AGAPE LITURGY FOR PASCHA MORNING

An Ancient 3rd Century Icon of the Paschal Agape Liturgy, Preserved in the Roman Catacombs 

LITURGY FOR THE DAY OF THE RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO THE USE OF THE ANCIENT CHURCH OF THE WEST

To be Used as the Principal Congregational Prayer After the Midnight Celebration of the Holy Eucharist

THE ORDER FOR THE AGAPE VESPERS ON EASTER DAY

All stand. The Officiant shall say: O Lord, open Thou our lips. 

Answer: And our mouth shall show forth Thy praise. 

Officiant: O God, make speed to save us. 

Answer: O Lord, make haste to help us. 

Officiant: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; 

Answer: As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. 

Officiant: Alleluia. The Lord is risen indeed: 

Answer: O come, let us adore Him. Alleluia.

CHRIST OUR PASSOVER

(1 Corinthians 5:7–8; Romans 6:9–11; 1 Corinthians 15:20–22)

Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: 

Therefore let us keep the feast,

Not with the old leaven, 

Neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; 

But with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Alleluia.

Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; 

Death hath no more dominion over Him.

For in that He died, He died unto sin once: 

But in that He liveth, He liveth unto God.

Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, 

But alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Alleluia.

Christ is risen from the dead, 

And become the firstfruits of them that slept.

For since by man came death, 

By man came also the resurrection of the dead.

For as in Adam all die, 

Even so in Christ shall all be made alive. Alleluia.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost: 

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. 

Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.

PSALM 113

Laudate, pueri

Praise the Lord, ye servants; * O praise the Name of the Lord. 

Blessed be the Name of the Lord * from this time forth for evermore. 

The Lord’s Name is praised * from the rising up of the sun unto the going down of the same. 

The Lord is high above all nations * and His glory above the heavens. 

Who is like unto the Lord our God, that hath His dwelling so high * and yet humbleth Himself to behold the things that are in heaven and earth? 

He taketh up the simple out of the dust * and lifteth the poor out of the mire; 

That He may set him with the princes * even with the princes of His people. 

He maketh the barren woman to keep house * and to be a joyful mother of children.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost: 

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

THE PASCHAL TROPARION (APOLYTIKION)

Said or sung antiphonally:

Christ is risen from the dead, 

Trampling down death by death, 

And upon those in the tombs bestowing life!

(Said thrice, with prostrations or bows)

THE LITTLE CHAPTER

St. Matthew 28:1-7

In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow. And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead.

The Word of the Lord!

Thanks be to God!

A HYMN OF RESURRECTION

“The Day of Resurrection” – J.M. Neale’s translation of St. John of Damascus

The Day of Resurrection! Earth, tell it out abroad; 

The Passover of gladness, the Passover of God. 

From death to life eternal, from earth unto the sky, 

Our Christ hath brought us over with hymns of victory.

Our hearts be pure from evil, that we may see aright 

The Lord in rays eternal of resurrection light; 

And, listening to His accents, may hear so calm and plain 

His own “All hail!” and, hearing, may raise the victor strain.

Now let the heavens be joyful! Let earth her song begin! 

Let the round world keep triumph, and all that is therein! 

Let all things seen and unseen their notes in gladness blend, 

For Christ the Lord is risen, our joy that hath no end!

THE GOSPEL LESSON

ENGLISH (Authorized Version):

John 20:19–25

The same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.

CHINESE (Simplified):

约翰福音 20:19–25

那日，就是七日的第一日晚上，门徒所在的地方，因怕犹太人，门都关了。耶稣来站在当中，对他们说：愿你们平安！说了这话，就把手和肋旁指给他们看。门徒看见主，就喜乐了。耶稣又对他们说：愿你们平安！父怎样差遣了我，我也照样差遣你们。说了这话，就向他们吹一口气，说：你们受圣灵吧！你们赦免谁的罪，谁的罪就赦免了；你们留下谁的罪，谁的罪就留下了。

那十二个门徒中，有称为低土马的多马，耶稣来的时候，他没有和他们同在。那些门徒对他说：我们已经看见主了！多马却说：我非看见他手上的钉痕，用指头探入那钉痕，又用手探入他的肋旁，我总不信。

