If you are
devout and love God, enjoy this beautiful and radiant festival. If you are a
grateful servant, enter, rejoicing, into the joy of your Lord. If you followed
the fast, receive your payment now. If you
worked from the first hour, receive today your just reward. If you came after
the third hour, you are welcomed to celebrate. If you arrived after the sixth
hour, have no doubt; for you suffer no loss. If you delayed until the ninth
hour, come near with no cause to hesitate. If you

arrived even at the
eleventh hour, do not be fearful of the lateness; for the Lord is generous and
accepts the last as He does the first. He gives
rest to him of the eleventh hour, as to him who worked from the first hour. He
shows mercy to the last and attends to the first. To the one is given and to
the other is granted. He accepts the works and welcomes the volition. He honors
the act and praises the intention. All of
you, therefore, enter into the joy of our Lord; both first and last, receive
your reward. You rich and poor, with one another dance. You who are abstinent
and you who are indolent,honor this day. You who have fasted and you who have
not fasted, be glad today. The table is richly laden; all of you, feast
sumptuously. The calf is plentiful; let no one depart hungry. All of you partake
of the banquet of faith. All of you enjoy the wealth of goodness. Let no one
deplore his poverty, for the Universal Kingdom has been revealed. Let no one

lament for
transgressions, because forgiveness has dawned from the Tomb. Let no one fear
death, for the death of the Savior has set us free. He subdued
it when it took hold of Him. He despoiled Hades when He descended into Hades.

He embittered it as
it tasted of His flesh. And anticipating this, Isaiah cried out, "Hades
was embittered when it encountered You below."

It was
embittered, for it was abolished.

It was
embittered, for it was mocked.

It was
embittered, for it was mortified.

It was
embittered, for it was dethroned.

It was
embittered, for it was enchained.

It
received a body and came upon God. It received earth and met up with heaven. It
received what it saw and stumbled upon what it did not see. Death, where is
your sting? Hades, where is your victory?

Christ is
risen, and you are overthrown.

Christ is
risen, and the demons are fallen.

Christ is
risen, and the angels rejoice.

Christ is
risen, and life rules. Christ is
risen, and not one is to be found dead in the tomb. For Christ
rising from the dead has become the first to awaken among those who are asleep.

To Him be
the glory and the power to the ages of ages. Amen.✠