Orthodox Easter Chants

published on 4/19/11 10:30 AM

Photo: BGNES

Orthodox Easter Chants

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We offer you a concert of religious chants performed in Orthodox churches in Bulgaria during the Holy Week.
In the final week of the Great Lent, the liturgy in Orthodox churches recreates the events from the last days of the earthly life of Jesus Christ. The Saviour entered Jerusalem on the Sunday before Easter. He was greeted with honors and flowers as the Messiah. Only five days later, the same crowds shouted: Crucify Him!
Researchers have found data about liturgical service in the Passover week in documents dating back to 394 AD. As early as that year, the nun called Eteria who visited Jerusalem describes the existing tradition that each day of this week is related to a scene of the sufferings of Jesus Christ, as well as reading a part of the Gospels, a tradition preserved to date. During the church service, special chants are sung.
We start from Great Thursday when the prayer The Wise Thief is always sung in front of the Crucifixion. This is a prayer to the Savior to give His mercy to the worshippers, just as He did while He was on the Cross to one of the thieves crucified next to Him.
Listen to The Wise Thief prayer performed by the unforgettable Bulgarian opera singer Boris Christoff and the mixed choir at the Saint Alexander Nevski Cathedral in Sofia.

This was the Wise Thief prayer performed on Great Thursday.
The next chant is performed through the entire Holy Week after sunset when the icon depicting the sufferings of Jesus Christ is taken outside the church. “I see your adorned palace, My Saviour”.
Hymn of Light for Easter performed by the choir of the Moscow-based church Vseh Skorbyashtih Radoste.

The next chant is again in the rendition of the choir of the Moscow-based church Vseh Skorbyashtih Radoste performed on the morning of Good Friday.

The next chant is sung in Orthodox churches in the expectation of the biggest Christian feast. “Lord, be with us because we have no other shelter in sorrow. Lord, have mercy”. Listen to the rendition of Yulangelo vocal group.

The Paschal Troparion is part of the festive liturgy. It is performed in the early hours of the Easter night, saying “Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and on those in the tombs bestowing life!”

On Easter, Bulgarians greet each other with the words “Christ is Risen!” and the reply is “Truly, He is risen!”.
Happy Easter!

Translated by: Rossitsa Petcova

По публикацията работи: Albena Bezovska

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Orthodox Easter Chants

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