Third Sunday of Pascha – Sunday of the Myrrhbearers

Resurrectional Troparion, Tone 2.
When Thou didst descend unto death, O Life immortal, then didst Thou slay Hades with the radiance of Thy Divinity; and when Thou didst raise the dead from the nethermost depths, all the powers of heaven cried out to Thee: O Life-giver, Christ God, glory to Thee.

Troparion, Tone 2.
The noble Joseph took Thy most pure Body down from the Cross, wrapped It in a clean shroud with sweet spices, and laid and closed It in a new tomb, but on the third day Thou didst arise, O Saviour, granting the world great mercy.

Troparion, Tone 2.
Unto the myrrh-bearing women did the angel cry out as he stood by the grave: Myrrh is fitting for the dead, but Christ hath shown Himself a stranger to corruption. But lift your voices and sing: The Lord is risen, granting the world great mercy.

Glory.

Kontakion, Tone 2.
Thou didst command the myrrh-bearing women to rejoice; Thou didst make the lamentation of our foremother Eve to cease by Thy Resurrection, O Christ our God; and Thou didst charge Thine Apostles to preace: The Saviour is risen from the grave.

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.

Prokeimenon, Tone 6.
Psalm 27:9, 1a.
Save, O Lord, Thy people: and bless Thine inheritance.
Verse: Unto Thee will I cry, O Lord: O my God, be not Thou silent to me.

The Lesson of the Acts of the Holy Apostles.
Acts §16 (6:1-7).
In those days: The number of the disciples increasing, there arose a murmuring of the Greeks against the Hebrews, for that their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. Then the twelve calling together the multitude of the disciples, said: It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. And the saying was liked by all the multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith, and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles; and they praying, imposed hands upon them. And the word of the Lord increased; and the number of the disciples was multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly: a great multitude also of the priests obeyed the faith.

Alleluia, Tone 8.
Psalm 84:2, 11.
Alleluia.
Verse 1: Lord, Thou hast blessed Thy land: Thou hast turned away the captivity of Jacob. Alleluia.
Verse 2: Mercy and truth have met each other: justice and peace have kissed.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

The Lesson of the Holy Gospel according to Saint Mark.
Saint Mark §69 (15:43-16:8).
At that time: Joseph of Arimathea, a noble counsellor, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, came and went in boldly to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. But Pilate wondered that he should be already dead. And sending for the centurion, he asked him if he were already dead. And when he had understood it by the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph. And Joseph buying fine linen, and taking him down, wrapped him up in the fine linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewed out of a rock. And he rolled a stone to the door of the sepulchre. And Mary Magdalen, and Mary the mother of Joseph, beheld where he was laid. And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalen, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought sweet spices, that coming, they might anoint Jesus. And very early in the morning, the first day of the week, they come to the sepulchre, the sun being now risen. And they said one to another: Who shall roll us back the stone from the door of the sepulchre? And looking, they saw the stone rolled back. For it was very great. And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed with a white robe: and they were astonished. Who saith to them: Be not affrighted; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified: he is risen, he is not here, behold the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee; there you shall see him, as he told you. But they going out, fled from the sepulchre. For a trembling and fear had seized them: and they said nothing to any man; for they were afraid.

Zadostoinik.
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.
Psalm 148:1.
Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: praise ye Him in the high places. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.