Pilgrimage 2 part 2/3

When he has entered into the Anastasis, one hymn is recited, prayer is made, the catechumens are blessed, likewise the faithful, and the dismissal takes place. XXXIII. 1. Likewise on the third weekday (Tuesday) everything is done just as on the second weekday (Monday). This alone is added on the third weekday: that late at night, after the dismissal has been held at the Martyrium, and they have gone to the Anastasis, and again the dismissal has been held in the Anastasis, all at that hour of the night go to the church which is on Mount Eleona. 2. When they have come into that church, the bishop enters within the cave in which the Lord used to teach his disciples, and he takes the book of the Gospel, and standing, the bishop himself reads the words of the Lord which are written in the Gospel according to Matthew, that is, where he says:

'See that no one leads you astray.' And the bishop reads through that whole discourse. But when he has read it through, prayer is made, the catechumens are blessed, likewise also the faithful, the dismissal takes place, and each one returns from the mountain to his home when the night is already quite late. XXXIV. Likewise on the fourth weekday (Wednesday) everything is done throughout the whole day from the first cockcrow just as on the second and third weekday; but after the dismissal has been held by night at the Martyrium, and the bishop has been escorted with hymns to the Anastasis, the bishop immediately enters the cave which is in the Anastasis and stands within the screen; the presbyter, however, stands before the screen and takes the Gospel and reads that passage where Judas Iscariot went to the Jews and settled what they should give him to betray the Lord.

When that passage has been read, there is so great a groaning and moaning of the whole people that there is no one who cannot be moved to tears at that hour. Afterwards prayer is made, the catechumens are blessed, then the faithful, and the dismissal takes place. XXXV. 1. Likewise on the fifth weekday (Thursday) those things are done from the first cockcrow which are customary until morning at the Anastasis; likewise at the third and at the sixth hour. At the eighth hour, however, according to custom all the people gather at the Martyrium—but earlier than on the other days, because the dismissal must be held sooner. So, then, when all the people have gathered, those things are done which must be done; on that day the offering is made at the Martyrium, and the dismissal is held there at perhaps the tenth hour.

But before the dismissal takes place, the archdeacon lifts up his voice and says: 'At the first hour of the night let us all assemble in the church which is on the Eleona, for the greatest labour awaits us this very night.' 2. So when the dismissal has taken place at the Martyrium, they come behind the Cross; there only one hymn is recited, prayer is made, and the bishop offers the offering there, and all communicate. For except for that one day, throughout the whole year the offering is never made behind the Cross, save on that one day only. So when the dismissal has been held there too, they go to the Anastasis; prayer is made, the catechumens are blessed according to custom, and likewise the faithful, and the dismissal takes place.

And so each one hastens to return to his home to eat, because as soon as they have eaten, all go to the Eleona, into that church in which is the cave in which on that very day the Lord was with his apostles. 3. And there, until perhaps the fifth hour of the night, hymns or antiphons suited to the day and place are continually recited, and likewise readings; prayers are interposed; those passages also from the Gospel are read in which the Lord addressed his disciples on that same day, sitting in that same cave which is in that very church. 4. And from there, at perhaps the sixth hour of the night, they go up to the Imbomon with hymns, to that place from which the Lord ascended into heaven. And there again, in like manner, readings and hymns and antiphons suited to the day are recited;

the prayers also, whatever are made, which the bishop recites, he always recites suited both to the day and to the place. XXXVI. 1. And so, then, when cockcrow begins, they descend from the Imbomon with hymns and come to that same place where the Lord prayed, as is written in the Gospel: 'And he withdrew about a stone's throw and prayed,' and so on. For in that place there is a graceful church. The bishop enters there, and all the people; a prayer suited to the place and the day is recited, one suitable hymn is also recited, and that passage of the Gospel is read where he said to his disciples: 'Watch, that you enter not into temptation.' And that whole passage is read through there, and prayer is again made. 2.

