Mighty One, as God Thou didst break asunder the bonds of death. Wherefore, we worship Thy resurrection from the dead, crying out with joy: O Lord Almighty, glory be to Thee!

Thou didst break down the gates of hades, O Lord, and didst destroy the kingdom of death; and Thou didst free the human race from corruption, granting life, incorruption and great mercy to the world.

Come, O ye people, let us hymn the Savior’s rising on the third day, whereby we have been delivered from the unbreakable bonds of hades, and have all received incorruption and life, crying out: O Thou Who alone lovest mankind, Who wast crucified, buried and hast arisen, save us by Thy resurrection!

And 3 of the Midfeast, in the same tone: Special Melody: Having ascended the Cross, O Lord…—

The middle of the days is come, which beginneth with the Savior’s arising, the end whereof is sealed by the divine Pentecost, which is illumined by the radiance of both, and uniteth both; and showing forth the glory which is to come, it honoreth beforehand the Master’s ascension.

Sion heard and was glad when the resurrection of Christ was announced; and its faithful children rejoiced, seeing Him Who by the Spirit washeth away the defilement wrought by the murder of Christ; and it maketh ready, celebrating the gladsome midpoint between the two feasts.

As hath been written, the abundant out-pouring of the divine Spirit upon all draweth nigh. This proclaimeth beforehand the day fixed as the midpoint after the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, which was given by Him to the disciples as a true promise pointing to the appearance of the Comforter.

And 3 of the Samaritan woman—

In Tone I: Thou didst arrive at the well at the sixth hour, O Wellspring of miracles, in pursuit of the fruit of Eve; for Eve at the same hour departed from paradise because of the deception of the serpent. The Samaritan woman came to draw water, and when He saw her the Savior said: “Give Me water to drink, and I will satisfy thee with flowing waters.” And hastening to the city, the prudent one straightway told the people: “Come and see Christ the Lord, the Savior of our souls!”

In Tone II: When the Lord came to the well, the Samaritan woman besought the Compassionate One: “Give me the water of faith, and I shall receive the waters of the font, joy and deliverance!” O Lord, glory to Thee!

The Son Who with the Father is equally without beginning and equally eternal, the Wellspring of healings, came to the well, and a woman of Samaria arrived to draw water. When the Savior saw her, He said: “Give Me water to drink, and go, summon thy husband.” But she, speaking as to a man, and not to God, sought to conceal, saying: “I have no husband.” Then said the Teacher unto her: “Thou hast spoken the truth when thou didst say: ‘I have no husband’; for thou hast had five, and him whom thou now hast is not thy husband.” And marveling at his words, she hastened to the city, and cried out to the people, saying: “Come and see the Christ, Who granteth the world great mercy!”

Glory…, in Tone VI—

Finding a Samaritan woman by the Well of Jacob, Jesus, Who covereth the earth with clouds, asked water of her. O the wonder! He Who is upborne by the cherubim conversed with a harlot woman; He Who hath suspended the earth upon the waters asked for water; He Who poureth forth springs and lakes of water seeketh water, although He truly desired to draw to Himself her who was entrapped by the adverse foe, and to give the water of life for her to drink who was grievously consumed in unseemly deeds, for He alone is compassionate and loveth mankind.

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

The Prophet David, the forefather of God, for thy sake gave voice beforehand in psalmody concerning thee, unto Him Who in thee accomplished mighty works: The Queen stood at Thy right hand. For God Whose good pleasure it was to become incarnate of thee without father showed thee, His Mother, to be the Mediatress of life, that He might renew His image which had become corrupt through the passions; and having found the sheep which had strayed among the mountains and become lost, He taketh it upon His shoulders and bringeth it to His Father; and Christ, Who is possessed of great and rich mercy, in accordance with His will, uniteth it with the hosts of heaven, and saveth the world, O Theotokos.

Entrance. Prokimenon of the day.

At Litia, the sticheron of the temple; and Glory…, Now & ever…, in Tone III—

Let heaven and earth rejoice with splendor today, for Christ hath revealed Himself incarnate as a man, that He might release Adam from the universal curse; and coming to Samaria, He made Himself wondrous through miracles: He Who investeth the clouds with waters stood before a woman, asking for water. Wherefore, all ye faithful, let us worship Him Who of His own will impoverished Himself for our sake in His compassionate counsel.

Aposticha sticheron of the resurrection, in Tone IV—

Having ascended the Cross, O Lord, Thou didst destroy the ancestral curse; and descending into hades, Thou didst free the prisoners of ages past, granting incorruption to the human race. Wherefore, chanting, we glorify Thy life-creating and saving resurrection.

Then, the Paschal stichera, with their refrains, in Tone V—

Stichos: Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered.

Today hath a sacred Pascha been shown unto us: a new and holy Pascha, a mystical Pascha, a Pascha all-venerable, Pascha—Christ the Redeemer, an unblemished Pascha, a great Pascha, a Pascha of the faithful, a Pascha which openeth unto us the gates of paradise, a Pascha which sanctifieth all the faithful!

Stichos: As smoke vanisheth, so let them vanish.

O ye women proclaimers of good tidings, come ye from the sight of Christ and say ye unto Sion: “Receive from us good tidings of the joy of the resurrection of Christ! Delight thyself, dance and rejoice, O Jerusalem, having beheld Christ the King issuing forth like a bridegroom from the tomb!”

Stichos: So let sinners perish at the presence of God, and let the righteous be glad.

At late dawn, the myrrh-bearing women stood before the tomb of the Giver of life and found an angel seated upon the stone; and he, addressing them, spake thus: “Why seek ye the Living among the dead? Why lament ye the Incorrupt as amid corruption? Go forth and proclaim this to His disciples!”

Stichos: This is the day that the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad therein.

A delightful Pascha! Pascha, the Lord’s Pascha, an all-venerable Pascha hath shone forth on us. It is Pascha: let us embrace one another with joy! O Pascha, ransom from sorrow! For Christ, having shone forth today from the tomb, as from a bridal-chamber, filled the women with joy, “Proclaim this to the apostles!”

Glory…, Tone VIII—

When for Thine ineffable dispensation Thou didst appear in the flesh, O Christ God, The Samaritan woman, hearing the words of Thee Who lovest mankind, left her water-jar by the well, and hastened to tell those in the city: “Come and see Him Who knoweth men’s hearts! Can He be the awaited Christ, Who hath great mercy?”

Now & ever…, in Tone V—

It is the day of the resurrection! Let us adorn ourselves with the splendor of the festival and embrace one another! And let us say, O brethren, even unto those who hate us: “Let us forgive all things at the resurrection, and thus let us cry out: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life!”

And, Christ is risen…, once. And the rest as set forth for the previous Sunday.

Resurrectional troparion, in Tone IV—

Having learned the splendid tidings of the resurrection from the angels and cast off the ancestral condemnation, exulting, the women disciples of the Lord said to the apostles: Death is despoiled! Christ God is risen, granting the world great mercy!

Glory…, Now & ever…: Troparion of the feast, in Tone VIII—

In the middle of the feast quench Thou the thirst of my soul with the waters of piety, for Thou didst cry out unto all, O Savior: “Let him who thirsteth come to Me and drink!” O Christ God, Thou Wellspring of life, glory to Thee!

