On Lord, I have cried…, 4 stichera, in Tone VI—

Gaining victory over hades, Thou didst ascend the Cross, that Thou mightest raise up with Thyself those who sit in the darkness of death, O Christ Who art free among the dead. O almighty Savior, Who pourest forth life from Thy light, have mercy on us! Twice

Today hath Christ risen as He said, having trampled down death; and He hath granted joy to the world, that all of us, crying out, may thus utter a hymn: O almighty Savior, wellspring of life, unapproachable Light, have mercy on us!

Whither can we sinners escape from Thee Who art over all creation, O Lord? Thou dwellest Thyself in heaven. In hades Thou didst trample down death. In the depths of the sea there is Thy hand, O Master. To Thee do we flee, and falling down before Thee, we pray: O Thou Who art risen from the dead, have mercy on us!

Glory…, in the same tone—

Let us praise the God-bearing fathers, the mystical clarions of the Spirit, which in the midst of the Church sound forth the melodious hymn of theology unto the one Trinity, the immutable Essence and Godhead. It is they, the champions of the Orthodox, who cast down Arius, and ever pray to the Lord that our souls find mercy.

Now & ever…: Dogmatic theotokion, in the same tone—

Meet it is in truth to bless thee, the Theotokos. For the Creator of all, entering into thine all-pure womb, became flesh, without changing in nature or merely appearing to have taken on His dispensation of incarnation, but having united Himself hypostatically and rationally to flesh with a soul, which He received of thee. Hence, we piously distinguish between both revealed natures. Him do thou entreat, O all-pure and honored one, that He send down upon us peace and great mercy.

Aposticha stichera, in Tone VI—

Of the resurrection: In the heavens, O Christ our Savior, the angels hymn Thy resurrection; vouchsafe that we also on earth may glorify Thee with a pure heart.

And these stichera of the Theotokos: Special Melody:

Having set all aside…—

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

As our timeless God of old promised with an oath to thy forefather Adam, so did He act in latter times, O all-pure one, issuing forth from thy divine womb; for the Lord Who holdeth all the ends of the earth in His hand truly shone forth from thee. Him do thou render well-disposed toward me at the hour of judgment, O Virgin Mary, that I may obtain His kingdom through the uplifting of the virtues and the mortification of the passions.

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

From afar off, with purity of mind, Isaiah foretold thee who wouldst give birth to the Maker of all creation, O honored and all-pure Virgin; for thou alone hast been shown to be forever most immaculate. Wherefore, I pray thee: Cleanse thou my defiled soul, and show me to have a share in the divine effulgence and a place at the right hand of thy divine Son when, at is it written, He will sit to judge the whole world.

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

The destruction of death hath been made manifest through thy birthgiving, for thou, O Maiden, art the abode of Life incorruptible. Wherefore, I entreat thee: To gladness and life do thou raise me up who lie amid the hellish tomb of my passions, O Virgin; guide me to the blessed reward, and count me worthy of the divine joy which perisheth not, where delight is everlasting and light is never-waning.

Glory…, in Tone VI—

With piety and faith let us celebrate the prayerful memorial of the God-bearing fathers who assembled from throughout the world in the splendid city of Nicæa; for with pious intent they annulled the impious dogma of the cruel Arius and as a council drove him from the Catholic Church; and they clearly preached the Son of God to be consubstantial and equally eternal, existing before time, and taught all to confess Him in the Symbol of Faith, setting it forth with piety and godliness. Wherefore, following their divine commands, and earnestly believing, we worship the Son with the Father and the most Holy Spirit in a single Godhead: the Trinity One in Essence.

Now & ever…, of the feast, in Tone IV—

Having fulfilled the mystery which was hidden from all ages and generations, O Lord, in that Thou art good, Thou didst go with Thy disciples to the Mount of Olives, bringing also her who gave birth to Thee, the Creator and Fashioner of all; for it was fitting that she who, as Thy Mother, was pained more than all others at Thy suffering, also delight with surpassing joy in the glory of Thy flesh. And we also, sharing in Thine ascension into heaven, O Master, glorify Thy great mercy toward us.

After Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart…, the troparion of the resurrection, in Tone VI—

Angelic hosts were upon Thy tomb, and those who were on guard became as dead. And Mary stood in thy tomb, seeking Thine all-pure body. Thou didst make hades captive without being tested thereby. And Thou didst greet the Virgin, granting life. O Lord Who art risen from the dead, glory be to Thee!

Glory…, Now & ever…: Troparion of the ascension, in Tone IV—

Thou didst ascend in glory, O Christ our God, Who by the promise of the Holy Spirit didst fill the disciples with joy, when they had been assured by Thy blessing that Thou art the Son of God, the Deliverer of the world.

Litanies, and dismissal.

After the Introductory Psalm, we chant Blessed is the man…, the first antiphon.

On Lord, I have cried…, 10 stichera, in Tone VI: 3 of the resurrection—

Gaining victory over hades, Thou didst ascend the Cross, that Thou mightest raise up with Thyself those who sit in the darkness of death, O Christ Who art free among the dead. O almighty Savior, Who pourest forth life from Thy light, have mercy on us!

Today hath Christ risen as He said, having trampled down death; and He hath granted joy to the world, that all of us, crying out, may thus utter a hymn: O almighty Savior, wellspring of life, unapproachable Light, have mercy upon us!

Whither can we sinners escape from Thee Who art over all creation, O Lord? Thou dwellest Thyself in heaven. In hades Thou didst trample down death. In the depths of the sea there is Thy hand, O Master. To Thee do we flee, and falling clown before Thee, we pray: O Thou Who art risen from the dead, have mercy on us!

And 3, idiomela, of the ascension—

The Lord ascended into heaven, that He might send the Comforter to the world. The heavens prepared His throne; the clouds His ascent. The angels marveled, beholding a Man more exalted than they. The Father awaiteth the Co-eternal One Whom He hath in His bosom; and the Holy Spirit commandeth all His angels: Lift up your gates, O ye princes! All the nations clap their hands, for Christ hath gone up to where He was before.

The cherubim marveled at Thine ascension, O Lord, beholding Thee, God Who sittest upon them, ascending upon clouds; and we glorify Thee, for Thy mercy is good. Glory to Thee!

Beholding Thine ascension upon the holy mountain, O Christ, Thou Effulgence of the glory of the Father, we hymn the radiant form of Thy countenance, we worship Thy sufferings, and we honor the resurrection, glorifying the glorious ascension. Have mercy upon us!

And 4 of the holy fathers, in Tone VI: Special Melody: The despairing…—

Before the ages Thou wast begotten of the womb of the Father without mother before the morning star; yet Arius calleth Thee a creature, refusing to glorify Thee as God, with audacity mindlessly confusing Thee, the Creator, with a creature, laying up for himself fuel for the everlasting fire. But the Council in Nicæa proclaimed Thee, O Lord, to be the Son of God, Who art equally enthroned with the Father and the Spirit.

