Oh, how grievous, how grievous that was! The third day had dawned and the light whitened the walls, but he and John were sitting in the chamber, without hope or comfort.

How desire for sleep tortured them (for they had spent the night before the Passion without sleep)! They roused themselves then, and began again to lament.

But barely had the sun risen when Mary of Magdala, panting, her hair dishevelled, rushed in with the cry, "They have taken away the Lord!" When they heard this, he and John sprang up and ran toward the sepulchre.

But John, being younger, arrived first; he saw the place empty, and dared not enter.
Only when there were three at the entrance did he, the person now speaking to them, enter, and find on the stone a shirt with a winding sheet; but the body he found not.
Fear fell on them then, because they thought that the priests had borne away Christ, and both returned home in greater grief still.

Other disciples came later and raised a lament, now in company, so that the Lord of Hosts might hear them more easily, and now separately and in turn.