Ode 9. Irmos.

Resurrection Exapostilarion.

The choir of holy Fathers, hurrying together from the ends of the inhabited world, taught the one essence and nature of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and clearly handed down to the Church the mystery of theology. As we praise them with faith, let us call them blessed as we say: O godly camp, inspired soldiers of the Lord’s array; stars with many lights of the spiritual firmament; the indestructible towers of the mystical Sion; the sweet-scented flowers of Paradise; the all-golden mouths of the Word; Nicea’s boast; adornment of the inhabited world, intercede unceasingly for our souls.

At Lauds we insert 8 Stichera, and we sing 4 of the Resurrection and 4 of the Holy Fathers.

‘It is impossible for humans to see God, on whom the ranks of Angels dare not gaze; but through you, All-pure one, the Word incarnate has appeared to mortals. As we magnify him with all the heavenly hosts, we call you blessed.’

Of the Resurrection. Tone 6.

You remained without a share in passions, O Word of God, though in the flesh conversant with the passions; but you loose humanity from the passions, to passions being yourself a passion, O our Saviour; for you alone are impassible and all-powerful.

Your cross, O Lord, is life and resurrection for your people, and trusting in it we sing your praise, our risen God: Have mercy upon us.

Having accepted the corruption of death, you kept your body from tasting destruction; while our life-giving and divine soul, Master, was not abandoned in Hell; but rising as from sleep, you raised us up with yourself.

Your burial, O Master, opened Paradise to the human race; and ransomed from corruption we sing your praise, our risen God: Have mercy upon us.

With pure lips all we mortals glorify God the Father, the Son like him without beginning, while the ineffable and most glorious power of the all-holy Spirit; for you alone are the almighty, undivided Trinity.

With the Father and the Spirit let us sing the praise of Christ, risen from the dead, and let us cry out to him: You are our life and our resurrection: Have mercy upon us.

Of the Assumption. As Mother of God.

You rose from the grave on the third day, O Christ, as it was written, raising our Forefather with you: therefore the human race glorifies you and hymns your Resurrection.

As they watched you, the redeemer of the world, Christ God, being divinely exalted, the Apostles leapt for joy and magnified you with awe.

Of the Fathers. Prosomia. Tone 6.

As the Angels saw your flesh now made divine, O Christ, in the height, they signalled to one another: Truly this is our God.

Welding together all the knowledge of the soul, and examining it together by the divine Spirit, the revered Fathers, far-famed, all-blessed and truly inspired by God, in words inspired traced out the revered Creed, by which they taught that the Word is with the Begetter without beginning, and most surely consubstantial, clearly following the teachings of the Apostles.

As the ranks of bodiless powers, Christ God, saw you being raised on clouds, they cried: For the King of glory lift up the gates.

Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our Fathers.

Hail, Mother of God, Mother of Christ God; as to-day you saw him whom you bore flying up from earth, with Angels you magnified him.

Receiving all the spiritual brilliance of the Holy Spirit, as heralds of Christ the blessed champions of the gospel doctrines and the devout traditions inspired by God proclaimed the supernatural oracle, short in words, but rich in meaning, having received on high the clear revelation of them, and enlightened they set forth a definition taught by God.

Of the Fathers. It is impossible.

Assemble to him all his holy ones, who have made his covenant upon sacrifices.

he Word before the ages, like the Father without beginning and equal in majesty, having found you to be allies, assembled you, arming you with the mighty power of the Spirit; whom now, All-hallowed ones, with the heavenly hosts you ever glorify.

Gathering all their pastoral knowledge, stirring their most justified rage, the godly Fathers, as Christ’s truest servants and most sacred initiates of God’s message, have now driven off the fierce and ravening wolves with the sling of the Spirit, slinging them from the assembly of the Church, as ones who had fallen to death, and were incurably sick.

sacred ministers, as physicians of souls and bodies you halted the spread of the foul heresy of Arius, sacredly promulgating for all the Symbol of the faith; as we now hold fast to it we ever glorify your memory.

You are most blessed, O Virgin Mother of God, for through him who took flesh from you, Hell has been captured, Adam recalled, the curse slain, Eve set free, death put to death, and we given life. Therefore in praise we cry: Blessed are you, Christ our God, who have been thus well-pleased, glory to you.

escue my soul, O Christ, as you are light immaculate, from the mist of the passions, at the prayers of your Ministers, O Master, who have now proclaimed you to be without beginning, uncreated, creator of all things and God without beginning together with the Father.

Great Doxology, and Dismissal.

ince life, clad in flesh, has shone forth for all from you, O Sovereign Lady, Mother of God, and clearly abolished the gloom of death, resurrection has been granted to the dead through your ineffable and inexpressible child-bearing.

Before the First Hour Eothinon 10. Tone 6.

‘Hail, Queen, glorious virgin mother;

After your descent into Hell and your Resurrection from the dead, O Christ, the Disciples, losing heart as was natural at your separation from them, turned back to their trade: and once again there were boats and nets and a catch nowhere. But you appeared, O Saviour, and as Master of all things ordered them to cast their nets on the right hand side: and at once the word was deed, and there was a great multitude of fish, and a strange supper ready on land. Your Disciples partook of it then; make us also worthy to enjoy it now in spirit, O Lover of humankind.

For every fluent, every eloquent mouth

With oratory has not the strength to sing you worthily;

But every mind is dizzy when it seeks to understand

Your giving birth; therefore with one accord we glorify you.’

Holy is the Lord, our God ***(x3)***

The sea of Tiberias of old held Nathanael with the sons of Zebedee, Peter and, with two others, Thomas, to fishing. At Christ’s command they lowered the net on the right hand side and caught a multitude of fish. Recognising him, Peter hastened to him. Appearing to them for the third time, he showed them bread, and fish lying on coals.

Another, of the Fathers.

As we celebrate to-day the memory of the godlike Fathers, we ask, O All-merciful, by their intercessions: Deliver your people, Lord, from every harm of heresies, and make us worthy to glorify Father, Word and the All-holy Spirit.

Another, of the Assumption. Model Melody. Tone 2.

With your Disciples watching you, O Christ, you were taken up to the Father to take your seat with him. Angels ran forward crying out: Lift up the gates, lift up, for the King has gone up to the glory, source of light.