If vigil is not served, at Nocturns we chant the Canon to the Holy & Life-creating Trinity from the Octoechos, in Tone IV; It is truly meet to glorify Thee…, and the dismissal.

At God is the Lord…, the troparion of the resurrection, twice; Glory…, Now & ever…, that of the Midfeast, once.

The usual kathismata.

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

Gazing upon the entrance to the tomb, and unable to endure the angel of flame, the myrrh-bearing women marveled, trembling, and said: “Hath He been stolen away Who hath opened paradise to the thief? Or hath He risen Who even before His suffering proclaimed His resurrection? Truly, Christ hath risen, granting life and resurrection unto those in hades!”

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

Special Melody: Go Thou quickly before…—

Thou didst arise from the tomb as One Immortal, O Savior, and by Thy power didst raise Thy world up with Thee, O Christ our God; in might Thou didst crush the dominion of death, O Merciful One, and hast shown forth the resurrection unto all. Wherefore, we glorify Thee, O Thou Who alone lovest mankind!

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

The mystery hidden from before the ages and unknown even to the angels, through thee, O Theotokos, hath been revealed to those on earth: God incarnate in an unconfused union, Who willingly accepted the Cross for our sake and, thereby raising up the first-formed man, hath saved our souls from death.

After the second chanting of the Psalter, these sessional hymns, in Tone IV: Special Melody: Joseph marveled…—

Having descended from the heights of heaven and approached the stone where the Rock of life had lain, Gabriel, arrayed in white, cried out to those who wept: “Cease your cries of lamentation, O ye who have now found mercy! Be of good cheer, for Him Whom ye seek, weeping, hath truly arisen! Wherefore, cry out to the apostles that the Lord hath risen! And receiving this joy, worship the Risen One! Be ye of good cheer, that Eve also may rejoice!”

Stichos: I will confess Thee, O Lord, with my whole heart, I will tell of all Thy wonders.

In Thy voluntary counsel Thou didst endure the Cross, O Savior, and in a new tomb mortal men laid Thee Who by Thy word didst create the ends of the earth. Wherefore, the alien one was bound, death taken grievously captive; and all those in hades cried out to Thy life-bearing resurrection: Christ hath risen, remaining the Bestower of life forever!

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

Joseph marveled, beholding that which transcendeth nature, and pondering thy seedless conception he dwelt in thought upon the dew which fell upon the fleece, the bush unconsumed by the fire, and the rod of Aaron which put forth branches. And thy guardian and betrothed cried out to the priests: “The Virgin giveth birth, and even after birthgiving remaineth virgin!”

Then a reading from the interpretation of the Gospel of John by St. John Chrysostom, homilies 31-34.

After Blessed are the blameless…, the resurrectional troparia: Blessed art Thou, O Lord…, The assembly of angels was amazed…, in Tone V, and the rest.

And straightway, the hypacoï, in Tone IV—

Running on before, the myrrh-bearing women proclaimed Thine all-glorious arising to the apostles, O Christ: how, as God, Thou didst arise, granting great mercy to the world.

Songs of ascent, in Tone IV, the verses being repeated—

Antiphon I

From my youth have the many passions warred against me. But do Thou help and save me, O my Savior.

O ye who hate Sion, ye shall be put to shame by the Lord; for ye shall be withered up like grass by the fire.

Glory…: By the Holy Spirit is every soul given life, exalted by purity, and made radiant by the unity of the Trinity in a sacred and mystic manner.

Now & ever…: The foregoing is repeated.

Antiphon II

From the depths of my soul have I cried out to Thee, O Lord. Let Thy divine ears be attentive unto me.

Everyone who hath set his hope on the Lord is higher than all who sorrow.

Glory…: Through the Holy Spirit do streams of grace flow, watering all creation, unto its enlivening.

Now & ever…: The foregoing is repeated.

Antiphon III

Let my heart be lifted up unto Thee, O Word, and let none of the delights of the world beguile me, unto my weakening.

We who have love for our mothers must needs be yet more ardent in our love for the Lord.

Glory…: From the Holy Spirit is the richness of divine vision, sight and wisdom; for in Him doth the Word reveal all the precepts of the Father.

Now & ever…: The foregoing is repeated.

Prokimenon, in Tone IV—

Arise, O Lord, help us, and redeem us for Thy name’s sake,

Stichos: O God, with our ears have we heard, for our fathers have told us.

Let every breath praise the Lord.

Gospel According to John, §63 [20:1-10]

At that time, the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulcher, and saw the stone taken away from the sepulcher. Then she ran, and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said unto them: “They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulcher, and we know not where they have laid Him.” Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulcher. So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulcher. And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. Then came Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulcher, and saw the linen clothes lie, and the napkin, that was about His head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. Then went in also that other disciple, who came first to the sepulcher, and he saw, and believed. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away again unto their own homes.

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

Canon of Pascha, with 6 troparia, including the irmos and theotokia; that of the Midfeast, with 4 troparia; and that of the Samaritan woman, with 4 troparia.

Ode I

Canon of Pascha

Irmos: It is the day of Resurrection! Let us shine with splendor, O ye peoples! Pascha, the Pascha of the Lord! For from death to life and from earth to heaven hath Christ God led us over who sing a hymn of victory.

Let us purify our senses, and with the unapproachable light of the resurrection we shall behold Christ, shining forth with brilliance; and singing a hymn of victory, we shall clearly hear Him saying: “Rejoice.”

Let the heavens be glad as is meet, and let the earth rejoice; and let the whole world, both visible and invisible, keep festival, for Christ, our eternal Gladness, hath risen.

Canon of the Theotokos

Thou didst shatter the bounds of mortality, O most immaculate one who gavest birth to eternal Life—Christ Who hath shone forth today from the tomb and enlightened the world.

Having beheld thy Son and God risen, rejoice with the apostles, O pure one, full of the grace of God; for as the cause of joy for all thou wast first to receive the salutation “Rejoice!” O most immaculate Mother of God.

Canon II of the Midfeast the composition of Andrew of Crete, in Tone VIII—

Irmos: Thou didst bring the sea together, engulfing proud Pharaoh and his army, and didst save the people dryshod, O Lord; and Thou didst lead

them to the mountain of holiness, and they cried: We sing unto Thee, our God, a hymn of victory, for Thou hast been glorified!

Clap your hands, ye nations! Weep, O ye Jews! For Christ, the Bestower of life, hath broken the bonds of hades, hath raised up the dead, and cured the sick by His word. He is our God, Who giveth life to those who believe in His name.

Thou didst show forth a miracle, turning water into wine, O Master Who in Egypt turned the rivers into blood; and Thou hast raised up the dead, completing this second sign. Glory to Thine ineffable counsel! Glory to Thy self-abasement, whereby Thou hast renewed us!

As the ever-flowing stream of true life, O Lord, Thou art our resurrection, although Thou didst labor, O my Savior, and didst willingly endure thirst, submitting to the laws of nature; and having gone to Sychar in the flesh, Thou didst ask the Samaritan woman for water to drink.

