Kontakion of the Feast of Pascha

Though Thou didst descend into the grave, Thou didst immortally, but Thou didst destroy the power of hell, and Thou didst rise as a conqueror, O Christ God, Who didst proclaim to the myrrh-bearing women: Rejoice, and grant peace to thy apostles, and grant the Resurrection to the fallen.

Though Thou didst descend into the tomb, O Immortal, Thou didst destroy the power of hell and rose again, as a conqueror, Christ God, announcing to the myrrh-bearing women: Rejoice! and giving peace to Thy apostles, and giving resurrection to those who have sinned!

Hymns of the Feast of Pascha

The angel cried out more gracefully: Pure Virgin, rejoice! And pour out the river: Rejoice! Thy Son is risen from the tomb for three days, and raised up the dead: rejoice, people!

Shine, shine, new Jerusalem! For the glory of the Lord has shone upon thee: rejoice now and be glad, O Zion! Thou art pure, O Mother of God, for the rising of Thy nativity.

The angel cried out to the grace-filled (Mother of God): Pure Virgin, rejoice! And again I say: Rejoice! Your Son rose from the tomb on the third day after death and raised the dead: people, be merry!

Be glorified, glorify the Christian Church, for the glory of the Lord has shone upon you: rejoice now and be glad! And Thou, O Pure Mother of God, rejoice in the resurrection of Thee born of Thee.

Ascension of the Lord

The feast of the Jewish Pentecost was approaching, and Christ's disciples returned from Galilee to Jerusalem. On the fortieth day after the resurrection of Jesus Christ, they gathered in one house. Jesus Christ appeared to them and conversed with them, saying: "Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead on the third day; and to be preached in his name repentance and forgiveness of sins in all nations, beginning with Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of this. Go into all the world and preach the Gospel (the doctrine of Christ) to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs shall follow them that believe: in my name they shall cast out demons; they will speak new tongues; they will take serpents, and if they drink anything deadly, they will not harm them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover."

Then the Savior told His disciples that He would soon send the Holy Spirit upon them; and until that time he commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem. He said, "I will send the promise of my Father upon you; but you remain in the city of Jerusalem until you are endowed with power from on high; for John baptized with water, and in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."

Talking with the disciples, the Savior led them out of the city in the direction of Bethany, to the Mount of Olives.

The disciples, rejoicing at the words of the Saviour, surrounded Him and began to ask: "Is it not at this time, O Lord, that Thou dost restore the kingdom to Israel?"

The Saviour said to them, "It is not your business to know the times or seasons which the Father has set in His own power. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will preach about Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth."