A few questions have come up about the hymn "Hosts of Angels" (link to score) that we have chanted before Divine Liturgy on Sundays this Paschal season.
"Hosts of Angels" is a hymn chanted during Sunday and Feast Day Matins (morning prayer), part of the Byzantine daily cycle of worship (the Daily Office). As the faithful are most aware, we chant Pascal Matins before Divine Liturgy on the Feast of Pascha. Many of us are exposed to Matins only via this service (which is a special form for the Great Pasch), and perhaps other occasional Matins services of the Great Fast, namely, Matins with the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete on Thursday of the fifth week of Great Lent, and Jerusalem Matins on Great and Holy Saturday (both of which were celebrated at our parish this past Great Lent).
The central theme of "Hosts of Angels" is the witness and commemoration of the glorious Resurrection, and thus most appropriate for reflection as we begin the Divine Liturgy on Pascal Sundays, in particular.
NOTE: As it is pastorally challenging in many parishes to have Matins generally and on Sundays, we will be taking hymns from Matins during the great incensation (incensing of the church and faithful before the opening blessing of the Divine Liturgy) as opportunities arise, in order to introduce the faithful to some of the great "hidden" treasures from Matins in our tradition.
"Hosts of Angels" is a hymn chanted during Sunday and Feast Day Matins (morning prayer), part of the Byzantine daily cycle of worship (the Daily Office). As the faithful are most aware, we chant Pascal Matins before Divine Liturgy on the Feast of Pascha. Many of us are exposed to Matins only via this service (which is a special form for the Great Pasch), and perhaps other occasional Matins services of the Great Fast, namely, Matins with the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete on Thursday of the fifth week of Great Lent, and Jerusalem Matins on Great and Holy Saturday (both of which were celebrated at our parish this past Great Lent).
The central theme of "Hosts of Angels" is the witness and commemoration of the glorious Resurrection, and thus most appropriate for reflection as we begin the Divine Liturgy on Pascal Sundays, in particular.
NOTE: As it is pastorally challenging in many parishes to have Matins generally and on Sundays, we will be taking hymns from Matins during the great incensation (incensing of the church and faithful before the opening blessing of the Divine Liturgy) as opportunities arise, in order to introduce the faithful to some of the great "hidden" treasures from Matins in our tradition.
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