PASCHA

 

The Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

 

April 12, 2015

 

Hymns of the Day

 

Troparion of the Feast, Tone 5

Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and on those in the tombs bestowing life.

 

Hypakoe of the Feast,  Tone 4

When they who were with Mary came, anticipating the dawn, and found the stone rolled away from the sepulcher, they heard from the Angel:  Why seek ye among the dead, as though He was mortal man, Him who abideth in everlasting light?  Behold the grave-clothes.  Go quickly and proclaim to the world that the Lord is risen, and hath put death to death.  For He is the Son of God, who saveth the race of man.

 

Kontakion of the Feast, Tone 8

Though Thou didst descend into the grave, O Immortal One, yet didst Thou destroy the power of Hades, and didst arise as victor, O Christ God, calling to the myrrh-bearing women: Rejoice; and giving peace unto Thine Apostles.  O Thou who dost grant resurrection to the fallen.

 

Megalynarion of the Feast

The Angel cried to the Lady Full of Grace: Rejoice, O Pure Virgin! Again I say: Rejoice! Your Son is risen from His three days in the tomb. With Himself He has raised all the dead. Rejoice, all ye people! Shine, shine, shine, shine O New Jerusalem, The glory of the Lord has shone on you. Exult now and be glad, O Zion, Be radiant, O Pure Theotokos, In the Resurrection of your Son!

 

Epistle – Acts 1: 1-8

In the first book, O Theophilos, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. To them he presented himself alive after his passion by any proofs, appearing to them during forty days, and speaking of the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, "you heard from me, for John baptized with water, but before many days you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit." So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom of Israel?" He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth."

 

Gospel  - John 1:1-17

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light.  The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.  And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. (John bore witness to him, and cried, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, for he was before me.'") And from his fullness have we all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

 

Paschal Greetings

 

Christ is Risen!             Indeed He is Risen!

 

Christos anesti!            Alithos anesti!  (Greek)

 

Al Massiah qam!          Haqqan qam!  (Arabic)

 

Khristos voskrese!         Voistinu voskrese!  (Russian)

 

Cristos a inviaht!          Adevarat a-inviaht!  (Romanian)

 

Cristo ha rescucitado!    En verdad ha recucitado! (Spanish)

 

Cristos vaskres!             Va-istinu vaskres!  (Serbian)

 

Kriost eirgim!               Eirgim!  (Gaelic)

 

We greet one another during the entire Paschal season (which lasts 40 days) with the words: "Christ is Risen!" and the response to the greeting is: "Indeed, He is risen!"

 

• During Bright Week, the Holy Doors and the Deacons' doors of the iconostasis remain open symbolizing the empty tomb of our Master and Savior: Christ is Risen!

(The holy door curtains are closed between services.)

 

• During Bright Week, our prayers in church and at home are sung and not read as we sing all week the feast of the risen Christ: Christ is Risen!

 

• During Bright Week, our morning and evening prayers are replaced by the singing of the short service of the Paschal Office (see your prayer book): Christ is Risen!

 

• During Bright Week, we do not read from the psalter at home or in church for the prophecies have been fulfilled: Christ is Risen!

 

• During Bright Week, there is no fasting as we are at feast with the Bridegroom who processes forth from the tomb: Christ is Risen!

 

• During the entire Paschal season there is no prostrating or kneeling permitted in church or at home for we stand with the resurrected Christ: Christ is Risen!

 

• During the Paschal season we begin all of our prayers at home and in church by singing the troparion of Pascha: "Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life!"

 

• During the Paschal season and extending to Pentecost, we do not pray "O Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth..." for the Comforter comes on Pentecost.
Christ is Risen!