Theotokion: Thou alone didst contain thy Creator in thy womb, O Theotokos, didst ineffably give birth to Him in the flesh, and didst remain virgin, who wast in nowise defiled in thy virginity. Ever unceasingly entreat Him as thy Son and God in behalf of thy flock.

Canon of the Samaritan Woman, the composition of Joseph, in Tone IV—

Irmos: O Thou Who didst smite Egypt and drown the tyrant Pharaoh in the sea, Thou didst save from slavery the people who like Moses chanted a hymn of victory, for Thou hast been glorified.

He Who was buried hath risen and raised with Him the human race. Let all creation rejoice, and let the noetic clouds manifestly drop righteousness today!

Of Thine own will accepting the Cross in the flesh, Thou didst rise from the dead on the third day, O Lord, Origin of life, emptying the treasuries of hades, and leading up the fettered souls.

Seeing the angel’s shining countenance, the myrrh-bearing women fled from the sepulcher with fear; but learning of the arising of Christ, they hastened to tell the disciples.

O Lord Who coverest the chambers with the waters, Who art the Water of life, Thou gavest Thy precious water unto the Samaritan woman, who asked it of Thee and understood Thy compassion.

Triadicon: O Trinity—Father, Son and Spirit—as Creator of all save those who glorify Thee with pure faith, and grant us cleansing of sins, in that Thou art all-good.

Theotokion: Rejoice, O fiery throne! Rejoice, O candlestand all of gold! Rejoice, cloud of the Light! Rejoice, palace of the Word and noetic table which bore Christ, the Bread of life, as is meet!

Katavasiæ: The irmoi of the Paschal Canon.

Ode III

Canon of Pascha

Irmos: Come, let us drink a new drink, not one miraculously sprung from a barren rock; but the Fount of incorruption—Christ Who poured forth from the tomb, in Whom we are established.

Now have all things been filled with light—heaven and earth, and the nether regions. Let all creation, therefore, celebrate the rising of Christ, wherein it hath been established.

Yesterday I was buried with Thee, O Christ; today I rise with Thee Who art risen. Yesterday I was crucified with Thee. Do Thou Thyself glorify me with Thee, O Savior, in Thy kingdom.

Canon of the Theotokos

I am come today unto life incorruptible, O pure one, through the goodness of Him Who was born of thee and hath shone forth light upon all the ends of the earth.

Having beheld God to Whom thou gavest birth in the flesh risen from the dead, as He said, O pure one, dance thou, and magnify Him as God, O all-pure one.

Canon of the Midfeast

Irmos: My heart is established in the Lord; my horn is exalted in my God; my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies. I am glad in Thy salvation.

“Be ye not ones who judge by appearances, O Jews,” the Master said, teaching, when He went to the Temple, at the midfeast of the Law, as it is written.

Be ye not ones who judge by appearances, O Jews, for Christ is come, Whom the prophets called Him Who cometh from Sion and restoreth the world.

Even if ye do not believe His words, O Jews, believe the works of the Master. Why do ye deceive yourselves, ye who reject the Holy One, of Whom Moses wrote in the Law?

Theotokion: O Lord, as One of the Trinity Thou didst appear without changing Thine essence; neither didst Thou consume the incorrupt womb of her who gave Thee birth, though Thou art God and Fire.

Canon of the Samaritan Woman

Irmos: My heart hath been established in the Lord Who giveth supplication to him who prayeth; for the bow of the mighty is become weak, and the strengthless have girded themselves with power.

Of Thine own will wast Thou lifted up upon the Tree, O Word, and beholding this, the stones fell down and all creation made obeisance; and the dead in the graves arose as from sleep.

Seeing Thee come with Thy soul unto hades, O Word, the souls of the righteous were released from their eternal bonds, and they hymned Thy power, which is past understanding.

“Why marvel ye? Why seek ye with myrrh the Master in the tomb? He hath risen, and raised up the world with Himself!” the radiant angel declared to the myrrh-bearing women.

As Life and the Wellspring of immortality, O compassionate Lord, Thou didst sit by the well, and didst fill with Thine all-wise water the Samaritan woman who asked it of Thee and hymneth Thee.

Triadicon: The One Who is God over all things is hymned in Trinity-the Father, the Son and the divine Spirit-Whom the heavenly ranks glorify with fear, crying out clearly: Holy, Holy, Holy art Thou, O Lord!

Theotokion: Having ineffably conceived in thy womb, O Virgin Mother, in manner past understanding and recounting thou gavest birth to the God of all, remaining a virgin as thou wast before giving birth, O Bride of God.

Kontakion of the Midfeast, in Tone IV: Special Melody: Having been lifted up…—

At the midpoint of the feast of the Law, O Christ God, Creator and Master of all, Thou didst say to those present: “Come and draw forth the water of immortality!” Wherefore, we fall down before Thee and cry out with faith: Grant us Thy compassions, for Thou art the Source of our life!

Ikos: With the torrents of Thy blood give drink to my soul, which hath been hardened by iniquitous transgressions, and show it forth as fruitful in the virtues; for Thou didst tell all to come to Thee, O most holy Word of God, and to draw forth the water of incorruption, which is living and washeth away the sins of those who hymn Thy glorious and divine arising, O Good One, granting the strength of the Spirit, which truly came down from on high upon Thy disciples, who declared Thee to be God, for Thou art the Source of our life.

Sessional hymn of the Samaritan woman, in Tone IV: Special Melody: Having been lifted up…—

Let heaven rejoice and let those on earth join chorus, for, having appeared from the Virgin as a man, by His death Christ hath delivered all humanity from corruption. He Who shone forth in miracles giveth a wellspring of healings to the Samaritan woman who asked for water, in that He alone is immortal.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Sessional of the Midfeast, in the same melody—

O Master and Bestower of wisdom, Thou didst stand forth during the feast of the Law, and, sitting down in the Temple, didst teach, saying thus unto all: “Come, ye who thirst, and drink the water which I will give you, whereby, all ye men, ye shall enjoy life and sustenance from God.”

Ode IV

Canon of Pascha

Irmos: Let the divinely eloquent Habbakuk stand with us on godly watch and show us the radiant angel, who clearly saith: “Today hath salvation come to the world, for Christ is risen, in that He is almighty!”

Christ appeared as of the male sex when He opened the womb of the Virgin, and though a man He was called the Lamb. Our Pascha is without blemish, for He partook not of corruption, and as true God He was called perfect.

Like a yearling lamb was Christ, our blessed crown, the purifying Pascha, slain of His own will for all; and from the tomb hath He shone forth upon us again as the beauteous Sun of righteousness.

David, the ancestor of God, leapt, dancing before the foreshadowing ark. O ye holy people of God, beholding the fulfillment of the images, let us be divinely glad, for Christ hath risen as One omnipotent.

Canon of the Theotokos

He Who fashioned Adam, thy forefather, O pure one, is made of thee. And today He hath demolished the dwelling-place of death by His own death, and hath illumined all with the divine rays of the resurrection.

Today thou didst behold Christ to Whom thou gavest birth, and Who most beautifully shone forth from the dead unto the salvation of all, O pure one who art goodly, blameless among women, and comely. Rejoicing, glorify Him with the apostles.

