Statute 68

1Further, they shall do no work during the week of Pascha: the first week, the great week of the Passion, in which our Lord was crucified; and the week that follows it, the week of Pascha, which is the feast of the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior. They shall observe the first week because our Lord and our God was crucified in it, and the second week because he rose from the dead in it. They shall do no work on those days, and they shall know that he died and rose again from the dead.

2Further, they shall do no work on the feast of the fortieth day, which is the feast of the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ, and on it he made an end.

3Further, they shall do no work on the feast of the fiftieth day, because the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, was manifested—the one who descended upon those who believe in our Lord Christ.

4Further, they shall do no work on the day of the Nativity, the day of the birth of our Lord Christ, because the grace of God was quickly given to humanity when God the Word, who is our Lord Jesus Christ, was born of our Lady Mary, the Savior of the world.

5Further, they shall do no work on the feast of Epiphany, because on that day the divinity of our Lord Christ was revealed. The Father bore testimony to his Son at the place of baptism, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in the form of a dove. He was revealed before all the people, and those standing by bore testimony to him, saying, “This is God in truth, the Son of God in truth.”

6Further, they shall do no work on the feast day of the apostles, because they became your teachers, enabling you to know our Lord Jesus Christ and making you worthy to partake of the gift of the Holy Spirit.

7Further, you shall do no work on the day of Stephen, the chief deacon and first of the martyrs, or on the days of the other righteous and holy martyrs. All those who loved Christ our Lord more than their own lives and preferred him—honor them as much as you can.