LATIN (Vulgate): 

Ioannes 20:19–25

Cum esset ergo sero die illo, una sabbatorum, et fores essent clausae ubi erant discipuli congregati propter metum iudaeorum, venit Iesus et stetit in medio, et dixit eis: pax vobis. Et cum hoc dixisset, ostendit eis manus et latus. Gavisi sunt ergo discipuli, viso Domino. Dixit ergo eis iterum: pax vobis. Sicut misit me Pater, et ego mitto vos. Hoc cum dixisset, insufflavit, et dixit eis: accipite Spiritum Sanctum; quorum remiseritis peccata, remittuntur eis; quorum retinueritis, retenta sunt.

Thomas autem, unus ex duodecim, qui dicitur Didymus, non erat cum eis quando venit Iesus. Dixerunt ergo ei alii discipuli: vidimus Dominum. Ille autem dixit eis: nisi videro in manibus eius fixuram clavorum, et mittam digitum meum in locum clavorum, et mittam manum meam in latus eius, non credam.

RUSSIAN (Synodal Translation):

Иоанна 20:19–25

В тот же первый день недели вечером, когда двери дома, где собирались ученики его, были заперты из-за страха перед иудеями, пришел Иисус, стал посреди и говорит им: мир вам! Сказав это, он показал им руки и ребра свои. Ученики обрадовались, увидев Господа. Иисус же сказал им вторично: мир вам! Как послал меня Отец, так и я посылаю вас. Сказав это, он дунул и говорит им: примите Духа Святого. Кому простите грехи, тому простятся; на ком оставите, на том останутся.

Фома же, один из двенадцати, называемый Близнец, не был с ними, когда приходил Иисус. Другие ученики сказали ему: мы видели Господа. Но он сказал им: если не увижу на руках его ран от гвоздей, и не вложу перста моего в раны от гвоздей, и не вложу руки моей в ребра его, не поверю.

GREEK (Textus Receptus):

Κατά Ιωάννην 20:19–25

Ούσης ουν οψίας τη ημέρα εκείνη τη μία των σαββάτων, και των θυρών κεκλεισμένων όπου ήσαν οι μαθηταί συνηγμένοι δια τον φόβον των ιουδαίων, ήλθεν ο Ιησούς και εστάθη εις το μέσον, και λέγει αυτοίς, ειρήνη υμίν. Και τούτο ειπών, έδειξεν αυτοίς τας χείρας και την πλευράν αυτού. Εχάρησαν ουν οι μαθηταί ιδόντες τον Κύριον. Είπεν ουν αυτοίς πάλιν ο Ιησούς, ειρήνη υμίν· καθώς απέσταλκέ με ο Πατήρ, καγώ πέμπω υμάς. Και τούτο ειπών, ενεφύσησε και λέγει αυτοίς, λάβετε Πνεύμα Άγιον· αν τινων αφήτε τας αμαρτίας, αφίενται αυτοίς· αν τινων κρατήτε, κεκράτηνται.

Θωμᾶς δε εις εκ των δώδεκα, ο λεγόμενος Δίδυμος, ουκ ην μετ' αυτών ότε ήλθεν ο Ιησούς. Έλεγον ουν αυτώ οι άλλοι μαθηταί, εωράκαμεν τον Κύριον. Ο δε είπεν αυτοίς, εάν μη ίδω εν ταις χερσίν αυτού τον τύπον των ήλων, και βάλω τον δάκτυλόν μου εις τον τύπον των ήλων, και βάλω την χείρά μου εις την πλευράν αυτού, ου μη πιστεύσω.

