16.

F E S T A L MA T I N S H Y MN S A S C E N S I O N T H U R S D A Y
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COMPILED, ADAPTED, EDITED &PRINTED BY MARGUERITE PAIZIS
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RE - E DI T E D & P U B L I S HE D - 10 MA Y 2014
Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria
& All Africa
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U S E D I N C O N J U N C T I O N W I T H M A T I N S S E R V I C E B O O K
29 May 2014
Ascensi on
Thursday
AL S O T HE FE AS T OF ST T HE ODOS I A OF T Y RE
ST AL E XANDROS OF AL E XANDRI A - ST
JOHN, FOOL F OR CHR I S T , OF US T I UG
ST T HE ODOS I A T HE VI RGI N MART Y R
OF CONS T ANT I NOP L E T HE HOL Y
FAT HE RS & HOL Y MOT HE RS OF
AT CHA RA , GE ORGI A
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44
Ka t a v a s i a s o f Pe n t e c o s t -
Ia m b i c Ve r s e s
NOT F OR MATE RI AL P ROF I T!
2. F E S T A L MA T I N S H Y MN S A S C E N S I O N T H U R S D A Y
Through Thy Glorious Ascension
Psalm 67/68 is considered by most Biblical Scholars to
be the most difficult of all Psalms to interpret.
The current consensus holds that the Psalm was an
ancient cultic Hymn, originally recited in an autumn
Festival by the Covenant-Community of Israel.
Its theme celebrates the Coming of God to His People,
from Sinai to Zion, in order to actualize in their midst
His past Mighty Works of Salvation.
This actualization then leads the people toward the
Eschatological Future - the Age to come, when Gods
Glory and Majesty will be recognized and acknowledged by all the Nations of the Earth.
As difficult to interpret as many may find it to be, this Psalm, with its opening cry: Let God
arise! is nevertheless one of the most familiar Biblical pronouncements of the Orthodox
Paschal Season.
It begins with what the Church recognizes as a Prophetic Announcement of our Lords
Resurrection. This is complemented by what Biblical and Patristic Tradition sees as allusions
to Christs Ascension and the Sending of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
St Paul offers this interpretation in his letter to the Ephesians, where he modifies, in a minor yet
significant way, the Septuagint version of Psalm 67: ...When He Ascended on High, He
led a host of captives, and He gave Gifts to men... (EPHESIANS 4:8).
Those Gifts, as the Apostle declares, include the Charismata - the Spiritual Gifts or Gift of the
Spirit Himself, bestowed upon the Church for the Preaching of the Gospel and the
upbuilding of the Body of Christ.
Another theme emerges throughout this letter, also derived from Psalm 67/68.
By His Descent into the ...depths of the earth... - into the heart of the fallen Creation - Christ
destroys the power of sin and death. And by His Ascension in Glory, He ...fills all things with
Himself. (EPHESIANS 4:9-10)
This is the same Message proclaimed by the Gospel of St John the Divine Theologian and
Beloved Apostle: No one has Ascended into Heaven but He Who Descended from
Heaven - the Son of Man... and this, to work out Salvation and Eternal Life for all those
who believe. (JOHN 3:13-15)
The entire Christian Mystery is expressed by this double movement of Descent and Ascension -
the Incarnation and Glorification of the Eternal Word and Son of God.
As Orthodox Spiritual and Liturgical Tradition affirms, this Movement was undertaken not for
Christs own sake, but for ours.
Through His incarnation, the Son of God took upon Himself our very life and being - the specific
conditions of our human nature - in order to restore that nature to its original Perfection, and
to open the Way for us to Ascend with Him to the Heights of Heaven - there to share with
Him His own Glory and Majesty.
Elaborating on this Theme, St Irenaeus of Lyon declared in his Treatise Against Heresies (III.19.3),
...The Lord Himself gave us a Sign A Virgin Conceived and Bore a Son - God with
us... (ISAIAH7:14)
He descended into the depths of the Earth to seek the Lost Sheep - His own Handiwork -
which He Himself had made. Then He Ascended into the Heights Above, to offer and
submit to His Father this humanity (hominem) which had been found, becoming Himself
the First-fruits of mankinds Resurrection.
A familiar Prayer, attributed to St Symeon Metaphrastes (a mid-tenth century Byzantine
Hagiographer) which is included in the Orthodox Prayers before Communion, recounts the
Significance of Events in Christs Life, Death and Glorification, together with their Spiritual
and moral Significance for Believers: Through Thy Life-giving Resurrection Thou raised up
the first Father who had fallen. Raise me up, for I am sunk in sin, and grant me the
image of Repentance. Through Thy Glorious Ascension Thou made the flesh that Thou
assumed to be Divine and placed it on the Throne at the Fathers right Hand. Grant me
F E S T A L MA T I N S H Y MN S A S C E N S I O N T H U R S D A Y 15.
F e s t a l A p o l y t i k i o n A s c e n s i o n T O N E 4
Anelifthis en Doxi, Hriste O Theos imon,
haropiisas tous Mathitas, ti epangelia
tou Agiou Pnevmatos, vaveothenton
afton dia tis Evlogias, oti Si i O Iios
tou Theou, O Litrotis tou kosmou.
Thou Ascended in Glory, O Christ our
God, after Thou filled the Disciples
with Joy, by Promising to send the
Holy Spirit, and Thou Blessed them
and established their Faith, that
Thou art the Son of God, the
Redeemer of the world.
T H E D I V I N E L I T U R G Y O F S T J O H N C H R Y S O S T O M B E G I N S I M M E D I A T E L Y
14. F E S T A L MA T I N S H Y MN S A S C E N S I O N T H U R S D A Y
Panagion.
Enite Afton en iho salpingos. Enite
Afton en psaltirio ke kithara.
Angelikos i en kosmo, panigirisomen, to
epi Thronou doxis, Theo
epohoumeno, kravgzontes ton imnon.
