Chapter XVII · THE ORDINANCE THAT IS OBSERVED CONCERNING THE CARRYING FORTH OF THEM THAT FALL ASLEEP IN HOLY PASCHA, AND IN ALL THE BRIGHT WEEK.
G. V. (George Vincent) Shann translation
It behoveth to know that if any pass away on holy pascha, or on any day whatever of the bright week until the sunday of Thomas, somewhat less of the customary song for them that have fallen asleep is sung, because of the majesty and honour of the joyful festival of the resurrection; for it is a festival of joy and gladness, and not of lamentation. And since all who die in hope of resurrection and eternal life are through the resurrection of Christ, removed from the griefs of this world to things that are joyful and glad, the church at the time when Christ is risen proclaimeth this by the resurrection song over them that have fallen asleep; and, by somewhat less song, ectenias and prayer for them that have fallen asleep, we are assured that he that dieth in penitence, if he have not yet made satisfaction concerning his iniquities, these are remitted to him by the prayers of the church, and that he is freed from their bond.
The priest then having come, with his clerks, to the house in which the body of the dead lieth, and put on him the epitrachelion and the phelonion, and censed the remains, beginneth as customarily,
Blessed be our God.... And the clerk singeth, Christ is risen.... in tone v. And the priest saith the customary verses, that is to say, Let God arise.... and all the rest.
And while these are being sung, the priest sprinkleth the body of the dead with sanctified water, and his coffin without and within, and straightway they lay him therein. And, the song being ended, the deacon saith the customary ectenias for them that have fallen asleep. And the priest in a low voice readeth the prayer, that is to say, O God of Spirits.... Vide page 139. And after the exclamation they read,
Having seen the resurrection of Christ....
And taking up the remains of him that hath fallen asleep, they go forth to the church, the priests, deacons, and every clerk going before, and the lay people following; and, as they go, the clerks and singers sing the paschal canon, that is to say, It is the day of resurrection....
This in order until they come even unto the church. And in the church, having put down the remains, they conclude the canon that hath been begun, while the priests cense according to the customary rite. And at the fourth ode, the customary diaconals for them that have fallen asleep, with the prayer.
And he exclaimeth,
For thou art the resurrection, and the life....
Then, Preventing the dawn....
And after this the ivth ode is sung in order.
And after the sixth ode, the customary diaconals for them that have fallen asleep with the prayer.
And he exclaimeth, For thou art the resurrection and the life....
Then the condakion, Rest with the saints.
And the icos, Thyself alone immortal art.... Vide page 149.
And, instead of the trisagion,
As many as have been baptized into Christ....
The epistle in the Acts for the day being.[33] Alleluia in tone ii.
The first resurrection gospel.[34]
And after this, Having seen the resurrection of Christ, we adore....
And the other odes of the canon.
And after the conclusion of the canon is read or sung the exapostilarion, Asleep in flesh.... twice.
After these we sing, Blessed art thou, O Lord: O teach me thy statutes.
The angelic council was amaz’d....
Then the stichera of pascha, with their verses.
Glory. Both now.
It is the day of resurrection.... and Christ is risen.... thrice.
And these stichera having been sung, the customary kiss of him that hath fallen asleep taketh place, saying,
Christ is risen.
And after the stichera the customary diaconals for them that have fallen asleep with the prayer, which is read with a loud voice by the archpriest, or the priest, nigh unto the remains.
And he exclaimeth,
For thou art the resurrection and the life....
And the customary dismissal is made.
Then the prayer of absolution.
The Lord Jesus Christ our God.... Vide page 163.
And we go forth to the grave, bearing the body of him that hath fallen asleep to the burial. And the priests with all the clerks, preceding the remains, sing,
Christ is risen....
And they bury them with thanksgiving and joy, doing and saying all that is written at page 157 for the burial of a lay person.
And singing the troparion.
O earth that yawnest, take thou that that out of thee was made.
End of the order of the burial of them that fall asleep in the days of the bright week.
