Βασιλεύει, ἀλλ’ οὐκ αἰωνίζει, ᾍδης τοῦ γένους τῶν βροτῶν· σὺ γὰρ τεθεὶς ἐν τάφῳ, Κραταιέ, ζωαρχικῇ παλάμῃ τὰ τοῦ θανάτου κλεῖθρα διεσπάραξας, καὶ ἐκήρυξας τοῖς ἀπ’ αἰῶνος ἐκεῖ καθεύδουσι λύτρωσιν ἀψευδῆ, Σῶτερ, γεγονὼς νεκρῶν πρωτότοκος.
Hades ruled the race of mortal men, but not forever; for Thou, o mighty One, when Thou wast placed in the grave, didst break apart the locks of death with the palm of Thy hand that ruleth over all life; and didst proclaim to those sleeping yonder from the ages a true deliverance, having become, o Savior, the First-born of the dead. (Third Troparion of the Sixth Ode of Holy Saturday Matins)
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| A book of Passion Gospels used at the Pontifical Russian College |
The next day, which followed the day of preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees came together to Pilate, saying: Sir, we have remembered, that that seducer said, while he was yet alive: After three days I will rise again. Command therefore the sepulchre to be guarded until the third day: lest
perhaps his disciples come and steal him away, and say to the people:
He is risen from the dead; and the last error shall be worse than the
first. Pilate saith to them: You have a guard; go, guard it as you know. And they departing, made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting guards. (St. Matthew 27, 62-66.)
