Forgiveness Sunday vespers (March 14)

At Forgiveness Sunday vespers (March 14) you will hear Paschal hymns. The reason for singing Paschal hymns is because many of the monks of Palestine, where the tradition developed, would go out into the desert - as we see in the Life of St. Mary of Egypt - for the 40 Days of Lent and some would not return, so the Paschal hymns were sung for those monks who would die in the wilderness.

It is the Day of Resurrection! Let us be radiant, O people! Pascha! The Lord's Pascha! For Christ our God has brought us from death to life, and from earth unto heaven, as we sing triumphant hymns! Refrain: Christ is risen from the dead.