Earthblog

Here we are at the 4th day of the Easter season or Bright Wednesday as it is known in the Orthodox and Byzantine Catholic traditions. The whole week after Easter Sunday to the following Saturday is called Bright Week and is considered to be a single continuous day.

But are we living this week as Bright Week or just No-Longer-Lent?

According to the Council of Trullo: "from the holy day of the Resurrection of Christ our God until New Sunday (i.e. Thomas Sunday) for a whole week the faithful in the holy churches should continually be repeating psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, rejoicing and celebrating Christ, and attending to the reading of the Divine Scriptures and delighting in the Holy Mysteries. For in this way shall we be exalted with Christ; raised up together with Him. For this reason on the aforesaid days that by no means there be any horse races or any other public spectacle".

In pre-revolutionary Russia, the taverns used to be closed during Bright Week, and no alcoholic beverages were sold. Hmmm, that would cramp the average Catholic's No-Longer-Lent style.

OK. Singing. Rejoicing and celebrating Christ. Delighting in the Holy Mysteries. No horse races. Got it.

If you would like to do some serious singing and delighting in the Holy Mysteries, the Great Doxology is a fantastic place to begin. Sung here by the Boston Byzantine Choir. Feel free to sing along.

Glory to you who has shown us the light.

Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill to all people.

We praise you, we bless you, we worship you, we glorify you, we give thanks to you for your great glory.

Lord, King, heavenly God, Father, almighty; Lord, the only?begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit.

Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father who take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us, you who take away the sins of the world.

Receive our prayer, you who sit at the right hand of the Father, and have mercy on us.

For you only are holy, only you are Lord

Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Each day we bless you, and we praise your name forever and to the ages of ages.

Lord, grant that we may be kept this day without sin.

Blessed are you, Lord, God of our fathers. Your name is praised and glorified throughout all ages. Amen.

Let your mercy, Lord, be upon us, as our trust is in you.

Blessed are you, Lord, teach me your statutes (3).

Lord, you have been our refuge from generation to generation. I said: Lord, have mercy on me; heal my soul, for I have sinned against you.

Lord, to you have I fled; teach me to do your will, for you are my God.

For you are the source of life, and in your light we shall see light.

Extend your mercy to those who know you.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us (3).

Glory . . . Now and forever . . .

Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.

(Then we sing in a stronger voice:)

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.^[1