Bright Thursday

Bright Thursday

Text from “The Divine Liturgy: An Anthology for Worship”; Pg. 501 & Pg. 513

Liturgical Instruction: After the priest exclaims “Blessed is the Kingdom” and we have responded “Amen,” the clergy sing the following Tropar once and the people repeat it. Then the clergy sing the first half, and we conclude it. This is done every day until the Wednesday before Ascension Thursday.

Troparion: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling death by death, and to those in the tombs giving life. (3x).

First Antiphon

Verse 1: Shout to the Lord, all the earth, sing now to His name, give glory to His praise (Ps 65:2).

Refrain: Through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Saviour, save us.

Verse 2: Say unto God, “How awesome are your works! Because of the greatness of Your strength Your enemies will flatter you” (Ps 65:3).

Refrain: Through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Saviour, save us.

Verse 3: Let all the earth worship You and sing to You, let it sing to Your name, O Most High! (Ps 65:3)

Refrain: Through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Saviour, save us.

+Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

If the second antiphon is sung: (Refrain: Through the prayers of the Mother of God O Saviour, save us.) Otherwise we sing: Only-begotten Son..

Second Antiphon

Verse 1: God be merciful to us and bless us; make the light of Your face shine upon us and have mercy on us (Ps 66:2).
Refrain: Son of God, risen from the dead, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
Verse 2: That we may know Your way upon earth, Your salvation among all nations (Ps 66:3).
Refrain: Son of God, risen from the dead, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
Verse 3: Let the peoples give praise to You, O God, may all the peoples give praise to You (Ps 66:4).
Refrain: Son of God, risen from the dead, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
Glory… now… Only-begotten Son…

 

Third Antiphon

Verse 1 (Soloist): Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered; let those who hate Him flee from before His face (Ps 67:2).

Troparion: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling death by death, and to those in the tombs giving life.

Verse 2 (Soloist): As smoke vanishes, let them vanish, as wax melts before the fire (Ps 67:3).

Troparion: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling death by death, and to those in the tombs giving life.

Verse 3 (Soloist): So let sinners perish before the face of God, but let the righteous be glad (Ps 67:3-4).

Troparion: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling death by death, and to those in the tombs giving life.

Entrance Verse (Soloist): In the churches bless God, the Lord from the fountains of Israel (Ps 67:27).

Troparion: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling death by death, and to those in the tombs giving life.

+Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion (Tone 8): Though You descended into a tomb, O Immortal One,* yet You destroyed the power of Hades;* and You rose as victor, O Christ God,* calling to the myrrh-bearing women: Rejoice!* and giving peace to Your apostles:* You, who grant Resurrection to the fallen.

Instead of “Holy God…”: All you, who have been baptized into Christ, you have put on Christ! Alleluia!

Prokimenon (Tone 3): Sing to our God, sing;* sing to our King, sing
(Ps 46:7).

verse: Clap your hands, all you nations; shout unto God with the voice of joy (Ps 46:2).

Epistle (Act 2:38-43): In those days Peter said to the people: ‘Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.’ And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, ‘Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.’ So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles.

Alleluia (Tone 4):
verse: Poise yourself and advance in triumph and reign in the cause of truth, and meekness, and justice (Ps 44:5).
verse: You have loved justice and hated iniquity (Ps 44:8).

Gospel: (John 3:1-15): At that time there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?’ Jesus answered, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, “You must be born from above.” The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can these things be?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? ‘Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

Instead of “It is truly…” (Pg. 507): The Angel cried out to the One full of Grace: O chaste Virgin, rejoice! And again I say, Rejoice! Your Son has risen from the tomb on the third day, and raised the dead. Let all people rejoice!

Irmos (Tone 1):Shine, shine, O new Jerusalem! for the glory of the Lord has risen upon you! Exult now and be glad, O Zion! And you, O chaste Mother of God, take delight in the resurrection of your Son

Communion Verse: Receive the body of Christ; taste the fountain of immortality. Alleluia! (3x).


Instead of
“Blessed is He…”: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling death by death, and to those in the tombs giving life.

 Instead of “We have seen the true light…”: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling death by death, and to those in the tombs giving life.

Instead of “Let our mouths…”: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling death by death, and to those in the tombs giving life (3x).

 Instead of “Blessed be the name of the Lord…”: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling death by death, and to those in the tombs giving life (3x).

“Christ is risen” is sung again once (using a simple chord chant) instead of “Glory be to the Father…” at the dismissal.

Then the Troparion “Christ is risen” is sung as in the beginning of the Liturgy, but with an additional ending.

Troparion: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling death by death, and to those in the tombs giving life (3x).

And to us He has granted life eternal;* we bow down before His resurrection on the third day.

Divine Liturgy:
PDF – Bright Thursday – UKRAINIAN
PDF – Bright Saturday – ENGLISH
PDF – Bright Thursday – ENG-UKR

PDF -_Apr Liturgical Booklet – ENG/UKR