Easter Sunday

The angel answered the women, “Don’t be afraid, for I
know that you seek Jesus, who has been crucified.

He is not here, for he has risen, just like he said.

Come, see the place where the Lord was lying

At the end of the third Kauma of the night, the priest and the deacons enter the sanctuary and put on their vestments. Then the tomb behind the altar is opened and the cross is taken out and the wrappings of burial around the cross is removed. The priest covers the cross with a red scarf and a red silk velvet veil over it as prophesied by the Prophet Isaiah, saying: Who is this that comes from Edom in crimsoned garments (Isaiah 63:1). The cross is then placed on the stand in between two lighted candles. While the sanctuary is closed, the celebrant conducts secret prayers. During this time, the congregation sings Kuriealison. After the supplication, the sanctuary is opened and the priest holds the cross high and comes to the door of the sanctuary. With lighted candles and marvahasas (fans) on both sides of the cross, the priest says in a loud voice: 

“Priest: My brethren, I bring you new glad tidings: Christ has risen from the tomb and has struck His enemies behind Him“

Congregation: "We believe and confess that He has indeed risen"

For the next 50 days, until Pentecost, the faithful shall greet one another by saying:

“Christ is risen“ and the response shall be “Indeed He is risen“

Easter Sunday
                     
 Evening

• St. Mark 16:1- 8

Midnight

• St. Luke 24:1-12

Morning

• St. John 20:1-18

Celebration of the Holy Cross

• Isaiah 60:17-22
• I Peter 5:5-14
• Romans 16:1-16
• St. John 14:27, 15:11-15, 17-19

Before Holy Qurbana

• Leviticus 23:26-32
• Isaiah 60:1-7, 11-16, 61:10-62:5

Holy Qurbana

• Acts 2:22-36
• I Corinthians 15:1-19
• St. Matthew 28:1-20