After the Ninth Hour, the Priest beginneth, holding censer and candle, the royal doors being open, and chanteth: Christ is risen…, with the stichoi. Thereafter, the reader reciteth Psalm 103: Bless the Lord, O my soul…; Great litany, and the usual kathisma. 

On Lord, I have cried…, 6 stichera of the Blind Man—

In Tone II: In his mind the man born blind said: “Can I have been born blind because of the sins of my parents? Or have I been born blind as a reproach to the unbelief of the gentiles? I cannot tell when I should ask, Is it day, is it night? I can no longer bear to stumble over stones, for I have not beheld the sun shining, nor Him Who created me in His image. Yet do I beseech Thee, O Christ God: Look down upon me and have mercy on me!”

Walking past from the Temple, Jesus came upon a man blind from birth, and taking pity, applied clay to his eyes, and said to him: “Go and wash in Siloam.” And when he had washed, he gained his sight, rendering glory unto God. And his neighbors said unto him: “Who hath opened thine eyes, which none of the sighted hath been able to heal?” And he, crying out, said: “A man named Jesus said to me: ‘Wash thou in Siloam,’ and I was given sight. He is truly the One of Whom Moses spake in the Law: the Messiah and the Christ. He is the Savior of our souls!”

In Tone IV: Considering his whole life to be night, the blind man cried out to Thee, O Lord: “Open mine eyes, O our Savior, Son of David, that I also, with everyone else, may hymn Thy power!”

In Tone V: Walking past on the way, O Lord, Thou didst come upon a man blind from birth, and the disciples, amazed, asked Thee, saying: “O Teacher, who sinned: this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?” And Thou, O my Savior, didst cry out to them: “Neither did this man sin, nor did his parents, but this happened that the works of God might be revealed in him. I must needs do the works of Him Who sent me, which no one else can do.” And having thus said, Thou didst spit upon the ground, and making clay, didst anoint his eyes therewith, saying to him: “Go and wash in the Pool of Siloam.” And when he had washed, he became whole, and cried out to Thee: “I believe, O Lord, and I worship Thee!” Wherefore, we also cry out: Have mercy on us!

In Tone VIII: O Christ God, Thou Sun of righteousness, Who by Thine all-pure touch didst bring light to both eyes of him Who from the womb had been deprived of light, and hast illumined the eyes of our souls, show us to be children of the day, that we may cry out to Thee with faith: Great and ineffable is Thy compassion for us! Glory to Thee Who lovest mankind!

O Christ God, Who in the lovingkindness of Thy compassions becamest incarnate, by dust Thou didst vouchsafe divine radiance unto him who was deprived of light from his mother’s womb, O Thou Who didst touch him with thy creative fingers. And now, O Bestower of light, do Thou Thyself enlighten the eyes of our souls, in that Thou alone art the Bestower of abundant gifts.

Glory…, Now & ever…, in the same tone—

Who can tell of Thy powers, O Christ? Or who can reckon the multitudes of Thy wonders? For in Thy goodness Thou wast revealed on earth to be both God and man, and didst grant twofold healing unto the infirm. For Thou didst not merely open the bodily eyes of him who was blind from his mother’s womb, but the eyes of his soul as well. Wherefore, he confessed Thee to be the hidden God, Who grantest great mercy unto all.

Prokimenon of the day.

Aposticha sticheron, in Tone V—

With sounds of hymnody do we magnify Thee, Christ the Savior, Who hast not been separated from the heavens; for Thou didst accept the Cross and death for our race, as the Lord Who loveth mankind, Who hath overthrown the gates of hades, and hath risen on the third day, saving our souls.

Then, the Paschal stichera, with their refrains, in the same tone—

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 Paschal 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, saying: “Proclaim this to the apostles!”

Glory…, Now & ever…, in the same tone—

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!”

Then, Christ is risen…, once. And, Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart. Trisagion through Our Father. Troparion of the resurrection; Glory…, Now & ever…, Theotokion of the resurrection. Litany: Have mercy on us, O God…; And without holding the Cross, the priest intoneth the usual dismissal: Christ our true God, Who hath risen from the dead…, therein also commemorating the saint of the day. Polychronion.

