Seventh Sunday of Pascha – Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the First Council – Tone Six

Resurrectional Troparion, Tone 6.
The angelic powers were at Thy tomb; the guards became as dead men; and Mary stood by the grave, seeking Thy most pure Body. Thou didst overthrow Hades without being tried by it; Thou didst meet the Virgin, O Thou Who grantest life. O Lord Who art risen from the dead, glory to Thee.

Troparion of the Ascension, Tone 4.
Thou hast ascended in glory, O Christ our God, and gladdened Thy disciples with the promise of the Holy Spirit; and by Thy blessing they received clear assurance that Thou art the Son of God, the Deliverer of the world.

Troparion of the Holy Fathers of the First Council, Tone 8.
Most glorified art Thou, O Christ our God, Who hast established our fathers as luminaries on earth, and thereby hast guided us all to the true faith. O Most Merciful One, glory to Thee.

Glory.

Kontakion of the Holy Fathers of the First Council, Tone 8.
The preaching of the Apostles and the teaching of the Fathers hath sealed the Church with a single faith; and wearing the garment of truth, woven from supernal theology, she doth define and glorify the great mystery of piety.

Now and ever.

Kontakion of the Ascension, Tone 6.
When Thou hadst fulfilled Thy dispensation for our sakes, and united things on earth with those in heaven, Thou didst ascend in glory, O Christ our God, not departing hence, but remaining inseparable from us, and crying to them that love Thee: I am with you, and no one can be against you.

Prokimenon, Tone 4.
Daniel 3:26, 27a.
Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the God of our fathers: and Thy name is worthy of praise, and glorious for ever.
Verse: For Thou art just: in all that Thou hast done to us.

The Lesson of the Acts of the Holy Apostles.
Acts §44 (20:16-18a, 28-36).
In those days: Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, lest he should be stayed any time in Asia. For he hasted, if it were possible for him, to keep the day of Pentecost at Jerusalem. And sending from Miletus to Ephesus, he called the ancients of the church. And when they were come to him, and were together, he said to them: Take heed to yourselves, and to the whole flock, wherein the Holy Ghost hath placed you bishops, to rule the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood. I know that, after my departure, ravening wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock. And of your own selves shall arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, keeping in memory, that for three years I ceased not, with tears to admonish every one of you night and day. And now I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace, Who is able to build up, and to give an inheritance among all the sanctified. I have not coveted any man’s silver, gold, or apparel, as you yourselves know: for such things as were needful for me and them that are with me, these hands have furnished. I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring you ought to support the weak, and to remember the word of the Lord Jesus, how He said: It is a more blessed thing to give, rather than to receive. And when he had said these things, kneeling down, he prayed with them all.

Alleluia, Tone 1.
Psalm 49:1, 5.
Alleluia.
Verse 1: The God of gods, the Lord hath spoken: and He hath called the earth, from the rising of the sun, to the going down thereof.
Alleluia.
Verse 2: Gather ye together His saints to Him: who set His covenant before sacrifices.
Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

The Lesson of the Holy Gospel according to Saint John.
Saint John §56 (17:1-13).
At that time: Jesus lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: Father, the hour is come, glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son may glorify Thee. As Thou hast given Him power over all flesh, that He may give eternal life to all whom Thou hast given Him. Now this is eternal life: That they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, Whom Thou hast sent. I have glorified Thee on the earth; I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do. And now glorify Thou Me, O Father, with Thyself, with the glory which I had, before the world was, with Thee. I have manifested Thy name to the men whom Thou hast given Me out of the world. Thine they were, and to Me Thou gavest them; and they have kept Thy word. Now they have known, that all things which Thou hast given me, are from Thee: because the words which Thou gavest Me, I have given to them; and they have received them, and have known in very deed that I came out from Thee, and they have believed that Thou didst send Me. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them whom Thou hast given Me: because they are Thine: and all My things are Thine, and Thine are Mine; and I am glorified in them. And now I am not in the world, and these are in the world, and I come to Thee. Holy Father, keep them in Thy name whom Thou hast given Me; that they may be one, as We also are. While I was with them, I kept them in Thy name. Those whom Thou gavest Me have I kept; and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition, that the scripture may be fulfilled. And now I come to Thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy filled in themselves.

Communion.
Psalm 148:1.
Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: praise ye Him in the high places. 
Psalm 32:1.
Rejoice in the Lord, O ye just: praise becometh the upright. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.