Who hath rent Thy garment, O Savior? It was Arius, Thou hast said, who separated the Trinity’s authority of equal honor into divisions. He hath denied Thee to be One of the Trinity. He hath taught Nestorius not to say “Theotokos. “ But the Council in Nicæa proclaimed Thee, O Lord, to be the Son of God, Who art equally enthroned with the Father and the Spirit.

Arius, who hated to see the Light, falleth into the pit of sin, and his bowels are rent asunder by the hook of God, so that they violently rendered up his being and soul, for he was another Judas in character and image. But the Council in Nicæa proclaimed Thee, O Lord, to be the Son of God, Who art equally enthroned with the Father and the Spirit.

The mindless Arius divided the monarchy of the all-holy Trinity into three dissimilar and alien essences; wherefore, the God-bearing fathers who assembled with diligence, aflame with zeal like Elijah the Tishbite, with the sword of the Spirit cut off the blasphemer who taught shameful doctrines, even as the Spirit commanded.

Glory…, in the same tone—

Let us praise the God-bearing fathers, the mystical clarions of the Spirit, which in the midst of the Church sound forth the melodious hymn of theology unto the one Trinity, the immutable Essence and Godhead. It is they, the champions of the Orthodox, who cast down Arius, and ever pray to the Lord that our souls find mercy.

Now & ever…: Dogmatic theotokion, in the same tone—

Who doth not call thee blessed, O all-holy Virgin? Who will not hymn thine all-pure birthgiving? For the only-begotten Son Who shone forth timelessly from the Father, came forth, ineffably incarnate, from thee, the pure one; and being God by nature, He became man for our sake, not divided into two Persons, but known in two natures without confusion. Him do thou beseech, O pure and most blessed one, that our souls find mercy!

Entrance. Prokimenon of the clay. Three readings:

Reading from Genesis

Abram, having heard that Lot, his nephew, had been taken captive, numbered his home-born servants, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued after them to Dan. And he came upon them by night, he and his servants, and smote them and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is on the left of Damascus. And he recovered all the cavalry of Sodom, and he recovered Lot, his nephew, and his possessions, and the women and the people. And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after he returned from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and the kings with him, to the valley of Shaveh (this was the plain of the kings). And Melchizedek, King of Salem, brought forth loaves and wine, and he was the priest of the Most High God. And he blessed Abram, and said: “Blessed be Abram of the Most High God, Who delivered thine enemies into thy power.”

Reading from Deuteronomy

In those days, Moses said to the children of Israel: “Behold, God hath delivered the land before you. Go in and inherit the land, which He promised to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give it to them and to their seed after them. And I spoke to you at that time, saying: I shall not be able by myself to bear you. The Lord your God hath multiplied you; and, behold, ye are today as the stars of heaven in multitude. The Lord God of your fathers add to you a thousandfold more than ye are, and bless you as He hath said to you. How shall I alone be able to bear your labor, and your burden, and your gain-sayings? Take to yourselves wise men for your tribes, and I will set your leaders over you. And ye answered me, and said: ‘The thing which thou hast told us is good to do.’ So I took of you wise and understanding and prudent men, and I set them to rule over you as rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, and rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens, and officers to your judges. And I charged your judges at that time, saying: Hear causes between your brethren, and judge rightly between a man and his brother, and the stranger who is with him. Thou shalt not have respect of persons in judgment, thou shalt judge small and great equally; ye shall not shrink from before the person of a man; for the judgment is God’s.”

Reading from Deuteronomy

In those days, Moses said to the children of Israel: “Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens belong to the Lord thy God, the earth and all things that are therein. Only the Lord chose fathers to love them, and He chose out their seed after them, even you, beyond all nations, as at this day. Therefore, ye shall circumcise the hardness of your heart, and ye shall not harden your neck. For the Lord your God, He is the God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, and strong, and terrible God, Who doth not accept persons, nor will He by any means accept a bribe: executing judgment for the stranger and orphan and widow. And as He loveth the stranger, to give him food and raiment, so shall ye love the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and shall swear by His name. He is thy boast, and He is thy God, Who hath wrought in the midst of thee these great and glorious things, which thine eyes have seen.”

At the Litia, the sticheron of the ascension, in Tone I—

O Lord, Who hast ascended into the heavens from whence Thou hadst come down, leave us not orphans. That Thy Spirit may come, bearing peace unto the world, show the works of Thy power unto the children of men, O Lord Who lovest mankind.

Glory…, of the fathers, in Tone III—

Ye were diligent keepers of the Traditions of the apostles, O holy fathers; for teaching in Orthodox manner the consubtantiality of the Holy Trinity, as a council ye cast down the blasphemy of Arius, with him denouncing Macedonius, who denied the Spirit; and ye condemned Nestorius, Eutyches and Dioscorus, Sabellius and Severus the mindless. Pray ye that we be delivered from their delusion, and that our life be kept undefiled in the Faith, we beseech you.

Now & ever…, of the feast, in Tone VI—

Having completed the mystery of Thy dispensation, O Lord, taking Thy disciples up the Mount of Olives, Thou didst ascend; and behold, Thou didst pass through the firmament of heaven, O Thou Who for my sake didst become poor like me; and having gone up whither Thou hadst never left, Thou didst send forth Thy most Holy Spirit, Who enlighteneth our souls.

Aposticha stichera of the resurrection, in Tone VI—

In the heavens, O Christ our Savior, the angels hymn Thy resurrection; vouchsafe that we also on earth may glorify Thee with a pure heart.

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

Having broken down the gates of bronze and shattered the chains of hades, as God almighty Thou didst raise up the fallen human race. Wherefore, we cry out together: O Lord Who art risen from the dead, glory be to Thee!

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

Desiring to lift us up from our ancient corruption, Christ was nailed to the Cross and laid in the tomb; and with tears the myrrh-bearing women sought Him, and weeping they said: “Alas, O Savior of all! How is it that Thou hast willed to make Thine abode in a tomb? And having desired to dwell there, how is it that Thou hast been stolen away? How hast Thou been moved? What place concealeth Thy life-bearing body? Yet, as Thou hast promised, reveal Thyself to us, O Master, and take from us the lamentation of tears!” And as they were weeping, an angel cried out to them: “Cease your weeping! Tell the apostles that the Lord is risen, granting purification and great mercy to the world!”

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

O Christ, Who wast crucified as Thou didst desire, and madest death captive by Thy burial, Thou didst rise on the third day as God in glory, granting the world never-ending life and great mercy.

Glory…, of the holy fathers, in Tone IV—

This day let us, the assemblies of the Orthodox, faithfully acting in accordance with piety, celebrate the prayerful memory of the God-bearing fathers who in the splendid city of Nicæa assembled from throughout all the world; for with pious resolve they cast down the godless dogma of the fearsome Arius, and in council expelled him from the Catholic Church, and in their Symbol of Faith have clearly taught all to confess the Son of God to be consubstantial, equally eternal, and existent from before the ages, setting this forth precisely and devoutly. Wherefore, following their divine dogmas and believing them with certainty, we worship the Trinity One in Essence: the Son and the Holy Spirit together with the Father, in One Godhead.

