The Paschal Hours

From the Holy and Great Sunday of Pascha until the Saturday of Renewal Week, in place of the usual Morning and Evening Prayers, Nocturns, the Hours, Compline, and the Prayers of Thanksgiving after Holy Communion, the following is read:

After the exclamation by the priest, we say:

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

Let us who have beheld the Resurrection of Christ worship our holy Lord Jesus, Who is alone without sin. We worship Thy Cross, O Christ, and we praise and glorify Thy holy Resurrection. For Thou are our God, and we know none other beside Thee, and we call upon Thy Name. Come, all ye faithful, let us worship Christ's holy Resurrection, for behold, through the Cross joy hath come to the whole world. Forever blessing the Lord, we praise His Resurrection. He endured the Cross for us, and by death destroyed death. (3 times)

When they who were with Mary came, anticipating the dawn, and found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre, they heard from the Angel: Why seek ye among the dead, as though He were mortal man, Him Who abideth in everlasting light? Behold the grave-clothes. Go quickly and proclaim to the world that the Lord is risen, and hath put death to death. For He is the Son fo God, Who saveth the race of man.

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 the myrrh-bearing women, Rejoice, and giving peace unto Thine Apostles, O Thou Who dost grant resurrection to the fallen.

In the grave bodily; in Hades with Thy soul, though Thou wast God; in Paradise with the thief; and on the Throne with the Father and the Spirit wast Thou Who fillest all things, O Christ the Uncircumscribable.

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 resplenent than any royal palace proved Thy grave, the source of our resurrection, O Christ.

Both now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Rejoice, O sanctified and divine tabernacle of the Most High; for through thee, O Theotokos, joy is given to them that cry: Blessed art thou among women, O all-immaculate lady.

Lord, have mercy. (40 times)

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

Both now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

More honorable than the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim, thou who without stain bearest God the Word and art truly Theotokos, we magnify thee.

If a priest is present:

Bless, Father, in the Name of the Lord.

The priest: Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us.

Or if there is no priest:

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us and save us.

Amen.

At Compline we also say this prayer; otherwise, we proceed with Christ is risen... as set forth below.

A Compline Prayer of Saint Basil the Great

Blessed art Thou, O Almighty master, Who hast enlightened the day with the light of the sun and hast illimined the night by the rays of fie, Who hast deemed us worthy to pass through the length of the day and draw nigh to the beginning of the night. Hearken unto our supplication, and that of all Thy people. Forgive all of us our sins, voluntary and involuntary, accept our evening entreaties, and send down the multitude of Thy mercy and compassions upon Thine inheritance. Encompass us with Thy holy Angels; arm us with the armor of Thy righteousness; surround us with Thy truth; protect us by Thy might; deliver us from every grievous circumstance and from every conspiracy of the adversary. And grant unto us that this evening together with the coming night and all the days of our life may be perfect, holy, peaceful, sinless, without stumbling and vain imaginings; by the intercessions of the holy Theotokos and of all the Saints who, from ages past, have been well-pleasing unto Thee. Amen.

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 unto ages of ages. Amen.

Lord, have mercy (3 times)

If a priest is present:

Father, bless.