Rite of the Holy Fifty Days (Pentecostal Days)

It is the joyful (festal) rite, characterized by joyful melodies appropriate for feasts and spiritual celebrations.

• The hymn “Alleluia Fai pe pi”, “Tai Shori”, the Praxis response, the Psalm response, the Gospel response, the Adam and Watos Aspasmos, and the distribution hymn are all said in their festal forms

• There is no fasting at all and no prostrations (metanias)

• Only the Psalms of the Third and Sixth Hours are prayed before offering the Lamb

Vespers Praise

The praise is prayed as usual, with The Commemoration (Synaxis) in the festal rite, The Resurrection Psali (Adam or Watos), On Sunday evenings, the exposition (Tarh) for each Sunday of the Holy Fifty Days is read from the book of the Cross and Palm Sunday procession before the conclusion. After the Feast of Ascension, the Ascension Psali (Adam or Watos) is added

Raising of Incense Vespers & Matins

- Incense is offered as usual in the festal rite, with Verses of the Cymbals:

• Adam days: “Apekhristos pen-nouti”, “Shere tef Anastasis”, “Anon kha ni laos”, “Oun ouhelpis”, “Shere ne Maria ti-chrompi”, “Shere ne Maria khen ou-shere”, “Shere Michael”, Then continues as in festal days

• Watos days: First two verses as above, Then “Shere te ekklesia”, Continue from the fifth verse

- The Resurrection doxologies are said (and after Ascension, the Ascension doxology is added), followed by Doxology of the Virgin Mary, Doxology of Archangel Michael, Other appropriate doxologies.

- The Psalm and Gospel responses of the Holy Fifty Days are said

Midnight Praise (Tasbeha)

Prayed as usual in the joyful tune, with: The praise “Ten Nav” after “Ten Theno”, The verses “Nem gar khen ni noti” after the Theotokia every day from the Feast of Resurrection until the end of the Fifty Days, Afterward, they are said only on Sundays until the end of the Sundays of Hathor

• The Commemoration is said in the festal rite and Doxologies and Psalis are said as in Vespers and Matins

• From the Feast of Ascension, an Ascension Psali (Adam & Watos) is added

• The Difnar is not read throughout the Fifty Days, Instead, a Sunday exposition (Tarh) is read for each Sunday from the Cross and Palm Sunday procession book

The Liturgy

• Psalms of the Third and Sixth Hours are prayed. The Lamb is offered, and the hymns:“Alleluia Fai pe pi”, “Tai Shori” are said

• The Resurrection intercessions, the Praxis response, and the rest of the hymns are said. The Synaxarion is not read during the Holy Fifty Days

• After the Praxis The Resurrection procession is performed as on the Feast of Resurrection

• From Ascension onward, the hymn “Afrek Etve” is added

• After Thursday Ascension The procession is done daily only inside the sanctuary (three times) chanting: “Christos Anesti” and “Christos Analimpsis”

• On Pentecost Sunday The procession is done during Matins incense, throughout the entire church

Details of the Resurrection Procession

The Resurrection icon is prepared with Crosses, incense, and candles. It is carried by a priest or deacon. Procession Around the altar three times, Around the church three times, Then once around the altar. Hymns chanted: “Christos Anesti”, “Ton Sina” and Concludes with “Apekhristos Aftonf”. The icon is placed before the sanctuary and candles are lit.

• Incense is offered in front of The Resurrection Icon saying:

  1. First hand: We worship You, O Christ our God, and Your life-giving Resurrection, for You have risen and saved us.

  2. Second hand: O my Lord Jesus Christ, You who rose from the dead, crush Satan under our feet swiftly.

  3. Third hand: Peace to the Resurrection of Christ, who rose from the dead and saved us from our sins.

• After the procession: Verses “Apin Shoys”, The Trisagion in joyful tune, adding: “You who rose from the dead…” and From Ascension: “You who rose… and ascended into the heavens…”

• Gospel litany: Psalm in Singary tune, Gospel in Coptic and Arabic, then Gospel response

• From the Feast of the Resurrection until the 39th day of the Holy Fifty Days, the Processional Psalm is said:
  “Alleluia, Alleluia. Jesus Christ, the King of Glory, rose from the dead on the third day. Alleluia, Alleluia.” And after the Gospel it is said: “Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. Jesus Christ, the King of Glory, rose from the dead, He who…” (etc.). The Adam or Watos Aspasmos is also said.

• From the Feast of the Ascension until the 49th day of the Holy Fifty Days, the Processional Psalm is said: “Alleluia, Alleluia. Christ rose from the dead and ascended into the heavens and sat at the right hand of His Father. Alleluia, Alleluia.” And after the Gospel it is said: “Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. Christ rose from the dead and ascended into the heavens, He who…” (etc.).

• The Fraction prayer of the Resurrection is said, and after the Feast of the Ascension, the Ascension phrase is added.

• During the distribution, Psalm 150 is chanted in the joyful tune, followed by the hymn “Kata Ni Khoros” for distribution until the 39th day of the Fifty Days. From the Feast of the Ascension, the hymn “Afrek Etfe” is said. At the end, the concluding phrase of the communal prayers is said.

• Feasts of the Virgin Mary, the Theotokos, the angels, apostles, martyrs, and saints, if they fall during the Holy Fifty Days, do not change the readings or rites of the Fifty Days. Also, the Synaxarium is not read, because the radiance of Christ’s Resurrection—the Sun of Righteousness—outshines the light of the stars and planets.