24. (8) But on the seventh day, the Lord's Day, there gather in the courtyard before cock-crow all the people, as many as can get in, as if it was Easter. The courtyard is the "basilica" beside the Anastasis, that is to say, out of doors, and lamps have been hung there for them. Those who are afraid they may not arrive in time for cock-crow come early, and sit waiting there singing hymns and antiphons, and they have prayers between, since there are always presbyters and deacons there ready for the vigil, because so many people collect there, and it is not usual to open the holy places before cock-crow. (9) Soon the first cock crows, and at that the bishop enters, and goes into the cave in the Anastasis. The doors are all opened, and all the people come into the Anastasis, which is already ablaze with lamps. When they are inside, a psalm is said by one of the presbyters, with everyone responding, and it is followed by a prayer; then a psalm is said by one of the deacons, and another prayer; then a third psalm is said by one of the clergy, a third prayer, and the Commemoration of All. (10) After these three psalms and prayers they take censers into the cave of the Anastasis, so that the whole Anastasis basilica is filled with the smell. Then the bishop, standing inside the screen, takes the Gospel book and goes to the door, where he himself reads the account of the Lord's resurrection. At the beginning of the reading the whole assembly groans and laments at all that the Lord underwent for us, and the way they weep would move even the hardest heart to tears. (11) When the Gospel is finished, the bishop comes out, and is taken with singing to the Cross, and they all go with him. - - - (12) Then straight away the bishop retires to his house, and all the monazontes go back into the Anastasis to sing psalms and. antiphons until daybreak. There are prayers between all these psalms and antiphons, and presbyters and deacons take their turn every day at the Anastasis to keep vigil with the people. Some lay men and women like to stay on there till daybreak, but others prefer to go home again to bed for some sleep.
25. (1) At daybreak the people assemble in the Great Church built by Constantine on Golgotha Behind the Cross. - - - Because of all the preaching it is a long time before the dismissal, which takes place not before ten or even eleven o'clock. (2) And when the dismissal has taken place in the church in the way which is usual everywhere-the monazontes lead the bishop with singing to the Anastasis. While they are singing and the bishop approaches, all the doors of the Anastasis basilica are opened, and the people (not the catechumens, only the faithful) all go in. (3) When they are all inside, the bishop enters, and passes straight inside the screen of the tomb, the cave itself. They have a thanksgiving to God and the Prayer for All; then the deacon calls every single person to bow his head, and the bishop blesses them from his place inside the screen. (4) Then he comes out, and, as he does so, everyone comes to kiss his hand. Thus the dismissal is delayed till almost eleven or twelve o'clock. Lucernare is held in the same way as on other days. Except on the special days, which we shall be describing below, this order is observed on every day of the year.
(transl. Wilkinson)
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