After It is truly meet…, and the Trisagion prayers, the kontakion of the Blind Man; Glory…, Now & ever…: the kontakion of Pascha…; Though Thou didst descend into the tomb…

We chant Nocturns with the usual kathisma. After the first set of Trisagion prayers, instead of Behold, the Bridegroom cometh…, we say the troparion of the resurrection; Glory…, Now & ever…, its theotokion. After the second set of Trisagion prayers, instead of Remember, O Lord, in that Thou art good…, we say the kontakion of Pascha. Then, Lord, have mercy!, twelve times, and the dismissal. The prayers Remember, O Lord are not said.

Holding the censer, the priest beginneth, saying: Glory to the holy, consubstantial…, as usual; then, Christ is risen…, with the stichoi, as indicated for Vespers, after which the superior or the reader reciteth the Six Psalms, as usual.

At God is the Lord…, the resurrectional troparion, in Tone V: O ye faithful, let us hymn and worship the Word…, twice; Glory…, Now & ever…, its theotokion.

After the first chanting of the Psalter, the resurrectional sessional hymns, in Tone V—

We praise the Cross of the Lord, we honor His holy burial with hymns, and we greatly glorify His resurrection, for as God with Himself He raised the dead up from the graves, having captured the dominion of death and the might of the devil; and He shone light upon those in hades.

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

Declared to be dead, O Lord Who didst slay death, Thou wast laid in a tomb, O Thou Who didst empty the graves. Above, soldiers kept guard over Thy sepulcher, while below Thou didst raise up the dead from ages past. O almighty and unapproachable Lord, glory be to Thee!

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

Rejoice, O holy mountain trodden by God! Rejoice, animate bush which was not consumed! Rejoice, bridge to God for the world, who alone beareth mortals to everlasting life! Rejoice, incorrupt Maiden who without knowing man gavest birth unto the Salvation of our souls.

Reading from the interpretation of the Gospel of John by St. John Chrysostom.

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

He Who with the Father and the Spirit is equally without beginning, Who doth clothe Himself in light as with a garment, in His love for mankind clad Himself in our nature; and, dispelling men’s infirmities as God, He also enlightened the eyes of one deprived of light from his mother's womb. Twice

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

Three canons: that of Pascha, with 6 troparia, including the irmos; that of the Blind Man, with 4 troparia; and that of the Forefeast of the Ascension, 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 Blind Man, in Tone V—

Irmos: The land whereon the sun had never shone, and which it had never beheld, and the sea-bed which the expanse of heaven had never seen laid bare, did Israel cross dryshod, O Lord; and Thou didst lead them to the mountain of Thy holiness, as they gave praise and chanted a hymn of victory.

Accepting voluntary crucifixion in the flesh, O Savior, Thou didst pour forth blessing and life upon the world, O only most blessed Master and Creator of all; wherefore, webless, hymn and glorify Thee, chanting and singing a hymn of victory.

In an underground pit did the noble Joseph lay Thee, Who wast dead, O Christ, and he rolled a stone over the entry of the tomb, O Long-suffering One; but Thou didst arise, O Glorious One, and with Thyself didst raise the world, which chanteth and singeth a hymn of victory.

Working all-glorious wonders, the Deliverer healed even a man blind from birth, anointing him with clay, and saying: “Go and wash in Siloam, that Thou mightest recognize Me as God walking the earth, wearing flesh in the lovingkindness of My compassions.”

Theotokion: In the lovingkindness of His compassions the Lord made His dwelling in thy womb which knew not wedlock, O pure one, desiring to save corrupted man from the wiles of the enemy. Wherefore, entreat Him, that He save this city from all captivity and enemy invasion.

Canon of the Forefeast

Irmos: Bringing battles to naught with His upraised arm, Christ hath overthrown horse and rider in the Red Sea, and hath saved Israel, who chanteth a hymn of victory.

Christ ascendeth to the Father on high, bearing the flesh which He received from us. Let us praise Him in laudation today, chanting a song of victory. Twice

Glory…: The books of the divine Scriptures and the preaching of the all-wise and divinely eloquent have manifestly received their fulfillment today, for after His arising the Master ascendeth into the heavens with glory.