Canon of the Midfeast

Irmos: With noetic eyes the Prophet Habbakuk foresaw Thy coming, O Lord; wherefore he cried aloud: “God shall come out of Theeman!” Glory to Thy power! Glory to Thy condescension!

If the Messiah must needs come, and Christ is the Messiah, why, then, O ye iniquitous ones, do ye not believe in Him? Behold, He is come and beareth witness to the things He hath done: He hath turned water into wine and restored the paralytic by His word.

Failing to understand the Scriptures, all of you iniquitous Jews are deceived; for the Christ hath truly come: He hath enlightened all, and shown you many signs and wonders. In vain do ye deny the true Life!

“One thing have I shown you, and still ye all marvel?” Christ cried to the Jews. “Ye will circumcise a man on the Sabbath,” He said, “Why will ye yet slander Me, Who by a word have raised up a paralytic?”

Theotokion: O pure Virgin Mother, who didst uncircumscribably contain God in thy womb, cease not to pray for us, that through thee we may be delivered from evil circumstances, for we ever flee unto thee.

Canon of the Samaritan Woman

Irmos: I heard report of Thee, O God, and I was afraid; I understood Thy works, O Lord, and I was filled with awe, for the earth is full of Thy praise. Let the heavens be glad, and let all creation celebrate! The Lord hath risen and appeared to all His all-wise apostles!

Thy power was swallowed up, O death, when Christ died, and by His arising the dead issued forth from the graves as from chambers.

“Why do ye lament, O women? Why seek ye the Immortal One with myrrh? He is risen, as He said!” the angel said to the myrrh-bearing women.

Unto the Samaritan woman who asked didst Thou give water, the knowledge of Thy dominion, O Lord; wherefore, hymning Thee, she will never thirst again.

Triadicon: O transcendent Trinity—Father, Word and divine Spirit—one in power, equally without beginning! Save us all, who hymn Thee with faith.

Theotokion: Of old, the law-giver beheld thee as a bush unburnt; and Daniel envisioned thee as a holy mountain, O only Virgin Mother and Mistress.

Ode V

Canon of Pascha

Irmos: Let us rise very early in the morning and offer hymnody to the Master instead of myrrh; and let us behold Christ, the Sun of righteousness, Who shineth forth life upon all.

Beholding Thy boundless compassion, O Christ, those held fast by the bonds of hades walked toward the light with gladsome steps, praising the eternal Pascha.

O ye light-bearers, let us approach Christ Who issueth forth from the tomb like a bridegroom, and together with the ranks who love the feasts of the Church let us celebrate the saving Pascha of God.

Canon of the Theotokos

The assembly of the pious is filled with joy and enlightened by the divine and light-bearing rays of the resurrection of thy Son, O all-pure Mother of God.

Thou didst not break the doors of the Virgin at Thine incarnation, O King of creation, nor didst thou break the seals of Thy tomb; wherefore, beholding Thee risen, Thy Mother rejoiced.

Canon of the Midfeast 

Irmos: Grant us peace, O Lord our God. O Lord our God, take us for Thy possession. O Lord, we know none other than Thee; we call upon Thy name.

Thou didst adorn Thine apostles with miracles, and didst magnify the disciples with wonders, and hast glorified them throughout the world, O our Savior, giving them Thy kingdom.

The disciples enlightened all the ends of the earth with miracles and teachings, preaching the word of Thy kingdom, O Christ our Savior, in divers ways.

We send up praise to Thy kingdom, and we offer hymnody unto Thee, O Word, Who for our sake didst appear on the earth, hast enlightened the world, and restored Adam.

Theotokion: Thy womb became a holy table holding the Bread of heaven, of which when any man eateth It, he doth not die, as He, the Nourisher of all, hath said, O Theotokos.

Canon of the Samaritan Woman

Irmos: Shine forth upon me the light of Thy precepts, O Lord, for my spirit riseth early unto Thee and hymneth Thee: for Thou art our God, and I flee to Thee, O King of peace.

Having risen early and reached Thy holy sepulcher, the myrrh-bearers beheld a radiant youth and were filled with awe, learning of Thine arising, O Christ.

Death hath been slain, hades been made captive, and those in bonds set free by the resurrection of Christ. Let us rejoice and clap our hands, celebrating with splendor.

O ye apostles, leap up! Ye angels, join chorus! All ye people, rejoice! The Lord is risen; corruption hath been overthrown; grief hath ceased; and Adam danceth!

O Lord, Who art the Source of life, of old Thou gavest the water of remission and understanding unto the Samaritan woman who asked it; wherefore, we hymn Thine ineffable compassions.

Triadicon: We worship the Creator, Lord and Master of all, the Unity in three Hypostases, the consubstantial Trinity—the Father, Word, and Holy Spirit—the one God indivisible in nature.

Theotokion: O pure one, we call thee the impassable gate, the uncultivated field, the ark and jar containing the Manna, the candlestand, and the censer of the immaterial Coal.

Ode VI

Canon of Pascha

Irmos: Thou didst descend into the nethermost depths of the earth, and didst shatter the everlasting bars which held those who were bound, O Christ, and like Jonah from the sea monster Thou didst rise from the tomb on the third day.

Thou didst arise from the tomb, maintaining the seals intact, O Christ Who in Thy birth didst not break the seal of the Virgin; and thou hast opened unto us the gates of paradise.

O my Savior, Thou living and unsacrificed Victim, Who of Thine own will didst as God bring Thyself to the Father, with Thyself Thou didst resurrect Adam, the father of our whole race, when Thou didst arise from the tomb.

Canon of the Theotokos

That which of old was held fast by death and corruption hath been led up to life incorruptible and everlasting by Him Who became incarnate of thine all-pure womb, O Virgin Theotokos.

He Who descended into thy pure womb, and dwelt therein, becoming incarnate in manner past understanding, O pure one, descended into the uttermost depths of the earth and raised up Adam with Himself, arising from the tomb.

Canon of the Midfeast

Irmos: Like the waters of the sea am I tossed about by the waves of life, O Thou Who lovest mankind. Wherefore, like Jonah I cry to Thee: Lead up my life from corruption, O compassionate Lord!

O Jesus, Who sustainest all the ends of the earth, Thou didst go up and teach the word of truth to the people in the Temple at the mid-point of the feast, as John crieth out.

Thou didst do the work of the Father, and didst lend credence to Thy words by Thy deeds, working healings and signs, O Savior: restoring the paralytic, cleansing lepers, and raising up the dead.

The beginningless Son received a beginning, assuming our humanity when He became man; and at the midfeast He taught, saying: “Haste ye to the ever-flowing fountain, and draw forth life!”

Theotokion: We hymn thee as Virgin after giving birth, and we glorify thee as the only Virgin and Mother, O Maiden Bride of God; for from thee was God truly incarnate, renewing us.

Canon of the Samaritan Woman

Irmos: Let not the watery tempest drown me, nor the abyss destroy me; for I have been cast into the depths of the heart of the sea. Wherefore, like Jonah I cry aloud: Let my life ascend to Thee out of the corruption of evils, O God!