Agiis i, O Patir O Ouranios, O sinedios
Logos, Agios i, ke to Pnevma to
Panagion.
Enite Afton en timpano ke horo. Enite
Afton en hordes ke organo.
I arhigi ton Angelon, katanoountes Sotir,
to tis anodou xenon, diiporoun allilis.
Tis i Thea afti? Anthropos men, ti
morfi O oromenos, os de Theos,
iperano ton Ouranon, meta Somatos
anerhete.
Enite Afton en kimvalis evihis. Enite
Afton en kimvalis alalagmou. Pasa
pnoi inesato ton Kyrion.
I Galilei orontes, analifthenta Se, apo tou
Eleonos, meta somatos Loge, ikouon
Angelon, voonton aftis. Ti estikate
vlepontes? Outos elefsete palin meta
sarkos, kath on tropon etheasasthe.
> Doxa Patri ke Io ke Agio Pnevmati,
ke nin ke ai ke is tous Eonas ton
eonon.
Amin
Thou! Co-Unoriginate Logos, Holy
art Thou! And All Holy Spirit, Holy
art Thou!
Praise Him with the sound of the
trumpet; praise Him with lute and
harp.
Let us on earth like the Angels festively
celebrate, crying aloud and singing
to God Who is mounted on the
Throne of Glory, the Thrice-Holy
Hymn: Heavenly Father, Holy art
Thou! Co-Unoriginate Logos, Holy
art Thou! And All Holy Spirit, Holy
art Thou!
Praise Him with timbrel and dance;
praise Him with strings and flute.
As the Pre-Eminent Angels perceived
Thy strange Ascent, they were
perplexed, O Saviour, and they asked
each other: What are we beholding?
Human in form is the one we are
seeing here. He has a Body and yet,
behold how He Ascends far above
the Heavens, as our God!
Praise Him with tuneful cymbals;
praise Him with loud cymbals. Let
everything that has breath praise
the Lord.
The men of Galilee, watching as Thou
were taken up from the Mount of
Olives with Thy Body, O Logos,
heard the Voice of Angels who cried
out to them: Why do you stand and
gaze? This Jesus, henceforth
Incarnate, will come again in the
same manner as you saw Him go.
> Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit, now and
forever, and to the Ages of ages.
Amen
T O N E 2
Etehthis os aftos ithlisas. Efanis os aftos
ivoulithis. Epathes sarki, O Theos
imon. Ek nekron Anestis, patisas ton
Thanaton, anelifthis en Doxi, O ta
simpanta pliron. Ke apestilas imin
Pnevma Thion, tou animnin ke
Doxazin Sou tin Theotita.
G R E A T D O X O L O G Y
Thou were born, as Thou Thyself so
Willed; Thou appeared, as Thou
Thyself so wished. Thou suffered in
the Flesh, O our God; Thou rose
from the dead, having trampled
Death. Thou were taken up in Glory,
Thou who fill the Universe; and
Thou sent us the Divine Spirit, that
we might extol and Glorify Thy
Divinity.
F E S T A L MA T I N S H Y MN S A S C E N S I O N T H U R S D A Y 3.
to receive a place at the right hand with the Saved through Communion of Thy Holy
Mysteries.
By His incarnation, Christ Deified the Flesh, the Body with its human nature, and thus He
Restored it to the Perfection and Glory for which God originally intended it.
As the First Adam, the Archetype of all human existence, and as the Last Adam, the Author of
Life Who grants Life to those who Dwell in Him, Christ Ascends in His Divine Flesh, exalting
newly Perfected human nature with Himself.
The Throne is the Image that symbolizes that Exaltation.
By placing His Deified Flesh on the Throne at the right Hand of the Father, God the Son makes
the ultimate Sacramental Gesture, offering our own fallen yet Restored nature to Him Who is
the Source of all Life, both human and Divine.
Because of our Incorporation into the Life of the Son, we can hope to join with the Saints, the
Host of the Saved.
Yet this Hope is already partially realized, insofar as we partake of that Divine Life here and now
by participating in the Holy Eucharist.
A further Refinement of this Theme is offered to us by the great Byzantine Mystic, St Gregory of
Sinai (+ 1346).
In the chapter from the Philokalia known as Further Texts (Alia Capita, PG 150.1300), St Gregory
describes in eloquent terms the correspondence between the Descending, Ascending
Movement of Christ and Spiritual Growth in our own Life.
Everyone Baptized into Christ should pass progressively through all the Stages of Christs
own Life, for in Baptism we receive the Power so to progress, and through the
Commandments we can discover and learn how to accomplish such progression. To
Christs Conception corresponds the Foretaste of the Gift of the Holy Spirit, to His Nativity
the actual Experience of Joyousness, to His Baptism the Cleansing Force of the Fire of
the Spirit, to His Transfiguration the Contemplation of Divine Light, to His Crucifixion the
dying to all things, to His Burial the Indwelling of Divine Love in the heart, to His
Resurrection the souls Life-quickening Resurrection, and to His Ascension Divine Ecstasy
and the Transport of the intellect into God.
To most of our contemporaries, this kind of interpretation of the Events in Christs Life may seem
odd if not scandalous, and may strike them as pure allegorizing: taking the historical events
of Christs Passion, Death and Resurrection, and reading them as metaphors to describe
our Inner Spiritual State, the condition of the human soul.
To those of us who, in these past days, have sung out, Let God arise! and have tasted the
Heavenly Gifts of His Glorified Body and Blood, who have embraced others and been
embraced with Reconciling Love ...even by those who hate us... this correspondence
between the Events of Christs Life and our own is self-evident.
Yesterday we were Crucified with Him; today we Rise with Him in Glory.
Yesterday He descended into the lower parts of the Earth, into the Darkness of our own life;
today we Ascend with Him in Newness of Life, in a potentially Deified Flesh, in order to take
our place with Him at the right Hand of the Father and in the midst of the Communion of
Saints.
