Holy Pascha Matins

The whole service may be prayed by an individual.

If more than one person is present, one of them is designated ‘Reader’ and says or chants the text in normal type. The others respond with the text in bold. Or the rôle of Reader could be shared.

The mark + indicates that the Sign of the Cross is made here.

All stand

+ Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us, and save us. Amen.

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

The Paschal Verses

Let God arise and let his enemies be scattered, and let them that hate Him flee from before His face.

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

As smoke vanishes, so let them vanish; as wax melts before the fire.

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

So let sinners perish at the presence of God; and let the righteous be glad.

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

This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

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

+ Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

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

The Canon – in Tone 1

Ode 1. Irmos
The day of Resurrection, let us be radiant, O peoples! Pascha, the Lord’s Pascha; for Christ God has brought us from death to life, and from earth to heaven, as we sing the triumphal song.

The day of Resurrection, let us be radiant, O peoples! Pascha, the Lord’s Pascha; for Christ God has brought us from death to life, and from earth to heaven, as we sing the triumphal song.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord!

Troparia
Let us purify our senses, and in the unapproachable light of the resurrection we shall see Christ shining forth, and we shall clearly hear him saying ‘Rejoice!’, as we sing the triumphal song.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord!

Let the heavens, as is fitting, rejoice and let the earth be glad. Let the whole world, both seen and unseen, keep the feast: for Christ has risen, our eternal joy.

+ Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Katavasia
The day of Resurrection, let us be radiant, O peoples! Pascha, the Lord’s Pascha; for Christ God has brought us from death to life, and from earth to heaven, as we sing the triumphal song.

Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life! (3x)

Jesus, having risen from the tomb as he foretold, has given us eternal life and his great mercy.

Ode 3. Irmos
Come let us drink a new drink, not one marvellously brought forth from a barren rock, but a Source of incorruption, which pours out from the tomb of Christ, in whom we are established.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord!

Troparia
Now all things have been filled with light, both heaven and earth and those beneath the earth; so let all creation sing Christ’s rising, by which it is established.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord!

Yesterday I was buried with you O Christ, today I rise with you as you arise. Yesterday I was crucified with you; glorify me with you, Saviour, in your Kingdom.

+ Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Katavasia
Come let us drink a new drink, not one marvellously brought forth from a barren rock, but a Source of incorruption, which pours out from the tomb of Christ, in whom we are established.

Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life! (3x)

Jesus, having risen from the tomb as he foretold, has given us eternal life and his great mercy.

Ypakoï
When those who were with Mary came, anticipating the dawn, and found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre, they heard from the Angel, ‘Why do you seek among the dead, as though he were mortal, the One who exists in everlasting light. See the grave clothes. Run and proclaim to the world that the Lord has been raised, and has put death to death; for he is the Son of God, who saves the human race.

Ode 4. Irmos
Let the Prophet Avvakoum, inspired by God, keep the divine watch with us, and show forth the radiant Angel, who with resounding voice declares, ‘To-day is salvation for the world, for Christ has risen as omnipotent.’

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord!

Troparia
Christ appeared as a ‘male’ who opened the virgin womb. As our food he is called ‘lamb’; ‘unblemished’, as our Passover without stain; and ‘perfect’, for he is true God.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord!

As a yearling lamb, for us the blessed crown, Christ was willingly sacrificed for all, a cleansing Passover. And from the tomb the fair Sun of justice has shone for us again.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord!

God’s forebear David, dancing, leaped before the Ark, mere shadow, but seeing the fulfilment of the types, let us, God’s holy people, inspired, rejoice, for Christ has risen as omnipotent.

+ Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Katavasia
Foreseeing your divine self-emptying on the Cross, in amazement Avvakoum cried out, ‘You, Good One, have cut off the might of the powerful, as you speaking with Hell’s denizens as All-powerful’.

Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life! (3x)

Jesus, having risen from the tomb as he foretold, has given us eternal life and his great mercy.

Ode 5. Irmos
Let us arise in the early dawn, and instead of myrrh, offer praises to the Master; and we shall see Christ, the Sun of Justice, who causes life to dawn for all.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord!

Troparia
Those who were held by Hades’ bonds, seeing your measureless compassion, press forward to the light, O Christ, with joyful steps, praising an eternal Passover.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord!

With torches in our hands let us go out to meet Christ as he comes from the grave like a bridegroom, and with the festive ranks of Angels, let us together feast God’s saving Passover.

+ Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Katavasia
Let us arise in the early dawn, and instead of myrrh, offer praises to the Master; and we shall see Christ, the Sun of Justice, who causes life to dawn for all.

Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life! (3x)

Jesus, having risen from the tomb as he foretold, has given us eternal life and his great mercy.