Now & ever…: The earth mystically joineth chorus, and the heavens are filled with gladness at the ascension of Christ, Who by grace uniteth those things which of old were sundered, and hath broken down the middle wall of Eve.

Katavasia of Ascension: To God the Savior alone, Who led His people in the sea with dryshod feet and drowned Pharaoh and all his army, let us chant, for He is glorious.

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 Blind Man

Irmos: O Lord, make steadfast my heart, which is buffeted by the waves of life, guiding it into calm harbor, in that Thou art God.

The noble Joseph placed Thee in a new sepulcher, O Compassionate One, and Thou didst rise from the dead on the third day, O Thou Who hast made us new.

By Thy crucifixion Thou didst endure in the flesh, O Long-suffering One Who didst cause the whole earth to shake, Thou hast made steadfast the hearts of those who are shaken.

Thou once didst heal the man blind from birth, who approached Thee, O most Compassionate One, and who glorifieth Thy dispensation and wonders.

Theotokion: From thy virgin womb thou gavest birth to the incarnate God, O most holy Mistress. Him do thou entreat, that He have pity on us.

Canon of the Forefeast

Irmos: O Christ Who by Thy command didst fix the earth upon naught and suspend its weight unsupported: establish Thou Thy Church upon the immovable rock of Thy commandments, O Thou Who alone art good and lovest mankind.

Having bound death by Thine own death, O Word, Thou didst manifestly rise from the dead on the third day, and hast ascended to the heavens with glory, O Savior, as the incorporeal ones hymn Thine ineffable dispensation. Twice

Glory…: Thou didst come to those on earth without a body, O Christ, and, having clothed Thyself in flesh, didst endure the Cross; and having risen from the dead, Thou didst ascend with glory to Thy Father, the Source of light, bestowing peace upon all.

Now & ever…: Having sought the lost sheep on earth, O Christ, Thou didst reckon it with those that were not lost, O Word; and having ascended to the heavens, Thou didst sit in glory at the right hand of Thy Father. Glory to Thy great compassion!

Katavasia: By the power of Thy Cross, O Christ, establish Thou my mind, that I may hymn and glorify Thy saving ascension.

Kontakion of the Blind Man, in Tone IV: Special Melody: Thou didst appear today…—

Blind in the eyes of my soul, I come to Thee, O Christ, like the man blind from birth, and cry out to Thee with repentance: Thou art the all-radiant Light of those in darkness!

Ikos: Grant me a stream of ineffable wisdom and higher understanding, O Christ, Thou Light of those in darkness and Guide of the deceived, that, wretch that I am, I may be able to declare Thy wonders which the divine book of the Gospel hath taught the world: that is, the miracle of the blind man. For, blind from birth, he received material eyes as well as spiritual eyes, crying out with faith: Thou art the all-radiant Light of those in darkness!

Sessional hymn of the Blind Man, in Tone I: Special Melody: Thy tomb O Savior…—

Thou gavest eyes unto him who was born without eyes from the womb, O Christ my Savior, showing the Jews Thine ineffable glory, and that Thou art the Light of all. Yet they who were blinded in mind by envy, plotting against Thee, sought to slay the Bestower of life.

Glory…, Now & ever…, in the same melody—

As Thou didst desire, Thou wast born, O my Savior; and again as Thou didst desire, Thou didst appear and suffer as a man; and as God Thou didst arise, didst ascend into the heavens with glory, didst raise up human nature, and adorn it with glory.

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 Blind Man

Irmos: I heard report of Thee, O Lord, and was afraid; I understood Thy dispensation, and glorified Thee, Who alone lovest mankind.

Abiding all-gloriously with the disciples, O Lord, Thou didst say to them: “Go and preach My resurrection everywhere!”

Having been slain, O my Savior, as Life Thou didst in Thy great mercy impart life unto me who suffered death because of the tree; wherefore, I glorify Thee, O Word.

Thou didst give eyes to the man born blind from his mother’s womb, O Lord, saying: “Go, wash and gain sight, glorifying My divinity!”