By His Glorious Ascension, Christ has already spoken to our deepest longing and fulfilled our
most fervent Hope.
He has taken us as He took the hand of Adam, as in the Paschal Icon of the Descent into
Hades.
He has Raised us up with Himself, out of the grave of our own making, and Ascended with us
into the Awesome and Blessed Presence of His Father.
He has transported into the Very Presence of God our intellect, our Spiritual Perception of
Transcendent Life and being.
And in so doing, He has led us even in the mundane affairs of our daily existence into the
Joyful and Healing State of Divine Ecstasy.
WR I T T E N B Y T HE VE RY RE V E R E ND J OHN BR E CK
HT T P : / / WWW. OCA . OR G
HT T P : / / OR T HODOX WOR D . WOR DP R E S S . COM/ 2010/ 05/ 11/ T HY - GL OR I OU S - A S CE NS I ON- 2/
4. F E S T A L MA T I N S H Y MN S A S C E N S I O N T H U R S D A Y
P s a l m 1 1 7 / 1 1 8
P R A I S E T O G O D F O R H I S E V E R L A S T I N G M E R C Y
Theos Kyrios ke epefanen imin.
Evlogimenos O erhomenos en
Onomati Kyriou!
S T I H O S 1 : Exomologisthe to Kyrio, oti
Agathos, oti is ton eona to Eleos
Aftou!
Theos Kyrios ke epefanen imin.
Evlogimenos O erhomenos en
Onomati Kyriou!
S T I H O S 2 : Panta ta Ethni ekiklosan me,
ke to Onomati Kyriou inamin aftous.
Theos Kyrios ke epefanen imin.
Evlogimenos O erhomenos en
Onomati Kyriou!
S T I H O S 3 : Para Kyriou egeneto afti, ke
esti thavmasti en ofthalmis imon.
Theos Kyrios ke epefanen imin.
Evlogimenos O erhomenos en
Onomati Kyriou!
The Lord is God, and has Appeared to
us. Blessed is He Who comes in the
Name of the Lord!
V E R S E 1 : Give thanks to the Lord, for
He is Good; His Mercy endures
forever!
The Lord is God, and has Appeared to
us. Blessed is He Who comes in the
Name of the Lord!
V E R S E 2 : All the Nations surrounded
me, but in the Name of the Lord I
drove them back.
The Lord is God, and has Appeared to
us. Blessed is He Who comes in the
Name of the Lord!
V E R S E 3 : This is the Lords doing, and
it is marvellous in our eyes.
The Lord is God, and has Appeared to
us. Blessed is He Who comes in the
Name of the Lord!
F e s t a l A p o l y t i k i o n - A s c e n s i o n
Anelifthis en Doxi, Hriste O Theos imon,
haropiisas tous Mathitas, ti epangelia
tou Agiou Pnevmatos, veveothenton
afton dia tis Evlogias, oti Si i O Iios
tou Theou, O litrotistou Kosmou. (3)
S M A L L L I T A N Y
Thou Ascended in Glory, O Christ our
God, after Thou filled the Disciples
with Joy, by Promising to send the
Holy Spirit, and Thou Blessed them
and established their Faith, that
Thou art the Son of God Redeemer
of the world. (3)
F i r s t F e s t a l Ka t h i s ma A s c e n s i o n - T O N E 1
Angelon Thavmazonton, tis anodou to
xenon, ke Mathiton ekplittomenon, to
frikton tis eparseos, anilthes meta
doxis os Theos, ke pile Si epirthisan
Sotir, dia touto e dinamis ton
Ouranon ethavmazon voose. Doxa ti
katavasi Sou Sotir. Doxa ti Vasilia
Sou. Doxa ti Analipsi Sou, Mone
Filanthrope.
> Doxa Patri ke Io ke Agio Pnevmati,
ke nin ke ai ke is tous Eonas ton
eonon.
Amin
Angelon Thavmazonton, tis anodou to
xenon, ke Mathiton ekplittomenon, to
frikton tis eparseos, anilthes meta
Angels were amazed by Thy strange
Ascension, and Disciples were
astounded by Thine Awesome Lift-
off, as Thou Ascended in Glory as
God, and Gates were lifted up for
Thee, O Lord. For this reason the
Powers of Heaven cried out to Thee
in amazement: Glory, O Saviour, to
Thy Descent! Glory to Thy
Kingdom! Glory to Thine Ascension,
Only One Who Loves mankind!
> Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit, now and
forever, and to the Ages of ages.
Amen
Angels were amazed by Thy strange
Ascension, and Disciples were
astounded by Thine Awesome Lift-
F E S T A L MA T I N S H Y MN S A S C E N S I O N T H U R S D A Y 13.
Th e o t o k i o n
Angeli tin Anodon tou Despotou,
orontes exeplittonto, pos meta
Doxis epirthi, apo tis gis is ta ano.
Fos to ek Fotos, eklampsan panamome,
ek sou anetile, ke tin amavrotita, tis
athias pasan dielise, ke tous nikti
kathevdontas efotagogise, dia touto
pantes kata hreos Se, is eonas ai
Makarizomen.
Angels beheld the Masters Ascension,
filled with great astonishment at
how with Glory He was lifted up
from earth.
O All Blameless One, from Thee rose
the Light which manifestly shone
from Light and which has entirely
dispelled the darkness and gloom of
Godlessness and led into the Light
those who had been asleep in the
night. We all, therefore, as we are
obliged to do, to Eternity ever
pronounce Thee Blessed.
F e s t a l Ka t a v a s i a o f t h e 9 t h Od e - A s c e n s i o n - T O N E 4
Heris Anassa, Mitroparthenon Kleos!
Apan gar evdiniton evlalon stoma
Ritrevon, ou stheni Se melpin axios,
Ilingia de nous apas Sou ton tokon
Noin. Othen Se simfonos
Doxazomen.
