Tone 3
The resurrection hymns of the Octoechos.
The Octoechos is the Church's system of eight tones of music, and the book of the hymns sung in each. St John of Damascus is credited with ordering the Church's music in this way. The Sunday hymns of the Resurrection change from week to week through the eight tones, in an eight-week cycle that begins again with tone 1 on Thomas Sunday, the Sunday after Pascha.
The hymns of tone 3
Let the heavens be glad. Let the earth rejoice exceedingly. For the Lord has shown strength with his arm. He trampled death by death. He became the first-born of the dead. Out of the belly of Hades, He has rescued us, and to the world He has granted the great mercy.
From the tomb You rose today, O Lord of tender compassion, also from the gates of death You led us out, O our Savior. On this day Adam is dancing and Eve rejoices, and with them the holy Patriarchs and the Prophets are unceasingly extolling the divine power of Your authority.
Astounding in appearance, refreshing by the words he spoke, the dazzling Angel said to the Myrrh-bearing Women, “Why do you look in a tomb for the One who is alive? He has risen and emptied the tombs. Know that He is the unchanging Changer of death. Say to God, ‘How awesome are Your works! For You have saved the human race.’”
English text: AGES Initiatives / Fr. Seraphim Dedes, GOA edition (alwb-library-en-us-goadedes), CC0 1.0 (public-domain dedication).
Coming Sundays in tone 3
On the New Calendar. Pascha, Thomas Sunday and Sundays that are a Great Feast are not listed, as their own feast is kept.
Questions
What is the resurrection troparion of tone 3?
Let the heavens be glad. Let the earth rejoice exceedingly. For the Lord has shown strength with his arm. He trampled death by death. He became the first-born of the dead. Out of the belly of Hades, He has rescued us, and to the world He has granted the great mercy.
What is the resurrection kontakion of tone 3?
From the tomb You rose today, O Lord of tender compassion, also from the gates of death You led us out, O our Savior. On this day Adam is dancing and Eve rejoices, and with them the holy Patriarchs and the Prophets are unceasingly extolling the divine power of Your authority.
When is tone 3 next sung on a Sunday?
By the New Calendar, the next Sunday in tone 3 is December 13, 2026.
Sources: OrthodoxWiki: Octoechos; Wikipedia: Octoechos (liturgy).