And now from there, with hymns, all—down to the smallest infant—descend on foot with the bishop to Gethsemane, where, owing to the now great throng of the multitude and being worn out from the vigils and the daily fasts, weary because they must descend so great a mountain, slowly and gently with hymns they come to Gethsemane. More than two hundred church candles, moreover, are prepared to give light to all the people. 3. So when they have come to Gethsemane, first a suitable prayer is made, then a hymn is recited; likewise that passage of the Gospel is read where the Lord was seized. And when that passage has been read, there is so great a groaning and moaning of the whole people, with weeping, that perhaps the lamentation of all the people may be heard as far as the city.

And now from that hour they go to the city on foot with hymns, and arrive at the gate at the hour when one person begins, as it were, to recognize another; from there, all entirely through the middle of the city, every single one, greater and lesser, rich and poor, all are present there—especially on that day no one withdraws from the vigils until morning. Thus the bishop is escorted from Gethsemane as far as the gate, and from there through the whole city as far as the Cross. 4. But when they have come before the Cross, the light is already beginning to be, as it were, clear. There that passage of the Gospel is read again where the Lord is brought to Pilate, and everything whatsoever that is written that Pilate said to the Lord or to the Jews is all read. 5.

Afterwards the bishop addresses the people, comforting them, since they have laboured the whole night and will still labour on that very day, that they may not grow weary but may have hope in God, who will repay them a greater reward for that labour. And so, comforting them as best he can, addressing them he says to them: 'Go now meanwhile, each one to your little dwellings, sit down a little, and at about the second hour of the day all be ready here, so that from that hour until the sixth you may be able to see the holy wood of the cross—each one of us believing that it will be profitable unto his own salvation.

For from the sixth hour we must again all assemble here in this place—that is, before the Cross—so that we may give ourselves to readings and prayers until nightfall.' XXXVII. 1. After this, then, when the dismissal has been held at the Cross—that is, before the sun rises—immediately each one, full of zeal, goes to Zion to pray at that column at which the Lord was scourged. Returning thence, they sit a little in their homes, and at once all are ready. And so a chair is set for the bishop on Golgotha behind the Cross, which stands there now; the bishop sits in the chair; a table covered with a linen cloth is placed before him;

the deacons stand round about the table, and a silver-gilt casket is brought in, in which is the holy wood of the cross; it is opened and brought forth, and both the wood of the cross and the title (titulus) are placed on the table. 2. So when it has been placed on the table, the bishop, sitting, holds down the ends of the holy wood with his hands, while the deacons who stand round about guard it. The reason it is thus guarded is that it is the custom for all the people, coming one by one—both the faithful and the catechumens—to bow down to the table, kiss the holy wood, and pass on.

And because, I know not when, it is said that someone fastened his bite upon it and stole a piece of the holy wood, therefore now it is thus guarded by the deacons who stand round about, lest anyone coming should dare to do so again. 3. And so, then, all the people pass by one by one, all bowing down, first touching the cross and the title with the forehead, then with the eyes, and so, kissing the cross, they pass on; but no one puts forth his hand to touch it. And when they have kissed the cross and passed on, a deacon stands holding the ring of Solomon and that horn from which the kings were anointed.

They kiss the horn also, and reverence the ring [.....] [a space of] less than [.....] second; until the sixth hour all the people pass by, entering through one door and going out through another, since this takes place in that very spot where the day before—that is, on the fifth weekday (Thursday)—the offering was made. 4. But when it has come to the sixth hour, they go before the Cross, whether it be rain or heat, because that place is open to the sky—that is, like a very large and quite beautiful courtyard which is between the Cross and the Anastasis. There, then, all the people gather, so that it cannot even be opened (so packed is it). 5. A chair is set for the bishop before the Cross, and from the sixth hour until the ninth nothing else is done except that readings are read thus:

that is, it is read thus: first from the psalms, wherever they spoke of the passion; it is also read from the apostle, whether from the epistles of the apostles or from the Acts, wherever they spoke of the passion of the Lord; likewise passages are read from the Gospels where he suffers; again it is read from the prophets, where they said that the Lord would suffer; again it is read from the Gospels, where he tells of the passion. 6. And so from the sixth hour until the ninth hour the readings are always read thus, or hymns are recited, so that it may be shown to all the people that whatever the prophets said would come to pass concerning the passion of the Lord is shown to have been accomplished, both through the Gospels and also through the writings of the apostles.