Ode 6. Irmos
You went down to the deepest parts of the earth, and you shattered the everlasting bars of those that those that were fettered, O Christ. And on the third day, like Jonas from the whale, you arose from the tomb.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord!

Troparia
Keeping the seals intact, O Christ, you rose from the tomb, you who did not harm the locks of the Virgin’s womb at your birth, and you have opened to us the gates of Paradise.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord!

O my Saviour, the living, unslain Victim, as God offering yourself willingly to the Father, you raised with yourself all Adam’s race, in rising from the tomb.

+ Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Katavasia
You went down to the deepest parts of the earth, and you shattered the everlasting bars of those that those that were fettered, O Christ. And on the third day, like Jonas from the whale, you arose from the tomb.

Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life! (3x)

Jesus, having risen from the tomb as he foretold, has given us eternal life and his great mercy.

Kontakion – in Tone 8
Though you descended into the tomb, O Immortal, yet you destroyed the power of Hades; and you arose as victor, O Christ God, calling to the Myrrh-bearing women: Rejoice! and giving peace to your Apostles, O you who grant resurrection to the fallen.

Ode 7. Irmos
He who delivered the Young Men from the furnace, becoming man suffers as a mortal, and through suffering he clothes the mortal with the glory of incorruption: the only blessed and most glorious God of our fathers.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord!

Troparia
The holy women hastened after you with sweet spices. The One whom they sought with tears as a mortal, they worshipped with joy as the living God, and they proclaimed the mystic Passover, O Christ, to your disciples.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord!

We feast death’s slaughter, the overthrow of Hell, the first fruits of a new eternal life: and dancing we hymn the cause: the only blessed and most glorious God of our fathers.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord!

How truly holy and all-festive is this saving night, how full of light, herald of the bright day of the resurrection, in which the timeless Light shone bodily for all from the tomb.

+ Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Katavasia
He who delivered the Young Men from the furnace, becoming man suffers as a mortal, and through suffering he clothes the mortal with the glory of incorruption: the only blessed and most glorious God of our fathers.

Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life! (3x)

Jesus, having risen from the tomb as he foretold, has given us eternal life and his great mercy.

Ode 8. Irmos
This chosen and holy day is the first of Sabbaths, the Queen and Lady, the Feast of Feasts and the Festival of Festivals on which we bless Christ to all the ages.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord!

Troparia
Come let us share in the new fruit of the vine, in divine joy, and in the kingdom of Christ, on the glorious day of the Resurrection, as we sing his praise as God to all the ages.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord!

Lift your eyes around you, Sion, and see. For behold, like beacons shedding light divine your children have come to you, from West and North, from the Sea and from the East, blessing Christ in you to all the ages.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord!

Almighty Father, Word and Spirit, nature united in three Persons, beyond all being and beyond all Godhead, into you we have been baptised and we bless you to all the ages.

+ Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Katavasia
This chosen and holy day is the first of Sabbaths, the Queen and Lady, the Feast of Feasts and the Festival of Festivals on which we bless Christ to all the ages.

Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life! (3x)

Jesus, having risen from the tomb as he foretold, has given us eternal life and his great mercy.

Ode 9. Irmos
Magnify, O my soul, him who suffered willingly, and was buried, and rose from the grave on the third day.

Shine, shine, O New Jerusalem, for the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. Dance now and be glad, O Sion, and you too rejoice, pure Mother of God, at the arising of him to whom you gave birth.

Magnify, O my soul, Christ the Giver of life, who arose from the grave on the third day.

Shine, shine, O New Jerusalem, for the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. Dance now and be glad, O Sion, and you too rejoice, pure Mother of God, at the arising of him to whom you gave birth.

Christ is the new Passover, the living sacrificial victim, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.

O divine! O beloved! O sweetest voice! You have truly promised that you will be with us unto the end of time, O Christ. And we the faithful rejoice, having this as an anchor of hope.

The Angel cried to her that is full of grace: Pure Virgin, rejoice! And again I say: Rejoice! For your Son has risen from the tomb on the third day.

Mary Magdalen ran to the tomb, and seeing Christ, questioned him as though he were the gardener.

O divine! O beloved! O sweetest voice! You have truly promised that you will be with us unto the end of time, O Christ. And we the faithful rejoice, having this as an anchor of hope.

A dazzling Angel appeared to the women and cried: Cease your tears, for Christ has risen.

O divine! O beloved! O sweetest voice! You have truly promised that you will be with us unto the end of time, O Christ. And we the faithful rejoice, having this as an anchor of hope.

You awoke and wakened the dead from every age, as the Lion of Judah, roaring like a king.

O great and most sacred Pascha, Christ! O Wisdom and Word and Power of God! Grant that we may partake of you fully in the day that has no evening of your Kingdom.

Today the whole creation rejoices and is glad, for Christ has risen and Hell has been despoiled.