S M A L L L I T A N Y & P R A I S E S T O T H E
L O R D O U R G O D
Hail, O Queen of all! Boast of Mothers
and Virgins; fo there is no fluent, no
eloquent speaker whose words have
the power worthily to praise Thee!
And every mind is dazed when Thy
Childbirth is contemplated; hence in
unison we Glorify Thee.
F e s t a l E x a p o s t i l a r i o n - A s c e n s i o n - T O N E 2
Ton Mathiton Oronton Se Anelifthis,
Hrist, pros ton Patera sinedriazon.
Angeli protrehontes ekravgazon.
Arate pilas, arate. O Vasilefs gar
anilthe, pros tin arhifoton Doxan. (3)
With the Disciples witnessing, Thou
ascended, O Christ to the Father, to
sit beside Him. Angels ran before
Thee and cried aloud: Lift up the
Gates, O lift them up! Behold the
King has Ascended to Light-Principal
Glory! (3)
L a u d s : T h e P r a i s e s t o G o d P s a l m 1 4 8
AL L CR EATI ON PR AI S E S THE LOR D OUR GOD
Pasa pnoi enesato ton Kyrion. Enite
ton Kyrion ek ton Ouranon. Enite
Afton en tis ipsistis. Si prepi imnos
to Theo.
Enite Afton, pantes i Angelli Aftou.
Enite Afton, pase e Dinamis Aftou.
Si prepi imnos to Theo.
Let everything that has breath praise
the Lord. Praise the Lord from the
Heavens; praise Him in the Highest.
To Thee praise is due, O God.
Praise Him, all His Angels; praise Him,
all His Powers. To Thee praise is
due, O God.
F e s t a l P r o s o m i a S t i h e r a - P s a l m 1 5 0 - A s c e n s i o n
LE T AL L THI NGS PR AI S E THE LOR D!
Enite Afton epi tes Dinasties Afton.
Enite Afton kata to plithos tis
Megalosinis Aftou.
Angelikos i en kosmo, panigirisomen, to
epi Thronou Doxis, Theo
epohoumeno, kravgzontes ton Imnon.
Agiis i, O Patir O Ouranios, O sinedios
Logos, Agios i, ke to Pnevma to
Praise Him for His Mighty Acts; praise
Him according to the greatness of
His Majesty.
Let us on earth like the Angels festively
celebrate, crying aloud and singing
to God Who is mounted on the
Throne of Glory, the Thrice-Holy
Hymn: Heavenly Father, Holy art
12. F E S T A L MA T I N S H Y MN S A S C E N S I O N T H U R S D A Y
Th e o t o k i o n
Here Theotoke, Mitir Hristou tou Theou,
on ekiisas, simeron, ek gis
aniptamenon, sin Angelis orosa
emegalines.
Hail, O Theotokos, Mother of Christ our
God! As today Thou watched the
One Whom Thou had Borne flying up
from earth, with the Angels Him
Thou Magnified.
S e c o n d F e s t a l C a n o n A s c e n s i o n - T O N E 4
Angeli tin Anodon tou Despotou,
orontes exeplittonto, pos meta
Doxis epirthi, apo tis gis is ta ano.
O ton Doreon, ton iper katalipsin! O
Mystiriou friktou! Panton O despozon
gar, ek gis aperon pros ta Ourania,
tis Mathites apestile, Pnevma to
Agion, to Fotisan touton tin dianian,
ke pirnous telesan en Haritis.
Angeli tin anodon tou Despotou,
orontes exeplittonto, pos meta doxis
epirthi, apo tis gis is ta ano.
Stifi Mathiton, O Kyrios efisen, Imis
kathisate, is Ierosolima, kago
ekpempso imin Parakliton, allon,
Patri ton sinthronon, kami omotimon,
on orate, analamvanomenon, ke
Nefeli Fotos epohoumenon.
> Doxa Patri, ke Io, ke Agio Pnevmati
Angeli tin Anodon tou Despotou,
orontes exeplittonto, pos meta
Doxis epirthi, apo tis gis is ta ano.
Irthi emfanos, i Megaloprepia, anothen
ton Ouranon, tou sarki ptohevsantos,
ke sinedria Patros tetimite, fisis imon
i ekptotos. Panigirisomen, ke
simfonos pantes alalaxomen, ke
krotisomen hiras githomeni.
Ke nin ke Ai ke is tous eonas ton
eonon.
Amin.
Angels beheld the Masters Ascension,
filled with great astonishment at
how with Glory He was lifted up
from earth.
O what Divine Gifts beyond
comprehension! O, Awesome
Mystery! For the Sovereign Lord of
all having Ascended from earth to
the Heavenly Abodes, sent to His
Disciples the All Holy Spirit of God
Who Illumined their mind and
intellect, and effectively set them
afire with Grace.
Angels beheld the Masters Ascension,
filled with great astonishment at
how with Glory He was lifted up
from earth.
To the Sacred Band of Holy Disciples
the Risen Lord Commanded: Tarry
in Jerusalem and I shall send you
another Comforter Who shares the
Fathers Throne and Who is of Equal
Honour with Me Whom you now see
taken up into Heaven, carried aloft
on a Cloud of Light.
> Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit
Angels beheld the Masters Ascension,
filled with great astonishment at
how with Glory He was lifted up
from earth.
The Magnificence of the On Who in
Flesh became poor, clearly was
higher than the Heavens raised. Our
fallen nature has now been honoured
by its Session with the Father.
Therefore, let us celebrate and with
one voice jubilantly cry aloud, and
with Gladness of heart, let us clap
our hands.
Now and ever, and to the Ages of
ages.
Amen.
