{{Short description|Chanting from the Gospels at Matins}} [[File:Gospel 1772.jpg|thumb|[[Gospel Book]] from 1772. The central medallion depicts the [[Resurrection of Jesus]], in the corners are the [[Four Evangelists]] ([[Moscow]])]] {{otheruses|Matins (disambiguation)}} The '''Matins Gospel''' is the solemn chanting of a [[lection]] from one of the [[Gospel|Four Gospels]] during [[Matins]] in the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox Church]] and those [[Eastern Catholic]] churches which follow the [[Byzantine Rite]].

The reading of the Gospel is the highpoint of the service, and takes place near the end of the festive portion of the service known as the [[Polyeleos]]. During the [[Divine Liturgy]] the Gospel is usually read by the [[deacon]], but the Matins Gospel is read by the [[priest]]. However, if the [[bishop]] is present, he will usually be the one who reads the Matins Gospel.

==Sunday== [[Image:Zheny mironosicy u Groba Gospodnja.jpg|thumb|[[Icon]] used on the Sunday of the [[Myrrhbearers]], illustrating one of the [[Resurrection appearances of Jesus]]. The two [[Mary (given name)|Mary]]s are in the center with the two angels at either side, in the foreground is the [[Holy Sepulchre]] with the [[Epitaphios (liturgical)|winding sheet]] and [[Sudarium of Oviedo|napkin]].]]

Every Sunday is a commemoration of the [[Resurrection of Jesus]], and so it is always observed as a feast (in the Slavic churches it is customary to serve an [[All-Night Vigil]] every Saturday night).

The Sunday Matins Gospels (known as the "Matins Resurrection Gospels") are an eleven-week cycle of readings taken from the Gospel accounts of the [[Resurrection appearances of Jesus]].

The Sunday Matins Gospels are:

#{{bibleverse||Matthew|28:16-20|KJV}} #{{bibleverse||Mark|16:1-8|KJV}} #{{bibleverse||Mark|16:9-20|KJV}} #{{bibleverse||Luke|24:1-12|KJV}} #{{bibleverse||Luke|24:12-35|KJV}} #{{bibleverse||Luke|24:36-53|KJV}} #{{bibleverse||John|20:1-10|KJV}} #{{bibleverse||John|20:11-18|KJV}} #{{bibleverse||John|20:19-31|KJV}} #{{bibleverse||John|21:1-14|KJV}} #{{bibleverse||John|21:15-25|KJV}}

The cycle begins on the Sunday after [[Pentecost]], and continues up to, but not including, [[Palm Sunday]] of the succeeding year. The eleven lessons are read in order and without interruption, except on [[Great Feasts]] of the Lord—which have their own Matins Gospels—until [[Easter|Pascha]] (Easter) of the following year. During the [[Pentecostarion]] (the period from Pascha until Pentecost), the same Gospels are read at Sunday Matins, but not in the same order.

The Gospel reading is preceded by a [[prokeimenon]], a selection from the [[Psalm]]s relevant to the theme of the resurrection. These prokeimena are chanted according to an eight-week cycle known as the [[Octoechos (liturgy)|Octoechos]], and are chanted in a different [[Octoechos|liturgical mode]] each week of the cycle. The deacon then leads the choir in chanting, "Let every breath praise the Lord", which is chanted in the same mode as the prokeimenon.

