Divine Liturgy:PASCHA:
The Bright and Glorious Resurrection of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ
Sunday Morning, April 12, 2026
PASCHA: The Bright and Glorious Resurrection of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ
Fast Free!
Priest Micah J. Chisholm, Rector Phone: (989) 324-8773
[www.stsebastianorthodoxchurch.org]
Instead of “O come let us worship…”, the Priest intones the entry verse:
In congregations bless ye God, the Lord from the wellsprings of Israel.
Troparion: Pascal Troparion
Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life! (X1)
Hypakoe – Tone 8
Before the dawn Mary and the women came and found the stone rolled away from the tomb. They heard the angelic voice: “Why do you seek among the dead as a man the One who is Everlasting Light? Behold the clothes in the grave. Go and proclaim to the world: The Lord is risen! He has slain death, as He is the Son of God, saving the race of man!”
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit!
Both now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen
Kontakion: Resurrectional Kontakion – Tone 8
Thou didst descend into the tomb, O Immortal. Thou didst destroy the power of death! In victory didst Thou arise, O Christ God, proclaiming “Rejoice!” to the myrrh-bearing women, granting peace to Thine Apostles, and bestowing resurrection on the fallen!
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The Prokeimenon (in the 8th Tone): This is the day which the Lord has made! Let us rejoice and be glad in it!
Verse: O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, for His mercy endureth forever.
Epistle Reading (Acts 1:1-8 (§1))
The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" And He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
Gospel (St. John 1:1-17 (§1))
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 nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 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, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.' " And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
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Hymn to the Theotokos
The angel cried to the Lady Full of Grace: “Rejoice, rejoice, O Pure Virgin! Again I say: Rejoice! Thy Son is risen from His three days in the tomb! With Himself He has raised all the dead! Rejoice, rejoice, O ye people!” Shine! Shine! Shine! O New Jerusalem! The glory of the Lord has shown on thee! Exalt now, exalt and be glad, O Zion! Be radiant, O Pure Theotokos, in the Resurrection, the Resurrection of Thy Son!
Communion Hymn
Receive ye the body of Christ, taste ye of the fountain of immortality. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Pre-Communion Prayer
I believe, O Lord, and I confess that Thou art truly the Christ, the Son of the living God, Who didst come into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. Moreover, I believe that this is truly Thy most Pure Body, and that this is truly Thine Own Precious Blood. Wherefore, I pray Thee: Have mercy on me and forgive me my transgressions, voluntary and involuntary, in word and in deed, in knowledge and in ignorance. And vouchsafe me to partake without condemnation of Thy most pure Mysteries unto the remission of my sins and life everlasting. Amen.
Of Thy Mystical Supper, O Son of God, receive me today as a communicant; for I will not speak of the Mystery to Thine enemies, nor will I give Thee a kiss as did Judas, but like the Thief do I confess Thee: Remember me, O Lord, in Thy Kingdom.
Let not the communion of Thy Holy Mysteries be unto me for judgment, or condemnation, O Lord, but for thehealing of soul and body. Amen.
Polychronion (The Many Years)
Our Great Lord and Father, His Holiness Kyrill, Patriarch of Moscow and All the Rus, our Lord the Very Most Reverend Nicholas, Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, our lord the Most Reverend Gabriel, Archbishop of Montreal and Canada, and their God-protected flock, this land, its civil authorities and armed forces, the God-preserved Lands of Rus, the Rector of this Holy Parish and all Orthodox Christians: preserve, O Lord, for many years!
Christ is Risen!! Indeed He is Risen!!
We welcome everyone to Saint Sebastian Orthodox Church. Please join us for a time of fellowship following the Divine Liturgy.
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Note: The Parish Council has decided to regularly publish our latest “Operational” financial health status for general awareness. The information will be freshened each month. Here is the 2026 status as of 03/31/26:
March only Yr to Date
Total Operating Income to Date: $ 9,190 $ 26,377
Total Operating Expenses to Date: $ 7,545 * $ 26,652 *
Current Building Fund Balance $ 36,187
* Includes Diocesan Assessment increment
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Please pray for our Catechumens:
Chandler Zent & Patrick Eakin
And also for Ma. Stephanie, and Donald Clewley & Family
If you are interested in learning more about the Orthodox faith,
or are interested in learning how you can become a part of Saint Sebastian Orthodox Christian Church,
please speak to Father Micah.
