Music Monday: Rejoice, Unwedded Bride

This past weekend, my parish choir was recording the first part of an album. As a result, I’m in the mood for some Byzantine chant today, so below is another choir’s version of “O Virgin Pure”:

Refrain: O Rejoice Bride unwedded.

O Virgin pure, immaculate, O Lady Theotokos. (Refrain)
O fleece bedewed with every grace. O Virgin Queen and Mother.(Refrain)
More radiant that the rays of the sun, and higher than the heavens. (Refrain)
O joy of virgin choruses, superior to the angels. (Refrain)
O brighter than the firmament and purer that the sun’s light. (Refrain)
More holy than the multitude of all the heavenly armies. (Refrain)

O ever virgin Mary of all the world, the Lady.(Refrain)
O Bride all pure immaculate, O Lady Panagia. (Refrain)
O Mary Bride and Queen of all, the cause of our rejoicing. (Refrain)
O noble Maiden, gracious Queen,
supremely holy Mother. (Refrain)
More honored than the Cherubim,
beyond compare more glorious(Refrain)
Than the unbodied Seraphim, transcending the angelic Thrones. (Refrain)

Rejoice, the song of Cherubim rejoice,
the hymn of angels
Rejoice the ode of Seraphim; the joy of the archangels.
Rejoice, O peace and happiness and cause of our rejoicing.
O sacred chamber of the Word, the flower of incorruption.
Rejoice, delightful Paradise of blessed life eternal.
Rejoice O sacred Tree of life and fount of immortality.

I supplicate you, Lady now, I fervently entreat you.
O Queen of all, I earnestly implore and seek your favor.
O gracious Maiden, spotless one, O Lady Panagia.
I call upon you ardently , O holy hallowed Temple.
O help me and deliver me protect me rom the enemy.
And make me an inheritor of blessed life eternal.

Music Monday: Let My Prayer Arise

Time to get back to some more ancient styles of music. Here is a Russian Orthodox rendering of the Liturgical song “Let my prayer arise” which is based on Psalm 140/141:

Let my prayer arise
as the lamp censer before You.
And let the rising of my hands
be my evening sacrifice.
Let my prayer arise,
and let my deep breath taking
be my evening sacrifice.
Lord i am calling You,
hear my prayer.
I am praying, praying, praying…
i am calling You.

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