Friday of Bright Week

Commemoration of the Mother of God, the Life-Giving Spring

Antiphons as on Pascha.
Entrance Hymn.
In the churches bless ye God the Lord, from the fountains of Israel.

Troparion, Tone 5.
Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life.

Kontakion, Tone 8.
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, announcing joy to the myrrh-bearing women, and giving peace to Thine Apostles, O Thou Who dost grant resurrection to the fallen.

Glory. Now and ever.

Theotokion, Tone 8.
From thine unfailing fount, O thou who art full of God’s grace, do thou reward me by the flow of the never-ending streams of thy grace which surpasseth human telling. And since thou didst bear the Word in a manner beyond human understanding, I beseech thee to refresh me with thy divine grace, that I may cry to thee: Rejoice, O thou water of salvation.

In place of the Trisagion, as on Pascha.
As many have been baptised into Christ…

Prokeimenon, Tone 8. Psalm 18:5, 2.
Their sound hath gone forth into all the earth: and their words unto the ends of the world.
Verse: The heavens shew forth the glory of God: and the firmament declareth the work of His hands.
Immediately after Verse: Prokeimenon of the Mother of God, Tone 3. Saint Luke 1:46.
My soul doth magnify the Lord: and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

The Lesson of the Acts of the Holy Apostles.
Acts §3 (3:1-8).
In those days: Peter and John went up into the temple at the ninth hour of prayer. And a certain man who was lame from his mother’s womb, was carried: whom they laid every day at the gate of the temple, which is called Beautiful, that he might ask alms of them that went into the temple. He, when he had seen Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked to receive an alms. But Peter with John fastening his eyes upon him, said: “Look upon us.” But he looked earnestly upon them, hoping that he should receive something of them. But Peter said: “Silver and gold I have none; but what I have, I give thee: in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, arise, and walk.” And taking him by the right hand, he lifted him up, and forthwith his feet and soles received strength. And he leaping up, stood, and walked, and went in with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

Philippians §240 (2:5-11).
Brethren: Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men, and in habit found as a man. He humbled Himself, becoming obedient unto death, even to the death of the cross. For which cause God also hath exalted Him, and hath given Him a name which is above all names: that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth: and that every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father.

Alleluia, Tone 1. Psalm 88:6, 8; 44:11.
Alleluia.
Verse 1: The heavens shall confess Thy wonders, O Lord: and Thy truth in the church of the saints. Alleluia.
Verse 2: God is glorified in the assembly of the saints: great and terrible above all them that are about Him. Alleluia.
Verse 3: Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline thine ear: and forget thy people and thy father’s house. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

The Lesson of the Holy Gospel according to Saint John.
Saint John §7 (2:12-22).
At that time: Jesus went down to Capharnaum, He and His mother, and His brethren, and His disciples: and they remained there not many days. And the pasch of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And He found in the temple them that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting. And when He had made, as it were, a scourge of little cords, He drove them all out of the temple, the sheep also and the oxen, and the money of the changers He poured out, and the tables He overthrew. And to them that sold doves He said: “Take these things hence, and make not the house of My Father a house of traffic.” And His disciples remembered, that it was written: The zeal of Thy house hath eaten Me up. The Jews, therefore, answered, and said to Him: “What sign dost Thou shew unto us, seeing Thou dost these things?” Jesus answered, and said to them: “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said: “Six and forty years was this temple in building; and wilt Thou raise it up in three days?” But He spoke of the temple of His body. When therefore He was risen again from the dead, His disciples remembered, that He had said this, and they believed the scripture, and the word that Jesus had said.

Saint Luke §54 (10:38-42, 11:27-28).
At that time: Jesus entered into a certain town: and a certain woman named Martha, received Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sitting also at the Lord’s feet, heard His word. But Martha was busy about much serving. Who stood and said: “Lord, hast Thou no care that my sister hath left me alone to serve? Speak to her therefore, that she help me.” And the Lord answering, said to her: “Martha, Martha, thou art careful, and art troubled about many things: but one thing is necessary. Mary hath chosen the best part, which shall not be taken away from her.” And it came to pass, as He spoke these things, a certain woman from the crowd, lifting up her voice, said to Him: “Blessed is the womb that bore Thee, and the paps that gave Thee suck.” But He said: “Yea rather, blessed are they who hear the word of God, and keep it.”

Zadostoinik.
Especially for our most holy, most pure, and most blessed Lady, the Mother of God and Ever-virgin Mary.
The angel cried unto her that is full of grace: Rejoice, O pure Virgin! And again I say, rejoice! For thy Son is risen from the grave on the third day, and hath raised the dead, O ye people, be joyful!
Shine, shine, New Jerusalem, for the glory of the Lord hath shown upon thee. Exult now, and make glad, O Sion; and thou, pure Mother of God, rejoice in the rising of thy Child.

Communion.
Receive the body of Christ, taste the font of immortality. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.