Holy Dormition Orthodox Church

Do not lament Me, O Mother,
seeing laid in the tomb
the Son whom thou hast conceived
without seed in thy womb.
For I shall arise,
and shall be glorified,
and as God I shall exalt in everlasting glory
those who magnify Thee with faith and love.

[From the Lamentations of Great and Holy Friday]

Joseph, together with Nicodemus,
took Thee down from the Tree,
Who clothest Thyself with light as with a garment.
He gazed on Thy body – dead, naked, and unburied,
and in grief and tender compassion he lamented:
“Woe is me, my sweetest Jesus!
A short while ago, the sun beheld Thee hanging on the Cross,
and it hid itself in darkness.
The earth quaked in fear at the sight.
The veil of the Temple was torn in two.
Lo, now I see Thee willingly submit to death for our sake.
How shall I bury Thee, O my God?
How can I wrap Thee in a shroud?
How can I touch Thy most pure body with my hands?
What songs can I sing for Thine exodus, O compassionate One?
I magnify Thy Passion.
I glorify Thy burial,
and Thy holy Resurrection,
crying, O Lord, glory to Thee!”

[From Vespers on Great and Holy Friday]

We see a strange and fearful mystery accomplished today:
He Whom none may touch is seized.
He Who looses Adam from the curse is bound.
He Who tries the hearts of men is unjustly brought to trial.
He Who closed the abyss is shut in prison.
He before Whom the Hosts of Heaven stand with trembling stands before Pilate.
The Creator is struck by the hand of His creature.
He Who comes to judge the living and the dead is condemned to the Cross.
The Conqueror of Hell is enclosed in a tomb.
Thou Who hast endured all these things in Thy tender love,
hast saved all mankind from the curse.
O long-suffering Lord, glory to Thee!

[From Vespers for Great and Holy Friday]

Jesus, as Thou walked in the flesh
on the other side of the Jordan,
Thou said to Thy companions:
My friend Lazarus is already dead,
and now has been committed to the tomb.
And so for your sakes, I rejoice, My friends,
for by this you shall learn that I know all things.
For I am God, inseparable from the Father,
though in my visible appearance I am man.
Let us go, then, to bring him back to life,
that Death may feel the defeat and complete destruction
I bring upon it,
Granting the world great mercy.

[From Vespers, Wednesday before Lazarus Saturday]

Schedule for Holy Week