On Lord, I have cried…, 6 stichera: 3 of the feast, in Tone IV: Special Melody: Thou hast given a sign…—

Thou didst suffer as a man, O Thou Who in Thy divinity art immune to suffering; and Thou didst rise from the dead on the third day, having made death captive and with Thyself raised all who were subject to corruption; and Thou didst ascend to the Father, O Christ, promising to send the Comforter upon Thy sacred apostles, O almighty Jesus, Savior of our souls.

“Why stand ye gazing at the sky?” the angels in human guise said to the initiates of the mysteries of the Word; “He Whom ye see ascending on a cloud of light will come in the same form as ye see Him, to judge the world, as He hath said; wherefore, go and do all that He hath commanded you.”

After Thine arising from the tomb, which passeth comprehension, O almighty Lord, taking those whom Thou didst love Thou didst lead them up even unto Bethany, O Word; and on the Mount of Olives, having blessed them, Thou didst ascend, the angels submitting to Thee, O omnipotent Jesus, Savior of our souls.

And 3 stichera from the Menaion.

Glory…, Now & ever…, in Tone VI—

Today the hosts on high, beholding our nature in the heavens, and marveling at the strange manner of its ascent, were at a loss, and said one to another: “Who is this Who hath come?” And seeing their Master, they commanded that the gates of heaven be lifted up. With them let us unceasingly sing to Him Who will come from thence in the flesh, as the omnipotent God and Judge of all.

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

O Good One, Who didst carry out the good will of the Father, and didst unite those above with those below, Thou didst ascend in glory unto those who were first.

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

Thou didst ascend to Thy Father, O Compassionate One, from Whom Thou wast not parted, and didst uplift the nature which lay prostrate, O Master.

Stichos: God is gone up in jubilation, the Lord with the voice of the trumpet.

A cloud of light bore Thee aloft, and with fear and trembling the angels served for Thy divine ascension.

Glory…, Now & ever…, in Tone VII—

Thou didst go to the Mount of Olives, O Thou Who hast mercy on the human race, and a cloud bore Thee up out of the sight of Thy disciples, who rejoiced in the expectation of the Holy Spirit, by Whom do Thou make us steadfast. O Savior, have mercy on us!

At God is the Lord…, the festal troparion, thrice. After the first chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone I: Special Melody: When the stone had been sealed…—

As the angels marveled at Thy strange ascent, and the disciples were filled with awe at Thy strange uplifting, Thou didst ascend with glory as God, and the gates were lifted up for Thee, O Savior; wherefore, the hosts of heaven were amazed, crying out: Glory to Thy condescension, O Savior! Glory to Thy kingdom! Glory to Thine ascension, O Thou Who alone lovest mankind! Twice

After the second chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone I: Special Melody: When the stone had been sealed…—

When hades had been made captive by Thee, O Bestower of life, and the world had been enlightened in Thy resurrection, Thou didst ascend with glory,

O Savior Who holdest all things in Thy hand; wherefore, with the angels we glorify Thee, O Lord Almighty: Glory to Thine ascension, O Christ! Glory to Thy kingdom! Glory to Thy lovingkindness, O Thou Who alone lovest mankind! Twice

And Psalm 50.

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

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

“I will not forsake those whom I have gathered together,” the Lord said to His friends, “but I will send you the Holy Spirit.”

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

The angels cried out to the all-wise apostles: “O men of Galilee, He will come again in the form ye have seen.”

Stichos: God is gone up in jubilation, the Lord with the voice of the trumpet.

Thy disciples descended the Mount of Olives with joy, O Word, glorifying and hymning Thy divine ascension.

Glory…, Now & ever…, in Tone VIII—

Thou didst ascend in glory from earth to the heavens, O Thou Who fillest all things with Thy divinity, and didst sit at the right hand of the Father, O Word Who art God from the beginning. Seeing this, and filled with fear, the heavenly hosts said to the apostles: “Whom do ye look for in the sky? He Whom ye have seen will come again with glory to judge the whole world and to render unto each according to His deeds. Unto Him let us cry aloud: O unapproachable Lord, glory to Thee!”

And the final dismissal.

On the Beatitudes, 6 troparia, from Ode III of the festal canon.

Prokimenon of the feast, in Tone VII—

Be Thou exalted above the heavens, O God, and Thy glory above all the earth.

Stichos: Ready is my heart, O God, ready is my heart; I will sing and chant in my glory.

Reading from the Acts of the Apostles, §43 [20:7-12]

In those days, upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together. And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutyches, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead. And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said: “Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him.” When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed. And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.

Alleluia, of the feast, in Tone II—

Stichos: God is gone up in jubilation, the Lord with the voice of the trumpet.

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

Gospel According to John, §48 [14:10-21]

The Lord said to His disciples: “The words that I speak unto you I speak not of Myself: but the Father Who dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me: or else believe Me for the very works’ sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you: He who believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in My name, I will do it. If ye love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; Whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth Me no more; but ye see Me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in My Father, and ye in Me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.”

Communion verse of the feast—

God is gone up in jubilation, the Lord with the voice of the trumpet.