Theotokion: We glorify thy birthgiving, which transcendeth nature, O pure one, blessing thee with faith as the one who bore the God of all, O all-immaculate one.

Canon of the Forefeast

Irmos: Perceiving Thy divine condescension prophetically, O Christ, Habbakuk cried out to Thee with trembling: Thou art come for the salvation of Thy people, to save Thine anointed ones!

Taking pity by assuming our nature, which before was condemned by sin, O King of all, with fear it now hymneth Thine arising and divine ascension.

The ranks of incorporeal beings marvel, seeing Thee clad in an earthly body, O Christ, and, mounting a cloud, ascending to the heavens.

Glory…: Beholding Thine empurpled robes at Thine ascent, O Christ, King of all, the angelic hosts were filled with awe and bowed down before Thee with joy.

Now & ever…: Let us clap our hands, for the Lord, having risen from the dead, hath gone up to heaven, the angels submitting to Him as our Creator and God.

Katavasia: I heard report of the power of the Cross, that paradise hath been opened thereby, and I cried aloud: Glory to Thy power, O Lord.

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 Blind Man

Irmos: Anticipating my need, take pity on my wretched soul, which doth battle at night with the darkness of the passions, and shine forth in me the noetic sun of the day-star, that I may distinguish night from light.

Of Thine own will wast Thou laid in a tomb, O immortal King, and Thou didst empty all the kingdoms of hades, raising up the dead by Thy resurrection.

Thou didst ascend the Tree, O Compassionate One, and with Thee didst raise up all men. Thou didst slay the adverse serpent, and give life to the creation of Thy hands, in that Thou art the one God of all.

Thou didst ascend the Tree, O Compassionate One, and with Thee didst raise up all men. Thou didst slay the adverse serpent, and give life to the creation of Thy hands, in that Thou art the one God of all.

Theotokion: How didst thou give birth, O pure Virgin Mother, full of the grace of God, without having experienced a man? How dost Thou feed Him Who sustaineth all creation? He alone knoweth, the Creator and God of all.

Canon of the Forefeast

Irmos: O Thou Who art clothed in light as with a garment, I rise at dawn unto Thee, and to Thee do I cry: enlighten Thou my gloom-enshrouded soul, O Christ, in that Thou alone art compassionate!

Lifting the condemnation of mankind, Christ arose and ascended into the heavens; and He honoreth those whom He hath loved by setting their nature with the Father. Twice

Glory…: O Christ Who didst make Thy disciples joyous after the resurrection, Thou didst ascend on high to Thy Father, from Whom Thou hadst never been parted, even though Thou didst converse with men.

Now & ever…: Fulfilling the foreshadowing of the Law and the preaching of the divinely eloquent prophets, O Christ, Thou didst ascend, upborne upon a cloud, to the heavens, O Savior.

Katavasia: Rising at dawn, we cry to Thee: Save us, O Lord! for Thou art our God, and we know none other than Thee.

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 Blind Man

Irmos: As Thou didst deliver the prophet from the beast, O Lord, so lead me up from the abyss of unrestrained pleasures, that I may dare to lift up mine eyes upon Thy holy temple.

O Master Who wast crucified with thieves, O Lord Who lovest mankind, from the soul­corrupting passions, those evil thieves, Thou hast delivered all who together hymn Thy crucifixion and arising.

In a tomb they placed Thee dead, devoid of breath, O Christ Who dost breathe life into all the dead; and Thou didst arise, O Lord, Who hast emptied all the graves by Thy divine power, O Word.

Making clay, Thou didst anoint the eyes of the man blind from birth, and didst grant sight unto him, who hymneth Thine ineffable power, whereby Thou hast saved the world, O Word.

Theotokion: Who can describe thy mighty acts, O pure one? For in supernatural manner thou gavest birth in the flesh unto God Who through thee delivereth the world from all sin, O most immaculate Virgin.

Canon of the Forefeast

Irmos: O Christ Master, still Thou the sea of the passions which rageth with a soul-destroying tempest, and lead me up from corruption, in that Thou art compassionate.

