Katavasiai
First Ode. Fourth Tone
I shall open my mouth and it shall be filled with the Spirit; and I shall pour out a word to the Queen and Mother; and I shall be seen cheerfully celebrating; and rejoicing, I shall sing of her miracles.
Third Ode
O Theotokos, living and abundant fountain, strengthen those united in spiritual fellowship who sing hymns of praise to you. And in your divine glory, grant them wreaths of glory.
Fourth Ode
Comprehending the unfathomable divine will of your incarnation by the Virgin, O Most High, the prophet Abbakum cried out: Glory to your power O Lord.
Fifth Ode
Amazed was the universe by your divine glory. For while never experiencing marriage, you held, O Virgin, the God of all in your womb, and gave birth to an eternal Son who rewards with salvation all who chant hymns of praise to you.
Sixth Ode
O godly‑minded people, as we perform this divine and all‑honorable feast in honor of the mother of our God, let us clap our hands and give glory to God who was born of her.
Seventh Ode
The godly‑minded did not adore creation but bravely trampling upon the threat of the fire, they rejoiced chanting: Blessed are You, O supremely praised, O Lord and God of our fathers.
Eighth Ode
We hymn, we bless, and we worship the Lord.
The pious children within the furnace were rescued by the child of the Theotokos. He who was prefigured then has been born on earth, and is gathering the entire universe to sing: Bless the Lord, all his works, and magnify him to the ages.
(After singing the eighth Ode, the Priest proclaims within the sanctuary:)
Priest: Let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: For you are holy, our God, who rest among the Saints, and to you we give glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.
People: Amen. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord (3).
Priest: Let us pray to the Lord, our God that we may be made worthy to hear the holy Gospel.
People: Lord, have mercy (3).
Priest: Wisdom. Arise. Let us hear the holy Gospel. Peace be to you all.
People: And with your spirit.
Priest: The reading is from the holy Gospel according to (Name). Let us be attentive.
People: Glory to you, O Lord, glory to you.
(The Priest reads the Morning Gospel of that Sunday.)
Morning Gospels
1. Matthew (28:16‑20)
At that time, the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.
2. Mark (16:1‑8)
And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb? and looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back‑it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them, “Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you.” And they went out and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
3. Mark (16:9‑20)
Now when Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it. After this he appeared to the eleven themselves as they sat at table and he upbraided them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. And he said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that attended it. Amen.
4. Luke (24:1‑12)
On the first day of the week at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel; and as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise.” And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told this to the apostles; but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home wondering at what had happened.
5. Luke (24:12‑35)
At that time, Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home wondering at what had happened. That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What is this conversation which you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since this happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his body; and they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said; but him they did not see.” And he said to them, “O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was not it necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into this glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He appeared to be going further, but they constrained him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanished out of their sight. They said to each other. “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the scriptures?” And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven gathered together and those who were with them, who said, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.
6. Luke (24:36‑53)
At that time, Jesus went up and stood among his disciples and said to them, “Peace be with you.” But they were startled and supposed that they saw a spirit. And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do questionings rise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit, has not flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them. Then he said to them, “These are my words which I spoke to you, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name in all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city, until you are clothed with power from on high.” Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.
7. John (20:1‑20)
On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran, and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” Peter then came out with the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first; and stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; he saw the linen cloths lying, and the napkin, which had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not know the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.
8. John (20:11‑18)
At that time, Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb, and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” Saying this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabboni;” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not touch me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” Mary Magdalene went and said to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.
9. John (20:19‑31)
On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them , and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe.” Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.
10. John (21:1‑4)
At that time, Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberius; and he revealed himself in this way. Simon Peter Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat; but that night they caught nothing. Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any fish?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, for the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his clothes, for he was stripped for work, and sprang into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there with fish lying on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty‑three of them; and although there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
11. John (21:15‑25)
At that time, when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” A second time he said to him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go.” (This he said to show by what death he was to glorify God.) And after this he said to him, “Follow me.” Peter turned and saw following them the disciple whom Jesus loved, who had lain close to his breast at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!” The saying spread abroad among the brethren that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?” This is the disciple who is bearing witness to these things, and who has written these things; and we know that his testimony is true. But there are also many other things which Jesus did; were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the book that would be written. Amen.
People: Glory to you, O Lord, glory to you.
(The Priest or People say the following prayer)
Having beheld the resurrection of Christ, let us worship the holy Lord Jesus, the only Sinless One. We venerate your cross, O Christ, and we praise and glorify your holy resurrection. You are our God. We know no other than you, and we call upon your name. Come, all you faithful, let us venerate the holy resurrection of Christ. For behold, through the cross joy has come to all the world. Ever praising the Lord, let us praise his resurrection. For enduring the cross for us, He has destroyed death by death.
(Then the 50th Psalm is sung. At the verse: “For behold, you have loved truth,” the priest, holding the holy Gospel Book, exits through the Royal Doors and, standing in the middle of the Solea, offers the Gospel Book to the people for reverencing. After all have reverenced it, he places the Gospel Book on the lectern, reverences and enters the sanctuary through the Holy Doors.)
People: Have mercy upon me, O God, according to your great mercy; and according to the multitude of your compassion, blot out my transgression.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my iniquity, and my sin is ever before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned, and done evil in your sight, that you may be found just when you speak, and victorious when you are judged.
Indeed, I was born guilty, a sinner when my mother conceived me.
