2025

On Sunday | April 20

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The Readings from the Regular Cycle

The Epistle

Holy and Great Sunday of Pascha

The reading is from the Acts of the Apostles.

Acts 1:1 – 8

In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. To them he presented himself alive after his passion by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days, and speaking of the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me, for John baptized with water, but before many days you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom of Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.” [RSV]

The Gospel

Holy and Great Sunday of Pascha

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to John.

Jn. 1:1 – 17

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light. That was the true light that enlightens every man coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. (John bore witness to him, and cried, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, for he was before me.’”) And from his fullness have we all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. [RSV]

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Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.

Synaxarion

From the Menaion.

On April 20, we commemorate our devout father Theodore, called “Trichinas,” (which means he wore a hair-shirt).

On this day we also commemorate the holy Martyrs Victor, Zotikos, Zeno, Acindynos, Caesarius, Severian, Christopher, Theonas, and Antoninus.

On this day we also commemorate our devout father John Paleolavriotes.

On this day we also commemorate the holy Hieromartyr Anastasios of Antioch.

On this day we also commemorate the holy Apostle Zacchaeus.

On this day, devout Saint Athanasios, who built the Monastery of Meteora in Thessaly around the year 1310, and who was originally from Patras, died in peace.

Devout Saint Ioasaf, the fellow ascetic of Saint Athanasios of Meteora, died in peace.

From the Pentecostarion.

On the holy and great Sunday of Pascha we celebrate the very life-bearing Resurrection of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ.

Verses

Christ went down alone to battle Hades,

He came up taking with Him many spoils of vict’ry.

To Him be the glory and the dominion to the ages of ages. Amen.

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Fasting Rule

Fast Free: All foods allowed.

It is Pascha and Bright Week.