Wearing human form, Thou didst show Thyself to be a sight strange for the angels at Thy strange ascent, O Thou Who lovest mankind; wherefore, we hymn Thee with fear. Twice

Glory…: The Lord of all ascendeth with glory and splendor to His unoriginate Father; and all creation now celebrateth, joining chorus.

Now & ever…: Every tongue crieth out today: With a shout, with the divine sound of the trumpet hath Christ gone up into the heavens which He had never left.

Katavasia: The abyss engulfed me, and the sea monster became a tomb for me; yet I cried unto Thee Who lovest mankind, and Thy right hand saved me, O Lord.

Kontakion of Pascha, in Tone VIII—

Though Thou didst descend even into the tomb, O Immortal One, yet didst Thou destroy the power of hades, and didst rise as victor, O Christ God, proclaiming to the myrrh-bearing women: “Rejoice!” bestowing peace upon Thine apostles, and granting resurrection to the fallen.

Ikos: The myrrh-bearing maidens forestalled the dawn, seeking, like the day, the Sun Who existed before the sun and once set in the tomb; and they cried one to another: “Come, O friends, and with fragrant spices let us anoint the buried body of the Bearer of Life Who hath raised up the flesh of fallen Adam which lieth in the tomb. Come, let us make haste like the Magi: let us off er worship and bring myrrh as a gift, not to One wrapped in swaddling clothes, but wound in a shroud; and let us lament and cry aloud: Arise, O Master, Who givest resurrection to the fallen!

Synaxaria of the Menaion.

Ode VII

Canon of Pascha

Irmos: He Who delivered the children from 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 Blind Man

Irmos: The prayer of the children quenched the fire; and the dew-bearing furnace was the herald of a miracle, for it neither consumed nor burned those who hymned the God of our fathers.

When Thou didst arise from the dead, O King, Thou didst raise with Thyself the souls who slept there, who glorify Thy power, wherewith the bonds of death were loosed.

When Thou wast lifted up upon the Tree, O Savior, the sun went out, the earth was troubled, all creation shook, and the dead arose from the graves.

With clay didst Thou anoint the eyes of the blind man, and Thou didst command him to go to Siloam; and having washed, he was given sight, glorifying Thee, O Christ, King of the ages.

Theotokion: In giving birth thou wast shown to be a pure Virgin, for thou gavest birth unto God Who hath restored nature by His power, O all-pure one. Him do thou beseech, that we all be saved.

Canon of the Forefeast

Irmos: The supremely exalted Lord of our fathers quenched the flame and bedewed the children, who sang together: Blessed art Thou, O God!

Having demolished the middle wall of enmity Thy Cross and suffering, O Lord, upborne by a cloud Thou didst ascend with glory to the unoriginate Father.

Trembling, the hosts cried out: Lift up your gates! Christ is come, bearing an earthly body, having slain Belial by His divine suffering.

Glory…: “Why are Thy robes red, O Thou Who lovest mankind?” the divine hosts asked. “I have now trampled down out the vintage!” Christ cried out, ascending.

Now & ever…: Together we glorify Thy crucifixion and arising with hymns, O Christ, splendidly celebrating Thine honored ascension forever.

Katavasia: Blessed is the God of our fathers, Who saved the children who chanted unto Him in the fiery furnace.

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!

Irmos: Ye assembly of angels and council of men, ye priests, hymn the King and Creator of all! Ye Levites, bless Him! Ye people, exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Beholding Thee suspended upon the Cross, O Christ King of all, Who dost cause all creation to change by fear, the ranks of angels were filled with awe, hymning Thy love for mankind.

O Christ Who didst work excellent miracles, of Thine own will Thou wast uplifted upon the Cross, and Thou didst join the dead, O Thou Who didst slay hades, and with valor didst release all the imprisoned.

Thou gavest eyes unto the blind man who approached Thee, O Christ, and didst command him to go to the Pool of Siloam, to wash and receive sight, that he might proclaim Thee to be God, Who was made manifest in the flesh for the salvation of the world.

