From the Paschal Week to
All-Saints’ Sunday
The Paschal hymns are sung through all the forty days until the feast
of the Ascension. The first Sunday after Pascha is called the Sunday of
the Apostle Thomas, also the Anti-Paschal and the Renewal Sunday. The first
name is given to this day because it is dedicated to the memory of the Lord’s
appearing to the disciples, among whom was Thomas; the second and third names
refer to the fact that on that day, for the first time after Pascha
Sunday, the celebration of the Resurrection is repeated and renewed. On the
Tuesday of this week, and, in some localities; on the Monday also, a commemoration
of the dead takes place, which is called a “joyful” one (Rádonitsa),
because the prayers for the rest of the souls of the departed begin with the
joyful tidings of the Resurrection. On the second Sunday the service is in
honor of the Myrrh-bearing Women, Joseph of Arimathæa, and Nicodemus. The
third Sunday commemorates the healing of the paralytic; the fourth, the
conversation with the Samaritan woman; the fifth, the healing of the man blind
from birth. On Wednesday of the sixth week the Paschal festival is declared
ended with closing prayers, and the singing of the Paschal hymns ceases.
On Thursday of the
sixth week, which is the fortieth day from Pascha Sunday, is commemorated
the Ascension of Christ into Heaven.
The substance of the
hymns for this day is expressed in the troparion: — “Thou hast ascended
in glory, O Christ our God, having gladdened Thy disciples with the promise of
the Holy Spirit; and they were assured by the blessing that Thou art the Son of
God, the Redeemer of the world.”
On the fiftieth day after Pascha Sunday and the tenth after
the Ascension is celebrated the feast commemorating the Descent of the Holy
Spirit upon the disciples of Christ. It is called
the feast of the Pentecost and lasts for two days. The first day of this feast
is sacred to the honor and glory of the Most Holy Trinity and the memory of the
descent of the Holy Spirit, and is called “Trinity Day.” The second day is celebrated
in honor of the All-holy, life-giving, and All-mighty Spirit, and is called
“Spirit-Day.” The Church prepares for this feast by commemorating all the dead
the day before. On Trinity Day, Vespers follow immediately after the Liturgy,
and at this service three prayers are offered while kneeling, that the Lord may
send down to us the grace of the Holy Spirit and remember all the departed
souls. It is customary to decorate the churches and houses on this day with
trees and flowers, and to stand at Vespers holding flowers. The trees and the
flowers are offered to God as the first-fruits of summer, and remind us that
Christians receive the renovation of their souls through the action of the Holy
Spirit. In honor of this great feast, the Church dispenses from fasting on the
Wednesday and Friday of the week following it.
Troparion for the day. — “Blessed art Thou, O Christ our God, Who hast shown forth the
fishermen as supremely wise, by sending down upon them the Holy Spirit, and
through them didst draw the world into Thy net. O Lover of mankind, glory be to Thee.”
The Sunday following that of the Pentecost is consecrated to all
the Saints, especially to those in whose honor no special celebration has
been instituted, on account of their numbers, or because of their names being
unknown. With this day ends the series of movable services.