Now & ever…, of the feast, in the same tone—

Having fulfilled the mystery which was hidden from all ages and generations, O Lord, in that Thou art good, Thou didst go with Thy disciples to the Mount of Olives, bringing also her who gave birth to Thee, the Creator and Fashioner of all; for it was fitting that she who, as Thy Mother, was pained more than all others at Thy suffering, also delight with surpassing joy in the glory of Thy flesh. And we also, sharing in Thine ascension into heaven, O Master, glorify Thy great mercy toward us.

Then, Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart…; Trisagion through Our Father. Troparion of the holy fathers, in Tone VIII—

Most glorious art Thou, O Christ our God, Who hast established our fathers upon the earth as beacons, and hast thereby guided us all to the true Faith! O greatly Compassionate One, glory be to Thee! Twice

And the troparion of the ascension, in Tone IV—

Thou didst ascend in glory, O Christ our God, Who by the promise of the Holy Spirit didst fill the disciples with joy, when they had been assured by Thy blessing that Thou art the Son of God, the Deliverer of the world.

Blessing of the loaves, and reading from the Acts of the Holy Apostles.

If a vigil be not served, the troparion of the resurrection, in Tone VI—

Angelic powers were upon Thy tomb, and those who were on guard became as dead. And Mary stood in thy tomb, seeking Thine all-pure body. Thou didst make hades captive without being tested thereby. And Thou didst greet the Virgin, granting life. O Lord Who art risen from the dead, glory be to Thee!

Glory…, the troparion of the holy fathers; Now & ever…, the troparion of the ascension.

The kontakion of the fathers; Glory…, Now & ever…, that of the ascension.

We chant the Canon of the Trinity, from the Octoechos, in the tone of the week; and the rest as usual. Dismissal.

At God is the Lord…, the troparion of the resurrection, in Tone VI, twice; Glory…, that of the fathers; Now & ever…, that of the ascension.

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

When the tomb was opened and hades wept, Mary cried out to the apostles who had hidden themselves: “Come forth, ye laborers of the vine-yard! Proclaim the tidings of the resurrection! The Lord hath risen, granting the world great mercy!”

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

O Lord, Mary Magdalene stood before Thy tomb and wept aloud; and thinking Thee to be the gardener, she said: “Where hast Thou hidden our eternal Life? Where hast Thou laid Him Who sitteth upon the throne of the cherubim? For those who guarded Him have become as dead through fear. Either give me my Lord, or cry out with me: O Thou Who wast among the dead and hast raised up the dead, glory to Thee!”

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

O Thou Who didst call Thy Mother blessed, Thou didst go to Thy suffering with a free will, and didst shine forth upon the Cross, desiring to seek out Adam. And Thou didst say to the angels: Rejoice with Me, for I have found the lost coin! O our God Who hast ordered all things in Thy wisdom, glory to Thee!

After the second chanting of the Psalter, these resurrectional sessional hymns, in Tone VI—

Life lay in the tomb, and a seal was affixed to the stone. Soldiers guarded Christ as they would a sleeping king, and the Lord arose, invisibly smiting His enemies.

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

By Thy death have we acquired immortal life, O only almighty Savior of all; for in Thine honored arising Thou didst call us all, O Thou Who didst destroy the victory of hades and the sting of death.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

O Virgin Theotokos, entreat thy Son, Christ our God, Who of His own will was nailed to the Cross and arose from the dead, that our souls be saved.

After Blessed are the blameless in the way…, the eulogitaria: Blessed art Thou, O Lord…, and The assembly angels was amazed…

Then straightway, the hypacoï, in Tone VI—

Having, as God, broken down the gates of hades by Thy voluntary and life-creating death, O Christ, Thou didst open ancient paradise unto us; and rising from the dead, Thou hast delivered our life from corruption.

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

Antiphon I

I lift up mine eyes to heaven, to Thee, O Word. Have pity, that I may live in Thee.

Have mercy upon us who are downcast, O Word, making us vessels useful to Thee.

Glory…: The Holy Spirit is the Cause of all salvation. And if He blow upon anyone as is meet, He quickly taketh him away from among the things of earth: He giveth him wings, maketh him grow and setteth him on high.

Now & ever…: The foregoing is repeated.

Antiphon II

If the Lord were not among us, none of us would be able to combat the warfare of the enemy; for they who conquer are lifted up from hence.

Let not my soul be seized like a bird by the teeth of the enemy, O Word. Woe is me! How shall I, who love sin, escape them?

Glory…: From the Holy Spirit cometh deification, goodwill, understanding, peace and blessing for all; for He worketh equally with the Father and the Word.

Now & ever…: The foregoing is repeated.

Antiphon III

Those who hope in the Lord are fearsome to the enemy and wondrous to all; for they direct their gaze on high.

He who hath Thee, O Savior, as his Helper, the Portion of the righteous, doth not stretch out his hands toward iniquities.

Glory…: The dominion of the Holy Spirit is over all. Him do the armies on high worship, as doth every creature here below.

Now & ever…: The foregoing is repeated.

Prokimenon, in Tone VI—

O Lord, stir up Thy might and come to save us.

Stichos: O Shepherd of Israel, attend, Thou that leadest Joseph like a sheep.

Let every breath praise the Lord.

Gospel According to John, §66 [21:1-14]

At that time, Jesus showed Himself to His disciples at the Sea of Tiberias; and on this wise showed He Himself There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of His disciples. Simon Peter said unto them: “I go a fishing.” They said unto him “We also go with thee.” They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus said unto them: “Children, have ye any meat?” They answered Him: “No.” And He said unto them: “Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find.” They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said unto Peter: “It is the Lord.” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him (for he was naked), and did cast himself into the sea. And the other disciples came in a little ship (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fishes. As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. Jesus said unto them: “Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.” Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. Jesus said unto them: “Come and dine.” And none of the disciples durst ask Him: “Who art Thou?” knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus then came, and took bread, and gave them, and fish likewise. This is now the third time that Jesus showed Himself to His disciples, after that He was risen from the dead.

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

Canon of the resurrection, with 4 troparia, including the irmos; that of the ascension, with 4 troparia; and that of the holy fathers, with 6 troparia.

Ode I

Canon of the Resurrection, in Tone VI

Irmos: Traversing the deep on foot, as though it were dry land, and seeing the tyrant Pharaoh drowned, Israel cried aloud: Let us chant unto God a hymn of victory!

O good Jesus, with Thy hands which were stretched out on the Cross Thou didst fill all things with the good pleasure of the Father; wherefore, we all sing a song of victory unto Thee.

Cringing before Thee like a handmaid, death was compelled to approach Thee, the Master of life, Who through it granteth us endless life and resurrection.

Theotokion: Having received thine own Creator incarnate of thy seedless womb in manner past understanding, O pure one, as He Himself desired, thou wast truly shown to be the Mistress of creation.

