AT MATINS — Anastasis liturgical translations

The soldiers watching your grave became as dead men at the lightning flash of the Angel who appeared and proclaimed to the Women the Resurrection. We glorify you, the destroyer of corruption; we fall down before you, risen from the grave and alone our God.

¶16

Glory. Both now.

¶17

**Verse: Arise, Lord my God, lift up your hand; do not forget your poor for ever.**

¶18

You were willingly nailed to the Cross, O Merciful one, and laid in a tomb as a mortal, O Giver of life. By your death, O Powerful one, you smashed its might; for Hell’ gatekeepers trembled before you; you raised with you the dead from every age, for you alone love mankind.

¶19

All we who with longing flee for refuge to your goodness know you to be Mother of God and after childbirth still truly Virgin; for we sinners have you as protection; in temptations we have you as salvation, the only All-blameless one.

¶20

After the 2nd Psalter reading , Kathismata.

¶21

When the stone was sealed.

¶22

The women came to your tomb at dawn and when they saw a vision of an Angel they trembled; the tomb blazed forth life; the marvel amazed them; and so going back to the disciples they proclaimed the Resurrection: Christ has despoiled Hell, as alone mighty and powerful, and has raised up all those in corruption, dispelling the fear of condemnation by the power of the Cross.

¶23

**Verse: I will praise you, Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all your marvellous works.**

¶24

O Life of all, you were nailed to the Cross; O immortal Lord, you were numbered among the dead. you arose, O Saviour, on the third day, and raised Adam from corruption; therefore the heavenly Powers cried out to you, O Giver of life: Glory to your sufferings, O Christ; glory to your Resurrection; glory to your condescension, only lover of mankind.

¶25

Mary, holy vessel of the Master, raise us up who have fallen into the pit of dread despair, of offences and afflictions; for you are the salvation, the help and the mighty protection of sinners, and you save your servants.

¶26

After the reading of the ‘Blameless’ , we sing the Evlogitaria. Then the little Litany and

¶27

The Thief’s repentance plundered Paradise, but the Myrrh-bearers’ lament disclosed the joy that you had risen, Christ God, granting the world great mercy.

¶28

When I am afflicted, I cry to you, O Lord, hearken to my pains.

¶29

For those who dwell in the desert the longing for God never ceases, for they are far from the world’s vanity.

¶30

To the Holy Spirit, as to the Father and the Son, are due honour and glory; and so let us sing to the Trinity, a single might.

¶31

Having lifted me up to the mountains of your laws, make me shine, O God, with virtues, that I may sing your praise.

¶32

Take me with your right hand, O Word, guard me and keep me, lest the fire of sin scorch me.

¶33

In the Holy Spirit all creation is made new and hastens back to its first condition; for he is equal in strength to the Father and the Word.

¶34

With those who said to me: Let us journey to the courts of the Lord, my Spirit was glad and my heart rejoices.

¶35

Over the house of David is great fear; for there when thrones are placed, all the tribes and tongues of the earth will be judged.

¶36

To the Holy Spirit must be offered honour, worship, glory and might, as befit also the Father and the Son; for the Trinity is a Unity, in nature, but not in persons.

¶37

Now I shall arise, says the Lord, I shall set him in safety, and speak boldly in him.

¶38

Verse: The Lord’s words are pure words, silver tried by fire, tested in earth, seven times refined.

¶39

**After O God, save your people** **and the Ekphonesis, we begin the Canons, singing the Resurrection Canon to 4, the Cross-Resurrection to 3, that of the Mother of God to 3, and that of the Saint of the day to 4. But if the Saint is ‘feasted’ to 6 or 8.**

¶40

Resurrection Canon.