And thus throughout those three hours all the people are taught that nothing took place which was not first foretold, and nothing was foretold which was not wholly fulfilled. Prayers, moreover, are always interposed, which prayers are themselves also suited to the day. 7. At each of the readings and prayers there is so great an emotion and groaning of all the people that it is wonderful; for there is no one, neither greater nor lesser, who on that day, during those three hours, does not weep more than can be reckoned, that the Lord suffered these things for us. After this, when it has now begun to be the ninth hour, that passage of the Gospel according to John is read where he gave up the spirit; and when it has been read, prayer is made and the dismissal takes place. 8.

But when the dismissal has been held before the Cross, immediately all proceed to the great church at the Martyrium, and those things are done which throughout these weeks, from the ninth hour at which they assemble at the Martyrium, they have been accustomed to do until evening during this week. And when the dismissal has been held at the Martyrium, they come to the Anastasis. And there, when they have come, that passage of the Gospel is read where Joseph asks Pilate for the body of the Lord and places it in a new tomb. And when this has been read, prayer is made, the catechumens are blessed, then the faithful, and so the dismissal takes place. 9. On that day, however, no voice is sounded to keep vigil at the Anastasis, since one knows that the people are wearied; but it is the custom that vigil be kept there.

And so whoever of the people wishes—or rather, whoever is able—keeps vigil; but those who cannot do not keep vigil there until morning; the clergy, however, keep vigil there—that is, those who are either stronger or younger; and throughout the whole night hymns and antiphons are recited there until morning. A very great crowd, moreover, keeps vigil—some from evening, others from midnight, as they are able. XXXVIII. 1. On the Sabbath, however—the next day—according to custom the service is held at the third hour, likewise at the sixth; but at the ninth hour nothing more is held on the Sabbath, but the Easter vigils are prepared in the great church—that is, in the Martyrium. The Easter vigils, moreover, are held just as with us;

only this is done here in addition, that the infants, when they have been baptized and clothed, as they come out from the font, are led together with the bishop first to the Anastasis. 2. The bishop enters within the screen of the Anastasis, one hymn is recited, and so the bishop makes a prayer for them, and so he comes with them to the great church, where, according to custom, all the people keep vigil. There are done those things which are customary even among us also, and when the offering has been made, the dismissal takes place. And after the dismissal of the vigils has been held in the great church, immediately they come with hymns to the Anastasis, and there again that passage of the Gospel of the resurrection is read, prayer is made, and again the bishop offers there;

but everything is done quickly for the people's sake, lest they be delayed too long, and so the people are now dismissed. The dismissal of the vigils, moreover, is held on that day at the same hour as with us also. XXXIX. 1. Those eight days of Easter, moreover, are observed just as with us also, and the dismissals are held in their order throughout the eight days of Easter, just as is done everywhere at Easter until the octave. Here, moreover, this same adornment and this same arrangement is kept throughout the eight days of Easter as also at Epiphany, both in the great church and at the Anastasis or at the Cross or on the Eleona, and also at Bethlehem, and likewise at the Lazarium and everywhere, because they are the days of Easter. 2.

