The following hymns from the Sunday Matins service are directly related to the Third Eothinon Resurrection Gospel (Mark 16:9-20) read before the Canon, which speaks of the events that followed the Resurrection of Christ. There are eleven eothina all together, and each Sunday is successively dedicated to one of them, then the cycle starts again. Each of the eleven eothina symbolizes one of the eleven disciples to whom the Lord appeared following His Resurrection.
The first of these series of hymns are the Exaposteilarion with its related Theotokion chanted after the Ninth Ode of the Canon. The word "exaposteilarion" comes from the Greek verb exapostello, which means "to send forth", referring to the sending forth of the apostles to proclaim the gospel throughout the world. In ancient times a chanter was sent out from the choir into the center of the church to chant this hymn to indicate the sending forth of the apostles. The author of the eleven exaposteilaria for each Sunday eothinon was the Roman Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos (r. 913-959).
Following the Praises (Ainoi) of Matins is the Doxastikon. The word "doxastikon" comes from the Greek word doxa, which means "glory" or "glorification", referring to the fact that preceding the hymn the verse "Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit" is chanted. Each doxastikon on Sunday is directly related to one of the eleven Sunday eothina read earlier in the service. The eleven doxastika of Sunday Matins were all composed by the Roman Emperor Leo VI the Wise (r. 886-912).
English
EXAPOSTEILARION 3
Let no one doubt that Christ is risen, for he appeared to Mary and then was seen by those wailing in the country. Again he appeared to the eleven initiates as they reclined, and sent them forth to baptize others. He then ascended to heaven from whence he descended, confirming their preaching with a multitude of signs.
Theotokion
O sun, having risen upon the tomb today as a bridegroom from the bridal chamber, having harrowed hell and dashed down death, by the intercession of her that bore you, you have sent us light‑light that has enlightened our hearts and souls, and has directed us all to walk in the paths of your commandments and the ways of peace.
DOXASTIKON
Eothinon 3
3rd Tone
When Mary Magdalene announced the good news of the Savior’s resurrection from the dead and his appearance, the disciples did not believe her and were reproached for their hardness of heart. But armed with signs and wonders, they were sent to preach. You, O Lord, were lifted up to the Father, the source of light, while they preached the word in all places supported by miracles. We, therefore, enlightened by them glorify your resurrection from the dead, O loving God.
Greek
ΕΞΑΠΟΣΤΕΙΛΑΡΙΟΝ Γ’
Ότι Χριστός εγήγερται, μή τις διαπιστείτω, εφάνη τή Μαρία γάρ, έπειτα καθωράθη, τοίς εις αγρόν απιούσι, Μύσταις δέ πάλιν ώφθη, ανακειμένοις ένδεκα, ούς βαπτίζειν εκπέμψας, εις Ουρανούς, όθεν καταβέβηκεν ανελήφθη, επικυρών τό κήρυγμα, πλήθεσι τών σημείων.
Θεοτοκίον
Ο ανατείλας Ήλιος, εκ παστού ώς Νυμφίος, από τού τάφου σήμερον, καί τόν Άδην σκυλεύσας, καί θάνατον καταργήσας, σέ Τεκούσης πρεσβείαις, φώς ημίν εξαπόστειλον, φώς φωτίζον καρδίας, καί τάς ψυχάς, φώς βαδίζειν άπαντας εμβιβάζον, εν τρίβοις προσταγμάτων σου, καί οδοίς τής ειρήνης.
ΔΟΞΑΣΤΙΚΟΝ
Εωθινό Γ’
Ήχος γ’
Τής Μαγδαληνής Μαρίας, τήν τού Σωτήρος ευαγγελιζομένης, εκ νεκρών Ανάστασιν καί εμφάνειαν, διαπιστούντες οι Μαθηταί, ωνειδίζοντο τό τής καρδίας σκληρόν, αλλά τοίς σημείοις καθοπλισθέντες καί θαύμασι, πρός τό κήρυγμα απεστέλλοντο, καί σύ μέν Κύριε, πρός τόν αρχίφωτον ανελήφθης Πατέρα, οι δέ εκήρυττον πανταχού τόν λόγον, τοίς θαύμασι πιστούμενοι, Διό οι φωτισθέντες δι’ αυτών δοξάζομέν σου, τήν εκ νεκρών Ανάστασιν, φιλάνθρωπε Κύριε.