O great and most sacred Pascha, Christ! O Wisdom and Word and Power of God! Grant that we may partake of you fully in the day that has no evening of your Kingdom.

Today the Master despoiled Hell and raised the prisoners whom it had held from the ages in harsh captivity.

+ Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit

Magnify, O my soul, the might of the Godhead in three Persons yet undivided.
O great and most sacred Pascha, Christ! O Wisdom and Word and Power of God! Grant that we may partake of you fully in the day that has no evening of your Kingdom.

… both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Rejoice, O Virgin, rejoice! Rejoice, Blessed One! Rejoice, Glorified One. your Son has risen from his three days in the tomb.

O great and most sacred Pascha, Christ! O Wisdom and Word and Power of God! Grant that we may partake of you fully in the day that has no evening of your Kingdom.

Katavasia
Magnify, O my soul, him who suffered willingly, and was buried, and arose from the grave on the third day.

Shine, shine, O New Jerusalem, for the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. Dance now and be glad, O Sion, and you too rejoice, pure Mother of God, at the arising of him to whom you gave birth.

Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life! (3x)

Jesus, having risen from the tomb as he foretold, has given us eternal life and his great mercy.

Exapostilarion
When you had fallen asleep in the flesh as one mortal, O King and Lord, you arose again on the third day, raising up Adam from corruption and abolishing death. A Pascha of incorruption, salvation of the world.

Praises
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord from the heavens. Praise him in the highest. To you praise is due, O God.

Praise him, all his angels. Praise him, all his Powers. To you praise is due, O God.

To execute upon them the judgement that is decreed; such glory will be for all his holy ones. We sing the praise, O Christ, of your saving Passion, and we glorify your Resurrection.

Praise God in his saints. Praise him in the firmament of his power.

You the one that endured the Cross, destroyed death and rose from the dead, give peace to our life, O Lord, as you alone are All-powerful.

Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to the greatness of his majesty.

Having despoiled Hell and having raised up human kind by your Resurrection, O Christ, count us worthy that with pure hearts we may praise and glorify you.

Praise him in the sound of the trumpet. Praise him with lute and harp.

As we glorify your divine condescension, we praise you, O Christ: you were born of a Virgin, yet you were not separated from the Father; as man you suffered and willingly endured the Cross; from the grave you arose, as though emerging from your bridal chamber, that you might save the world. Lord, glory to you!

Easter Stichera
Let God arise, and his enemies be scattered: and let those that hate him flee before his face.

A sacred Pascha has been revealed to us today, a new and holy Pascha, a mystic Pascha, an all-venerable Pascha, a Pascha that is Christ the Redeemer, an unblemished Pascha, a great Pascha, a Pascha of the faithful, a Pascha that has opened for us the gates of Paradise, a Pascha that makes all the faithful holy.

As smoke vanishes, so let them vanish, as wax melts at the presence of fire.

Come from that sight, you women, bearers of good tidings, and say to Sion, ‘Receive from us the good tidings of joy, of Christ’s Resurrection. Exult, dance and be glad, Jerusalem, for you have seen Christ the King like a bridegroom coming from the grave.

So shall the wicked perish at the presence of God; and let the just be glad.

The myrrh-bearing women at deep dawn came to the grave of the giver of life. They found an Angel sitting on the stone, and he addressed them and said, ‘Why do you seek the living with the dead? Why do you mourn the incorruptible as though he were in corruption? Go, proclaim it to his Disciples.

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

A Pascha of delight, Pascha, the Lord’s Pascha, an all-venerable Pascha has dawned for us, Pascha. Let us embrace one another with joy. O Pascha, ransom from sorrow! Today Christ shone forth from a tomb as from a bridal chamber, and filled the women with joy, saying, ‘Proclaim it to the Apostles’.

The day of Resurrection; let us be radiant for the festival, and let us embrace one another. Let us say, brethren, even to those that hate us, ‘Let us forgive all things on the Resurrection’, and so let us cry, ‘Christ has risen from the dead: by death he has trampled on death, and to those in the graves given life’.

+ Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Doxasticon
The day of Resurrection; let us be radiant for the festival, and let us embrace one another. Let us say, brethren, even to those that hate us, ‘Let us forgive all things on the Resurrection’, and so let us cry, ‘Christ has risen from the dead: by death he has trampled on death, and to those in the graves given life’.

Christ is risen!   He is risen indeed!
Al Maseeh Qam!   Haqan Qam!
Kristos Anesti!   Alithos Anesti!
Kristos Voskrese!   Voistinu Voskrese!
Kristos A Inviat!   Adeverat a Inviat!
Glory to his Holy Third-day Resurrection!   We adore his Holy Third-day Resurrection!

Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life! (3x)

The Dismissal
+ Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy and save us. Amen.