On that same first Sunday the procession goes to the major church, that is, to the Martyrium; and likewise on the second day of the week (Monday) and on the third day (Tuesday)—yet always in such a way that, when the dismissal has taken place at the Martyrium, the people come to the Anastasis with hymns. On the fourth day of the week (Wednesday) the procession goes to Eleona, on the fifth day (Thursday) to the Anastasis, on the sixth day (Friday) to Sion, and on the Sabbath before the Cross; but on the Lord's Day, that is, on the octave, once again to the major church, that is, to the Martyrium. 3. Moreover, throughout those eight days of Easter, daily after the midday meal the bishop, together with all the clergy and all the little ones—that is, those who have been baptized—and all who are aputactitae, both men and women, and also as many of the common people as wish, ascend to Eleona.

Hymns are sung and prayers are offered, both in the church which is in Eleona, in which is the cave where Jesus taught the disciples, and also in the Imbomon, that is, in that place from which the Lord ascended into heaven. 4. And after the psalms have been said and the prayer has been made, from there the people descend with hymns as far as the Anastasis at the hour of lamp-lighting: this is done throughout the whole eight days. On the Lord's Day at Easter, after the dismissal of the lamp-lighting service, that is, from the Anastasis, all the people lead the bishop with hymns to Sion. 5.

When they have arrived there, hymns suited to the day and the place are sung, prayer is made, and that passage of the Gospel is read in which on this same day the Lord, in this very place where the church now is in Sion, entered to the disciples with the doors shut—that is, when one of the disciples, namely Thomas, was not there; and when he had returned and the other apostles told him that they had seen the Lord, he said: 'I will not believe unless I see.' When this has been read, prayer is made again, the catechumens are blessed, then the faithful, and each one returns to his own home at perhaps the late hour, about the second hour of the night. 40. 1. Likewise on the octave of Easter, that is, on the Lord's Day, immediately after the sixth hour all the people ascend with the bishop to Eleona;

first they sit for some time in the church which is there; hymns are sung, antiphons suited to the day and the place are said, and prayers likewise suited to the day and the place are made. Then from there they go up with hymns to the Imbomon, and there too the same things are done as in the former place. And when it begins to be the proper hour, now all the people and all the aputactitae lead the bishop with hymns down to the Anastasis. They arrive at the Anastasis at that hour when the lamp-lighting service is wont to be held. 2. The lamp-lighting is therefore held both at the Anastasis and at the Cross, and from there all the people, to the very last one, lead the bishop with hymns to Sion.

When they have arrived there, hymns suited to the place and the day are likewise sung, and that passage of the Gospel is again read in which on the octave of Easter the Lord entered where the disciples were and rebuked Thomas because he had been unbelieving. And then the whole of that reading is read through; afterward prayer is made; and when the catechumens and the faithful have been blessed according to custom, each one returns to his own home, just as on the Lord's Day of Easter, at the second hour of the night. 41. From Easter, however, until Pentecost, that is, the fiftieth day, no one here fasts at all, not even those who are aputactitae. For always on those days, as throughout the whole year, the customary services are held at the Anastasis from the first cockcrow until morning, and likewise at the sixth hour and at the lamp-lighting.

On the Lord's Days, however, the procession always goes to the Martyrium, that is, to the major church, according to custom, and from there they go to the Anastasis with hymns. But on Wednesday and Friday, since on those days no one at all fasts, the procession goes to Sion, but in the morning; and the dismissal is held in its proper order. 42. On the day of the fortieth after Easter, that is, on the fifth day of the week (Thursday)—on the day before, all the people, after the sixth hour, that is, on Wednesday—go to Bethlehem to celebrate the vigils. And the vigils are held in the church at Bethlehem, in which church is the cave where the Lord was born. On the following day, that is, on the fifth day of the week of the fortieth, the dismissal is celebrated in its proper order, in such a way that both the presbyters and the bishop preach, speaking words suited to the day and the place;

