Propers & Hymns - Fourteenth Sunday After Pentecost - September 2, 2012

This coming Sunday, September 2, 2012, is the Fourteenth Sunday After Pentecost, yet another "ordinary" Sunday in the long stretch between Pentecost and Lenten Triodion, with no feast days or commemorations.

Given that the Propers for the week are limited to those proper for Sunday in the tone of the week (Tone 5), we will not be posting propers, hymns and hymn selection (order of worship) for this week, concentrating instead on preparation for next month's feast days.

Epistle - 2nd Corinthians 1:21-2:4
Gospel - Matthew 22:1-14

Tone of the week = Tone 5

We will announce an opening hymn just before the start of the Divine Liturgy.

Have a peaceful and restful Labor Day weekend!

Propers & Hymns - Thirteenth Sunday After Pentecost - August 26, 2012

This coming Sunday, August 26, 2012, is the Thirteenth Sunday After Pentecost ... and nothing else! So, it's an "ordinary" Sunday in the long stretch between Pentecost and Lenten Triodion, with no feast days or commemorations.

Given that the Propers for the week are limited to those proper for Sunday in the tone of the week (Tone 4), we will not be posting propers, hymns and hymn selection (order of worship) for this week, concentrating instead on preparation for next week's Simple Feast of the Beheading of John the Baptist on Wednesday, August 29th and beyond.

Epistle - 1st Corinthians 16:13-24
Gospel - Matthew 21:33-42

Tone of the week = Tone 4

During the Great Incensation, we will chant the Canticle of the Theotokos (<=link to the previous post, with further links to the music resource files), taken from Sunday Matins.

As a reminder, we have chant group rehearsal from 10:15AM-10:45AM. Hope to see a few new faces along with the faithful group of chanters!

Propers & Hymns - Twelfth Sunday After Pentecost - August 19, 2012

Propers, hymns and hymn selection (order of worship) for the Twelfth Sunday After Pentecost - August 19, 2012 - are available on the For the Faithful resource page.

Sunday is also a Post-festive Day of the Dormition (i.e. falls in the octave of this Great Feast of the Church), so the propers will be carried over from the Feast, as explained below.

Further, we will also be celebrating the joyous occasion of the Christening of Mila Dnyprowsky, with the Rite of Christian Initiation (i.e. the Sacraments of Initiation - Baptism, Chrismation and Holy Eucharist) incorporated into the celebration of Sunday's Divine Liturgy.

Epistle - 1st Corinthians 15:1-11
Gospel - Matthew 19:16-26

Tone of the week = Tone 3

During the Great Incensation, we will sing Rejoice, O Purest Mother (Veselisja, Vo Čistot'i), a well-known  para-liturgical hymn traditionally associated with the Feast of the Dormition. The melodic theme of this hymn will also be embraced throughout the celebration of this Divine Liturgy, with the Cherubic Hymn, Anamnesis Acclamation and Communion Hymn chanted to the same melodic pattern.

As a reminder, for a Sunday in the octave of a Great Feast of the Theotokos:

• the Troparion and Kontakion of the feast are taken in place of the Kontakion for Sunday, immediately after the Troparion for Sunday in the tone of the week (Tone 3);
• the Prokeimenon and Alleluia for the feast are taken together with the Prokeimenon and Alleluia for Sunday in the tone of the week (Tone 3); and,
• the Magnification & Irmos for the feast are chanted instead of It is truly proper (Dostojno jest'). Please note that we will take the Samopodoben melody (on pgs. 353-355) instead of the "simple setting".

However, as we will also be incorporating the Rite of Christian Initiation into the celebration, the Sunday Troparion, as well as the Troparion and Kontakion of the Feast, will be omitted. The Divine Liturgy will continue from the point at which the Trisagion is chanted, after the Chrismation is complete, with All You Who Have Been Baptized taken instead on the occasion of the celebration of the Rite of Christian Initiation.

As always, the reference sheet posted on the For the Faithful resource page can guide you through it. You should be able to print a copy and bring it to the Divine Liturgy, if you wish.

Hope to see you for a special Sunday morning at the Church of the Resurrection!

Propers & Hymns - Feast of the Dormition

Propers, hymns and liturgical hymn selection (order of worship) for the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary - Wednesday, August 15, 2012 - are now available for review and reference on the For the Faithful resource page.

During the Great Incensation of the church and faithful - i.e. at the start of the Divine Liturgy - we plan to chant Rejoice, O Purest Mother (Veselisja, Vo Čistot'i), a well-known hymn traditionally associated with this Great Feast of the Church. The melodic theme of this hymn will also be embraced throughout the celebration of this Divine Liturgy and next Sunday.

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, herbs and flowers will be blessed as per our tradition.

NOTE: As highlighted in our church calendar and above, this is a Great Feast of the Universal Church. As such, it is a holy day of obligation (day of precept) for Byzantine-Ruthenian Catholics in the United States.

Hope to see you for the Divine Liturgy this Wednesday evening (7PM)!

Propers & Hymns - Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost - August 12, 2012

Propers, hymns and hymn selection (order of worship) for the Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost - August 12, 2012 - are available on the For the Faithful resource page.

Sunday is also a Post-festive Day of the Transfiguration (i.e. falls in the octave of a Solemn Feast of Our Lord), so the propers will be carried over from the Feast, as explained below.