Canon of the Ascension, in Tone V

Irmos: 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.

Let us all sing a hymn of victory, O ye people, unto Christ, Who hath been upborne on the shoulders of the cherubim, and hath set us with Himself at the right hand of the Father, for He hath been glorified.

Seeing Christ, the Mediator between God and man, in the flesh on high, the angelic choirs marveled and together sang a hymn of victory, for He hath been glorified.

Unto God, Who appeared on Mount Sinai, Who gave the Law to Moses the God-beholder, and hath ascended in the flesh from the Mount of Olives, let us all sing, for He hath been glorified.

Theotokion: O all-pure Mother of God, unceasingly entreat God, Who became incarnate of thee yet was not separated from the bosom of the Father, that He save from every evil circumstance those whom He hath created.

Canon of the Holy Fathers, in Tone VI

Irmos: Traversing the deep on foot, as though it were dry land, and seeing the tyrant Pharaoh drowned, Israel cried aloud: Let us chant unto God a hymn of victory!

Praising the most holy council of the holy fathers, crying out I beseech Thee, O Christ, to preserve within me its most holy prophecy. Twice The God-bearing fathers, descending today like lightning, clearly confessed Thee, O Christ, to be the only-begotten Son, consubstantial with the Father and equally without beginning. Twice

Glory…: The right glorious escorters of Thy bride, the Church, O Master, manifestly setting forth the golden definition of the Faith, have adorned her therewith as with godly ornaments. Now & ever…: All-adorned with divine glory, the honored Queen standeth before her Son and God, asking that we be granted salvation of soul.

Katavasia: The irmoi of Canon II of Pentecost, in Tone IV: He who was slow of speech, having been covered with divine darkness, gave utterance unto the divinely written law; for, having shaken off the mire from his noetic eyes, he beheld He Who Is and learned the understanding of the Spirit, uttering praise with hymns divine.

Ode III

Canon of the Resurrection

Irmos: There is none as holy as Thou, O Lord my God, Who hast uplifted the horn of Thy faithful and established us on the rock of the confession of Thee, O Good One.

Creation, beholding God crucified in the flesh, melted away in fear; yet it was held firmly together by the sustaining hand of Him Who was crucified for our sake.

Wretched death, undone by death, lieth lifeless, for unable to endure the assault of divine Life, mighty death is slain, and resurrection is given to all.

Theotokion: The miracle of thy divine birthgiving transcendeth every order of nature, O pure one; for thou didst supernaturally conceive God in thy womb, and having given birth thou dost ever remain a virgin.

Canon of the Ascension

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

Thou didst go up to the Father, O Christ, Bestower of life, and didst uplift our nature in Thine ineffable compassion, O Thou Who lovest mankind.

Seeing human nature ascending with Thee, O Savior, the ranks of the angels were amazed and unceasingly hymned Thee.

The choirs of the angels were filled with awe, O Christ, beholding Thee upborne in the body; and they hymned Thy holy ascension.

Theotokion: Unceasingly entreat Him Who issued forth from thy womb, O pure one, that we who hymn thee, the Mother of God, may be delivered from the delusion of the devil.

Canon of the Holy Fathers

Irmos: There is none as holy as Thou, O Lord my God, Who hast uplifted the horn of Thy faithful and established us on the rock of the confession of Thee, O Good One.

The mindless and ungodly Arius, impiously attributing change, suffering and separation to the divine nativity, is cut off by the severing sword of the fathers. Twice

Like the godly Abraham of old, the most honored ones of divine eloquence, who armed themselves with Thy power, mightily destroyed Thy savage foes, O Good One. Twice

Glory…: Assembling, the first council of Thy priests piously professed Thee to be the Creator of all, consubstantial with and begotten by the unoriginate Father, O Savior.

Now & ever…: Neither the words nor the tongue of mortals is able to praise thee as is meet, O Virgin; for from thee, without seed, was Christ, the Bestower of life, well pleased to become incarnate, O all-pure one.

Katavasia: Of old, the mere prayer to the mighty God of understandings by Hannah the Prophetess, who bore a contrite spirit, broke the bonds of her barren womb and the reproach of the child-bearing, which was hard to endure.

Kontakion of the ascension, in Tone VI—

Having fulfilled Thy dispensation for us and united things on earth with things in heaven, Thou didst ascend in glory, O Christ our God, in nowise departing from us, but remaining inseparable, and crying out to those who love Thee: I am with you, and no one is against you!

Ikos: O ye who have left the things of earth on the earth, ye who leave things of ashes to the dust, come, let us rouse ourselves and lift up our eyes and thoughts to the heights; let us soar in sight and senses to the gates of heaven, O mortals, and let us imagine ourselves on the Mount of Olives, gazing upon the Deliverer upborne upon the clouds. For from thence hath the Lord hastened to the heavens, where He distributeth generous gifts to His apostles, comforting them like a father and making them steadfast; and instructing them like sons, He said to them: “I shall not part from you! I am with you, and no one will be against you!”

Then, the sessional hymn of the fathers, in Tone IV: Special Melody: Go thou quickly before…—

O most blessed and God-proclaiming fathers, on earth ye were truly shown to be all-radiant beacons of the truth of Christ unto the world, having dried up the blasphemous bane of heretical tongues, and quenched the flaming confusion of those of wicked belie£ Wherefore, as ye are hierarchs of Christ, pray ye that we be saved.

Glory…, another sessional hymn, in the same tone: Special Melody: Having been lifted up…—

The splendid city of Nicæa today summoneth to itself, from throughout the whole world, the three hundred and eighteen hierarchs against Arius, who uttered blasphemy and belittled One of the Trinity—the Son Who is the Word of God; and having cast down Arius they confirmed the Faith.

Now & ever…: Sessional hymn of the ascension, in the same tone & melody—

O Christ Who lovest mankind, having ascended with glory into the heavens and sat at the right hand of the Father, Thou wast in nowise separated from us. O Thou Who didst promise to send the Holy Spirit to Thine all-wise disciples and hast illumined our minds, grant enlightenment, that we may unceasingly hymn Thee, O Master.

Ode IV

Canon of the Resurrection

Irmos: Christ is my power, my God and my Lord, the honored Church doth sing, crying out in godly manner with a pure mind, keeping festival in the Lord.

The Tree blossomed forth true life, O Christ; for the Cross was planted and, watered with the blood and water which flowed from Thine incorrupt side, budded forth life for us.

No longer will the serpent falsely proffer deification, for Christ, the Deifier of human nature, hath now given me unhindered access to the path of life.

Theotokion: Truly ineffable and unapproachable to those on earth and in heaven are the mysteries of thy divine birthgiving, O Ever-virgin.

Canon of the Ascension

Irmos: 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!

Thou didst ascend in glory, O King of the angels, sending the Comforter from the Father unto us; wherefore, we cry out: Glory to Thine ascension, O Christ!