The iniquitous ones nailed Thee to the Cross and pierced Thee with a spear, O Christ; and the noble Joseph buried Thee in a new sepulcher, arising from whence with glory, O Savior, Thou didst resurrect all creation, which hymneth Thy dominion.

With might Thou didst break down the bars and gates of hades, and as God Thou didst arise. And meeting the women, Thou didst say to them “Rejoice!” and didst send them to tell the disciples: Life hath risen, and He is seen Who enlighteneth the ends of the earth!

“Why weep ye? Why bear ye myrrh as to one dead, O women? Christ is risen, leaving the grave-clothes empty!” the exceedingly radiant youth who appeared to them of old cried out; “Tell ye His friends of His arising!”

As an abundant stream of life and an abyss of mercy, O Good One, while Thou wast traveling Thou didst sit by the well of the oath, and didst cry out to the Samaritan woman: “Give Me water to drink, that thou mayest receive the water of remission!”

Triadicon: With the incorporeal hosts I hymn with faith the unoriginate Father, the Son Who is equally enthroned, and the consubstantial Spirit—the one Essence, Nature and Glory, the One Kingship, the God and Creator of all, the Fashioner of all.

Theotokion: O pure one, we hymn thee as the only virgin who hath given birth and kept her womb undefiled—the throne of the Lord, the gate and mountain, the noetic candlestand, the most splendid chamber of God, the tabernacle of glory, the ark, the jar and the table.

Kontakion of the Samaritan woman, in Tone VIII: Special Melody: As the firstfruits…—

The Samaritan woman who came to the well with faith beheld Thee, the Water of wisdom; and having drunk thereof abundantly, she, the renowned one, hath forever inherited the kingdom on high.

Ikos: Let us listen to the pure mysteries which took place in Samaria, as John teacheth us: how a woman conversed with the Lord, asking water of Him Who gathered the waters into their form, and Who is equally enthroned with the Father and the Spirit; for He came, seeking His image, as One Who is eternally ever glorious.

Synaxarion

On this day, the fifth Sunday of the Paschal period, we celebrate the feast of the Samaritan woman.

Stichoi: O woman who earnest to take corruptible water,/ thou drawest forth incorruptible, whereby thou washest away defilement of soul.

We celebrate the Samaritan woman because it was to her that Christ openly declared Himself to be the Messiah, which is the Anointed One; for mesa is the Hebrew word for oil. It is for this reason, I think, that this feast was assigned to the week of the Midfeast of Pentecost. For during the week preceding this He performed the miracle at the pool, and this week at the Well of Jacob, which Jacob dug himself and gave to his son Joseph. This was a beautiful area, and it was precisely here, near Mount Somor, that the Samaritans established many cities. Christ arrived in Sychar where, when Jacob dwelt there (in ancient times) with Dinah, his daughter, and his children, Shechem, son of Hamor the Hittite, lusted after Dinah and, having ravished her, lived with her. In that place, the brethren of Dinah, defending their sister’s honor, suddenly invaded the city and slew both Shechem himself and Hamor, his father. This is where Jacob took up residence and dug this well. However, Samaritans did not dwell in this city before, but Israelites who, having offended God during the reign of Pekah, after the first and second invasion of the Assyrians, were made tributaries. But not long afterwards, during the reign of Hoshea, when they entered into an alliance with Ethiopians, the King of Assyria, on learning of this, carried them off to Babylon and ordered that that place be resettled by people of divers heathen tribes; but God sent lions against the aliens. The King of Assyria, when he received word of this, sent to them a priest of the Jews (for there were there corrupted Jews), so that they might accept the laws of God. And, casting aside their idols, they accepted only the books of Moses, but rejected the prophets and the rest of the Scriptures. These are those who were called Samaritans, after Mount Somor, and who were at emnity with the Jews who returned after the Captivity, because they [the Samaritans] were only half-Jews, and the Jews, considering them unclean, would not share food with them. For this reason the Jews often accused Christ of being a Samaritan, because He abrogated some of the law, as they had. And so He arrived in Sychar at about the sixth hour of the day and, tired from his travels, sat down, while His disciples went on to purchase food. A certain woman came from the city to draw water; and Jesus asked water of her. But recognizing Him by his speech and dress, she remarked that there could be no communication of any sort. But He began a conversation with her concerning the spiritual water which, as He explained, is the most abundant and pure. He constantly compared the Spirit to water and fire. The woman stood firmly in her opinion and added that He did not possess any water, for He had not brought with Him a vessel wherewith to draw it forth, and the well was deep. Then she turned the conversation to the Patriarch Jacob, noting that he had dug the well and drunk of it himself, and watered his cattle therewith, thus showing the abundance, pleasantness and freshness of the spring. Although He did not place Himself higher than Jacob, so as not to offend the woman, Christ began again to speak about water, describing the superiority of His water, in that he who drank of His water would never again thirst. The woman asked to be given this water, but He told her to summon her husband, since the discussion required greater acuity of mind; but she said that she had no husband. The Omniscient One said: “Well hast thou said: ‘I have no husband’; for thou hast had five, as the Law commandeth, but the sixth, with whom thou now livest in unlawful cohabitation, is not thy husband.” There are those who understand the five husbands to represent the five books of Moses, which the Samaritans accepted, and the sixth they understand to represent the words of Christ, which she had never accepted; for grace had not yet been poured forth. Others consider the five to represent the five covenants laid down by God: the first in paradise, the second after the expulsion, the third in Noah’s time, the fourth under Abraham, and the fifth under Moses, while the sixth is the Gospel, which she did not yet possess. Yet others believe the five husbands represent the five senses. Answering Him, the woman called Him a prophet. She then asked Him on which mountain worship should be made—in Samaria, or in Jerusalem; for the Samaritans, as imperfect Jews, had no comprehension of the omnipresence of God, but imagined that He lived only where they worshipped Him, that is, on Mount Gerizim; for from all lands they assembled there for their feasts. Although Christ replied that the salvation of the world is from the Jews, He added, however, that God is immaterial, and those who are accounted worthy to worship Him would do better not to worship Him with sacrifices, but in spirit and in truth; or that it were better for them to know God not as One, but with the Holy Spirit and the Son; for He is Truth. The woman again said: “From the Scriptures we know that the Messiah will come, that is, the Anointed One.” Jesus, perceiving the good direction of the woman’s thoughts, said: “I am He.” The Samaritans knew of the Messiah from the books of Moses, but primarily from the following passage: “The Lord God hath raised up for us a Prophet…,” and many others. At the end of their conversation, the disciples arrived and were amazed at the extreme condescension He displayed in conversing with the woman. Moreover, they asked Him to eat, in part because He was tired, but also because it was noontide; but He spake to them of everlasting food, that is, the salvation of men, and that they were to reap the labors of the prophets. But when the woman went to the city and described what had happened with her, all arose and went to Christ, convinced that the woman would not have said aught against herself if she had not learned something of import. They meekly requested that He remain with them for two days; and staying there, He performed so many miracles that the Evangelists could not record the multitude of them. This Samaritan woman, renamed Photini by Christ, is the same woman who, during the reign of Nero, received the crown of martyrdom with her two sons and five sisters, after enduring countless tortures: all manner of mockery, the flaying of her body, the excision of her breasts, the fracture of her arms, the insertion of sharp needles under her nails, the pouring of molten lead down her throat. It should be known that the covering of this well, as well as the stone whereon Christ sat while conversing with the Samaritan woman, were reverently moved by the Emperor Justinian and placed in the Chapel of the Word of God, in the Great Church of the Holy Wisdom. There they long lay, to the left of the entrance into the church, on the eastern side, in front of the narthex of the catechumens; and they healed all manner of sicknesses, of whatever sort: principally, their healing properties were availed of to cure fevers and the effects of malaria. Through the supplications of Thy martyr Photini, O Christ God, have mercy upon us! Amen.