F E S T A L MA T I N S H Y MN S A S C E N S I O N T H U R S D A Y 5.
doxis os Theos, ke pile Si epirthisan
Sotir, dia touto e dinamis ton
Ouranon ethavmazon voose. Doxa ti
katavasi Sou Sotir. Doxa ti Vasilia
Sou. Doxa ti Analipsi Sou, Mone
Filanthrope.
off, as Thou Ascended in Glory as
God, and Gates were lifted up for
Thee, O Lord. For this reason the
Powers of Heaven cried out to Thee
in amazement: Glory, O Saviour, to
Thy Descent! Glory to Thy
Kingdom! Glory to Thine Ascension,
Only One Who Loves mankind!
S e c o n d F e s t a l Ka t h i s ma - A s c e n s i o n T O N E 3
O Proeonios Theos ke Anarhos, inper
anilife, fisin anthropion, Theopiisas
Mystikos, simeron Anelifthi, Angeli
protrehontes, Apostolis ediknion,
touton porevomenon, is Ouranous
meta Doxis pollis, afto de
proskinisantes elegon. Doxa Theo to
Analifthenti!
> Doxa Patri ke Io ke Agio Pnevmati,
ke nin ke ai ke is tous Eonas ton
eonon.
Amin
O Proeonios Theos ke Anarhos, inper
Anilife, fisin anthropion, Theopiisas
Mystikos, simeron Anelifthi, Angeli
protrehontes, Apostolis ediknion,
touton porevomenon, is Ouranous
meta Doxis pollis, afto de
proskinisantes elegon. Doxa Theo to
Analifthenti!
The Unoriginate and Pre-Eternal God,
having in Mystical Manner now
Deified human nature that He
assumes, has on this day Ascended.
As He was proceeding upwards into
Heaven with Great Glory, Angels who
had run ahead pointed Him out to
the Apostles; and worshipping
before Him, they cried aloud: Glory
to Thee, O God, Who has Ascended!
> Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit, now and
forever, and to the Ages of ages.
Amen
The Unoriginate and Pre-Eternal God,
having in Mystical Manner now
Deified human nature that He
assumes, has on this day Ascended.
As He was proceeding upwards into
Heaven with Great Glory, Angels who
had run ahead pointed Him out to
the Apostles; and worshipping
before Him, they cried aloud: Glory
to Thee, O God, Who has Ascended!
Th i r d F e s t a l Ka t h i s ma - A s c e n s i o n - T O N E ( 5 ) P L A G A L 1
Katelthon Ouranothen is ta epigia, ke
tin kato kimenin en ti tou Adou
froura, sinanastisas os Theos,
adamiean morfin, ti Analipsi Sou
Hriste, is Ouranous anagagon, to
Throno to Patriko Sou, sigkathedron
apirgaso, os Eleimon ke Filanthropos.
> Doxa Patri ke Io ke Agio Pnevmati,
ke nin ke ai ke is tous Eonas ton
eonon.
Amin
Katelthon Ouranothen is ta epigia, ke
tin kato kimenin en ti tou Adou
froura, sinanastisas os Theos,
adamiean morfin, ti Analipsi Sou
When Thou came down from Heaven, O
Saviour, to earth, and with Thyself as
God Resurrected Adams form that
lay below in the Dungeon of Hades,
and then to Heave raised it up by
Thine Ascension, O Christ, Thou
made it sit with Thee together on the
Throne of Thy Father, for Thou art
Merciful and Love mankind.
> Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit, now and
forever, and to the Ages of ages.
Amen
When Thou came down from Heaven, O
Saviour, to earth, and with Thyself as
God Resurrected Adams form that
lay below in the Dungeon of Hades,
6. F E S T A L MA T I N S H Y MN S A S C E N S I O N T H U R S D A Y
Hriste, is Ouranous anagagon, to
Throno to Patriko Sou, sigkathedron
apirgaso, os Eleimon ke Filanthropos.
S M A L L L I T A N Y
and then to Heave raised it up by
Thine Ascension, O Christ, Thou
made it sit with Thee together on the
Throne of Thy Father, for Thou art
Merciful and Love mankind.
F e s t a l A n t i p h o n s T O N E 4
Ek neotitos mou, pola polemi me pathi
al aftos andilavou, ke Soson, Sotir
mou. [2]
I misoundes Sion, eshinthite apo tou
Kyriou; os hortos gar, piri esesthe
apexirameni. [2]
> Doxa Patri ke Io ke Agio Pnevmati.
Agio Pnevmati, pasa psihi zooute, ke
katharsi, ipsoute, lambrinete, ti
Triadiki Monadi, Ierokrifios
Ke nin ke Ai ke is tous eonas ton
eonon.
Amin
>Agio Pnevmati, anavlizi ta tis Haritos
reithra, arthevonda, apasan tin ktisin
pros Zoogonion.
From my youth up many passions
have warred against me. But do
Thou succour and save me, O
Saviour. [2]
Those who hate Zion shall be put to
confusion by the Lord; like grass
in the fire shall they be withered
up. [2]
> Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit
Through the Holy Spirit is every soul
quickened and exalted in purity, and
Illumined by the Triune Unity in
Mystic Holiness.
Now and ever, and to the Ages of
Ages.
Amen
>From the Holy Spirit do the streams
of Grace well forth; they irrigate
everything created, so that Life can
be produced.
F e s t a l P r o k e i me n o n - A s c e n s i o n
Anevi O Theos en alalagmo, Kyrios en
Foni Salpingos. (2)
S T I H OS : Panta ta Ethni, krotisate hiras.
Anevi O Theos en alalagmo, Kyrios en
Foni Salpingos.
S M A L L L I T A N Y & P R A I S E S T O
A L M I G H T Y G O D
God Ascended with a shout, the Lord
with the Sound of the Trumpet.
(2)
VE R S E : O Clap your hands, all you
Nations; shout to God with the
Voice of Rejoicing.