For behold, you have loved truth; you have made known to me the secret and hidden things of your wisdom.
You shall sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be made clean; you shall wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me to hear joy and gladness, that the afflicted bones may rejoice.
Turn your face away from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and establish me with your governing Spirit.
I shall teach transgressors your ways, and the ungodly shall turn back to you.
Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation, my tongue shall joyfully declare your righteousness.
Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.
For if you had desired sacrifice, I would give it; you do not delight in whole burnt offerings.
A sacrifice to God is a broken spirit; God will not despise a broken and humbled heart.
Do good in your good pleasure to Sion; and let the walls of Jerusalem be built.
Then you shall be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, with oblation and whole burnt offerings.
Then you shall offer bulls on your altar.
And have mercy on me, O God.
(Then we sing in the Second Tone)
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Through the intercessions of the apostles, O merciful One, remit the multitude of our sins.
Now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, O merciful One, remit the multitude of our sins.
Have mercy, O God, have mercy upon me, according to your great mercy and according to the multitude of your compassions, wipe out my offense.
Jesus is risen from the grave as he foretold; he has given us eternal life and abundant mercy.
(On the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee, and throughout Great Lent, we substitute for the above the following troparia: “Open to me the doors of repentance” “Guide me to salvation,” and “The multitude of my misfortunes. . .”)
Priest: O God, save your people and bless your inheritance. Look upon your world with mercy and compassion. Raise the Orthodox Christians in glory, and send down upon us your rich mercies, through the intercessions of our most pure Lady the Theotokos and ever‑Virgin Mary; the power of the precious and life‑giving Cross; the protection of the honorable, bodiless Powers of heaven; the supplications of the honorable and glorious prophet, and forerunner John the Baptist; the holy, glorious, and praiseworthy Apostles; our Fathers among the Saints, the great hierarchs and ecumenical teachers, Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom, Athanasios, Cyril, and John the Merciful, patriarchs of Alexandria; Nicholas, bishop of Myra, Spyridon, bishop of Trimythous, the wonder workers; the holy, glorious great Martyrs George the Victorious, Demetrios the Myrobletes, Theodore the Teron, and Theodore the General, Menas the Wonderworker and Charalambos the Hieromartyr; the holy, glorious, and victorious martyrs; the glorious great Martyr and all‑laudable Euphemia; of our holy God‑bearing Fathers (the patron saint of the church); the holy and righteous ancestors of righteous ancestors of God Joachim and Anna (the saint of the day); and of all your Saints; we beseech you, only merciful Lord, hear us sinners who pray to you and have mercy on us.
People: Lord, have mercy (12 by 3s).
Priest: Through the mercy, compassion, and love of mankind of your only begotten Son, with whom you are blessed, together with your all holy, good and life‑giving Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.
People: Amen.
Megalynaria
Priest: Let us honor and magnify in song the Theotokos and the Mother of light.
(Receiving the censer, he censes the holy Table, the sanctuary, and the entire church, while simultaneously, the “More honorable than the Cherubim” is sung.)
My soul does magnify the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my savior.
More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, incorruptibly you gave birth to God the Word. We magnify you, the true Theotokos.
For he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden; for behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, incorruptibly you gave birth to God the Word. We magnify you, the true Theotokos.
For he who is mighty has done to me great things; and holy is his name; and his mercy is on them who fear him from generation to generation.
More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, incorruptibly you gave birth to God the Word. We magnify you, the true Theotokos.
He has showed strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, incorruptibly you gave birth to God the Word. We magnify you, the true Theotokos.
He has put down the mighty from their seats and exalted them of low degree; he has filled the hungry with good things and the rich he has sent empty away.
More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, incorruptibly you gave birth to God the Word. We magnify you, the true Theotokos.
He has helped his servant Israel in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever.
More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, incorruptibly you gave birth to God the Word. We magnify you, the true Theotokos.
(Then the katavasia of the ninth Ode is sung.)
Ninth Ode
Let every mortal born on earth carry his torch and leap for joy in the spirit. Let the angelic powers celebrate and honor the holy wonder of the Mother of God. Let them cry out: Rejoice, all‑blessed Theotokos, pure and ever‑virgin.
Priest: In peace let us again pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: Help us, save us, have mercy upon us, and protect us, O God, by your grace.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: Remembering our most holy, pure, blessed, glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commit ourselves and one another, and all our lives to Christ our God.
People: To You, O Lord.
Priest: For all the powers of heaven praise you and give you glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.
People: Amen. Holy is our Lord our God (2).
Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his footstool, for he is holy.
(Immediately the resurrection exaposteilarion and that of the saint, if there is one, or the Theotokion are sung.)
Resurrection Exaposteilaria
And Theotokia
1
Let us go up with the disciples into a mountain of Galilee to behold with faith Christ as he proclaims his power over things above and below. Let us learn how he teaches us to baptize all nations in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and how we may be initiated in his mysteries as he promised, until the end of the world.
You, O Virgin Theotokos, have rejoiced with the disciples at seeing Christ risen on the third day from the tomb as he said. And he has appeared to them teaching and disclosing the better things, commanding them to baptize in the Father, and the Son, and the Spirit, that we may believe in his rising and glorify you, O Maiden.
2
The myrrh‑bearing women rejoiced at beholding the stone rolled away. They saw a young man seated upon the tomb and he said to them: Tell the disciples with Peter that Christ is risen. Press forward into the mountain of Galilee; there he will appear to you as he said to his friends.
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