And we hoped that He was the One who was to deliver Israel; but with all this, it is already the third day since it happened. But some of our women also amazed us: they were early at the tomb and did not find His body, and when they came, they said that they had also seen the appearance of angels, who said that He was alive. And some of us went to the tomb, and found him as the women had said, but they did not see him. Then he said to them, O foolish and slow in heart, to believe all that the prophets had foretold! Was it not necessary for Christ to suffer and enter into His glory? And beginning with Moses, of all the prophets, he explained to them the things that were said about him in all the Scriptures. And they drew near to the village to which they were going; and He showed them that He wanted to go on. But they restrained Him, saying, "Stay with us, for the day has already turned to evening." And He went in and stayed with them. And as he sat at table with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to them: then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. But He became invisible to them. And they said to one another, "Did not our hearts burn within us when He spoke to us on the way, and when He explained the Scriptures to us? And rising at the same hour, they returned to Jerusalem, and found together the eleven Apostles and those who were with them, who said that the Lord had truly risen and appeared to Simon. And they told of what had happened on the way, and how he had been recognized by them in the breaking of bread.

Luke 24:12–35

The Sunday Gospel 5.

Tuesday of Bright Week.

The Gospel of Luke, conceived 114

In those days Jesus rose from the dead, stood in the midst of His disciples, and said to them, Peace be unto you. They, confused and frightened, thought that they were seeing a spirit. But He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do such thoughts enter into your hearts? Look at My hands and My feet; it is I Myself; touch Me and see; for the spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. And having said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And when they were not yet believing for joy, and were amazed, He said to them, Have you any food here? They gave Him some of the baked fish and honeycomb. And he took it, and ate before them. And he said to them, This is what I have told you while I was with you, that all things must be fulfilled which are written about me in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the Psalms. Then he opened their minds to the understanding of the Scriptures. And he said unto them, 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 for repentance and forgiveness of sins in all nations, beginning with Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of this. And I will send My Father's promise upon you; but you remain in the city of Jerusalem until you are endowed with power from on high. And he brought them out of the city as far as Bethany, and lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And when he was blessing them, he began to depart from them and ascend to heaven. They worshipped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they were always in the temple, glorifying and blessing God. Amen.

Luke 24:36–53

The Sunday Gospel 6.

Ascension of the Lord, at the Liturgy.

The Gospel of John

The Gospel of John, conceived 1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. It was with God in the beginning. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life, and life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not enveloped it. There was a man sent from God; his name was John. He came to bear witness, to bear witness to the Light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but was sent to bear witness to the Light. There was a true Light, Which enlightens every person who comes into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him. And to those who received Him, to those who believe in His name, He gave the power to become children of God, who were not born of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; and we have seen His glory, the glory as the Only Begotten of the Father. John bears witness to Him, and exclaiming, he says, "This was the One of whom I said, that He who came after me stood before me, because he was before me." And of His fullness we have all received grace for grace, for the law was given through Moses; but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

John 1:1–17

On the Holy and Great Week of Pascha, at the Liturgy.