On Sundays, the Matins Gospel is read at the [[Holy Table]] (altar),<ref name = "Sokolof">{{Citation | last =Sokolof | first =[[Archpriest]] D. | year = c. 1910s | language = Russian | publication-date= 2001 | version = English tr. [3rd printing, re-edited] | title =A Manual of the Orthodox Church's Divine Services | editor-last =Print Shop of St. [[Job of Pochaev]] | editor-first = | page =55 | place =[[Jordanville, N.Y.]] | publisher =[[Holy Trinity Monastery (Jordanville, New York)|Holy Trinity Monastery]]}}</ref> which symbolizes the [[Tomb of Christ]].<ref>{{Citation | contribution =The Gospel: Service actions | year = | publication-date= | title =Matins | editor-last = | editor-first = | editor-link= | edition= | volume = | series = | pages = | place =Saint Petersburg, Russia | publisher =Liturgy.ru | id = | isbn = | url = http://en.liturgy.ru/nav/utrena/utren9.php?k=c56#c56 | accessdate = 2008-02-17}}</ref> The priest does not hold the [[Gospel Book]] during the reading, but reads it as it lies open on the Holy Table.<ref>In the Greek usage, the priest stands on the north side of the Holy Table and the deacon stands on the south side, both facing to the center, symbolizing the two angels that appeared at the Tomb of Jesus ({{bibleverse||Luke|24:4|KJV}}, {{bibleverse||John|20:12|KJV}}); in the Slavic practice, the priest stands on the western side of the Holy Table, facing east.</ref> Immediately after the reading, the priest kisses the Gospel Book and hands it to the deacon who brings it out through the [[Holy Doors]] and stands on the [[Ambon (liturgy)|ambon]], holding the Gospel aloft for all to see, while the choir chants the following Hymn of the Resurrection:

[[Image:ResurrectionYaroslavlSchool.jpg|thumb|Icon illustrating the [[Resurrection appearances of Jesus]] which are mentioned in the 11 Matins Resurrection Gospels (1600s, [[Yaroslavl]] School).]]

<blockquote>Having beheld the Resurrection of Christ, let us worship the holy Lord Jesus, the only sinless one. We venerate Thy cross, O Christ, and Thy holy Resurrection we praise and glorify. For Thou art our God, and we know none other than Thee. We call on Thy name. O come, all ye faithful, let us venerate Christ's holy Resurrection. For behold, through the cross joy hath come into all the world. Ever blessing the Lord, we praise his Resurrection: for by enduring the cross, he hath slain death by death.</blockquote>

During the [[Paschal season]] this hymn is chanted three times.

The Gospel Book is then brought into center of [[nave]] and placed on an [[analogion]] to be [[veneration|venerated]] by the faithful. The reason for this is that the Orthodox consider the Gospel Book to be an [[icon]] of Christ.<ref>{{Citation | last =Kallistos (Ware) | first =Bishop | author-link =Timothy Ware | contribution = | year =1963 | title =The Orthodox Church | page =[https://archive.org/details/orthodoxchurchac00ware/page/209 209] | place =London | publisher =Penguin Books | isbn =0-14-020592-6 | url-access =registration | url =https://archive.org/details/orthodoxchurchac00ware/page/209 }}</ref> The deacon holding the Gospel, and the priest following him, symbolize the [[angel]]s announcing the resurrection to the [[Myrrhbearers]]; the bringing forth of the Gospel Book into the center of the temple symbolizes Jesus' appearances to the disciples after his resurrection; and in venerating the Gospel Book the faithful are greeting the resurrected Christ, as the [[Apostles in the New Testament|Apostles]] did ({{bibleverse||Matthew|28:9|KJV}}, {{bibleverse||John|20:19-20|KJV}}).

Later in the Matins service, there are two sets of hymns which are chanted in accordance with the Matins Resurrection Gospel that was read that week. One is the ''[[Exapostilarion]]'', which is chanted at the end of the [[Canon (hymnography)|canon]], and the other is a [[sticheron]] called the ''[[Eothinon]]'' (εωθινόν) which is chanted at the end of [[Lauds]]. The Eothinion is chanted to its own special melody, known as an ''[[idiomelon]]''. Both of these sets of hymns are traditionally attributed to the [[Byzantine Emperor|Emperor]] [[Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus]].

