For Easter Sunday, we offer a reflection on the Empty Tomb of Our Lord Jesus Christ, based on the Akathist Hymn on that theme. The Akathist Hymn is one of the most well-loved services of devotion in the Eastern Churches. Although there is some debate concerning the particulars of its authorship, many scholars agree with the pious tradition which states that the original Akathist of Our Lady was composed in the imperial city of Constantinople, “the city of the Virgin,” by St. Romanos the Melodist, who died in the year 556. The Akathist Hymn has proved so popular that many other hymns have been written following its format, particularly in the Russian Orthodox Church. These include Akathists to Our Lord Jesus Christ, to the Holy Cross, and to various saints. The word “akathistos” literally means “not sitting,” namely standing; normally all participants stand while it is being prayed. (What follows is not the entire hymn, but about a-third of it.)
Akathist Hymn on the Empty Tomb of Our Lord Jesus Christ
According to Orthodox tradition, Jesus Christ was crucified, died and descended into Hades. Then he rose from the dead. The Sunday of Myrrh-bearing Women falls on the second Sunday following Pascha. The myrrh-bearers had brought funeral spices and ointments to finish committing Christ’s body to the grave. They were the first to see the empty tomb and were instructed by the Risen Lord to bring the joyful news to the apostles. Sts. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus are also commemorated on this day.
Kontakion
To the chosen Champion Leader risen from the dead, a hymn of victory do we sing to You, O Christ Eternal King, for You have risen from the tomb: and we being delivered from everlasting corruption, bring joyous acclamations unto Your honorable tomb, crying out:
Rejoice, life-bearing tomb from where Christ has risen!
Ikos
An Archangel came down from heaven to roll away the stone from before Your tomb at Your resurrection, O Christ God, and to announce Your rising unto the Myrrh-bearers saying: Go and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead. And they, wondering at the strange word of the angel, cried unto Your life-bearing tomb these praises:
Rejoice, life-bearing tomb wherein Christ lay as dead and from where He arose upon the third day!
Rejoice, for He arose from you and has granted us resurrection!
Rejoice, for as a bridegroom from the bridal-chamber, so did Christ come forth from you, leading hell captive!
Rejoice, for in His rising the dead of all ages have arisen.
Rejoice, for by you Peter the chief Apostle has known the resurrection!
Rejoice, for by Christ’s lying within you all the earth has been hallowed.
Rejoice, life-bearing tomb from where Christ has risen!
Kontakion
When Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came unto Your tomb to anoint Your Body, O Christ God, they found an angel sitting upon the stone and he said to them: Be not afraid, for I know that you seek the Crucified! He is not here but is risen as He said to you. And when they had announced the resurrection to the disciples, all sang the angels’ hymn to the Creator and Master of All: Alleluia!
Ikos
With thoughts storming within their minds, Your disciples, O Christ, did not know the scripture that it was fitting for You to rise from the dead: therefore, they did not believe the Myrrh-bearers’ joyous announcement of Your rising: but Peter ran unto Your tomb and stooping down beheld the linen cloths laid by themselves and the cloth which had been about Your divine Head, and rightly believed together with the rest of the disciples and, therefore, rejoicing, cried such praises unto Your life-bearing tomb:
Rejoice, life-bearing tomb, for by you was wrought the salvation of all the world!
Rejoice, for you are venerated by all creation.
Rejoice, for coming to you from the North and from the South the faithful glorify Christ!
Rejoice, for from the West and from the East all magnify the resurrection within you.
Rejoice, for you were couch and repose for the King of kings.
Rejoice, for by you the assembly of the Jews was put to shame.
Rejoice, life-bearing tomb from where Christ has risen!
Kontakion
The sentries, that vain guard placed about Your tomb, O Christ, heard the mighty earthquake and the Angel proclaiming the good news of Your resurrection to the Myrrh-bearers and, quaking with fear, became as dead men, and rushing headlong into the city told the high-priest and the elders the things that had come to pass, but in their great unrighteousness they sought to conceal Your resurrection but were not able, and rather taught all to sing: Alleluia!
Ikos
Joseph the Arimathean, who from fear of the Jews had secretly been Your disciple, O Christ, did beg Your divine body from Pilate, and then also Nicodemus came, bearing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, and anointed Your incorruptible body, and, having wrapped it in a winding sheet with spices, placed You in a new tomb wherein no other had yet been placed but only You, O Lord, that You might sanctify the substance of the earth. But when they had learned of Your resurrection from the dead, they shouted praises unto Your life-bearing tomb:
Rejoice, life-bearing tomb, for the mysteries of salvation have been performed within you!
Rejoice, for by you the resurrection has been made known unto all the world.
Rejoice, sure and certain knowledge of the resurrection!
Rejoice, for Christ coming forth from you has led captivity captive, and brought human nature unto God the Father.
Rejoice, for although as man He was laid within you, as God did He arise in glory!
Rejoice, for you held within yourself Him Who holds all creation.
Rejoice, life-bearing tomb from where Christ has risen!
Kontakion
When after Your resurrection You, O Christ, revealed Yourself to Your disciples at the sea of Tiberias and commanded them to cast the net on the right side of the ship, then Your beloved disciple, recognizing You, O God, from the mighty draught of fishes, said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” And as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire with fish on it, and bread, and in the giving of bread they knew You and to the risen God shouted: Alleluia!
Ikos
The women made their way to Your tomb in the deep dawn, O Christ God, and they did not find Your sought-for body, O Jesus, and they did not discern Your rising, but straightway saw an angel standing before them, who asked them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen.” And seeing Your resurrection with great gladness they cried out these praises unto Your life-bearing tomb:
Rejoice, life-bearing tomb, for by Christ’s abiding within you the nether regions were seized with great fear!
Rejoice, for then with trembling did hell give up the dead which it had held down through the ages.
Rejoice, for by Christ’s rising we are all restored to newness of life!
Rejoice, for by Christ’s rising from you Thomas was taught to say, “My Lord and my God!”
Rejoice, for in Christ’s rising all creation has found joy!
Rejoice, too, O Arimathean, for within your own garden you have acquired so great a treasure.
Rejoice, life-bearing tomb from where Christ has risen!
Kontakion
The sun at Your passion, O Christ, unable to bear the raging frenzy of the lawless, did hide its light and the veil of the temple was rent, and when You were laid in the life-bearing tomb the earth was shaken as though wanting to swallow up the unlawful, but You as God rose in glory and with Yourself raised up Adam, the father of us all. Therefore, unto our truly risen God we sing: Alleluia!
Ikos
After Your resurrection, O Christ, You revealed Yourself to Luke and Cleopas along the way and accompanied them as they discussed together those things that had happened unto You, O Master of all, and You were scorned by them as being but a stranger in Jerusalem. But You as God opened their hearts to the prophecies concerning Yourself and thus were known by them in the breaking of the bread, whence with great joy they turned back to Jerusalem and told the good news of Your resurrection and appearance to Your disciples. Therefore, all together they worshiped and sang praises to Your life-bearing tomb:
Rejoice, life-bearing tomb, for you have received within yourself Christ, the heavenly bread, given as food for all!
Rejoice, for you were able to contain Christ as a sleeping king.
Rejoice, for heaven and earth were filled with glad tidings when Christ arose from you!
Rejoice, for through you the Apostles’ choir was filled with joy.
Rejoice, life-bearing tomb from where Christ has risen!
Kontakion
Mankind together with all the angels stands in wonder before Your great care for us —You Who as God are inaccessible and yet as an approachable Man are seen by all! You Who were crucified and buried and Who rose in glory, and therefore, to You as Creator and Master we sing: Alleluia!
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