God Ascended with a shout, the Lord
with the Sound of the Trumpet
Th e Ho l y Go s p e l
T H E C O N G R E G A T I O N M U S T S T A N D
T HE P R I E S T R E ADS T HE HOL Y GOS P E L F OR T HE F E AS T F ROM T HE ROY AL GAT E S [ HOL Y DOOR S ] F ACI NG
T HE CONGR E GAT I ON.
Ke iper tou kataxiothine imas tis
akroaseos tou Agiou Evangeliou
Kyriou ton Theon imon iketevsomen.
Kyrie Eleison [3]
Sofia! Orthi! Akiousomen tou Agiou
PRIEST And that He will graciously grant
us to hear His Holy Gospel, let us
pray to the Lord.
PEOPLE Lord have mercy [3]
PRIEST Wisdom! Arise! Let us listen to the
F E S T A L MA T I N S H Y MN S A S C E N S I O N T H U R S D A Y 11.
Lii ta desma ke Drosizi tin floga O
Trisofengis tis thearhias tipos.
Imnousi Pedes, Evlogi de ton Monon
Sotira ke Pantourgon os energetin I
Dimiourgithisa simpasa Ktisis
The Tri-Radiant Sign of Divine Headship
moistened the flames with Dew and
loosened the bonds; For He is the
Benefactor, Only Saviour, and
Creator of all. Wherefore, the entire
Creation, with the Youths, Do praise
Him and Bless Him.
F e s t a l Ma g n i f i c a t - A s c e n s i o n Od e 9
ST ANDI NG B E F OR E T HE HOL Y I CON OF T HE EV E R BL E S S E D T H E OT OK OS , T HE PR I E S T
DE CL A R E S T HE F OL L OWI NG, AF T E R WHI CH H E CE NS E S T H E SANCT UAR Y , HOL Y
I CONS AND CONGR E GAT I ON.
>Tin Theotokon ke Miter to Fotos en
imnis timontes meglinomen.
>The Theotokos and Mother of the
Light: let us honour and extol in
song.
T H E B E L L S A R E R U N G A T T H I S P O I N T
C a n o n 1 - H i e r m o s - T O N E ( 5 ) P L A G A L 1
Se tin ipernoun ke Logon Mitera Theou,
tin en hrono ton ahronon afrastos
kiisasan, i Pisti Omofronos
Megalinomen.
Thou, transcending mind and reason, O
Mother of God, who gave Birth to the
Timeless One in time inexpressibly,
we the Faithful with one accord now
Magnify.
T r o p a r i a F e s t a l Ma g n i f i c a t A s c e n s i o n
> Doxa Si, O Theos imon, Doxa Si!
Se ton litrotin tou kosmou, Hrison ton
Theon, i Apostoli Vlepontes, entheos
ipsoumenon, meta deous skirtontes
emegalinon.
> Doxa Si, O Theos imon, Doxa Si!
Sou tin Theothisan sarka orontes Hriste,
en to ipsi i Angeli, Allilis dienevon.
Alithos outos estin O Theos imon.
> Doxa Si, O Theos imon, Doxa Si!
Se ton asomaton taxis Hriste O Theos, en
Nefeles eromenon idouse ekravgzon.
To tis Doxis Vasili pilas arate.
> Doxa Si, O Theos imon, Doxa Si!
Se ton katavanta eos eshatou tis gis, ke
ton Anthropon sosanta, ke ti anavasi
Sou Anipsosanta, touton
Megalinomen.
> Glory to Thee, our God, Glory to
Thee!
Watching Thee, the worlds Redeemer,
O Christ our God, be Divinely
Exalted, the Apostles with reverent
awe exultantly leapt and Thou they
Magnified.
> Glory to Thee, our God, Glory to
Thee!
As the Angels beheld Thy Deified Flesh
in the Heights, they signalled to one
another: This is truly our God!
> Glory to Thee, our God, Glory to
Thee!
The Ranks of Incorporeals, O Christ our
God, beholding Thou being lifted on
the clouds, cried aloud: Take away
the Gates for the King of Glory.
> Glory to Thee, our God, Glory to
Thee!
Thou, O Lord, descended to the lowest
part of earth and Saved humanity,
raising it up on High by Thine
Ascension. Thee do we Magnify.
10. F E S T A L MA T I N S H Y MN S A S C E N S I O N T H U R S D A Y
F e s t a l Ka t a v a s i a - I a mb i c Ve r s e s - Ho l y P e n t e c o s t
T O N E 4
O D I 1
Thio kalifthis O vradiglossos gnofo,
Erritorefse ton Theografon Nomon.
Ilon gar ektinaxas ommatos noou,
Ora ton onta ke mnite Pnevmatos
Gnosin, gereron evteis tis asomasin.
O D E 3
Errixe gastros iteknomenis pedas, Ivrin
te diskathekton evteknoumenis, Moni
prosevhi tis profitidos pale Annis,
ferousis pnevma sintetrimenon Pros
ton dinastin ke Theon ton gnoseon.
O D I 4
Anax anakton, ios ex iou monos Logos
Proelthon Patros ex anetiou;
Isosthenes Sou Pnevma tis Apostolis
Nimertes exepempsas, os evergetis,
Adousi: Doxa to Krati Sou, Kyrie.
O D I 5
Litririon katharsin amplakimaton
Piripnoon dexasthe Pnevmatos
Droson,O tekna fotomorfa tis
Ekklisias; Nin ek Zion gar exelilithe
Nomos I glossopirsomorfos
Pnevmatos Haris.
O D I 6
Ilasmos imin, Hriste, ke Sotiria O
Despotis elampsas ek tis Parthenou In
os profiton thiros ek thalattiou
Sternon Ionan tis fthoras diarpasis
Olon ton Adam pangeni peptokota.
O D I 7
Simfonon eftroisen organon melos Sevin
to hrisotevkton apsihon vretas. I tou
Paraklitou de fosforos Haris
Sevasmiazi tou voan: Trisas Moni,
Isosthenis, Anarhos, Evlogitos i.
