Categories: hymns, feast-days, other-churches
Date: 29 December 2008 05:52:33
Christmas was spent in the Assyrian Church of the East, which was indeed a great blessing: not only to be with a wonderful number of friends, but also to hear and participate in the liturgy offered to the blessed Trinity in this ancient Church. In my ignorance, and perhaps jet-lagged state, I do not recall if the liturgy is in Aramaic and Assyrian, or Aramaic only -- I believe the former. God willing, a friend will comment below.
While not in English, I have a very basic familiarity with the liturgy and rite, and so thus could add my "Amen" [moreso "Amin" in Eastern pronunciation]; in addition, a deacon friend composed three pages of translations for the pre-Holy Qurbana [Eucharistic Liturgy] hymns and prayers from the Aramaic. The other non-Assyrian friend used these; I contented myself with the quick overview he gave, before asking for the notes to keep after the service. And what a beautiful and uplifiting service it was: the hymns, prayers, and the melodies associated with them, truly caused my spirit to soar on this blessed and joyous Feast. Thanks and praise be to God.
I reproduce the prayers my deacon friend translated below, for my joy and benefit as much as I pray yours; the Church of the East's Liturgy, Prayers and Hymns are indeed some of the most beautiful throughout Christendom.
[My friend did ask me to say these are rough translations; if any of you have the Aramaic in front of you and find mistakes, please do not be too harsh on him. :)]
A blessed and joyous Christmas season to all!
We saw His glory as the glory of the Only-Begotten from the Father. The Word which from the Father settled on our humanity and saved our kind by the Son of Mary, angels are glad and seraphims hallowing and a star showing the manger to the Magi.
From the beginning He promised through His Prophets in the Holy Books, from the seed of David, righteous king, Mary gave birth to a wonderous child and He shook by His Being the foreign kings, and he gladdened the Magi who rejoiced at His Birth.
...
* Oh hear all peoples! *
In the month of December in which the ground does not give its fruit, in it the Lord showed His Fruit by the Virgin -- that He is the cause of all goods and all good hope to all Creation; and Christ Lord of all is the True Light, worshipped with His Father and the Holy Spirit.
* He will stay firm forever before God. *
On the Holy Altar is the Commemoration of Mary, Virgin Mother and Holy Mother of Christ, by whose prayers all wars will wane and the Church and her sons will sing glory; and we will ask of her Son, and beseech with love that by His Mother's prayers He will have mercy on us.
* God sent His Grace and Truth. *
The head of the high angels was sent from heaven to the blessed among women, the Holy Virgin, and while she had fallen in fear, without ceasing he was giving his news, saying, Blessed are you woman bearing salvation; blessed are you mother of the mighty Saviour; blessed are you that from you will come the King of Kings of forever; blessed are you that became the dwelling place of the Lord of the ages.
Blessed are you that bore in your bosom the Sun which gladdens creation; blessed are you that were made radiant among the gathered who wore light; blessed are you that you gave birth to the Lord of all who saved us from death.
Blessed are you that you gave birth to the Forgiver who forgives sin; blessed are you that from you shines the One who gladdens creation; blessed are you, a thousand fruits of heavenly benefit were gained from Him, the heavenly and earthly ones; blessed are you that from you shines the Fountain of Help and will water the world and will make drunk those who are in need. Hallelujah!
Hymn:
Blessed compassionate One who by His Grace guided us though prophecy *
With spiritual eye Isaiah saw the birth of the Wonderous Child from the Virgin *
Mary gave birth to Emmanuel, the Son of God *
From her the Holy Spirit received a united body as it is written *
One is Christ the Son of God, worshipped by all, in two natures *
By His Godhead born of the Father without beginning before time *
And in His Humanity born of Mary in the end times in a united body *
His Divinity is not from the nature of His Mother nor His Humanity from the nature of His Father *
And how is His Divinity? Three persons, one Being *
This is the Sonship of the Son with two natures and one person *
Thus learned the Holy Church, confessing Christ, the Son *
We are worshipping Your Divinity and Humanity without division *
One strength, one Lordship, one will, one glory *
To the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit from ages to ages. Amen. Amen.
...
* Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. *
Kings, sons of kings, take the crowns off your head and worship the Firstborn Son. The Holy came to be from blessed Mary, and He came for the salvation of the world. Glory to You our Lord, glory to You Son of God, blessed in that He saved us by His Coming.
* From ages to ages. Amen. Amen. *
Who saw a ewe(*) bearing a lion's cub, who raised it and was fearless? Mary is that ewe(*) and Christ the lion and she raising it was fearless. Glory to You our Lord, glory to You Son of God, You honoured Mary your mother.
* All the world say Amen and Amen. *
Three mangers came from the fields of Israel: Anna, Elizabeth and Mary. Anna mother of Samuel; Elizabeth of Mar [Saint] John, and Mary of the Saviour of the World. Glory to You our Lord, glory to You Son of God, blessed is He that we rejoiced in His Being.
...
* Glorify the Lord all the nations! *
* Glorify Him all peoples! *
Christ, the Son, today our gathering celebrates the Feast of His Birth. Accept from us awake in vigil among the prayers of your glorifiers and from the treasury of your mercies answer our requests.
* Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. From ages to ages. Amen. Amen. *
Those above the heights sang glory and among them raised glory the earthly beings also to Him who by His Love came down to us and wore our humanity.
...
(*) I did have "goat"; my deacon friend subsequently told me "ewe" was the translation -- which I think sounds better