• 🌅 Bright Monday — Orthodox Daily Devotional
  • Monday, April 13, 2026 | Bright Week
    • ✝️ Today’s Commemorations
  • 📖 Scripture Readings
    • John 20:1–10 — The Empty Tomb
    • John 20:19–25 — Jesus Appears to the Disciples
    • Matthew 28:1–20 — The Resurrection and the Great Commission
    • Mark 16:1–8 — The Empty Tomb
    • Luke 24:1–12 — The Women at the Tomb
    • Luke 24:36–53 — Jesus Appears and Ascends
    • Acts 1:12–17, 21–26 — The Apostles in the Upper Room; Matthias Chosen
    • John 1:18–28 — The Testimony of John the Baptist
  • 📚 Orthodox Study Bible Commentary
    • On the Empty Tomb (John 20:7)
    • On the Scripture Foretelling the Resurrection (John 20:9)
    • On Mary Magdalene, First Apostle (John 20:18)
    • On the Apostolic Commission (John 20:21–23)
    • On the Doubt of Thomas (John 20:24–29)
    • On the Earthquake and the Angel (Matthew 28:2)
    • On the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19)
    • On the Apostolic Office (Acts 1:20)
    • On Casting Lots for Matthias (Acts 1:26)
    • On “No One Has Seen God” (John 1:18)
  • 🕯️ Reflection — Bright Monday

§🌅 Bright Monday — Orthodox Daily Devotional

§Monday, April 13, 2026 | Bright Week

§✝️ Today’s Commemorations

Bright Monday — The First Day of Bright Week, the Week of the Resurrection

• Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos of Mt. Athos, “Sweet Kissing” (Glykophilousa)
• Hieromartyr Artemon of Laodikeia in Syria (†303)
• Martyr Crescens of Myra in Lycia
• Martyr Thomaïs of Alexandria (5th century)

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

§📖 Scripture Readings

All Bright Week readings are Resurrection readings — the Church sings Pascha for eight days without ceasing.

§John 20:1–10 — The Empty Tomb

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”

Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself.

Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.

§John 20:19–25 — Jesus Appears to the Disciples

Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.

So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”

So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”

§Matthew 28:1–20 — The Resurrection and the Great Commission

Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.

But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”

So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word. And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

§Mark 16:1–8 — The Empty Tomb

Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they said among themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?” But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away — for it was very large.

And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.

But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples — and Peter — that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.”

So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

§Luke 24:1–12 — The Women at the Tomb

Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ “

And they remembered His words. Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles. And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them. But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.

§Luke 24:36–53 — Jesus Appears and Ascends

Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.” But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”

When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, “Have you any food here?” So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. And He took it and ate in their presence.

Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.

Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things. Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen.

§Acts 1:12–17, 21–26 — The Apostles in the Upper Room; Matthias Chosen

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey. And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (altogether the number of names was about a hundred and twenty), and said, “Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus; for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry.”

“Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”

And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, “You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.” And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

§John 1:18–28 — The Testimony of John the Baptist

No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”

And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”

Then they said to him, “Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” He said: “I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees. And they asked him, saying, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

John answered them, saying, “I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know. It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.”

These things were done in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

§📚 Orthodox Study Bible Commentary

§On the Empty Tomb (John 20:7)

“The details John gives concerning the linen cloths confirm the Resurrection, for if thieves had taken away Christ’s body as Mary initially thought, they would not have taken the time to strip the body, nor to fold and place each piece carefully and separately.”

§On the Scripture Foretelling the Resurrection (John 20:9)

“The Scripture had foretold Christ could not remain dead (Psalm 15:10). John and Peter ran to the tomb — John reaching it first indicates his faith is lofty and full of understanding, and indeed, he is the first to believe. Peter’s faith, on the other hand, is more direct and bold, shown by his immediate entrance into the tomb.”