If a [[Great Feast]] of the Lord ([[Transfiguration of Jesus| Transfiguration]], [[Epiphany (holiday)|Theophany]], etc.) falls on a Sunday, the normal Sunday Resurrection service, including its Matins Gospel, is replaced entirely by the service for the feast. If a Great Feast of the [[Theotokos]] ([[Mother of God]]) falls on a Sunday, it is combined with the normal Sunday service, but the Matins Gospel read is the one for the Theotokos. If the [[feast day]] of a saint falls on Sunday, it is combined with the normal Sunday service, but the Matins Gospel read is for the Sunday.

==Feast Days==

Matins Gospels are also read on the [[Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church]] and on the more solemn [[feast day]]s of [[saint]]s (i.e., days with [[Polyeleos]] or [[All-Night Vigil]]--weekdays on which lower-ranking saints are commemorated do not have a Matins Gospel). The Matins Gospels on feast days are different from the ones read on Sundays, and are selected for the specific occasion being commemorated. The Matins Gospel read on Great Feasts of the Theotokos is always {{bibleverse||Luke|1:39-49|KJV}}.

The prokeimenon which precedes the feast day Gospel is different from the Sunday prokeimena, and is relevant to the theme of the feast. It is almost invariably chanted in the Fourth liturgical mode, as is "Let every breath praise the Lord". On feast days, the Gospel is not read at the Holy Table, but is brought into the center to the nave by the deacon, who holds the Gospel Book while the priest chants the Matins Gospel in front of the [[icon]] of the feast being celebrated.<ref name = "Sokolof"/> Immediately after the reading, the Gospel Book is returned to its place on the Holy Table, and the faithful instead venerate the icon of the feast. "Having beheld the Resurrection of Christ" is not chanted, except during the Paschal season, when it is chanted once on weekdays, regardless of the rank of the feast. On feast days, after the faithful have venerated the icon of the feast, they are [[anointing|anointed]] (''myrovania'') on the forehead with blessed oil.

The Exapostilarion and [[Lauds]] [[Sticheron]] on feast days are also relevant to the theme of the feast, and have been composed by different [[hymnographer]]s.

==Holy Week== On each day of [[Holy Week]] there is a reading of the Gospel at Matins, covering the theme of that day: *[[Great and Holy Monday]]: {{bibleverse||Matthew|21:18-43|KJV}}—The [[Withering of the Fig Tree]], [[Parable of the Two Sons]] ([[Parables of Jesus]]) *[[Great and Holy Tuesday]]: {{bibleverse||Matthew|22:15-23:39|KJV}}—[[Woes of the Pharisees]], [[Eschatology]], Jesus' mourning for [[Jerusalem]] *[[Great and Holy Wednesday]]: {{bibleverse||John|12:17-50|KJV}}—Virtues of [[Martyrdom]], Jesus foretells his [[Death of Jesus|death]] *[[Great and Holy Thursday]]: {{bibleverse||Luke|22:1-39|KJV}}—The [[Last Supper]]

On [[Great and Holy Friday]] there are [[Twelve Matins Gospels]] recounting the [[Passion (Christianity)|Passion]] from the [[Last Supper]] to the sealing of the tomb, interspersed throughout the Matins service. During the reading of each of these twelve Gospels, the faithful stand holding lighted [[candle]]s.<ref>{{Citation | contribution =Resurrection troparia of St. John of Damascus: Typicon regulations | title =Matins | place =Saint Petersburg, Russia | publisher =Liturgy.ru | url = http://en.liturgy.ru/nav/utrena/utren6.php?k=c49#c49 | accessdate = 2008-02-17}}</ref>

On [[Great and Holy Saturday]] the Matins Gospel ({{bibleverse||Matthew|27:62-66|KJV}} - The Jews set a guard) is not read in its normal place, but is read near the end of the service before the [[Ektenia|litanies]] and [[benediction|Dismissal]].

==References== {{Reflist}}

[[Category:Eastern Orthodox liturgical days]] [[Category:Liturgy of the Hours]] [[Category:Byzantine Rite]]