EAST SYRIAC ARAMAIC: 

ܘܟܕ ܗܘܐ ܪܡܫܐ ܕܝܘܡܐ ܗܘ ܕܚܕ ܒܫܒܐ، ܘܬܪ̈ܥܐ ܐܚܝܕܝܢ ܗܘܘ ܕܐܝܟܐ ܕܐܝܬܝܗܘܢ ܗܘܘ ܬܠܡܝ̈ܕܐ ܡܛܠܕܚܠܬܐ ܕܝܗܘܕܝ̈ܐ، ܐܬܐ ܝܫܘܥ ܘܩܡ ܒܝܢܬܗܘܢ ܘܐܡܪ ܠܗܘܢ ܫܠܡܐ ܥܡܟܘܢ 

W'kadh hawā ramshā d'yawmā haw d'ḥad b'shabbā, w'tra'ē ḥēdīn hawū d'aykā d'aytīhūn hawū talmīḏē, maṭṭal d'ḥelthā d'Yehūdāyē, athā Yēshūʿ w'qām baynthhōn w'amar l'hhōn: shlāmmā ʿammkhon

ܘܟܕ ܐܡܪ ܗܢܐ، ܚܘܝܘܗܝܘܢ ܐܝܕܘܗܝ ܘܓܒܐܗܝ، ܘܚܕܘ ܬܠܡܝ̈ܕܐ ܕܚܙܘ ܠܡܪܝܐ 

W'kadh amar hānā, ḥwiyyūhēhōn īdawhī w'gabāhī, w'ḥdū talmīḏē d'ḥazaw l'Māryā

ܘܐܡܪ ܠܗܘܢ ܬܘܒ ܝܫܘܥ: ܫܠܡܐ ܥܡܟܘܢ. ܐܝܟܢܐ ܕܫܕܪܢܝ ܐܒܐ ܐܦ ܐܢܐ ܫܕܪ ܐܢܐ ܠܟܘܢ 

W'amar l'hhōn tūb Yēshūʿ: shlāmmā ʿammkhon. Īkhnā d'shadrannī Abbā, ap anā shadar anā lkhon

ܘܟܕ ܐܡܪ ܗܢܐ، ܢܦܚ ܒܗܘܢ ܘܐܡܪ ܠܗܘܢ: ܩܒܠܘ ܪܘܚܐ ܩܘܕܫܐ 

W'kadh amar hānā, napḥ b'hhōn w'amar l'hhōn: qablū Rūḥā Qaddīshā

ܐܝܠܝܢ ܕܚܛܗ̈ܝܗܘܢ ܬܫܒܩܘܢ ܫܒܝܩܝܢ ܠܗܘܢ، ܘܐܝܠܝܢ ܕܐܚܕܝܢ ܐܚܝܕܝܢ 

Īlīn d'ḥaṭṭāhēhōn teshbaqqūn, shbaqqīn lhhōn; w'īlīn d'aḥḥadīn aḥḥidīn

ܬܐܘܡܐ ܕܝܢ ܚܕ ܡܢ ܬܪܥܣܪܐ ܕܡܬܩܪܐ ܬܐܡܐ، ܠܐ ܗܘܐ ܬܡܢ ܥܡܗܘܢ ܟܕ ܐܬܐ ܝܫܘܥ 

Tāʾōmā dīn ḥad men treʿsarē d'methqarē Tāʾmā, lā hawā tman ʿammhōn kadh athā Yēshūʿ

ܘܐܡܪܝܢ ܠܗ ܬܠܡܝ̈ܕܐ ܐܚ̈ܪܢܐ: ܚܙܝܢܢ ܠܡܪܢ. ܘܗܘ ܐܡܪ ܠܗܘܢ: ܐܢ ܠܐ ܚܙܐ ܐܢܐ ܒܐܝܕܘܗܝ ܕܘܟܬܐܕܡܣܡ̈ܪܐ، ܘܐܣܝܡ ܐܢܐ ܨܒܥܝ ܒܗܘܢ، ܘܐܣܝܡ ܐܝܕܝ ܒܓܒܐܗܝ، ܠܐ ܡܗܝܡܢ ܐܢܐ 

W'amrīn lēh talmīḏē aḥranē: ḥazīnnan l'Māran. W'hū amar l'hhōn: an lā ḥzē anā b'īdawhī dukhthā d'masmarē, w'asīm anā ṣbaʿī b'hhōn, w'asīm īdī b'gabāhī, lā m'heyman anā

SPANISH:

Y cuando llegó la noche de aquel mismo día, el primero de la semana, estando las puertas cerradas en el lugar donde los discípulos estaban reunidos por miedo de los judíos, vino Jesús, y se puso en medio, y les dijo: Paz sea con vosotros.