Theotokion: O all-pure Virgin full of the grace of God, ever entreat thy Son, that He not put me to shame on the day of sentencing, but number me among His chosen lambs.

Canon of the Forefeast

Irmos: The children, forming a universal chorus in the furnace, chanted to Thee, the Creator of all: Hymn the Lord, all ye works, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

O Thou Who art Light from Light, a cloud of light bore Thee up from the Mount of Olives as all Thy divine disciples looked on, hymning Thee for all ages.

Let us clap our hands, as say the psalms; for Christ our God hath risen and hath ascended from whence He came down to us, He Who in His love for mankind hath reconciled the things which of old were sundered.

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

Chanting, David crieth out: “Christ hath gone up upon His cherubim and hath manifestly soared aloft on the wings of the noetic orders. Him do we exalt supremely for all ages.

Now & ever…: Having risen from the tomb, Thou didst appear to the disciples, and didst lead them up to the Mount of Olives, from whence a cloud of light, bearing Thee up, carried Thee with glory to the highest, O Christ.

Katavasia: God the Son, Who was begotten of the Father before the ages, and in latter times became incarnate of the Virgin Mother, hymn, O ye priests! Ye people, exalt Him supremely for all ages!

The Magnificat is not chanted.

Ode IX

Ode IX is chanted with the Paschal refrains, as follows—

My soul doth magnify Christ the Bestower of life, Who rose from the tomb on the third day.

And the 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.

My soul doth magnify Him Who of His own will suffered, was buried, and rose from the tomb on the third day.

And the irmos.

Christ is the new Pascha, the living Sacrifice, the Lamb of God Who taketh away the sins of the world.

And the first troparion—

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.

The angel cried out to her who is full of grace: “Rejoice, O pure Virgin! Again I say, Rejoice! Thy Son, Who hath raised up the dead, hath risen from the tomb on the third day!” Be glad, O ye people!

And the troparion: O Thy divine…

Having fallen asleep, Thou didst arouse the dead from ages past, O Thou Who dost royally roar as the Lion of Judah.

And the second troparion—

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.

Mary Magdalene hastened to the tomb, and seeing Christ she questioned Him, taking Him to be the gardener.

And the troparion O Christ, Thou great and most sacred…

Canon of the Blind Man

Irmos: In that the Mighty One hath done great things to thee, revealing thee to be a pure virgin even after giving birth, as thou gavest birth to thine own Creator without seed, we therefore magnify thee, O Theotokos.

Thou wast nailed to the tree of the Cross, O Christ God, didst vanquish all the adverse princes of the enemy, and didst annul the primal curse, O Savior; wherefore, we magnify Thee as is meet.

When hades beheld Thee below with Thy soul, O Word, it groaned and in fear released all the dead who acknowledged the dominion of Thine authority; wherefore, we magnify Thee as is meet.

Thou didst arise from the dead, as Thou didst say, O Bestower of life, and didst appear to the holy disciples after Thine arising, O Thou Who workest wonders and gavest eyes to the blind. With them do we magnify Thee forever.

Theotokion: Shown to be more spacious than the heavens, O pure Virgin, thou didst contain God Who was circumscribed in the flesh, and gavest birth to the deliverance of all who hymn thee with undoubting faith.

Canon of the Forefeast

Irmos: Rejoice, O Isaiah! The Virgin hath conceived in her womb and borne a Son, Immanuel, both God and man. Orient is His name; and, magnifying Him, we call the Virgin blessed.

O Word of God, all creation manifestly offereth sacred celebration at Thine ascension, whereby Thou hast brought to Thy Father the nature Thou hadst received from us, O Thou Who art ineffably immutable.

As God Thou didst shatter the gates and bars of hades, O Savior; and having risen from the dead Thou didst hasten to the angelic ranks of heaven, who cried out with amazement: Lift up your gates!

As the divine disciples marveled at Thy divine ascent, angels manifestly stood before them, crying out: Him Whom ye see ascending into heaven will come with glory to judge all.

Glory…: The peace which Thou gavest to the disciples as of old thou didst ascend on high, O Christ, do Thou now richly send down upon us, holding all in love, that together we may magnify Thee, the Savior.