and afterward in the evening each one returns to Jerusalem. 43. 1. On the day of the fiftieth, that is, the Lord's Day, on which day there is the greatest labor for the people, all things are done thus: indeed from the first cockcrow according to custom, a vigil is kept at the Anastasis, so that the bishop may read that passage of the Gospel which is always read on the Lord's Day, that is, the resurrection of the Lord; and afterward at the Anastasis are done the customary things, just as throughout the whole year. 2. But when morning has come, all the people proceed to the major church, that is, to the Martyrium, and all the customary things that are to be done are likewise done;

the presbyters preach, and afterward the bishop; all the prescribed rites are performed, that is, the offering is made according to custom, as it is usually done on the Lord's Day; but on this occasion the dismissal at the Martyrium is hastened, so that it may take place before the third hour. For as soon as the dismissal has been made at the Martyrium, all the people, to the very last one, lead the bishop with hymns to Sion, but in such a way that they are at Sion at the full third hour. 3. When they have arrived there, that passage from the Acts of the Apostles is read in which the Spirit descended, so that all the tongues understood the things that were being spoken; afterward the dismissal is held in its proper order.

For the presbyters, concerning this very thing that has been read—because this is the place in Sion (now there is another church there) where once, after the Lord's Passion, the multitude had gathered with the apostles, when this came to pass, as we said above—read there from the Acts of the Apostles. Afterward the dismissal is held in its proper order, the offering is made there too, and now, that the people may be dismissed, the archdeacon raises his voice and says: 'Today immediately after the sixth hour let us all be ready at Eleona, in the Imbomon.' 4. So all the people return, each to his own home, to refresh themselves, and immediately after the midday meal the Mount of Olives is ascended, that is, to Eleona, each as he is able, in such a way that not a single Christian remains in the city who does not go—they all go. 5.

So as soon as one has reached the Mount of Olives, that is, Eleona, first they go to the Imbomon, that is, to that place from which the Lord ascended into heaven, and there the bishop and the presbyters sit, and also all the people; readings are read there, hymns are sung interspersed, and antiphons suited to the day and the place are said; the prayers too that are interspersed always have such utterances as befit both the day and the place. That passage of the Gospel is also read in which it tells of the Lord's ascension; and again from the Acts of the Apostles is read where it tells of the Lord's ascension into heaven after the resurrection. 6.

And when this has been done, the catechumens are blessed, then the faithful, and now at the ninth hour they descend from there and go with hymns to that church which is also in Eleona, that is, in which, sitting in the cave, the Lord taught the apostles. And when they have arrived there, it is now past the tenth hour; the lamp-lighting is held there, prayer is made, the catechumens are blessed and then the faithful. And now they descend from there with hymns, all the people, to the very last one, all of them together with the bishop singing hymns or antiphons suited to that day; so they come slowly and slowly to the Martyrium. 7. And when they reach the gate of the city, it is now night, and the ecclesiastical candles come to meet them, perhaps two hundred for the people.

From the gate, however—since it is quite a distance to the major church, that is, to the Martyrium—they arrive perhaps at the second hour of the night, because the whole way is gone slowly and slowly for the sake of the people, lest they grow weary in their feet. And when the great doors are opened, which are on the side of the forum, all the people enter the Martyrium with hymns and with the bishop. And having entered the church, hymns are sung, prayer is made, the catechumens are blessed and then the faithful; and from there again they go with hymns to the Anastasis. 8. Likewise when they have come to the Anastasis, hymns or antiphons are sung, prayer is made, the catechumens are blessed, then the faithful; and likewise it is done at the Cross. And again from there all the Christian people, to the very last one, lead the bishop with hymns to Sion. 9.

When they have arrived there, suitable readings are read, psalms or antiphons are said, prayer is made, the catechumens are blessed and then the faithful, and the dismissal is held. And when the dismissal has been made, all come to the bishop's hand and thus each one returns to his own home, perhaps at the middle hour of the night. And so therefore the greatest labor is endured on that day, since from the first cockcrow a vigil has been kept at the Anastasis, and from then throughout the whole day there has never been a pause; and so all the things that are celebrated are prolonged, so that at midnight, after the dismissal which has been made at Sion, all return to their homes. 44. 1.