As the Savior went up in the flesh to the Father, the armies of the angels marveled at Him and cried out: Glory to Thine ascension, O Christ!

The angelic hosts cried out to those who were higher: “Lift up your gates for Christ our King, Whom with the Father and the Spirit we hymn!” Theotokion: The Virgin gave birth and knew not the pangs of birthgiving; she is a Mother, yet remained a Virgin, and hymning her we cry out: Rejoice, O Theotokos!

Canon of the Holy Fathers

Irmos: Christ is my power, my God and my Lord, the honored Church doth sing, crying out in godly manner with a pure mind, keeping festival in the Lord.

The infamous Arius, who adulterated the Orthodox Faith with his foolish mind, was cut off from the Church like a rotting member. Twice

Struggling for Thee, O Master, the choir of the fathers utterly vanquished Thy foes and hath glorified Thee as consubstantial with the Father and the Spirit. Twice

Glory…: Thou wast a Mediator between God and men, O Christ, Thou God-man; wherefore, knowing Thee, the divinely wise fathers proclaimed Thee the one Son in two natures.

Now & ever…: Tasting of the tree showed me to be mortal, but the Tree of life which appeared through thee, O most pure one, arose and hath shown me to be an inheritor of the sweetness of paradise.

Katavasia: O Word, Thou King of kings, Who alone didst issue forth from the Father Who is without cause and Thy Spirit, Who is equal to Thee in might, Who are like unto Thee: As our Benefactor, Thou didst truly send forth the apostles, who chant: Glory to Thy dominion, O Lord!

Ode V

Canon of the Resurrection

Irmos: With Thy divine light illumine the souls of those who with love rise at dawn unto Thee, O Good One, that they may know Thee, O Word of God, to be the true God Who calleth all forth from the darkness of sin.

The cherubim now withdraw from me, and the flaming sword is now sheathed, O Master, since they beheld Thee, O Word of God, as the true God Who made a path to paradise for the thief.

No longer will I fear returning to the earth, O Christ, for in thy great lovingkindness Thou hast led me up, the forgotten one, from the earth to the heights of incorruption, through Thy resurrection.

Theotokion: Save those who with all their soul confess thee to be the Theotokos, O good Mistress of the world, for we have thee, the true Theotokos, as an invincible intercession.

Canon of the Ascension

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

Having filled all things with joy, O Merciful One, Thou didst go in the flesh to the heavenly hosts.

Seeing Thee taken up, the angelic hosts cried out: “Lift up your gates for our King!”

Seeing the Savior upborne, the apostles cried out to our King with trembling: Glory to Thee!

Theotokion: We hymn thee, who wast a Virgin even after giving birth, O Theotokos; for thou gavest birth for the world unto God the Word in the flesh.

Canon of the Holy Fathers

Irmos: With Thy divine light illumine the souls of those who with love rise at dawn unto Thee, O Good One, that they may know Thee, O Word of God, to be the true God Who calleth all forth from the darkness of sin.

Truly beautiful are the feet of those who now proclaim Thee the Peace which passeth all under-standing, O Christ, Who with a plenitude of peace dost unite the world of angels and men. Twice

Assembling, the divine teachers proclaimed Thee the Wisdom, Power and hypostatic Word of the Father, O Christ, honorably sealing the most holy priesthood with the law. Twice

Glory…: O ye who have watered the Orthodox Church with pure streams of the waters of doctrine, rejoicing, ye now find everlasting delight by the waters of repose.

Now & ever…: Knowing thee, O only pure Theotokos, to be the radiant lamp which shineth forth Christ, the Sun of righteousness, Who illumineth all, we now call upon thine aid.

Katavasia: O radiant children of the Church, receive ye the fiery dew of the Spirit, the delivering cleansing of sins; for now from Sion hath gone forth the law, the grace of the Spirit in tongues of fire.

Ode VI

Canon of the Resurrection

Irmos: Beholding the sea of life surging with the tempest of temptations, fleeing to Thy calm haven I cry unto Thee: Lead up my life from corruption, O greatly Merciful One!

Crucified, O Master, with Thy nails Thou didst annul the curse against us; and pierced in the side by the spear, Thou didst free the world, rending asunder the record of Adam’s transgression.

Adam fell headlong into the abyss of hades, stumbling through deceit; but God, Who is merciful by nature, went down to search for him and, lifting him upon His shoulder, raised him up with Himself.

Theotokion: O all-pure Mistress who for men gavest birth to Christ, the Helmsman, allay the inconstant and grievous tumult of my passions, and grant serenity to my heart.

Canon of the Ascension

Irmos: 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.

The apostles leapt up, beholding the Creator taken up today into the heights, and in the expectation of the Spirit and with fear they cried: Glory to Thine ascent!

The angels stood before Thine apostles, crying out, O Christ: “In the same manner wherein ye beheld Christ ascending in the flesh will the righteous Judge of all come again.”

As the hosts of heaven beheld Thee taken up on high in the body, O our Savior, they cried out, saying: “Great is Thy love for mankind, O Master!”

Theotokion: As is meet, we glorify thee, the bush unconsumed, the mountain, the animate ladder and the portal of heaven, O glorious Mary, boast of the Orthodox.

Canon of the Holy Fathers

Irmos: Beholding the sea of life surging with the tempest of temptations, fleeing to Thy calm haven I cry unto Thee: Lead up my life from corruption, O greatly Merciful One!

The sower of tares, who was called the namesake of rage, could not hide from ineffable Providence; for, having imitated Judas, like him the most wicked one burst asunder. Twice

O Master, the divine and honored assembly of the fathers proclaimeth Thee the only-begotten Effulgence Who shone forth from the essence of the Father, the Son Who was begotten before all the ages. Twice

Glory…: In accordance with Providence, by the plough of the prayer of the divine priests the turbid and undrinkable wellspring of infamous heresies is literally rent apart in the belly.

Now & ever…: Moses, great among the prophets, described thee beforehand as the ark, the table, the lampstand, and the jar, signifying by these images the incarnation of the Most High from thee, O Virgin Mother.

Katavasia: O Christ Master, our purification and salvation, Thou didst shine forth from the Virgin, that Thou mightest rescue from corruption Adam, in whose fall our whole race fell, as thou didst save the Prophet Jonah from the belly of the sea monster.

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

The preaching of the apostles and the dogmas of the fathers sealed the one Faith for the Church; and wearing the robe of the Truth, woven of theology from on high, she setteth forth in order and glorifieth the great mystery of piety.

Ikos: Let us hearken to the Church of God, which with exalted preaching crieth out: Let him who thirsteth come to me and drink of the cup which I hold. This is the cup of wisdom, this drink have I drawn forth with the word of Truth, which poureth forth not the water of gainsaying, but of confession; and today’s Israel, drinking of it, beholdeth God, Who calleth out: “See, O see that I am He Himself, and I shall not change! I am God first; I am also after these; and there is none that is Mine equal. Hence, let those who partake be filled and praise the great mystery of piety.”