Y cuando hubo dicho esto, les mostró las manos y el costado. Y los discípulos se regocijaron viendo al Señor.

Entonces Jesús les dijo otra vez: Paz sea con vosotros: como me envió el Padre, así también yo os envío.

Y habiendo dicho esto, sopló, y les dijo: Recibid el Espíritu Santo.

A quienes perdonareis los pecados, les son perdonados; y a quienes se los retuviereis, les son retenidos.

Pero Tomás, uno de los doce, llamado Dídimo, no estaba con ellos cuando vino Jesús.

Le dijeron, pues, los otros discípulos: Hemos visto al Señor. Y él les dijo: Si no viere en sus manos la señal de los clavos, y metiere mi dedo en el lugar de los clavos, y metiere mi mano en su costado, no creeré.

TAGALOG:

Nang kinagabihan ng araw na yaon, ang unang araw ng sanlinggo, at nang nakasara ang mga pintuan ng bahay na kinaroroonan ng mga alagad dahil sa takot nila sa mga Judio, dumating si Jesus at tumayo sa gitna nila, at sinabi sa kanila: Kapayapaan ang sumainyo.

At nang masabi Niya ito, ipinakita Niya sa kanila ang Kaniyang mga kamay at ang Kaniyang tagiliran. Kaya't ang mga alagad ay natuwa nang kanilang makita ang Panginoon.

Sinabi ngang muli ni Jesus sa kanila: Kapayapaan ang sumainyo: kung paanong isinugo Ako ng Ama, ay gayon din naman isinugo Ko kayo.

At nang masabi Niya ito, sila'y hiningahan Niya, at sinabi sa kanila: Tanggapin ninyo ang Espiritu Santo.

Ang mga kasalanang inyong ipatawad ay pinatatawad sa kanila; at ang mga hindi ninyo patawarin ay hindi pinatatawad.

Nguni't si Tomas, isa sa labindalawa, na tinatawag na Kambal, ay wala roon sa kanila nang dumating si Jesus.

Sinabi nga sa kaniya ng ibang mga alagad: Nakita namin ang Panginoon. Datapuwa’t sinabi niya sa kanila: Malibang aking makita sa Kaniyang mga kamay ang tanda ng mga pako, at maipasok ko ang aking daliri sa pinagpakuan, at maipasok ko ang aking kamay sa Kaniyang tagiliran, ay hindi ako maniniwala.

CEBUANO:

Sa pagkagabii niadtong maong adlawa, ang unang adlaw sa semana, samtang ang mga pultahan sa dapit diin ang mga tinun-an nanagkatigum kay nahadlok sila sa mga Judio, gisudlan sila ni Jesus ug mitindog sa taliwala nila, ug miingon: "Kalinaw unta ang anaa kaninyo."

Ug sa pagkasulti Niya niini, Iyang gipakita kanila ang Iyang mga kamot ug ang Iyang kilid. Nangalipay unya ang mga tinun-an sa ilang pagkakita sa Ginoo.

Ug miingon pag-usab si Jesus kanila: "Kalinaw unta ang anaa kaninyo: sama sa pagpadala Kanako sa Amahan, Ako usab magapadala kaninyo."

Ug sa pagkasulti Niya niini, gihuyopan sila ug giingnan: "Dawata ninyo ang Espiritu Santo.

Ang mga sala sa kinsa nga inyong pasayloon, kini pagapasayloon kanila; ug ang mga sala sa kinsa nga inyong bawalan, kini pagabawal usab kanila."

Apan si Tomas, usa sa napulog duha, nga gitawag Dídimo, wala diha kanila sa dihang miabut si Jesus.

Busa giingnan siya sa ubang mga tinun-an: "Nakita namo ang Ginoo." Apan siya miingon kanila: "Gawas kon makita ko sa Iyang mga kamot ang ulat sa mga lansang, ug isulod ko ang akong tudlo sa ulat sa mga lansang, ug isulod ko ang akong kamot sa Iyang kilid, ako dili motuo."

