The Liturgy of the Nile

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, for ever and ever, do we write the Order of the feast of the blessed Nile [ which is observed ] on the Sunday of the three hundred and eighteen fathers, [and also ] from the Sunday of Pentecost [and onwards ], and after the conclusion of the feast of St. Mark the Evangelist. And the priests go to the ford of the congregation, one priest carrying the venerated cross, and taking ivith them the holy Gospel, and incense, and wax candles; [and approaching ] a basin, into which water had been put, they shall say this troparion in the sixth tone to the tune of “Bear that which time does bring ” —

The Lord has gone up to heaven, in order that He may send the comforting Spirit to the world. Heaven has been prepared for Him as a throne, and the clouds are His chariot. The angels were astonished when they saw the Son of Man rise above them. The Father beholds Him crowned who had never been separated from His bosom. The Holy Spirit commands all His angels: Lift up your gates, 0 ye chiefs. All the nations chipped their hands, because Christ has gone up to where He was before.