O D I 8
>Enoumen, Evlogoumen ke
Proskinoumen ton Kyrion.
O D E 1
The heavy tongue, screened by the
Divine Clouds, proclaimed the God-
inscribed Law; for He shook the dust
from the eye of intelligence,
beholding the Being and attaining
the Knowledge of the Spirit, singing
Divine Songs of Praise,
O D E 3
Hannah the Propetess of old, drawn
near with contrite spirit to the
Mighty God of ntelligences, by her
Prayer alone, undid the bonds of the
barren ones womb, and the hard
rebuke of her with children.
O D E 4
O Word, King of Kings, Who alone came
forth from the Only Uncaused
Father, since Thou art the
Benefactor, Thou sent the Holy
Spirit, truly Equal to Thee in Might,
to the Apostles, who Glorify Thy
Power, O Lord.
O D E 5
O Children of the Church, of
Illuminated Likeness, receive the
Dew of the Fire-breathing Spirit,
which is a Purification and an
Absolution from crimes; for the Law
has now gone forth out of Zion in
the shape of Tongues of Fire, being
the Grace of the Holy Spirit.
O D E 6
Thou hast shone for us from the Virgin,
O Christ Master, As Forgiveness and
Salvation to extricate from
corruption fallen Adam and all his
descendants, As Thou extricated
Jonah from the belly of the beast.
O D E 7
The unison of instrumental music
called people in trembling to the
worhship of the lifeless image made
of gold. But the Light-bearing Grace
of the Comforter moves the Faithful
to cry out: O Eternal Trinity, Equal in
Power: Thou alone art Blessed!
O D E 8
> We Praise, we Bless and we Worship
the Lord!
F E S T A L MA T I N S H Y MN S A S C E N S I O N T H U R S D A Y 7.
Evangeliou
Irini pasi!
Ke to pnevmati sou
Ek tou kata MAR K ON AGI OU EV ANGE L I OU
to anagnosma...
Proshomen
> Doxa Si, Kyrie, Doxa Si!
Holy Gospel.
Peace be with you all.
PEOPLE And with thy spirit
PRIEST The Lesson is from the Holy Gospel
according to ST MAR K T HE EV ANGE L I S T
Let us attend
PEOPLE >Glory to Thee, O Lord: Glory to
Thee!
M A K E T H E S I G N O F T H E C R O S S & B O W T O G O D
Ho l y Go s p e l A c c o r d i n g t o S t Ma r k 1 6 : 9 - 2 0
OU R R E S U R R E C T E D L O R D J E S U S CH R I S T A P P E A R S B E F O R E H I S A S C E N S I O N
Anastas de proi proti Savvatou efani
proton Maria ti Magdalini, af is
ekvevliki epta demonia.
Ekini porefthisa apingile tis met aftou
genomenis, nevthousi ke kleousi.
Kakini akousantes oti zi ke etheathi ip
aftis, ipistisan.
Meta de tafta disin ex afton peripatousin
efanerothi en etera morfi,
porefomenis is agron.
Kakini apelthontes apingilan tis lipis.
Oude ekinis epistefsan.
Isteron anakimenis aftis tis endeka
efanerothi, ke onidise tin apistian
afton ke sklirokardian, oti tis
thesamenis afton egigermenon ouk
epistefsan.
Ke ipen aftis Porefthentes is ton
kosmon apanta kirixate to
Evangelion pasi ti Ktisi. O Pistefsas
ke Vaptisthis Sothisete, O de
apistisas katakrithisete. Simia de tis
Pistefsasi tafta parakolouthisi. En
to Onomati Mou demonia ekvalousi.
Glosses lalIisousi kenes. Dfis arousi.
Kan thanasimon ti piosin, ou mi
aftou vlapsi. Epi arrostou hiras
epithIisousi, ke kalos exousin.
Now when Jesus Rose early on the first
day of the week, He appeared first to
Mary Magdalene, out of whom He
had cast seven demons.
She went and told those who had been
with Him, as they mourned and
wept.
And when they heard that He was alive
and had been seen by her, they did
not believe.
After that, He appeared in another
form to two of them as they walked
and went into the country.
And they went and told it to the rest,
but they did not believe them either.
Later He appeared to the Eleven as they
sat at the table; and He rebuked
their unbelief and hardness of
heart, because they did not believe
those who had seen Him after He
had Risen.
And He said to them, Go into all the
world and preach the Gospel to
every creature. He who believeth
and is Baptised will be saved; but
he who doth not believe will be
condemned. And these Signs will
follow those who believeth: In My
Name they will cast out demons;
they will speak with new tongues;
they will take up serpents and if
they drink anything deadly, it will
by no means hurt them; they will
lay hands on the sick, and they will
recover.
W E B O W O U R H E A D S T O R E C E I V E T H E P R I E S T S B L E S S I N G
8. F E S T A L MA T I N S H Y MN S A S C E N S I O N T H U R S D A Y
O men oun Kyrios meta to lalise aftis
anelifthi is ton Ouranon ke ekathisen
ek dexion tou Theou.
Ekini de exelthontes ekirixan pantahou,
tou Kyriou sinergountos ke ton logon
veveountos dia ton epaolouthounton
Simion.
Amin.
So then, after the Lord had spoken to
them, He was received up into
Heaven, and sat down at the right
Hand of God.
And they went out and preached
everywhere, the Lord working with
them and confirming the Word
through the accompanying Signs.
Amen.
> Doxa Si, Kyrie, Doxa Si!
R E S U R R E C T I O N P R A Y E R , P S A L M 5 0 / 5 1
& S A L V A T I O N P R A Y E R S
P E OP L E >Glory to Thee, O Lord: Glory
to Thee!
Hy mn s o f Di v i n e Me r c y
> Doxa Patri ke Io ke Agio Pnevmati
>Tes TON APOSTOLON Presvies,
eleimon, exalipson ta plithi ton emon
egklimaton.