Ode VII

Canon of Pascha

Irmos: He Who delivered the children from the furnace, having become man suffereth as a mortal, and by suffering clotheth mortal splendor in incorruption. He alone is the blessed and most glorious God of our fathers!

With myrrh the godly-minded women hastened after Thee, Whom they sought with tears as one dead; and they worshipped Thee, rejoicing, as the living God; and announced the mystic Pascha unto Thy disciples, O Christ.

We celebrate the slaying of death, the destruction of hades, the beginning of a new and everlasting life; and, leaping up, we hymn the Cause thereof, the only blessed and most glorious God of our Fathers.

Truly sacred, most festive and radiant is this saving night, the herald of the luminous day of the resurrection, whereon the timeless Light hath in the flesh shone forth upon all from the tomb.

Canon of the Theotokos

Slaying death, thy Son, O most immaculate one, hath today granted abiding life unto all the dead forever—He Who is the only blessed and all-glorious God of our fathers.

He Who is King over all creation, becoming man, dwelt in thy womb, O thou who art full of the grace of God; and having endured crucifixion and death, He hath arisen as God, raising us up with Himself, in that He is omnipotent.

Canon of the Midfeast

Irmos: The Chaldæan furnace, burning with fire, was bedewed by the Spirit through the presence of God; and the children chanted: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

Thou didst labor in the flesh, O Rest of all; and of Thine own will Thou didst thirst, O Wellspring of miracles; and Thou didst ask for water, O Jesus Who dost announce the water of life.

Thou didst converse with the Samaritan woman, O Lord, reproaching the mindlessness of the iniquitous Jews; and she believed Thee to be the Son of God, Whom they have denied.

Let us, who eat the bread of the Flesh of the Lord, who receive the Blood from the side of the Master, conduct ourselves in newness of spirit, living by grace.

Theotokion: In thy womb thou didst contain the uncontainable Word; with thy breasts thou didst give suck to Him Who nourisheth the world; and in thine embrace thou didst bear Him Who upholdeth us, O pure Theotokos.

Canon of the Samaritan Woman

Irmos: Deliver us not up utterly, for Thy holy name’s sake, neither disannul Thou Thy covenant, and cause not Thy mercy to depart from us, O Lord God of our fathers, Who art supremely hymned forever.

Of Thine own will Thou wast reckoned with iniquitous men during Thy divine suffering, O Christ; and seeing this, the earth quaked, the stones fell at Thine all-accomplishing gesture, O Unapproachable One, and the dead of ages past arose.

Having descended in soul to the nether regions of hades, Thou didst bravely lead up all those who were bound, whom death, the bitter tyrant, had received from ages past; and they cried out to Thee: O Christ God, glory to Thine awesome dispensation!

“Why seek among the dead Him Who liveth forever? He hath risen, as He said. Behold, ye can see His grave-clothes and tomb empty,” said the youth who appeared to the myrrh-bearing women; “Go, tell the apostles!”

“Thou art the Water of life!” the Samaritan woman cried out to Christ; “Wherefore, O Word, ever give me, who thirst, to drink of Thy divine grace, that I may no longer be held in the burning heat of ignorance, O Lord Jesus, but may proclaim Thy mighty works.”

Triadicon: We hymn the Father, the Son and the divine Spirit, the Trinity indivisible in essence, distinguished as to Persons, one Being, conjoined, unoriginate, the Creator and God of all, Whom all the ranks of heaven hymn.

Theotokion: After thine awesome birthgiving thou wast preserved a pure virgin, O holy Theotokos; wherefore, all the angelic choirs and all the generations of men with unceasing voices hymn thee, the pure receptacle of the Uncontainable One.

Ode VIII

Canon of Pascha

Irmos: This is the appointed and holy day, the one king and lord of Sabbaths, the feast of feasts and solemnity of solemnities, whereon we bless Christ forever.

On this auspicious day, come, let us partake of the new fruit of the vine of divine gladness, and of the kingdom of Christ, praising Him as God forever.

Cast thine eyes about thee, O Sion, and behold: for, lo! from the west and from the north, from the sea and from the east, have thy children come unto thee like divinely radiant luminaries, blessing Christ in thee forever.

Triadicon: O Father Almighty, and Word, and Spirit, Essence united in three Hypostases, transcending existence and all-divine! In Thee have we been baptized, and Thee do we bless for all ages!

Canon of the Theotokos

Through thee did the Lord come into the world, O Virgin Theotokos; and breaking open the belly of hades, He hath given resurrection to us mortals; wherefore, He is blessed forever.

Having cast down all the dominion of death by His resurrection, thy Son, O Virgin, hath, as mighty God, raised us up with Himself and deified us; wherefore, we praise Him forever.

Canon of the Midfeast

Irmos: O ye angels and heavens, bless, hymn and exalt supremely Him Who sitteth upon the throne of glory and as God is glorified unceasingly forever!

Come, ye people, and behold Him Who is hymned on the throne of glory, but is blasphemed by iniquitous men; and seeing, hymn the Messiah Who was foretold by the prophets.

Thou art truly the Christ, Who art come into the world, from Whom cometh salvation and the remission of our fathers’ offenses. Thou art truly Life for those who believe in Thee.

The Wisdom of God stood forth and taught in the Temple at the midpoint of the feast, as is written; He is truly Christ the Messiah, through Whom cometh salvation.

Theotokion: Tell us how didst thou give birth to Him Who shone forth timelessly from the Father and is hymned with the Holy Spirit? As He Who deigned to be born of thee alone knoweth, O Theotokos.

Canon of the Samaritan Woman

Irmos: O Master Who hast created all things in Thy wisdom, Thou hast established the earth as a weight upon the deep, planting its foundation upon the boundless waters. Wherefore, we all cry out, chanting: Bless the Lord unceasingly, O ye works of the Lord!

Of Thine own will Thou didst endure death, O only Immortal One. Thou didst make hades captive, didst break down the gates of brass, O King of heaven, and didst remove the prisoners held there from ages past, who unceasingly hymn the dominion of Thy goodness.

Of Thine own will Thou wast lifted up upon the Cross, O Long-suffering One. Then the stones fell, the sun was extinguished, the veil of the Temple was rent in twain, the earth quaked; hades, utterly mocked, trembled and released all its prisoners.

O Lord, as the never-waning Light and Life of all Thou didst appear to those sitting in darkness; wherefore, as the assembly of the righteous beheld Thee, O Word, they leapt up and cried: “Thou hast come to free from bonds all who hymn Thy dominion!”