Now & ever…: Thou wast truly the radiant chariot of the noetic Sun, O pure and undefiled one, whereby those sitting in darkness beheld the light of knowledge, glorifying thee as is meet.

Katavasia: With oneness of mind, we, the faithful, magnify thee, the Mother of God, who, in manner past understanding and recounting, ineffably gavest birth in time to the Timeless One.

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! Twice

Glory…, Now & ever…: That of the Blind Man, in the same melody—

Enlighten, O Lord, my noetic eyes which have been blinded by dark sin, instilling humility, O Compassionate One; and wash me with tears of repentance.

On the Praises, 8 stichera: 4 of the Blind Man—

In Tone II: In his mind the man born blind said: “Can I have been born blind because of the sins of my parents? Or have I been born blind as a reproach to the unbelief of the gentiles? I cannot tell when I should ask, Is it day, is it night? I can no longer bear to stumble over stones, for I have not beheld the sun shining, nor Him Who created me in His image. Yet do I beseech Thee, O Christ God: Look down upon me and have mercy on me!”

Walking past from the Temple, Jesus came upon a man blind from birth, and taking pity, applied clay to his eyes, and said to him: “Go and wash in Siloam.” And when he had washed, he gained his sight, rendering glory unto God. And his neighbors said unto him: “Who hath opened thine eyes, which none of the sighted hath been able to heal?” And he, crying out, said: “A man named Jesus said to me: ‘Wash thou in Siloam,’ and I was given sight. He is truly the One of Whom Moses spake in the Law: the Messiah and the Christ. He is the Savior of our souls!”

In Tone IV: Considering his whole life to be night, the blind man cried out to Thee. O Lord: “Open mine eyes, O our Savior, Son of David, that I also, with everyone else, may hymn Thy power!”

In Tone V: Walking past on the way, O Lord, Thou didst come upon a man blind from birth, and the disciples, amazed, asked Thee, saying: “O Teacher, who sinned: this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?” And Thou, O my Savior, didst cry out to them: “Neither did this man sin, nor did his parents, but this happened that the works of God might be revealed in him. I must needs do the works of Him Who sent me, which no one else can do.” And having thus said, Thou didst spit upon the ground, and making clay, didst anoint his eyes therewith, saying to him: “Go and wash in the Pool of Siloam.” And when he had washed, he became whole, and cried out to Thee: “I believe, O Lord, and I worship Thee!” Wherefore, we also cry out: Have mercy on us!

Then, the Paschal stichera, with their refrains, in the same tone—

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 Paschal 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, saying: “Proclaim this to the apostles!”

Glory…, Now & ever…, in the same tone—

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!”

Then, Christ is risen…, once.

Great Doxology. Troparion of the resurrection; Glory…, Now & ever…, its theotokion. Litanies, and dismissal, during which the priest doth not hold the Cross. The saint whose day it is we commemorate at the dismissal.

The First Hour is read in the narthex, during which the resurrectional troparion and the kontakion of the Blind Man are read. Final dismissal, as usual.

The Third and Sixth Hours are read before the Liturgy, with the same troparion and kontakion.

The Liturgy is begun as on the day of Pascha itself. But the Typical Psalms are chanted, and on the Beatitudes there are 8 troparia, from Odes III and VI. After the entrance, the troparion: O ye faithful, let us hymn and worship the Word…; Glory…, the kontakion of the Blind Man; Now & ever…, that of Pascha: Though Thou didst descend into the tomb…

Prokimenon of Pascha: This is the day that the Lord hath made…

Alleluia, of Pascha

Epistle & Gospel of the day

The rest of the service is resurrectional.

Communion verse: Receive ye the Body Of Christ…

We also chant Psalm 33: I will bless the Lord at all times…

The priest then intoneth the Paschal dismissal, holding the Cross, and we chant the remainder of the Liturgy as prescribed for Pascha itself And thus do we take our leave of the holy and life-bearing resurrection of Christ. At meals, great consolation is afforded the brethren, i.e., oil, fish and wine.

The Ninth Hour, as usual. From henceforth until the feast of Pentecost each divine service will begin from Holy God…