Ke nin ke Ai ke is tous eonas ton
eonon.
Amin
>Tes tis Theotokou Presvies, Eleimon,
exalipson ta plithi ton emon
egklimaton.
> Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit
>Through the Intercessions of THE
APOSTLES, O Merciful One, blot out
the multitude of our transgressions.
Now and ever, and to the Ages of
Ages.
Amen
>Through the Intercessions of the
Theotokos, O Merciful One, blot out
the multitude of our transgressions.
F e s t a l I d i o me l o n - A s c e n s i o n T O N E ( 6 ) P L A G A L 2
Eleison me, O Theos, kata to Mega
Eleos Sou ke kata to plithos ton
iktirmon Sou Exalipson to anomima
mou.
Simeron en Ouranis, e ano Dinamis, tin
imeteran fisin theomene,
Thavmazouse tou xenou tropou tin
anodon, diiporoun alliles legouse. Tis
outos O paragenomenos? Vlespouse
de ton ikion Despotin, tas Ouranious
pilas airin diekelevonto. Meth on
apafstos imnoumen Se, ton meta
sarkos ekithen palin erhomenon, os
Kritin ton apanton, ke Theon
Pantodinamon.
P R A Y E R S O F S A L V A T I O N
Have mercy upon me, O God,
according to Thy Great Mercy;
according to the multitude of Thy
Mercies do away mine offences.
Today, the Powers on High see our
nature in Heaven, and they marvel at
the strange manner of its Ascent.
They were perplexed and said to one
another: Who is This Who is
coming? As they beheld their own
Master, they were ordered to raise
the Heavenly Gates. We join them in
unceasingly extolling Thee, Who
from there will Come again in the
Flesh, as Judge of all and Almighty
God.
F e s t a l Ko n t a k i o n - A s c e n s i o n - T O N E ( 6 ) P L A G A L 2
Tin iper imon plirosas ikonomian, ke ta
epi gis enosas tis Ouraniis, Anelifthis
en Doxi, Hriste O Theos imon,
oudamothen horizomenos, alla
menon adiastatos, ke voon tis
agaposi Se. Ego imi meth imon, ke
When Thou had fulfilled the
Dispensation for our sake, and
united all things on earth with the
Things of Heaven, Thou were taken
up thither in Glory, O Christ our
God, going not away from anywhere,
F E S T A L MA T I N S H Y MN S A S C E N S I O N T H U R S D A Y 9.
oudis kath imon. but continuing inseparable, and to
those who Love Thee, crying out: I
Am with you, and there is, therefore,
none against you!
F e s t a l I k o s - A s c e n s i o n
Ta tis gis epi tis gis katalipontes, ta tis
tefras to hoi parahorountes, defte
ananipsomen, ke is ipsos eparomen,
ommata ke noimata. Petasomen tas
opsis omou ke tas esthisis, epi tas
Ouranious pilas i Thniti, nomisomen
ine tou Eleonos is Oros, ke atenizin to
litroumeno epi Nefelis epohoumeno.
Ekithen gar O Kyrios is Ouranous
anedramen, eki ke O Filodoros tas
Doreas dienime tis Apostolis Aftou,
kalesas os Patir, ke stirixas aftou.
Odigisas os Iious, ke lexas pros
aftous. Ou horizome imon. Ego Imi
meth imon, ke oudis kath imon!
Leaving earthly things upon the earth
consigning things of ash unto the
mound
1
- come, let us rouse
ourselves, lift up our eyes and
thoughts, and to the Heights Ascend.
Let our faces and our senses, O
Mortals, likewise look to Heavens
Gate. Imagine us upon Mount Olivet,
gazing upon our Redeemer riding on
a Cloud! From there, our Lord went
immediately to Heaven. There the
Liberal One distributs Gifts to His
Apostles: as a Father Calling them,
Confirming them and Directing them
as Sons, saying:I do not part from
you. I Am with you, and there is
therefore, none against you!
S y n a x a r i o n 2 9 Ma y
Ti K tou aftou minos mnimi tis Agias
Martyros Theodosias tis Parthenou.
Ti afti imera mnimi tis Agias
Osiomartyros Theodosias tis
Konstantinoupolitissis.
Ti afti imera mnimi tou Agiou
Ieromartyros Olvianou, Episkopou
poleos Aneou.
O Agios Neomartys Nannos, iti Ioannis,
O Thessalonikevs, O en Smyrni
Martyrisas, xifi telioute.
Ti afti imera, Pempti tis ektis Evdomados
apo tou Pascha, tin Analipsin
Eortazomen tou Kyriou ke Theou ke
Sotiros imon Iisou Hristou.
Ek Dexias Kathisas Patrikis Loge,
Mystes parashon Pistin asfalesteran.
O Analifthis en Doxi, Hriste O Theos
imon, eleison imas.
Amin.
On the 29
th
day of this month, we
Commmemorate the Holy Virgin
Martyr, St Theodosia.
On this day we Comemmorate the Holy
Monastic Martyr, St Theodosia of
Constantinople.
On this day we Commemorate the Holy
Hieromartyr, St Olbian, Bishop fo the
city of Aneos.
The New Holy Martyr, St Nannos, (John),
of Thessalonika witnessed in Smyrna
and was Perfected by sword.
On this day, Thursday of the Sixth Week
of Pascha, we celebrate the
Ascension of our Lord God and
Saviour, Jesus Christ.
O Word: Thou sat at the right of the
Father,
Having granted initiates Faith that is
surer.
Christ our God, taken up in Glory: have
Mercy on us.
Amen
1
MOUND REFERS TO THE PHYSICAL BODY SOWE ARE TAUGHT TO LEAVE EARTHLY THINGS TO THE BODY AND LOOK
HEAVENWARDS FOR THE ETERNAL TREASURES OF GOD.