Categories: uncategorized
Date: 24 January 2005 02:53:02
Sunday Matins is the service held before Divine Liturgy. There is no pause between Matins and Divine Liturgy; the ending of the one flows into the next.
Matins combines Psalm readings, a Gospel reading, prayers and hymns. The hymns sung throughout Matins speak of the great wonder of the Incarnation and Christ's life, death and resurrection, and never fail to instruct and give cause for wonder. I find myself spontaneously singing some of them throughout the week -- the melodies are quite contagious! -- and I thought I'd share a few of them will all of you out there.
This one, which I believe is called the Evlogitaria, speaks of the great joy of the Resurrection:
Blessed are you, O Lord: teach me your statutes.The company of Angels was amazed,
when they beheld Thee numbered among the dead,
yet Thyself, O Saviour, destroying the power of death,
and with Thee raising up Adam and releasing all men from Hell.Blessed are you, O Lord: teach me your statutes.
Wherefore, O women disciples, do ye mingle sweet-smelling spices with your tears of pity?
The radiant angel within the sepulchre cried unto the myrrh-bearing women:
behold the grave, and understand; for the Saviour is risen from the tomb.Blessed are you, O Lord: teach me your statutes.
Very early in the morning did the myrrh-bearing women run lamenting unto thy tomb;
but an angel came toward them saying:
the time for lamentation is passed; weep not;
but announce unto the apostles the Resurrection.Blessed are you, O Lord: teach me your statutes.
The myrrh-bearing women mourned as bearing spices they drew near thy tomb, O Saviour.
But the angel spoke unto them saying:
Why number ye the living among the dead?
In that He is God He is risen from the grave.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
We adore the Father, as also his Son, and the Holy Spirit,
the Holy Trinity in One Essence;
crying with the Seraphim: Holy, holy, holy are you, O Lord.Now and forever, and to the ages of ages. Amen
In that you did bear the Giver of Life O Virgin,
you did redeem Adam from sin, and did give to Eve joy in place of sadness;
and He who was incarnate of you, both God and man,
has restored to life those who had fallen therefrom.Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia; glory to you, O God. (x3)
O our God and our hope, glory to You!