Easter Sunday
Resurrection Matins and Divine Liturgy of our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom, celebrated by Father Yuriy at Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker Parish, Victoria. 8AM 17 April 2022.
Today’s services begin at the tomb where the Plashchanytsya (Holy Shroud) has been displayed on the tetrapod before the altar since Good Friday. Following the short service of prayers at the tomb, and the transfer of the Plashchanytsya to the altar, Resurrection Matins is prayed, followed by Divine Liturgy.
After the priest has exclaimed, Blessed be the Kingdom… and the people have responded, Amen, the clergy sing the Paschal Troparion once and the people repeat it. Then, the clergy sing the first half, and the people conclude it:
Paschal Troparion
Christ is risen from the dead, * trampling death by death, * and to those in the tombs * giving life.
Христос воскрес із мертвих, * смертю смерть подолав, * і тим, що в гробах, * життя дарував
First Antiphon
Verse: Shout to the Lord, all the earth, * sing now to His name, give glory to His praise.
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save us.
Verse: Say unto God, ‘How awesome are Your works! * Because of the greatness of Your strength Your enemies will flatter You.’
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save us.
Verse: Let all the earth worship You and sing to You, * let it sing to Your name, O Most High!
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save us.
Third Antiphon
Verse: Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered; let those who hate Him flee from before His face.
Refrain: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling death by death, and to those in the tombs giving life.
Verse: As smoke vanishes, let them vanish, as wax melts before the fire.
Refrain: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling death by death, and to those in the tombs giving life.
Verse: So let the sinners perish before the face of God, but let the righteous be glad.
Refrain: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling death by death, and to those in the tombs giving life.
Entrance verse: In the churches bless God, the Lord from the fountains of Israel.
Troparion: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling death by death, and to those in the tombs giving life.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Now and forever and ever, Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 8
Though You descended into a tomb, O Immortal One, * yet You destroyed the power of Hades;* and You rose as victor, O Christ God, * calling to the myrrh-bearing women: Rejoice! * and giving peace to Your Apostles: * You, who grant resurrection to the fallen.
Instead of “Holy God” we sing: All you who have been baptised into Christ, you have put on Christ! Alleluia.
Prokeimenon, Tone 8
This is the day which the Lord has made; * let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Verse: Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His mercy endures forever.
Epistle : Act 1:1–8
A reading from the book of Acts: In the first book, Theophilus, I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught until the day he was taken up, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them by many proofs after he had suffered, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While meeting with them, he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for ‘the promise of the Father about which you have heard me speak; for John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.’ When they had gathered together they asked him, ‘Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He answered them, ‘It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’
Alleluia, Tone 4
Verse: When You rise, You will have compassion on Sion.
Verse: The Lord looked down from heaven to earth to hear the groans of the prisoners, to set free the sons of those put to death.
Gospel : John 1:1–17
In the beginning was the Word: the Word was in God’s presence, and the Word was God. He was present to God in the Beginning. Through him all things came into being, and apart from him nothing came to be. Whatever came to be in him, found life, life for the light of all. The light shines on in darkness, a darkness that did not overcome it. There was a man named John sent by God, that through him all might believe—but only to testify to the light, for he himself was not the light. The real light which gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and through him the world was made, yet the world did not know who he was. To his own he came, yet his own did not accept him. Any who did accept him he empowered to become children of God. These are they who believe in his name—who were begotten not by blood, nor by carnal desire, nor by man’s willing it, but by God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we have seen his glory: the glory of an only Son coming from the Father, filled with enduring love. John testified to him by proclaiming: ’This is he ahead of me, for he was before me.’ Of his fullness we have all had a share—love following upon love. For while the law was given through Moses, this enduring love came through Jesus Christ.
Instead of “It is truly...” we sing: The Angel cried out to the One full of Grace: O chaste Virgin, rejoice! And again I say, Rejoice! Your Son has risen from the tomb on the third day, and raised the dead. Let all people rejoice! Shine, shine, O new Jerusalem! for the glory of the Lord has risen upon you! Exult now and be glad, O Sion! And you, O chaste Mother of God, take delight in the resurrection of your Son.
Сommunion Hymn
Receive the Body of Christ; * taste the fountain of immortality.* Alleluia, alleluia, * alleluia.
[A private prayer of spiritual communion:
My Jesus, I believe that You are present in these Holy Gifts!
I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot receive You now,
I place before You my whole life and hope, O loving Master;
and I ask, pray, and entreat You: Make me worthy to partake in a mystical way
and with a pure conscience of Your awesome and heavenly Mysteries:
for forgiveness of sins, for the pardon of offences, for communion of the Holy Spirit,
for the inheritance of the kingdom of heaven, for confidence before You,
and not for judgment or condemnation.
I embrace You as You enter and abide in me, and I unite myself completely to You.
Permeate my soul and body, and never permit me to be separated from You.
Amen.]
Instead of “Blessed is He” we sing: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling death by death, and to those in the tombs giving life. (1x)
Instead of “We have seen the true light” we sing: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling death by death, and to those in the tombs giving life. (1x)
Instead of “Let our mouths be filled” we sing: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling death by death, and to those in the tombs giving life. (3x)
Instead of “Blessed be the name of the Lord” we sing: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling death by death, and to those in the tombs giving life. (3x)
At the end of the Liturgy we sing:
Christ is risen from the dead, * trampling death by death, * and to those in the tombs * giving life. (3x)
And to us he has granted life eternal; * we bow down before his resurrection on the third day.
Христос воскрес із мертвих, * смертю смерть подолав, * і тим, що в гробах, * життя дарував. (3x)
І нам дарував життя вічне, * поклоняємось його триденному Воскресенню.
Following Divine Liturgy, the day’s services conclude with the blessing of the Paska and Easter Baskets.