Synaxarion for the Sunday of the 318 God-Bearing Fathers in Nicæa

Stichoi: O chosen assembly of luminaries,/ Shine your brilliant thoughts upon me,

Stichoi: Saying: “Strange is the essence of the Son of the Father,”/ Wherefore, Arius is estranged from the glory of God.

On this day, the seventh Sunday after Pascha, we celebrate the three hundred eighteen God-bearing fathers of the Council of Nicæa, for the following reason: When our Lord Jesus Christ, Who for our sake had assumed flesh, completed His entire dispensation and sat ineffably on the throne of the Father, the saints, desiring to show that truly the Son of God was man, and that, perfect God-man, He ascended and sat at the right hand of Majesty in the heavens, and that the very Council of the holy fathers preached Him in precisely this way and acknowledged Him as consubstantial with the Father and equally worshipped, on this basis established this present feast to be celebrated immediately after the glorious ascension, as it were sending on in advance the council of the fathers who proclaimed Him, Who ascended in the flesh, the true God and perfect Man in the flesh. This council was held in the time of Constantine the Great, during the twentieth year of his reign. After the cessation of the persecutions, he reigned first in Rome; but later, in the year 330, he established the magnificent city which beareth his name. It was at that time that the events concerning Arius began. He was a native of Libya, who went to Alexandria, where he was ordained a deacon by the holy hieromartyr Peter of Alexandria. He then began to utter blasphemy against the Son of God, preaching that He is a created being, created out of nothing, alien to the divine dignity, improperly called the Wisdom and Word of God. And this took place when he was drawn into debate with the ungodly Sabellius, who said that there is only one Person in the Godhead and one Hypostasis; and sometimes It is the Father, sometimes the Son, and sometimes the Holy Spirit. When Arius uttered such blasphemy, the great Peter, who one day beheld Christ at the holy altar-table in the form of a Babe clothed in a rent garment, Who said that Arius had rent it, deposed him from his clerical rank. Achillus, who occupied the hierarchal see after Peter, in return for a bribe restored Arius—this was the least of it!—ordained him a priest, and appointed him the head of the Alexandrian catechetical school. After the death of Achillus, Alexander was ordained. When he learned that Arius was continuing his blasphemy and even worse, he excommunicated him from the Church, casting him out with the assistance of a council. In the words of Theodoretus, he taught that Christ is mutable in nature, and he was also the first to vomit up the teaching that the Lord assumed flesh without capacities of mind and soul. Arius, having drawn many to his ungodliness, by his writings acquired partisans: Eusebius of Nicomedia, Paulinus of Tyre, Eusebius of Cæsarea, and others, and rose up against Alexander. For his part, Alexander, sending out to all the world an epistle concerning these blasphemies and the deposition of Arius, moved many to strict zeal. When the Church was in such turmoil and there seemed to be no cure for the altercation over this doctrine, then Constantine the Great, using the government courier system, summoned the above-mentioned fathers from all over the world to Nicæa, and went there himself. And when all the fathers had arrived, with their blessing he also took his place, though not on a royal throne, but on a simple stool, below his rank. Afterwards, following speeches against Arius, he, as well as all of like mind with him, committed him to anathema, and the Word of God was proclaimed by the holy fathers to be consubstantial, equally worshipped and equally without beginning with the Father. They likewise set forth the holy Symbol of Faith, up to the words: “and in the Holy Spirit”; for the rest of it was added by the Second Council. The First Council, moreover, also made a resolution concerning the celebration of Pascha, i.e., when and how we ought to celebrate it, and that such not be done with the Jews, as was previously the custom. The fathers of the Council set forth twenty canons of ecclesiastical governance. Constantine the Great, equal of the apostles, later had this holy Symbol of Faith written in red letters. Of these holy fathers, 232 were bishops, while 86 were priests, deacons and monastics—in all, there were 318. The most prominent were the following: Sylvester, Pope of Rome; the ailing Bishop of Constantinople was represented by his proxies, Alexander of Alexandria and Athanasius the Great, who was at that time an archdeacon; Eustathius of Antiochand Macarius of Jerusalem, the blessed Hosius, Bishop of Cordova, Paphnutius the Confessor, Nicholas of Myra in Lycæa, and Spyridon of Tremithus, who in Nicæa converted and baptized a certain philosopher, convincing him of the unity of the Holy Trinity by pointing to the three properties of the sun (roundness, light and heat in the single solar entity). When two of the fathers passed away to God during the Council, Constantine the Great placed the decision of the Holy Council in their coffin and sealed it tightly; yet in accordance with the ineffable judgments of God he found it signed and sealed by them. Since after the conclusion of the Council the construction of the city was brought to completion, Constantine the Great invited all those holy men thither. And going round about it with great prayer, they named it the royal city and, at the command of the emperor, dedicated it to the Mother of the Word, before they all returned to their own cities. Yet even before Constantine passed on to God, when he wielded the scepter with his son, Constantius, Arius went to the emperor and said that he renounced all his heresies and desired to enter into union with the Church of God. And so, having written down all his blasphemies and hung them about his neck as a sign of subjection to the Council, and striking them with his hand, he said that he was submitting to the resolutions of the Council. At that time Metrophanes was bishop after Alexander; and knowing the depravity of man, he hesitated and begged God to show him whether it would be in conformity with His will to admit Arius to communion. When the time drew nigh to serve the liturgy with him, he prayed with particular compunction. Arius was walking to the church when he felt a pain in his belly near the column of the market-place, and he entered a public latrine; and there, bursting open, nearly all his entrails spewed forth, just as had happened to Judas, who had burst open for a similar betrayal of the Word. He who separated the Son of God from the essence of the Father himself burst asunder and was taken up dead. Thus was the Church of God freed at last from his contagion. Through the supplications of the 318 God-bearing fathers, O Christ our God, have mercy upon us. Amen.

Ode VII

Canon of the Resurrection

Irmos: The Angel caused the furnace to pour forth dew upon the pious youths, and the command of God, which consumed the Chaldæans, prevailed upon the tyrant to cry out: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

Lamenting at Thy passion, the sun cloaked itself in gloom, O Master, and that day, throughout all the earth, light was darkened, crying: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

The uttermost depths were clothed in light through Thy descent, O Christ; and our first father was shown to be full of gladness, and, dancing, he leapt up, crying: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

Theotokion: Through thee, O Virgin Mother, radiant Light hath shone forth upon the whole world; for thou gavest birth unto God, the Creator of all. Him do thou entreat, O most pure one, that He send down great mercy upon us, the faithful.

Canon of the Ascension

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

Blessed is the God of our fathers, Who ascended in clouds of light and hath saved the world.

Taking erring nature upon Thy shoulder, O Savior, ascending, Thou didst bring it to God the Father.

Blessed is the God of our fathers, Who ascended in the flesh to the incorporeal Father.

Assuming our nature, which hath been slain by sin, O Savior, Thou didst bring it to Thine own Father.

