The Day Before

Τὸ πρὶν ἀλέκτορα φωνῆσαι, πρὶν τὴν ἡμέραν ἐπιφᾶναι τῆς ἀναστάσεως. Αἱ γὰρ τούτων τῶν ὀρνίθων ᾠδαὶ, ἐηηιζούσῃς μὲν ἔω. ἔτι δὲ σκιᾶς ὑπαρχούσης, γίνονται. Ἠλησιαζούσης τοίνυν τῆς ζωοφόρου ἀνατολῆς, ἡ τοῦ ὀρανίου φωνὴ κατήγορος τῆς ἀρνήσεως γέγονε, δηλοῦσα, καὶ τῆς νυκτὸς τῆς ἀρᾶς τὴν κατάλυσιν, καὶ τοῦ φωτὸς τῆς ζωῆς τὴν ἐπίφαυσιν. Ἅγιος Ἰσίδωρος Του Πηλουσιώτου, Βιβίον Α', Ἐπιστολὴ ΤΝΖ' Σελευκῳ Source: Migne PG 78.386c

That time before, when the cock crowed, 1 was the day before the Resurrection shone forth. For likewise the songs of birds arise when the day nears but the darkness is still present. So with that rising which brings life nearing, the voice of the bird was one of condemnation of denial, but with the rising of the light of life the ruin of the night was dispelled. Saint Isidore of Pelusium, Book 1, Letter 357, To Seleucus 1 Mt 26.74-75, Mk 14.53, Lk 22.54, Jn 18.12