At the sixth hour, O Savior, Thou didst sit by the well, and didst give the Samaritan woman living water and the water of understanding, in Thy great compassion. With her do we all cry out, chanting: Bless the Lord unceasingly, O ye works of the Lord!

We bless the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit: the Lord.

Triadicon: We hymn the unoriginate Father, the Son Who is equally without beginning, and the Holy Spirit—the one God in Three: unconfused, indivisible, the Creator of all, the one mighty Dominion and single Authority; and we cry out: Bless the Lord unceasingly, O ye works of the Lord!

Theotokion: Isaiah was purified by a burning coal, proclaiming beforehand the noetic Coal Who was incarnate of thee, O Virgin, in manner past understanding, Who consumeth all the tinder of the sins of men, and in His lovingkindness doth deify our nature, O most immaculate one.

We praise, we bless,…; and the katavasia. We do not chant the Magnificat.

Ode IX

Canon of Pascha

Irmos: Shine, O shine, thou new Jerusalem, for the glory of the Lord hath shone upon thee! Dance now and be glad, O Sion! And do thou delight, O pure Theotokos, in the rising of thine Offspring.

O Thy divine and beloved voice most sweet! For Thou didst truly promise to be with us until the end of the world, O Christ. Having this as the confirmation of our hope, let us rejoice, O ye faithful.

O Christ, Thou great and most sacred Pascha!

O Wisdom, Word and Power of God! Grant that we may more truly partake of Thee in the never-waning day of Thy kingdom.

Canon of the Theotokos

Together we, the faithful, bless thee, O Virgin: Rejoice, O portal of the Lord! Rejoice, O animate city! Rejoice, thou for whose sake the Light hath now shone forth on us from the resurrection of the dead of Him Who was born of thee.

Be glad and rejoice, O divine portal of the Light, for Jesus Who descended into the tomb hath shone forth, shining forth more brightly than the sun, and illumining all the faithful, O divinely joyous Mistress.

Canon of the Midfeast

Irmos: Foreign to mothers is virginity, and strange is childbirth to virgins; yet both were accomplished in thee, O Theotokos. Wherefore, all of us, the peoples of the world, magnify thee unceasingly.

At the midpoint of the Jewish feast, Thou didst go up to Thy Temple, O my Savior, and teach all; and all the Jews marveled and said: “Whence doth He know the Scriptures, not having studied them?”

Pouring forth gifts of healing, O my Deliverer, Thou didst work wonders and signs, dispelling sicknesses and curing the infirm. But the Jews were enraged by the multitude of His miracles.

The Jew, being carnal, understandeth in a fleshly way and, pondering the Scriptures, he stumbleth over the letter, and again falleth against the spirit of the Truth; but we, rejecting this, contemplate spiritual things.

Theotokion: O Virgin Mother, thou didst contain in thy womb Christ the Bestower of life, One of the Trinity, Whom all creation hymneth, and before Whom the heavenly thrones tremble. Him do thou beseech, O most blessed one, that He save our souls.

Canon of the Samaritan Woman

Irmos: The God of Israel hath wrought might with His arm; for He hath cast down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of low degree, wherein the Dayspring from on high hath visited us, and guided us to the way of peace.

Behold, Christ, the Life of all, was seen lifted up upon the Tree of His own will; and seeing these things, the earth quaked, and many of the bodies of the holy departed manifestly arose, and the prison of hades was shaken.

Thou didst issue forth from the tomb like a comely bridegroom from his chamber, O Christ Who didst abolish the tyranny of death, Who with divine power didst break the bars of hades, and hast enlightened the world with the noetic light of Thine arising.

Let us all now form spiritual choirs, that we may cry: The Lord is risen! Let the earth rejoice and heaven be glad! Let the clouds drop showers of righteousness upon us who celebrate with splendor, hymning Christ!

The Lord, the Life of the living and Wellspring of good things, Who richly poureth forth the water of doctrines, cried out to the woman: “Give Me water to drink, that I may give thee the water which drieth up the springs of thy sins.”

Triadicon: One is Light indivisibly—the three-Sunned Unity, the unoriginate Father, Son and Spirit, the one Godhead, the Life and Creator of all. O ye faithful, with the incorporeal beings let us sing unto Him, uttering sacred words in thrice-holy hymns.

Theotokion: As thou wast the abode of Light, O pure one, enlighten the eyes of my soul, which have been darkened by the many machinations of the enemy; and vouchsafe that with a pure heart I may clearly see the Light Who shone forth from thee in manner past understanding.

Exapostilarion of Pascha—

Having fallen asleep in the flesh, as one mortal, O King and Lord, Thou didst rise on the third day, raising up Adam from corruption and abolishing death. O Pascha of incorruption! O salvation of the world! Once

Glory…: Exapostilarion of the Samaritan woman: Special Melody: Hearken, ye women…—

Thou earnest to Samaria, O mine omnipotent Savior, and conversing with the woman didst ask for water to drink, O Thou Who didst pour forth water from an unquarried rock for the Hebrews. Thou didst bring her to faith, and she now enjoyeth life in the heavens forever.

Now & ever…: Exapostilarion of the Midfeast

At the mid-point of the feast, O Thou Who lovest mankind, Thou didst go to the Temple, and didst say: “Ye who are filled with thirst, come unto Me, and draw forth the living water which nourisheth, and whereby ye will all enjoy sustenance, grace and immortal life.

On the Praises, 6 stichera of the resurrection, in Tone IV—

O Almighty Lord, Who didst endure the Cross and death, and didst rise from the dead, we glorify Thy resurrection!

By Thy Cross, O Christ, Thou hast freed us from the ancient curse; by Thy death hast Thou set at naught the devil who tormenteth our nature and by Thine arising hast Thou filled all with joy. Wherefore, we cry aloud to Thee: O Lord Who hast risen from the dead, glory be to Thee!

By Thy Cross, O Christ our Savior, guide us to Thy truth, and deliver us from the snares of the enemy. O Thou Who hast risen from the dead, through the supplications of Thy saints do Thou raise us up who have fallen through sin, stretching forth Thy hand to us, O Lord Who lovest mankind.

Without separating Thyself from the bosom of the Father, O only-begotten Son of God, Thou didst come to earth in Thy love for mankind, becoming a man immutable; and Thou didst endure death in the flesh, O Thou Who in Thy divinity art a stranger to suffering. And having risen from the dead, Thou hast given immortality to the human race, in that Thou alone art Almighty.

Thou didst accept death in the flesh, mediating immortality for us, O Savior, and didst make Thine abode in the tomb, that Thou mightest free us from hades, raising us up with Thyself Therefore, Thou didst suffer as a man, but didst rise as God, for which cause we cry out: Glory to Thee, O Lord, Bestower of life, Who alone lovest mankind!

The stones fell, O Savior, when Thy Cross was planted on Golgotha; and the gatekeepers of hades were struck with fear when Thou wast laid in the tomb as one dead. For Thou, O Savior Who hast set at naught the might of death, hast by Thy resurrection granted incorruption unto all the dead. O Lord, Bestower of life, glory be to Thee!

