Sunday of Pascha – Great Vespers

Themes:  Victory over death, praise of our God Who alone does wondrous things, and the universality of the Gospel

Gospel Reading: John 20:19-25

Sometime late on Easter Sunday morning or in the afternoon hours, we celebrate the Vespers of Pascha, also known as the Agape service.  It is a Great Vespers service centered upon the message of Pascha – the risen Jesus Christ.  All the hymns give glory to God for His resurrection from the dead, for freeing us from the curse of the ancient law – death, and for restoring mankind (and indeed the entire world) to its former position – communion and union with God.

At the time of the entrance of the Gospels, the beautiful evening hymn is sung: “O gladsome Light, of the Holy Glory of the Immortal Father, Heavenly, Holy, Blessed Jesus Christ!  As we come to the setting of the sun and see the evening light, we praise God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  It is proper at all times to praise You with fitting voices, O Son of God and Giver of Life; behold the universe sings Your glory.”  This is read at Vespers services and sung at Great Vespers services.  As has been one of the themes for the resurrection, Jesus is the Light of the world and this hymn shows that Christ’s Light is of the God the Father and thus unifies them as One God.  It’s also interesting to note, just like in the prayer of the Three Youths, the participation of all of creation in worship of its Creator.

Just after this hymn is sung, a brief hymn called a prokeimenon is sung (usually just a verse or two of a Psalm).  On this day, we sing the Great Prokeimenon (sung also on Pentecost, Epiphany and at an ordination):  “Who is so great a God as our God.  For you are the God Who alone works wonders.”  This is from Psalm 76/77.  This beautiful hymn simply gives glory to God – because truly our God is the only One Who can do such things as condescend to become incarnate, suffer, die, and rise from the dead to bring His creation back into His kingdom.

 The gospel lesson is about the appearances of Jesus after His resurrection (John 20:19-25).  Primarily, it recounts 10 of the 11 disciples being present at Jesus first appearance to them with Thomas absent.  Thomas tells the other disciples, out of disbelief for joy, that he needs to place his hands in the mark of the nails to know Jesus has truly risen.  Once again the disciples are together and Thomas was there, and Jesus tells him to put his hands in the mark of the nails and in His side.  This important event is further proof of Jesus physical resurrection from the dead. 

This Gospel lesson is traditionally read in many languages.  The reason is that the great message of Christ’s resurrection from the dead, the triumph of Christ and life over death, must be proclaimed throughout all the world.
Finally, if there are any liturgies during the week following the resurrection, known as Bright Week or Renewal Week, all the Orthros services and Liturgies retain the resurrectional tone of the Sunday of Pascha.  Also, for the weeks after Bright Week until the Thursday of the Ascension (40 days after Pascha), all the services in the Church retain a similar resurrectional tone as that of Pascha. 
With Love in Christ,
+Fr. Nick