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 IV—

When Thou didst come to the Mount of Olives to do the will of the Father, O Christ, the angels of heaven were amazed, and the nether regions were filled with fear. The disciples stood before Thee, trembling with joy, as Thou didst speak with them, and a waiting cloud was made ready as a throne across from them; and heaven, opening its gates, revealed its beauty, and the earth opened its hidden chambers, that Adam might recognize Thy descent and rising again. But Thy feet were lifted up, as if by hands; Thy mouth uttered blessings aloud, that they might be heard; the cloud bore Thee aloft, and heaven took Thee in. This work, great and all-glorious, didst Thou do, O Lord, for the salvation of our souls.

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

O Good One, Who didst fulfill the goodly will of the Father and didst unite those above with those below, Thou didst ascend in glory to the first-created beings.

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

Thou didst ascend to Thy Father, from Whom Thou hadst never parted, O Compassionate One, and didst uplift our nature which lieth prostrate, O Master.

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

A cloud of light took Thee up to the heights, and with fear and trembling the angels ministered to Thy divine ascent.

Glory…, Now & ever…, in Tone IV—

O God Who in Thyself didst fashion anew the nature of Adam which had gone down into the nethermost regions of the earth, today Thou hast raised it higher than any principality or authority; for, loving it, Thou hast enthroned it with Thyself, and having mercy on it, Thou hast united it to Thee and glorified it with Thysel£ Yet the incorporeal beings said: “Who is this beauteous Man?” Yet Thou art not only man, but God and Man, united and revealed. Wherefore, the angels, astonished, some flying, garbed in radiant garments, and others standing by the disciples, cried: “Ye men of Galilee, He Who hath departed from you is Jesus, the God-man. As God and man He will come again, judging the living and the dead, and granting to the faithful forgiveness of sins and great mercy.”

After the first chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone II: Special Melody: Seeking the highest…—

From on high didst Thou descend to the earth, and again hast Thou hastened from the earth to the heights, unto the Father, as Thy disciples watched Thine ascent. Wherefore, celebrating with them, we hymn Thine ascension, O Savior. Twice

After the second chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone III: Awed by the beauty of thy virginity…—

The preëternal Word Who is without beginning, and Who assumed human nature and deified it mystically, hath ascended today. To the apostles the angels, going before Him, showed Him going to heaven with great glory, and worshipping Him, they said: Glory to God Who hath ascended! Twice

Psalm 50.

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

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

“I will not leave orphaned those whom I have gathered together,” the Lord said to His friends, “but I shall 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: “Ye men of Galilee, He will come again in the same way as ye see.”

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

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

Glory…, Now & ever…, in Tone IV—

When Thou didst ascend in glory, O Christ God, as the disciples watched, the clouds bore Thee up in the flesh; the gates of heaven were lifted up; the choir of the angels rejoiced with gladness; and the highest hosts cried out, saying: “Lift up your gates, ye princes, and the King of glory shall enter in!” But the disciples, marveling, said: “Part not from us, O good Shepherd, but send upon us Thine all-holy Spirit, Who guideth, confirmeth, enlighteneth and sanctifieth our souls!”

On the Beatitudes, 6 troparia from Ode VI.