But now from the next day after the fiftieth, all fast according to custom, just as throughout the whole year, each as he is able, except on the Sabbath and the Lord's Day, on which fasting is never done in these places. Then afterward on the remaining days each thing is done just as throughout the whole year, that is, a vigil is always kept at the Anastasis from the first cockcrow. 2. For if it is the Lord's Day, first from the first cockcrow the bishop reads the Gospel according to custom within the Anastasis, the place of the Lord's resurrection, which is always read on the Lord's Day, and afterward hymns or antiphons are said in the Anastasis until daylight. But if it is not the Lord's Day, only hymns or antiphons are likewise said from the first cockcrow until daylight in the Anastasis. 3.

All the aputactitae go; of the common people, those who are able go as they can; the clergy, however, go daily by turns from the first cockcrow; the bishop, however, always goes at dawn, so that the morning dismissal may take place, with all the clergy, except on the Lord's Day, because then it is necessary for him to go from the first cockcrow, so as to read the Gospel in the Anastasis. Then at the sixth hour the customary things are done in the Anastasis, likewise at the ninth, and likewise at the lamp-lighting according to the custom which has been wont to be observed throughout the whole year. On Wednesday and Friday, however, the ninth-hour service is always held at Sion according to custom. 45. 1. And this too I ought to write: how those who are baptized at Easter are instructed.

For whoever gives in his name gives it before the day of the fortieth (Lent), and the presbyter notes down the names of all—that is, before those eight weeks during which, as I said, Lent is here observed. 2. And when the presbyter has noted down the names of all, then on another day in Lent, that is, when the eight weeks begin, a chair is set for the bishop in the middle of the major church, that is, at the Martyrium; the presbyters sit in chairs on this side and on that, and all the clergy stand. And thus the candidates are brought forward one by one; if they are men, they come with their fathers (sponsors), but if they are women, with their mothers. 3. And thus the bishop individually questions the neighbors of the one who has entered, saying:

'Is this person of good life? Does he show respect to his parents? Is he not a drunkard or a trifler?'—and he inquires into the several vices, those at least which are graver in a person. 4. And if, in the presence of witnesses, he has proved him to be without reproach in all those things about which he inquired, he himself notes down that person's name with his own hand. But if he is accused of anything, he orders him to go outside, saying: 'Let him amend himself, and when he has amended himself, then let him come to the laver.' Thus he inquires and speaks concerning the men, and thus concerning the women. But if anyone is a foreigner, unless he has testimonials from those who know him, he will not so easily come to baptism. 46. 1. But this, my lady sisters, I ought to write, lest you think it is done without reason.

For the custom here is such that those who come to baptism during those forty days in which there is fasting are first exorcized early by the clergy, as soon as the morning dismissal has been made at the Anastasis. And at once a chair is set for the bishop at the Martyrium in the major church, and all who are to be baptized, both men and women, sit around near the bishop; the fathers and mothers (sponsors) also stand, and likewise all of the common people who wish to hear enter and sit—but only the faithful. 2. No catechumen, however, enters there at the time when the bishop teaches them the law, that is, thus: beginning from Genesis, throughout those forty days he goes through all the Scriptures, first expounding them literally and then resolving them spiritually.

Moreover, they are also taught about the resurrection, and likewise about the faith—all these things throughout those days; and this is called catechesis. 3. And now, when five weeks have been completed, from which they are taught, then they receive the Creed; and the meaning of this Creed he expounds to them, just as he expounded the meaning of all the Scriptures, first literally and then spiritually, the sense of each phrase—so too he expounds the Creed. And so it is that in these places all the faithful follow the Scriptures when they are read in church, because all are taught throughout those forty days, that is, from the first hour until the third hour, since the catechesis is held for three hours. 4.