Is there anyone who is a devout lover of God? Let them enjoy this beautiful bright festival!

Is there anyone who is a grateful servant? Let them rejoice and enter into the joy of their Lord!

Are there any weary with fasting? Let them now receive their wages!

If any have toiled from the first hour, let them receive their due reward;

If any have come after the third hour, let him with gratitude join in the Feast!

And he that arrived after the sixth hour, let him not doubt; for he too shall sustain no loss.

And if any delayed until the ninth hour, let him not hesitate; but let him come too.

And he who arrived only at the eleventh hour, let him not be afraid by reason of his delay.

For the Lord is gracious and receives the last even as the first. He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour, as well as to him that toiled from the first.

To this one He gives, and upon another He bestows. He accepts the works as He greets the endeavor. The deed He honors and the intention He commends.

Let us all enter into the joy of the Lord!
First and last alike receive your reward;
rich and poor, rejoice together!
Sober and slothful, celebrate the day!

You that have kept the fast, and you that have not, rejoice today for the Table is richly laden! Feast royally on it, the calf is a fatted one. Let no one go away hungry.

Partake, all, of the cup of faith. Enjoy all the riches of His goodness!

Let no one grieve at his poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed.
Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again; for forgiveness has risen from the grave. Let no one fear death, for the Death of our Savior has set us free. He has destroyed it by enduring it.

He destroyed Hades when He descended into it. He put it into an uproar even as it tasted of His flesh. Isaiah foretold this when he said, "You, O Hell, have been troubled by encountering Him below."

Hell was in an uproar because it was done away with. It was in an uproar because it is mocked.

It was in an uproar, for it is destroyed.
It is in an uproar, for it is annihilated.
It is in an uproar, for it is now made captive.

Hell took a body, and discovered God.
It took earth, and encountered Heaven.
It took what it saw, and was overcome by what it did not see.

O death, where is thy sting?
O Hades, where is thy victory?

Christ is Risen
and you, o death, are annihilated!

Christ is Risen,
and the evil ones are cast down!

Christ is Risen,
and the angels rejoice!

Christ is Risen,
and life is liberated!

Christ is Risen
and the tomb is emptied of its dead;
for Christ having risen from the dead,
is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

To Him be Glory and Power forever and ever. Amen!
-- St. John Chrysostom

Easter VI

INTROIT. Isaiah 48:20. With a voice of singing declare ye this, and let it be heard, alleluia: utter it even unto the ends of the earth: the Lord hath delivered his people, alleluia, alleluia. Psalm 66.1. O be joyful in God, all ye lands: sing praises unto the honor of his Name, make his praise to be glorious. Glory be... With a voice....

COLLECT. O God, who has prepared for those who love thee such good things as pass man's undêrstanding: Pour into our hearts such love toward thêe, that we, loving thee in all things and above all things, may obtain thy promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ ôur Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, ône God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Lesson from the Acts of the Apostles.

In those days, they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the LORD Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord. Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth through-out all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

PSALM. 33:1-8, 18-22. REJOICE in the LORD, O ye righteous; for it becometh well the just to be thankful. Praise the LORD with harp; sing praises unto him with the lute, and instrument of ten strings. Sing unto the Lord a new song; sing praises lustily unto him with a good courage. For the word of the LORD is true; and all his works are faithful. He loveth righteousness and judgment; the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD. By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. He gathereth the waters of the sea together, as it were upon an heap; and layeth up the deep, as in a treasure-house. Let all the earth fear the LORD: stand in awe of him, all ye that dwell in the world. Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, and upon them that put their trust in his mercy; to deliver their soul from death, and to feed them in the time of dearth. Our soul hath patiently tarried for the LORD; for he is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in him; because we have hoped in his holy Name. Let thy merciful kindness, O LORD, be upon us, like as we do put our trust in thee.

The Lesson from the First Epistle of Blessed John the Apostle

Dearly Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

ALLELUIA, alleluia. John 16:28. I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.

Alleluia. John 15:16. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you and ordained you: that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain. Alleluia.

The Continuation of the Holy Gospel
According to John.

At that time, Jesus said unto his disciples, As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. These things I command you, that ye love one another. The Creed is said.

OFFERTORY. Psalm 66:7,8,18. O bless the Lord our God, ye people; and make the voice of his praise to be heard: who holdeth our soul in life and suffereth not our feet to slip. Blessed be the Lord who hath not cast out my prayer: nor turned his mercy from me, alleluia.

SECRET. We beseech thee, O Lord, to accept the prayers and oblations of thy faithful people: that through this observance of our bounden devotion we may attain to the glory of thy heavenly kingdom. Through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

COMMUNION. John 15:5. I am the true vine, and ye are the branches: he that abideth in me and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit, alleluia, alleluia.

POSTCOMMUNION. Grant, we beseech thêe, O Lord: that we, whom thou hast fulfilled with the bounty of thy heavenly banqûet, may evermore desire those things that are according to thy will, and effectually obtain all things that we desire. Through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lôrd, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever ône God, world without end. Amen.

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