Canon of the Holy Fathers

Irmos: The Angel caused the furnace to pour forth dew upon the pious youths, and the command of God, which consumed the Chaldæans, prevailed upon the tyrant to cry out: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

Ye vanquished Arius, the namesake of rage, who raged grievously and uttered false things against the Most High; for he refused to cry out to the Son of God: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers! Twice

Imitating the son of thunder, O wondrous ones, with your fiery mouths ye taught all to cry out to the Word, Who with the Father is equally without beginning and equally enthroned: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers! Twice

Glory…: O divinely blessed ones who aided the Word, ye come as on wings from the ends of the whole world, for the Holy Spirit assembled you to cry: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

Now & ever…: The furnace did not consume the three youths who prefigured thy birthgiving; for the divine Fire dwelt in thee without consuming thee, and hath illumined all to cry: Blessed art thou who gavest birth to God in the flesh!

Katavasia: The melodious music of instruments sounded forth, calling men to worship the inanimate idol wrought of gold; but the radiant grace of the Comforter preferreth that they cry: O only Trinity, Who art equal in power and equally without beginning, blessed art Thou!

Ode VIII

Canon of the Resurrection

Irmos: From the flame didst Thou pour forth dew upon the venerable ones, and didst consume the sacrifice of the righteous one with water; for Thou, O Christ, dost do all things soever Thou desirest. Thee do we exalt supremely for all ages!

The Jewish people, who of old were slayers of the prophets, hath jealousy now made slayers of God, for they lifted Thee up upon the Cross, O Word of God. Thee do we exalt supremely for all ages.

Thou didst not leave the vault of heaven, and, descending into hades, Thou didst raise up with Thyself all of man, who lay in the mire, O Christ; and he exalteth Thee supremely for all ages.

Theotokion: From Light didst thou conceive the Word, the Bestower of light; and having ineffably given birth unto Him, thou hast been glorified. For the Spirit of God dwelt within thee, O Maiden. Wherefore, we hymn thee for all ages.

Canon of the Ascension

Irmos: 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!

Christ, Who with glory soared aloft into the heavens in two natures, and sitteth with the Father, hymn ye, O priests! Ye people, exalt Him supremely for all ages!

We hymn Thee, O Savior, Who hast delivered creation from the slavery of idolatry and presented it, free, to Thy Father, and we exalt Thee supremely for all ages.

He Who by His descent cast down the adversary and by His ascent uplifted men, hymn ye, O priests! Ye people, exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Theotokion: Thou wast shown to be more exalted than the cherubim, O pure Theotokos, who in thy womb didst bear Him Who is upborne by them. With the incorporeal beings we men glorify Him for all ages.

Canon of the Holy Fathers

Irmos: From the flame didst Thou pour forth dew upon the venerable ones, and didst consume the sacrifice of the righteous one with water; for Thou, O Christ, dost do all things soever Thou desirest. Thee do we exalt supremely for all ages!

Thy good shepherds, who were illumined with the rays of Thy divinity, confessed Thee to be the Lord and Creator of the existence of all, Whom we exalt supremely for all ages. Twice

Having assembled, the ever-memorable choir of the pastors, now with divine wisdom theologizing concerning the uncreated Trinity, teacheth all to cry out: Thee do we exalt supremely for all ages! Twice

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

The hierarchs, the right glorious pastors, enlighten the Church of Christ, each in a different way sanctifying and exalting her supremely for all ages.

Now & ever…: In images all the prophets mystically foresaw thee, who gavest birth to the Word; for taking flesh of Thee He issued forth in two natures. Him do we exalt supremely for all ages. Then, We praise, we bless, we worship the Lord, hymning and exalting Him supremely for all ages.

Katavasia: The thrice-radiant image of the God-head looseth bonds and bedeweth the flame; and all of fashioned creation blesseth as its Benefactor the one Savior and Accomplisher of all.

We chant the Magnificat.

Ode IX

Canon of the Resurrection

Irmos: It is not possible for men to behold God, upon Whom the ranks of angels dare not gaze; but through thee, O most pure one, hath the Word appeared incarnate unto men; and magnifying Him with the armies of heaven, we call thee blessed.

While sharing in sufferings through Thy sufferings, Thou didst remain untouched by the passions, O Word of God; yet as Thou art suffering for the passions, Thou dost loose man from the passions, O our Savior; for Thou alone art dispassionate and almighty.

Receiving the corruption of death, Thou didst keep Thy body untouched by corruption, nor didst Thou leave Thy life-creating and divine soul in hades, O Master; but having arisen as from sleep, Thou didst raise us up with Thyself.

Triadicon: O all ye men, with pure lips let us glorify God the Father, and the Son Who is equally without beginning, and let us honor the ineffable and all-glorious power of the most Holy Spirit; for Thou alone art the almighty and indivisible Trinity.

Canon of the Ascension

Irmos: 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.

Seeing Thee, Christ God, the Deliverer of the world, divinely uplifted, leaping up with faith the apostles magnified Thee.

Seeing Thy deified flesh in the highest, O Christ, the angels said one to another: “Truly this is our God!”

Seeing Thee taken up on the clouds, O Christ God, the ranks of the incorporeal cried: O King of glory, lift up the gates!

Theotokion: Rejoice, O Theotokos, Mother of Christ God! Watching with the apostles as He to Whom thou gavest birth was taken up from the earth today, thou didst magnify Him

Canon of the Holy Fathers

Irmos: It is not possible for men to behold God, upon Whom the ranks of angels dare not gaze; but through thee, O most pure one, hath the Word appeared incarnate unto men; and magnifying Him with the armies of heaven, we call thee blessed.

The Word Who is before time, Who with the Father is equally without beginning and equally enthroned, found and assembled you as allies, arming you with the power of might. Him do ye now ever glorify with the armies of heaven, O most sacred ones. Twice

Having set forth for all the sacred Symbol of the Faith, as physicians of souls and bodies ye halted the spread of the grievous heresy of Arius; and holding firmly to your Creed, we ever glorify your memory, O ministers of the sacred mysteries. Twice

Glory…: As Thou art the all-pure Light, O Christ, cleanse my soul of the darkness of the passions through the supplications of Thy ministers, O Master, who have now proclaimed Thee to be without beginning, uncreated, the God and Creator of all, Who with the Father art equally without beginning.

Now & ever…: Resurrection hath now been given to the dead by thine ineffable and indescribable Offspring, O Mistress Theotokos; for from thee hath Life, clad in the flesh, shone forth upon all, and He hath manifestly destroyed the stronghold of death.

Katavasia: Rejoice, O Queen, thou glory of mothers and virgins! For even the most skillful and divinely eloquent mouth is not able to hymn thee as is meet; and every mind is at a loss to understand thy birthgiving. Wherefore, together we glorify thee.