ETHIOPIAN AMHERIC:

በዚያን ቀን ማታ፣ ሳምንቱ መጀመሪያ ቀን ሲሆን፣ ደቀ መዛሙርቱ በአይሁድ ምክንያት በፍርሃት ተሰብስበውበነበሩበት ስፍራ ደጆቹ ተዘግተው ሳሉ፣ ኢየሱስ መጥቶ በመካከላቸው ቆሞ፣ እንዲህ አላቸው፦ ሰላም ከእናንተጋር ይሁን።

ይህን ከተናገረ በኋላ፣ እጆቹንና ወገቡን አሳየ፤ ደቀ መዛሙርቱም ጌታን ባዩ ጊዜ ደስ አላቸው።

ኢየሱስም ደግሞ እንዲህ አላቸው፦ ሰላም ከእናንተ ጋር ይሁን፤ እንደላከኝ አባቴ፣ እኔም እናንተን እልካችኋለሁ።

ይህንም ከተናገረ በኋላ፣ በእነርሱ ላይ እስትንፋስ አፈሰሰና፣ እንዲህ አላቸው፦ መንፈስ ቅዱስን ተቀበሉ።

የማንንም ኃጢአት ብትቅርፉ፣ ይቅር ይባላል፤ የማንንም ብትያዙ፣ ይዞ ይቆያል።

ከአሥራ ሁለቱ መካከል የተባለ ቶማስ (ዲድሞስ የተባለ) እንደ ተባለው፣ ኢየሱስ ሲመጣ ከእነርሱ ጋር አልነበረም።

ሌሎቹ ደቀ መዛሙርትም፣ “ጌታን አይተነዋል” አሉት። እርሱ ግን እንዲህ አላቸው፦ “በእጆቹ የሚሰናከል የመሰረትምልክት ካልየው፣ ጣትም በዚያ ቦታ ካልኖረው፣ እጄንም በወገቡ ካልኖረው፣ አልያምንም።”

THE ANTHEM OF PEACE

Officiant: Then Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said unto them, 

People: Peace be unto you. Alleluia.

Officiant: He shewed them His hands and His side. 

People: Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord. Alleluia.

THE BENEDICTUS

(St. Luke 1:68–79)

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, * for He hath visited and redeemed His people; 

And hath raised up a mighty salvation for us * in the house of His servant David; 

As He spake by the mouth of His holy Prophets * which have been since the world began; 

That we should be saved from our enemies * and from the hand of all that hate us; 

To perform the mercy promised to our forefathers * and to remember His holy Covenant; 

To perform the oath which He sware to our forefather Abraham * that He would give us; 

That we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies * might serve Him without fear, 

In holiness and righteousness before Him * all the days of our life. 

And thou, child, shalt be called the Prophet of the Highest * for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways; 

To give knowledge of salvation unto His people * for the remission of their sins; 

Through the tender mercy of our God * whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us; 

To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death * and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; 

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

PASCHAL HYMN

Christ the Lord is Risen Today

1. Christ the Lord is risen today, 

Alleluia! 

Sons of men and angels say, 

Alleluia! 

Raise your joys and triumphs high, 

Alleluia! 

Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, 

Alleluia!

2. Love's redeeming work is done, 

Alleluia! 

Fought the fight, the battle won, 

Alleluia! 

Death in vain forbids Him rise, 

Alleluia! 

Christ has opened paradise, 

Alleluia!

3. Lives again our glorious King, 

Alleluia! 

Where, O death, is now thy sting? 

Alleluia! 

Once He died our souls to save, 

Alleluia! 

Where thy victory, O grave? 

Alleluia!

4. Soar we now where Christ has led, 

Alleluia! 

Following our exalted Head, 

Alleluia! 

Made like Him, like Him we rise, 

Alleluia! 

Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, 

Alleluia!

THE LORD’S PRAYER 

Our Father which art in heaven, 

Hallowed be thy name. 

Thy kingdom come. 

Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 

Give us this day our daily bread. 

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: 

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

THE COLLECT OF PASCHA

Almighty God, who through Thine only-begotten Son Jesus Christ hast overcome death, and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life: We humbly beseech Thee, that, as by Thy special grace preventing us, Thou dost put into our minds good desires; so by Thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

THE BLESSING AND DISMISSAL

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen. 

Christ is risen! Alleluia, alleluia! 

The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia, alleluia!