On 30 April 2008, Fr. Seraphim Holland wrote:

>> We all know that from Pascha onwards, we begin reading from the
>> Acts and the
>> Gospel of John in the liturgies. Why then, on Bright Tuesday, is
>> the passage
>> from Luke 24:12-35 ("Then arose Peter, and ran unto the
>> sepulchre...",
>> instead of St John?

The Gospel at the Liturgy on Bright Tuesday is not the only instance
where the readings from the Gospel according John are interrupted and
a reading from some other evangelist occurs. On the 3rd Sunday of
Pascha (the Sunday of the Myrrhbearers), the reading at the Liturgy is
from Mark (15:43-16:8). And at the Liturgy on Ascension Day, the
reading at the Liturgy is also from Luke (24:36-53).

There are, of course, eleven Gospel readings pertaining to the
resurrection that are read throughout the year at Sunday Matins.
However, during the period between Pascha and Pentecost, there are are
only six Sundays available, which is insufficient for all eleven
resurrection readings to be read at Matins. So five of those readings
are read at the Liturgy on various days throughout the period. In this
way none of the resurrection Gospels is omitted during the period.
The days on which the eleven resurrectional readings occur are as
follows:

Gospel 1 (Matthew 28:16-20) - at Matins on the 2nd Sunday of Pascha
(Thomas Sunday)

Gospel 2 (Mark 15:43-16:8) - at Liturgy onf the 3rd Sunday of Pascha
(Sunday of Myrrhbearers)

Gospel 3 (Mark 16:9-20) - at Matins on the 3rd Sunday of Pascha
(Sunday of the Myrrhbearers)

Gospel 4 (Luke 24:1-12) - at Matins on the 4th Sunday of Pascha
(Sunday of the Paralytic)

Gospel 5 (Luke 24:12-35) - at Liturgy on Tuesday of Bright Week

Gospel 6 (Luke 24:36-53) - at Liturgy on Ascension Day

Gospel 7 (John 20:1-10) - at Matins on the 5th Sunday of Pascha
(Sunday of the Samaritan Woman)

Gospel 8 (John 20:11-18) - at Matins on the 6th Sunday of Pascha
(Sunday of the Blind Man)

Gospel 9 (John 20:19-31) - at Liturgy on the 2nd Sunday of Pascha
(Thomas Sunday)

Gospel 10 (John 21:1-14) - at Matins on the 7th Sunday of Pascha
(Sunday of the Fathers of the First Council)

Gospel 11 (John 21:15-25) - at Liturgy on the Saturday before Pentecost

Thus, the reading of the resurrection Gospel according to Luke
(24:12-35) during paschaltide perhaps reflects the desire that this
important Gospel reading not be omitted during the period when the
resurrection of Christ is being so prominently commemorated. As for
the placement of this Gospel on Bright Tuesday, perhaps this has to do
with the fact that events narrated in that particular Gospel occurred
close to that day.

Daniel Olson

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