§On Mary Magdalene, First Apostle (John 20:18)

“Mary Magdalene, having remained faithful to Christ to the end, is the first person sent to proclaim the risen Lord, and thus is the first apostle of the Resurrection. She is known in the Church as ‘the apostle to the apostles.’ “

§On the Apostolic Commission (John 20:21–23)

“Christ commissions the disciples to continue His mission on earth, granting them the Holy Spirit and the authority to forgive the sins of others. Through this direct consecration and through apostolic continuity, Christ’s own Priesthood is communicated to the bishops and presbyters of the Church.”

§On the Doubt of Thomas (John 20:24–29)

“The doubt of Thomas is described in the Church hymns as ‘blessed,’ for it was not a doubt of resistance to truth, but one that desperately desired a truthful answer — a ‘doubt which gave birth to faith’ when the answer was revealed. In hymns of the Church, Christ says to Thomas, ‘Your doubt will teach My Passion and Resurrection to all,’ and we affirm that his doubt ‘brought the hearts of believers to knowledge.’ The conversion of Thomas’ doubt into faith led him to the clearest confession of Christ’s divinity, addressing Jesus as ‘My Lord and my God.’ “

§On the Earthquake and the Angel (Matthew 28:2)

“The earthquake is a sign of our Lord’s great victory over death, foreshadowing the general resurrection of all humanity. Note that the angel does not roll back the stone to let the Lord out, for in His glory, Christ could pass through solid rock. Rather, this allows the witnesses in to see that He has already risen.”

§On the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19)

“This Great Commission — our Lord’s final commandment given on earth — is to be lived out in the Church until He returns again. Making disciples cannot be done in the strength of man, but only in the power of God. The power of the Resurrection is not only for Jesus Himself, but is given to all believers for Christian life and mission.”

§On the Apostolic Office (Acts 1:20)

“The Greek word episkope, here rendered ‘office,’ is literally ‘bishopric’ and refers to the apostolic position of overseer. Thus, we learn the apostles were the first bishops of the Church. The authority of overseeing the life of the Church continues in the bishops who stand in their succession.”

§On Casting Lots for Matthias (Acts 1:26)

“Casting lots to discern the will of God has been practiced since ancient times and continues in various places in the Church to this day. This should not be misunderstood as surrendering all authority to random chance. The authority of the apostles is shown by their offering of specific names. Nevertheless, the final outcome is left to God.”

§On “No One Has Seen God” (John 1:18)

“No one can see the nature, or essence, of God, for to see God is to die (Exodus 33:20). Only One who is Himself divine can see God, and thus the Son is the only One who can declare Him. This revelation of God’s energies can be received by the faithful. Moses saw the ‘back’ of God; Isaiah saw His glory.”

§🕯️ Reflection — Bright Monday

Today the Church does not slow down from Pascha — she accelerates. Bright Week is an eight-day feast, a prolonged alleluia, the Church’s defiant song against death’s power. The Liturgy of Bright Week is celebrated with Royal Doors open throughout — a sign that the gates of Paradise stand open, that the separation between heaven and earth has been bridged.

These resurrection readings are not a single account but a chorus: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts — each voice adding dimension to the one great event. The tomb is empty. He is not here. He is risen.

Notice what the risen Christ does first: He breathes. “Receive the Holy Spirit.” The second creation echoes the first — God breathing into clay the breath of life. Here Christ breathes into frightened men a new life, a new mission. As the Father sent the Son, so the Son sends the Church.

The women who held fast while the disciples fled become the first witnesses. Mary Magdalene, whose seven demons were cast out, is made the apostle to the apostles. The ones society overlooked are the first to carry the most important news in history. This is the logic of Pascha: death trampled by death, the last made first, the broken made whole.

John the Baptist stands in the final reading today as a voice pointing forward: “There stands One among you whom you do not know.” On Bright Monday, we know. We have seen. We proclaim.

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen! Христос Воскресе! Воистину Воскресе!

Source: Scripture texts from The Orthodox Study Bible (St. Athanasius Academy of Orthodox Theology), New King James Version. Readings from the OCA Daily Lectionary for April 13, 2026.

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