Then, Holy is the Lord our God! Thrice

Exapostilarion of the resurrection—

On the Sea of Tiberias of old, the sons of Zebedee, with Nathanael and Peter, Thomas and two other disciples, were in a boat; and having cast their net on the right side as Christ commanded, they drew forth a great draught of fishes. And, recognizing Him, Peter cast himself forth to come to Him. This was His third appearance; and He showed them bread and fish upon burning coals.

Glory…, that of the fathers: Special Melody: Hearken, ye women…—

Celebrating today the memory of the godly fathers, O most Compassionate One, by their entreaties we pray: Deliver Thy people from all the harm of heresies, O Lord, and vouchsafe that all may glorify the Father, the Word and the most Holy Spirit.

Now & ever…, that of the ascension: Automelon—

As the disciples watched, Thou didst ascend, O Christ, to sit with the Father; and the angels, hastening before Thee, cried out: “Lift up your gates! Lift them up; for the King is come to the primal Light of glory!”

On the Praises, 8 stichera: 4 of the resurrection, in Tone VI—

Thy Cross, O Lord, is the life and resurrection of Thy people; and we who set our hope thereon hymn Thee, our risen God. Have mercy upon us!

Thy burial hath opened paradise to the human race, O Master; and, delivered from corruption, we hymn Thee, our risen God. Have mercy upon us!

Let us hymn Christ Who is risen from the dead, with the Father and the Spirit; and let us cry out to Him: Thou art our life and resurrection! Have mercy upon us!

Automelon: Thou didst rise from the tomb on the third day, O Christ, raising up our forefather with Thyself. Wherefore, the human race glorifieth Thee and hymneth Thy resurrection.

And 4 of the holy fathers, in the same tone: Special Melody: Having set all aside…—

Having shared their spiritual skills, and reviewed the heavenly and precious Symbol of Faith through the divine Spirit, the honored fathers inscribed it with a divine writing, wherein the right glorious, most rich and truly divine wise ones teach most clearly that the Word is equally without beginning and everlasting with Him Who begot Him, thus following most carefully the teachings of the apostles.

Having received all the noetic radiance of the Holy Spirit, as preachers of Christ, the divine defenders of the teachings of the Gospel and the traditions of the pious, inspired by God, proclaimed their most supernatural decision; and having manifestly received from on high the revelation thereof, being illumined, they expounded the Faith taught by God.

Stichos: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is Thy name unto the ages.

Having mustered all their pastoral skill and then being moved to wrath most just, as champions, as most true servants of Christ and most sacred keepers of the mysteries of divine preaching, the divine pastors drove forth the savage and pernicious wolves, casting them out of the fullness of the Church; and they fell, as it were, to their deaths as ones afflicted incurably.

Stichos: Gather together unto Him His holy ones who have established His covenant upon sacrifices.

Having shared their spiritual skills, and reviewed the heavenly and precious Symbol of Faith through the divine Spirit, the honored fathers inscribed it with a divine writing, wherein the right glorious, most rich and truly divine wise ones teach most clearly that the Word is equally without beginning and everlasting with Him Who begot Him, thus following most carefully the teachings of the apostles.

Glory…, in Tone VIII—

The choir of the holy fathers, which came together from the ends of the whole world, taught the one essence and nature of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and clearly transmitted the mystery of theology to the Church. Praising them with faith, let us bless them, saying: O godly company, divinely eloquent warriors of the regiment of the Lord, greatly radiant stars of the noetic firmament, impregnable towers of the mystic Sion, flowers of paradise, wafting forth the scent of myrrh, golden mouths of the Word, boast of Nicæa, adornment of the whole world: pray ye earnestly in behalf of our souls!

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 be to Thee!

Great Doxology. The troparion of the resurrection, alone—

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. Departure to the narthex.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Evangelical sticheron, in Tone VI—

Grieving, as was meet, over parting from Thee, O Christ, after Thy descent into hades and Thy resurrection from the dead, Thy disciples returned again to their trade, to their boats and nets; yet nowhere did they catch fish. But Thou, O Savior, showing Thyself to be Master of all, didst command them to cast the nets on the right side. And straightway Thy word became reality, and there was a great multitude of fishes, and Thou didst prepare a strange meal on the shore. That of which Thy disciples then partook do Thou vouchsafe that we now enjoy noetically, O Lord Who lovest mankind.

Reading from the Catechesis of St. Theodore the Studite; and the First Hour.

At the First Hour, the troparion of the resurrection; Glory…, that of the feast; Now & ever…, the theotokion of the Hour. After the Trisagion, the kontakion of the feast.

At the Third Hour, the troparion of the resurrection; Glory…, that of the fathers; Now & ever…, the theotokion of the Hour. After the Trisagion, the kontakion of the fathers.

And thus do we do for the rest of the Hours, alternating the troparia and kontakia of feast and the fathers.

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

Remember me when Thou comest in Thy kingdom, O God my Savior, and save me, for Thou alone lovest mankind.

By a tree was Adam deceived; yet again by the Tree of the Cross was the thief saved, who cried out: Remember me in Thy kingdom, O Lord!

O Bestower of life, Who hast broken down the gates and portals of hades, Thou hast saved all who cry out to Thee, O Savior: Glory to Thine arising!

O Thou Who by Thy burial hast made death captive, and by Thy resurrection hast filled all with joy, remember me, in that Thou art compassionate.

And 4 of the ascension, from Ode IV; and 4 of the fathers, from Ode VI.

After the entrance, the troparion of the resurrection; then that of the ascension, and that of the fathers. Glory…, kontakion of the fathers; Now & ever…, that of the ascension.

Prokimenon, in Tone IV: The Song of the Fathers—

Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is Thy name unto the ages.

Stichos: For righteous art Thou in all which Thou hast done for us.

Reading from the Acts of the Apostles, §44 [20:16-18, 28-36]

In those days, Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost. And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the Church. And when they were come to him, he said unto them: “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Spirit hath made you overseers, to feed the Church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to those who were with me. I have showed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.

Alleluia, in Tone I—

Stichos: The God of gods, the Lord, hath spoken, and He hath called the earth from the rising of the sun and unto the setting thereof.

Stichos: Gather together unto Him His holy ones who have established His covenant upon sacrifices.

Gospel According to John, §56 [17:1-13]

At that time, Jesus lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour is come; glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son also may glorify Thee: as Thou hast given Him power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as Thou hast given Him. And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, Whom Thou hast sent. I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Thou Me with Thine own self with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was. I have manifested Thy name unto the men whom Thou gavest Me out of the world: Thine they were, and Thou gavest them Me; and they have kept Thy word. Now they have known that all things whatsoever Thou hast given Me are of Thee. For I have given unto them the words which Thou gavest Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from Thee, and they have believed that Thou didst send Me. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them whom Thou hast given Me; for they are Thine. And all Mine are Thine, and Thine are Mine; and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to Thee. Holy Father, keep through Thine own name those whom Thou hast given Me, that they may be one, as we are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Thy name: those whom Thou gavest Me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. And now come I to Thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have My joy fulfilled in themselves.”

Communion verses—

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

Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous; praise is meet for the upright. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!