Wednesday of Bright Week

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.

Glory. Now and ever.

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.

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

Prokeimenon, Tone 4. Psalm 44:18, 11.
I shall remember Thy name: throughout all generations.
Verse: Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline thine ear: and forget thy people and thy father’s house.

The Lesson of the Acts of the Holy Apostles.
Acts §5 (2:22-36).
In those days: Peter said to the people: “Ye men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man approved of God among you, by miracles, and wonders, and signs, which God did by Him, in the midst of you, as you also know: this same being delivered up, by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, you by the hands of wicked men have crucified and slain. Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the sorrows of hell, as it was impossible that He should be holden by it. For David saith concerning Him: ‘I foresaw the Lord before my face: because He is at my right hand, that I may not be moved. For this my heart hath been glad, and my tongue hath rejoiced: moreover my flesh also shall rest in hope. Because Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, nor suffer Thy Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life: Thou shalt make me full of joy with Thy countenance.’ Ye men, brethren, let me freely speak to you of the patriarch David; that he died, and was buried; and his sepulchre is with us to this present day. Whereas therefore he was a prophet, and knew that God hath sworn to him with an oath, that of the fruit of his loins One should sit upon his throne. Foreseeing this, he spoke of the resurrection of Christ. For neither was He left in hell, neither did His flesh see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised again, whereof all we are witnesses. Being exalted therefore by the right hand of God, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He hath poured forth this which you see and hear. For David ascended not into heaven; but he himself said: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, sit Thou on my right hand, until I make Thy enemies Thy footstool.’ Therefore let all the house of Israel know most certainly, that God hath made both Lord and Christ, this same Jesus, Whom you have crucified.”

Alleluia, Tone 3. Saint Luke 1:46-48.
Alleluia.
Verse 1: My soul doth magnify the Lord: and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. Alleluia.
Verse 2: Because He hath regarded the humility of His handmaid: for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

The Lesson of the Holy Gospel according to Saint John.
Saint John §4 (1:35-51).
At that time: John stood, and two of his disciples. And beholding Jesus walking, he saith: “Behold the Lamb of God.” And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. And Jesus turning, and seeing them following Him, saith to them: “What seek you?” Who said to Him, “Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest Thou?” He saith to them: “Come and see.” They came, and saw where He abode, and they stayed with Him that day: now it was about the tenth hour. And Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who had heard of John, and followed him. He findeth first his brother Simon, and saith to him: “We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.” And he brought him to Jesus. And Jesus looking upon him, said: “Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is interpreted Peter.” On the following day, He would go forth into Galilee, and He findeth Philip. And Jesus saith to him: “Follow Me.” Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith to him: “We have found Him of Whom Moses in the law, and the prophets did write, Jesus the son of Joseph of Nazareth.” And Nathanael said to him: “Can any thing of good come from Nazareth?” Philip saith to him: “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him: and He saith of him: “Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile.” Nathanael saith to Him: “Whence knowest Thou me?” Jesus answered, and said to him: “Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.” Nathanael answered Him, and said: “Rabbi, Thou art the Son of God, Thou art the King of Israel.” Jesus answered, and said to him: “Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, thou believest: greater things than these shalt thou see.” And He saith to him: “Amen, amen I say to you, you shall see the heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.”

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.