"Bright Week", or Renewal Week following the Resurrection of Christ

Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!

Close-up icon of Christ Resurrected, telling St. Mary Magdalene "Do not hold me" (Icon courtesy of www.eikonografos.com used with permission)
   

The week after the Great and Holy Feast of Pascha in the Orthodox Church is called Bright Week or Renewal Week. It is a week of concentrated and illustrious celebration of Christ's Resurrection (In fact, tradition holds that the faithful replace morning and evening prayers with the Holy Paschal Hours, which are filled with hymns to the Resurrection. See: http://www.orthodox.net/pascha/paschalhours.html), and many other feasts. This is a fast-free week of constant celebration and spiritual exhilaration.
  

"The hymns chanted every day are identical to those chanted on the Sunday of Pascha, with the exception of a few parts that are taken from the Octoechos (the "Book of the Eight Tones"). Each day has a different tone assigned to it: Easter Sunday is Tone One, Bright Monday is Tone Two, and so on through the eight tones (skipping Tone Seven, the "Grave Tone")" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bright_Week)

  
The OCA website compiled an excellent account of the movable feasts of Bright Week, which I summarized and added to below (taken from: http://www.oca.org/FSIndex.asp?SID=4)

  

Bright Monday (2nd Tone) (http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=28)
  

-Litany of the “Axion Estin” Icon of the Theotokos, Karyes, Mount Athos (For more pictures of the icon and the Litany, see: http://agioritikesmnimes.pblogs.gr/2009/02/143-h-thaymatoyrgh-eikona-axion-estin.html, http://agioritikesmnimes.pblogs.gr/2010/04/995-h-litanefsh-ths-eikonas-axion-esti-th-deftera-toy-pasha.html)
  

Miraculous Icon of Christ and the Theotokos "Axion Estin" - Protaton, Mount Athos (Taken from: http://www.mountathos.gr/active.aspx?mode=en{2aee45f1-c81e-4f0c-9cf9-c2efe471cfd1}View)

-The Litany of the Glykophilousa (Sweet-kissing) icon of the Theotokos, Philotheou Monastery, Mount Athos

Miraculous Icon of Christ and Panagia "Glykophilousa" - Philotheou Monastery, Mount Athos(Taken from: http://www.mountathos.gr/active.aspx?mode=en{7a41e1a3-0425-4b51-80be-1131ca957e56}View)
  

-The Feast of St. George the Trophy-bearer (if his feast falls during Great Lent)

Fresco of St. George the Trophy-bearer (Icon courtesy of http://www.eikonografos.com/ used with permission)
   

Bright Tuesday (3rd Tone) (http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=29)

-Litany of Panagia Portaitissa (Keeper of the Portal) of Iviron Monastery, Mount Athos (See also: http://full-of-grace-and-truth.blogspot.com/2008/10/miraculous-icon-of-panagia-portaitissa.html)
  

Miraculous Icon of Christ and Panagia "Portaitissa" - Iviron Monastery, Mount Athos (Icon courtesy of http://www.eikonografos.com/ used with permission)
  

-Litany of the "Fovera Prostasia" ("Awesome Protection") icon of the Theotokos

The wonderworking icon of the Theotokos, "H Fovera Prostasia" ("The Awesome Protection") - 13th Century, Koutloumousiou Monastery, Mount Athos (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKjCpSBCrjVCsCnkT0dOxS6MivOgDxGlAd8rZYN1z9EQtqTiyHDey0hDw5clsiCwphMNJ6632Oa9ZQS6_Tem-l9HueMzfPNrkM55bODANsFS-MPtzvIv7uKMNQbKdY3qfd5cbGRRZSApg/s1600/%CE%9C%CE%BF%CE%BD%CE%AE+%CE%9A%CE%BF%CF%85%CF%84%CE%BB%CE%BF%CF%85%CE%BC%CE%BF%CF%85%CF%83%CE%AF%CE%BF%CF%85%CE%A0%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%B1%CE%B3%CE%AF%CE%B1,+%CE%B7+%CF%86%CE%BF%CE%B2%CE%B5%CF%81%CE%AE+%CF%80%CF%81%CE%BF%CF%83%CF%84%CE%B1%CF%83%CE%AF%CE%B1.png)