And 2 stichera of the Samaritan woman—

In Tone III:

Stichos: Bend Thy bow, and proceed prosperously, and be king, because of truth and meekness and righteousness.

Let heaven and earth rejoice with splendor today, for Christ hath revealed Himself incarnate as a man, that He might release Adam from the universal curse; and coming to Samaria, He made Himself wondrous through miracles: He Who investeth the clouds with waters stood before a woman, asking for water. Wherefore, all ye faithful, let us worship Him Who of His own will impoverished Himself for our sake in His compassionate counsel.

In Tone VI:

Stichos: Thou hast loved righteousness and hated iniquity.

Thus saith the Lord to the Samaritan woman: “If thou hadst known the gift of God, and Who it is Who saith to thee: ‘Give Me water to drink,’ thou wouldst have asked Him, and He would have given thee drink, that thou mightest never thirst.”

Glory…, of the Samaritan woman, in the same tone—

Jesus our Savior, the Wellspring of the principle of life, coming to the well of the Patriarch Jacob, asked water to drink from a woman of Samaria. When she said that this was not acceptable to the Jews, the wise Creator led her by His sweet words rather to ask for everlasting water, which receiving, she proclaimed to all, saying: “Come and see God, the Seer of hidden things, Who is come in the flesh to save man!”

Now & ever…: Theotokion, in Tone II—

All-blessed art thou, O Virgin Theotokos, for by Him Who became incarnate through thee hath hades been made captive, Adam restored, the curse annulled, Eve set free, death slain, and we have been given life. Wherefore, chanting, we cry aloud: Blessed is Christ God Who hath been thus well pleased! Glory to Thee!

Great Doxology, & the resurrectional troparion—

Rising from the tomb, Thou didst break the bonds of hades; and Thou didst lift the condemnation of death, O Lord, delivering all from the snares of the enemy. And having shown Thyself to Thine apostles, Thou didst send them forth to preach, and through them hast given Thy peace unto the whole world, O Thou Who alone art greatly merciful.

Litanies, and dismissal. Procession to the narthex; and Glory…, Now & ever…: The Evangelical sticheron, in Tone VII—

Lo! it is dark and very early in the morning. Why standest thou by the tomb, O Mary, harboring much darkness in thy mind, wherein thou askest: Where hath Jesus been laid? But behold the disciples who have come running together, and how they have discovered the resurrection by the grave-clothes and the winding sheet, and remembered the Scriptures concerning them! And we, believing with them and through them, hymn Thee, Christ the Bestower of life.

Reading from the Catechesis of St. Theodore the Studite, and final dismissal. First Hour.

On the Beatitudes, 12 troparia: 4 of the resurrection, in Tone IV—

By the tree was Adam forced to depart from paradise; and by the tree of the Cross was the thief made to dwell in paradise. For the one in tasting broke the commandment of the Creator; while the other, crucified with Him, confessed the hidden God, crying out: Remember me in Thy kingdom!

O only immortal one, Who wast crucified and didst arise from the tomb on the third day as one mighty, Thou didst resurrect Adam the first-created. Vouchsafe also, O Lord, that I may turn unto repentance with all my heart, and with fervent faith may ever cry out to Thee: Remember me, O Savior, in Thy kingdom.

Truly, Christ hath risen! And the sepulcher beareth witness to you, O violators of the Law; for leaving His grave-clothes behind, He rose on the third day, though the stone was sealed and a watch stood before the tomb. Hades hath been made captive; death hath been slain! Christ hath not been stolen! Believe with us in the resurrection!

O ye faithful, let us entreat Him Who hath risen from the dead, hath made captive the dominion of hades, and was seen by the myrrh-bearing women and said to them: “Rejoice!” that He deliver from corruption the souls of us who ever cry out to Him with the voice of the noble thief: Remember us also in Thy kingdom!

And 4 troparia from Ode III of the canon of the Samaritan woman; and 4 troparia from Ode VI of Canon II of the Midfeast.

After the entrance, the troparia of the resurrection and of the Mideast; Glory…, kontakion of the Samaritan woman; Now & ever…, kontakion of the Midfeast.

Prokimenon, in Tone III—

O chant unto our God, chant ye; chant unto our King, chant ye!

Stichos: Clap your hands, all ye nations; shout unto God with a voice of rejoicing.

Reading from the Acts of the Apostles, §28 [11:19-26, 28-30]

In those clays, the apostles who were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen traveled as far as Phœnicia, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene who, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the Church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. And he, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith: and many people were added unto the Lord. Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: and when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the Church, and taught many people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren who dwelt in Judæa: which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

Alleluia, in Tone IV—

Stichos: Bend Thy bow, and proceed prosperously, and be king, because of truth and meekness and righteousness.

Stichos: Thou hast loved righteousness and hated iniquity.

Gospel According to John, § 12 [4:5-42]

At that time, Jesus came to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with His journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. There came a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus said unto her: “Give Me to drink.” (For His disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) Then said the woman of Samaria unto Him: “How is it that Thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, who am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.” Jesus answered and said unto her: “If thou knewest the gift of God, and Who it is Who saith to thee: ‘Give Me to drink’; thou wouldst have asked of Him, and He would have given thee living water.” The woman said unto Him: “Sir, Thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast Thou that living water? Art thou greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?” Jesus answered and said unto her: “Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” The woman said unto Him: “Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.” Jesus said unto her: “Go, call thy husband, and come hither.” The woman answered and said: “I have no husband.” Jesus said unto her: “Thou hast well said, I have no husband: for thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.” The woman said unto him: “Sir, I perceive that Thou art a prophet. Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.” Jesus said unto her: “Woman, believe Me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” The woman said unto Him: “I know that the Messiah cometh, Who is called Christ: when He is come, He will tell us all things.” Jesus said unto her: “I Who speak unto thee am He.” And upon this came His disciples, and marveled that He talked with the woman: yet no man said, “What seekest Thou?” or, “Why talkest Thou with her?” The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and said to the men: “Come, see a Man Who told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?” Then they went out of the city, and came unto Him. In the meanwhile His disciples prayed Him, saying: “Master, eat.” But He said unto them: “I have meat to eat that ye know not of.” Therefore said the disciples one to another: “Hath any man brought Him ought to eat?” Jesus saith unto them: “My meat is to do the will of Him Who sent Me, and to finish His work. Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he who reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he who soweth and he who reapeth may rejoice together. And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labor: other men labored, and ye are entered into their labors.” And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on Him for the saying of the woman, who testified, He told me all that ever I did. So when the Samaritans were come unto Him, they besought Him that He would tarry with them: and He abode there two days. And many more believed because of His own word; and said unto the woman: “Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard Him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.”

Instead of It is truly meet…, we chant The angel cried out…, and the irmos Shine, O shine…

Communion verses—

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

Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the highest.

The service for the saint from the Menaion is chanted at Compline.

N.B.: Be in known that the service of the Samaritan woman is chanted for four days: on Sunday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The service of the Midfeast is chanted on Monday and Tuesday, and Wednesday is its leave-taking, which we chant as we did the feast itself, save that there is no entrance or paremias.