PASCHAL HOURS PASCHAL HOURS

PRIEST: Blessed is our God, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages PRIEST: Blessed is our God, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages But a layman sayeth: Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord Jesus But a layman sayeth: Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us. Christ, our God, have mercy on us.

Amen. Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and on Amen. Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and on those in the tombs bestowing life. Thrice. Then we chant: those in the tombs bestowing life. Thrice. Then we chant:

Having beheld the resurrection of Christ, let us worship the holy Lord Jesus, the Having beheld the resurrection of Christ, let us worship the holy Lord Jesus, the only Sinless One. We worship Thy cross, O Christ, and Thy holy Resurrection only Sinless One. We worship Thy cross, O Christ, and Thy holy Resurrection we hymn and glorify; for Thou art our God, and we know none other beside we hymn and glorify; for Thou art our God, and we know none other beside Thee, and we call upon Thy name. O come, all ye faithful, let us worship Thee, and we call upon Thy name. O come, all ye faithful, let us worship Christ's holy Resurrection, for behold, through the Cross joy hath come to all the Christ's holy Resurrection, for behold, through the Cross joy hath come to all the world. Ever blessing the Lord, we hymn His Resurrection; for, having endured world. Ever blessing the Lord, we hymn His Resurrection; for, having endured crucifixion, He hath destroyed death by death. Thrice. crucifixion, He hath destroyed death by death. Thrice.

The Hypakoe, eighth tone, once: The Hypakoe, eighth tone, once: Forestalling the dawn, the women came with Mary, and found the stone rolled Forestalling the dawn, the women came with Mary, and found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre, and heard from the angel: why seek ye among the dead, away from the sepulchre, and heard from the angel: why seek ye among the dead, as though He were a mortal, Him Who liveth in everlasting light? Behold the as though He were a mortal, Him Who liveth in everlasting light? Behold the grave-clothes. Go quickly and proclaim to the world that the Lord is risen and grave-clothes. Go quickly and proclaim to the world that the Lord is risen and hath slain death. For He is the Son of God Who saveth mankind. hath slain death. For He is the Son of God Who saveth mankind.

The , eighth tone, once: The Kontakion, eighth tone, once: Though Thou didst descend into the grave, O Immortal One, yet didst Thou Though Thou didst descend into the grave, O Immortal One, yet didst Thou destroy the power of hades. And didst arise as victor, O Christ God, calling to destroy the power of hades. And didst arise as victor, O Christ God, calling to the myrrh-bearing women: Rejoice! And giving peace unto Thine apostles: Thou the myrrh-bearing women: Rejoice! And giving peace unto Thine apostles: Thou Who dost grant resurrection to the fallen. Who dost grant resurrection to the fallen.

And these Troparia, eighth tone, once: And these Troparia, eighth tone, once: In the grave bodily, but in hades with Thy soul as God: in Paradise with the thief, In the grave bodily, but in hades with Thy soul as God: in Paradise with the thief, and on the throne with the Father and the Spirit wast Thou Who fillest all things, and on the throne with the Father and the Spirit wast Thou Who fillest all things, O Christ the Inexpressible. O Christ the Inexpressible.

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

How life-giving, how much more beautiful than Paradise, and truly more How life-giving, how much more beautiful than Paradise, and truly more resplendent than any royal palace was Thy tomb shown to be, O Christ, the resplendent than any royal palace was Thy tomb shown to be, O Christ, the source of our resurrection. source of our resurrection. Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen . . O sanctified and divine tabernacle of the Most High, rejoice! For through thee, O sanctified and divine tabernacle of the Most High, rejoice! For through thee, O , joy is given to them that cry: Blessed art thou among women, O O Theotokos, joy is given to them that cry: Blessed art thou among women, O all-spotless Lady. all-spotless Lady. Lord, have mercy. Forty times. Lord, have mercy. Forty times. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. unto the ages of ages. Amen. More honourable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than More honourable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word, the very the Seraphim, who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word, the very Theotokos, thee do we magnify. Theotokos, thee do we magnify. If a Priest Serve: In the name of the Lord, Father bless. If a Priest Serve: In the name of the Lord, Father bless. PRIEST: O Lord Jesus Christ our God, for the sake of the prayers of Thy most PRIEST: O Lord Jesus Christ our God, for the sake of the prayers of Thy most pure Mother, of our holy and God-bearing fathers, and of all the saints, have pure Mother, of our holy and God-bearing fathers, and of all the saints, have mercy on us. mercy on us. If a 's service: O Lord bless. If a Reader's service: O Lord bless. Amen. Amen. Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and on those in the Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and on those in the tombs bestowing life. (thrice) tombs bestowing life. (thrice) Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. unto the ages of ages. Amen. If a Priest Serve: Father bless. If a Priest Serve: Father bless. PRIEST: May Christ our true God, Who rose from the dead, and trampled PRIEST: May Christ our true God, Who rose from the dead, and trampled down death by death and on those in the tombs bestowed life, through the down death by death and on those in the tombs bestowed life, through the intercession of His most Pure Mother, and of all the saints have mercy on us and intercession of His most Pure Mother, and of all the saints have mercy on us and save us, for He is good and the Lover of mankind. save us, for He is good and the Lover of mankind. If a Reader's service: O Lord bless! If a Reader's service: O Lord bless! In this manner, the Third and Sixth Hours are chanted before Liturgy. Likewise also In this manner, the Third and Sixth Hours are chanted before Liturgy. Likewise also before Vespers, for the Ninth Hour; and once for . Likewise for the Midnight before Vespers, for the Ninth Hour; and once for Compline. Likewise for the . It is a pious tradition to substitute the Paschal Hours for morning and evening Office. It is a pious tradition to substitute the Paschal Hours for morning and evening prayers during all of . In this way, we take a little rest from long prayers, but prayers during all of Bright week. In this way, we take a little rest from long prayers, but do not neglect to give joyous thanks to God, so as not to fall into despondency and do not neglect to give joyous thanks to God, so as not to fall into despondency and gluttony, as we partake of festive foods. gluttony, as we partake of festive foods.

This service is also on-line at http://www.orthodox.net/pascha. Other Prayers, services and rubrics, This service is also on-line at http://www.orthodox.net/pascha. Other Prayers, services and rubrics, sermons, topical questions and answers, articles, calendars, parish and clergy directories and more sermons, topical questions and answers, articles, calendars, parish and clergy directories and more are also available on the St Nicholas Orthodox Church site: http://www.orthodox.net are also available on the St Nicholas Orthodox Church site: http://www.orthodox.net

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