  
-Sts. Raphael, Nicholas and Irene, the Newely-revealed Martyrs of Thermi, Lesvos (Also see: http://full-of-grace-and-truth.blogspot.com/2012/04/sts-raphael-nicholas-and-irene-newly.html, http://fr-d-serfes.org/writtings/straphael.htm, http://orthodoxchristian.info/pages/sts_rni.htm, http://goarch.org/chapel/saints_view?contentid=1045&PCode=1PT&D=T&date=4/21/2009)
  

The Holy Newly-Revealed Martyrs of Thermi, Lesvos (Icon courtesy of http://www.eikonografos.com/ used with permission)
  

-The Finding of the Relics of St. Patapius in Loutraki, Greece (and Sts. Ypomoni and Nikon) (See: http://goarch.org/chapel/saints_view?contentid=327, http://full-of-grace-and-truth.blogspot.com/2008/12/miracle-of-st-patapios-of-thebes.html)

St. Patapios (Patapius) the Righteous of Thebes (Icon courtesy of http://www.eikonografos.com/ used with permission)
  

-Litany of the "Vimatarissa" ("Queen of the Altar") Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, Vatopedi Monastery Mount Athos (see: http://full-of-grace-and-truth.blogspot.com/2009/12/sts-athanasios-nicholas-and-anthony.html and http://vatopaidi.wordpress.com/2009/04/23/%CE%BB%CE%B9%CF%84%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%B5%CE%B9%CE%B1-%CE%B9%CE%B5%CF%81%CE%B1%CF%83-%CE%B5%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%BF%CE%BD%CE%B1%CF%83-%CF%84%CE%B7%CF%83-%CF%80%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%B1%CE%B3%CE%B9%CE%B1%CF%83-%CE%B2/)

  

The Miraculous Icon of Panagia Vimatarissa - Vatopedi Monastery, Mount Athos (http://www.mountathos.gr/active.aspx?mode=en{0bc0e16a-bb01-422b-9e36-e3fb872c7cf6}View)

For a video of the litany of Panagia Vimatarissa on the Tuesday of Bright Week at Vatopedi Monastery, see: http://www.pemptousia.gr/%ce%b2%ce%b9%ce%bd%cf%84%ce%b5%ce%bf%ce%b8%ce%ae%ce%ba%ce%b7/?v=33442.  
  

-Miracles of the Holy Archangel Michael and the Precious Nail of Christ of Thassos (The text of the Greek service is available here: http://voutsinasilias.blogspot.com/2010/03/blog-post_27.html)

  

One of the Precious Nails that pierced Christ on the Cross, treasured by the Monastery of the Archangel Michael, Thassos (https://picasaweb.google.com/orthodoxinfo/StMichaelTheArchangelConventThassosGreece#5171401153562086034)

   

-The Martyrs of St David of Garesja Monastery in Georgia in 1616 (also April 4).  (Greek account here: http://vatopaidi.wordpress.com/2010/04/06/6000-neoi-osiomartyres-sti-georgia-1616/)

Holy 6,000 Martyrs of St. David Gareji Monastery (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAtPsUNUXZxMX40iRu2yaKw5qRwCvckP_KW-apU7H2M9pe2YiegF-U5sQIkDi_7WMv4q6XoNSRfPlAzmc6vn2U3zqpfF3l9JQxMusOkIogLLBCX04ZZwRsIw3DnD98VPupxDvfTHqLWb4/s1600/6000+martyrs.jpg)

  

-St Sava "Vimataris", Hierodeacon of Vatopedi Monastery (tenth century). (Greek account here: http://vatopaidi.wordpress.com/2010/04/06/agios-savvas-o-vimataris/)

  

-179 Righteous Martyred Fathers of Ntaou Monastery, Penteli (http://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2010/04/179-holy-martyrs-of-ntaou-penteli-in.html)

  

The 179 Righteous Martyrs of the Monastery of Ntaou Penteli (http://vatopaidi.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/cebfceb9-cf83cf86ceb1ceb3ceb9ceb1cf83ceb8ceadcebdcf84ceb5cf82-cebccebfcebdceb1cf87cebfceaf-cebdcf84ceb1cebfcf8d-cf80ceb5cebdcf84cead.jpg)

  

Bright Wednesday (4th Tone) (http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=30)
  

-The holy monastic Fathers who have shone forth on the God-trodden Mt Sinai
  

Synaxis of the Holy Sinaite Fathers (taken from: http://www.pigizois.net/galery/agiografies/sinaxi_sinaiton_pateron.jpg)
  

-The Kasperov Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos (See:http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=103752)
  

-Synaxis of Panagia Ypseni in Rhodes (http://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2012/04/synaxis-of-panagia-ypseni-in-rhodes.html)

  

-Saint Nikandros the New Ascetic of Sinai (http://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2012/04/saint-nikandros-new-ascetic-of-sinai.html)

  

Bright Thursday (Plagal of the 1st Tone) (http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=31)
  

-Panagia Kamariotissa In Samothraki (http://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2011/04/panagia-kamariotissa-in-samothraki.html)

  

Bright Friday (Plagal of the 2nd Tone) (http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=32)

  

-The Life-Giving Spring of the Most Holy Theotokos. (Also see: http://goarch.org/chapel/saints_view?contentid=850&PCode=1PF&D=F&date=4/24/2009, http://full-of-grace-and-truth.blogspot.com/2009/04/bright-friday-life-giving-spring-of.html)

Icon of Christ and Panagia "The Life-giving Spring" (Icon courtesy of http://www.eikonografos.com/ used with permission)

  

-Panagia Kefalariotissas of Argos (http://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2011/04/panagia-kefalariotissas-of-argos.html)

-Panagia Tripiti of Aigio (http://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2011/04/among-most-beautiful-and-original.html)

  

Bright Saturday (Plagal of the 4th Tone) (http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=33)
  

-Synaxis of the Holy Kollyvades Fathers, which includes, according to the author of their service, Sts. Makarios of Corinth, Nikodemos of the Holy Mountain, Niphon the Sanctified, Nikephoros of Chios, Gregory Gravanos, Silvester of Kaisareia, Paisios Velichkovsky, Cyril of Paros, Ierotheos, from the Peloponese, Anthimos from Kephalonia, Parthenios o Skourtos, Auxentios from Andros, Kosmas Aitolos, Arsenios of Paros, Nektarios of Pentapolis, Sabbas of Kalymnos, Nicholas Planas, Parthenios of Chios, Parthenios and Evmenios of Crete, etc. (http://full-of-grace-and-truth.blogspot.com/2009/04/synaxis-of-holy-kollyvades-fathers.html)
  

Icon and Apolytikion (in Greek) of the Holy Kollyvades Fathers (taken from: http://www.pigizois.net/latreia/paraklitikoi_kanones/pdf/esperinos_kolivadon_pateron.pdf)

-Blessing of the Artos

Icon entreating Christ to bless the days of the week through His servants and patrons: Ever Sunday commemorates the Resurrection, Monday the Holy Angels, Tuesday the Precious Forerunner, Wednesday Betrayal of Christ and the Most-holy Theotokos, Thursday the Holy Apostles (and St. Nicholas), Friday the Crucifixion of Christ, and Saturday the Holy Martyrs and all the Departed (source)

  

Christ is Risen from the dead, by death, trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs, bestowing life!
Truly the Lord is risen!