Epistle - 1st Corinthians 9:2-12
Gospel - Matthew 18:23-35

Tone of the week = Tone 2

As a reminder, for a Sunday in the octave of a Feast of Our Lord:

• the special First and Second Antiphons from the Feast Day propers are chanted;
• the Third Antiphon and the Entrance Hymn are the same as Sunday, except that the phrase "risen from the dead" is substituted with a phrase reflective of the feast - "transfigured on the Mount" in this instance;
• the Troparion and Kontakion of the feast are taken in place of the Kontakion for Sunday, immediately after the Troparion for Sunday in the tone of the week (Tone 2);
• the Prokeimenon and Alleluia for the Feast are taken together with the Prokeimenon and Alleluia for Sunday in the tone of the week (Tone 2); and,
• a Magnification & Irmos are chanted instead of It is truly proper (Dostojno jest') - please note that we will take the Samopodoben melody (on pgs. 349-350) instead of the "simple setting".

Also, we will once again sign the para-liturgical hymn, On Mount Tabor (Na Tavori Preobrazivsja), during the Great Incensation before the Divine Liturgy (included with the propers for this Sunday) - just in case you missed it on Monday! ;)

As always, the reference sheet posted on the For the Faithful resource page can guide you through it. You should be able to print a copy and bring it to the Divine Liturgy, if you wish.

Hope to see you Sunday morning!

Traditional Hymn for the Feast of the Dormition

A choral setting (SATB) of the well-known hymn, Rejoice, O Purest Mother (Veselisja Vo Čistot'i), is now posted to our Chant Repertoire resource page (choir members please take note!).

As mentioned in a prior post, this hymn is traditionally associated with the Feast of the Dormition.

The harmony of this arrangement was based on an original setting by +Professor John Kahanick completed in June 1978, prepared along with dozens of other scores in the months before taking the kliros at the Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel in Passaic, NJ in September 1979. This setting is very much in keeping with the traditional manner in which Carpatho-Rusyn plainchant has been naturally harmonized by the faithful over the years.

While +Professor Kahanick used his own translation of the Slavonic lyrics (and assigned the English title: Now, Rejoice in Your Pure Beauty), we have used the more commonly known translation (six complete verses, with refrain) as seen in the setting included in the Marian Hymnal (1984). The first two verses of this translation also appeared in the Marian Hymn section (as #14) at the back of the older pew book, The Divine Liturgy (1978), compiled by +Msgr. William G. Levkulic of blessed memory.

The link on the resource page provides access to a *.pdf file with the score, and audio files (in *.wav format) simulating the SATB performance, as well as each of the voice parts individually. The piece is relatively easy to learn, even for a less experienced group of chanters. We hope these resources provide encouragement to "give it a go" in your parish (and to sing along at the Church of the Resurrection)!

FOLLOW-UP: A/V Highlights from the Litmanová Otpust HDL (5 Aug 2012)

The video clips of the Special Hierarchical Divine Liturgy on Zvir Mountain, Litmanová, SK (5 August 2012), in chronological order:

Telegram sv. Otcovi z púte z Litmanovej 2012
A telegram from the Holy Father is read to the pilgrims of the 2012 Litmanova otpust.

Úryvok z archijerejskej svätej Božskej Liturgie v Litmanovej na hore Zvir
"An excerpt" from the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy on Zvir Mountain (the Litany of Fervent Supplication).

Otčenáš v Litmanovej (Zbor bl. P.P.Gojdiča)
The Lord's Prayer

Modlitba pred sv. prijímaním v Litmanovej
Prayer before Communion, and the distribution of the Holy Eucharist to the clergy.

Gréckokatolícky zbor bl. P.P.Gojdiča - K tvojmu srdcu
During the distribution of the Holy Eucharist, the choir sings a hymn to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, K tvojmu srdcu. This hymn is sung to the melody of the popular and better known Marian hymn, Anhel Božij (When the Angel Came).

Gréckokatolícky zbor bl. P.P.Gojdiča - Chvalite Hospoda
During the distribution of the Holy Eucharist, the choir sings Chvalite Hospoda (Praise the Lord), a very traditional Eucharistic hymn in Carpatho-Rusyn tradition.

Gréckokatolícky zbor bl. P.P.Gojdiča - Tebe Pojem
During the distribution of the Holy Eucharist, the choir sings Tebe Pojem (We Sing to You), normally chanted during the Anaphora, after the Consecration.

Záver archijerejskej sv. Božskej liturgie a Zaámbonová modlitba
Final litany and Ambon Prayer at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy.

Požehnanie na konci archijerejskej liturgie v Litmanovej
The final blessing of the Divine Liturgy, and petition for health and long life of the Holy Father. Before the customary Mnóhaja L'ita, the choir first sang the infrequently heard De Petra Svjata Mohila (On Peter's Holy Mound), chanted in honor of the Holy Father and as a symbol of our unity in the Catholic faith.

Mnoholitsvie a modlitba za sv.otca Benediktia XVI. na konci sv. liturgie v Litmanovej 2012
A continuation of the clip above, "Many Years" is chanted for Pope Benedict XVI and all hierarchs present. The Lord's Prayer is recited before mirovanje (anointing of the faithful with holy oil and distribution of blessed bread). Regrettably, the first version of Mnóhaja L'ita (the "How Dry I Am" melody) was cut off but for the last few notes at the beginning of this clip.

Záverečná reč vladyku Mons. Jána Babjaka,SJ na Litmanovskej púti 2012 
Záverečné slovo vladyku Mons. Jána Babjaka, SJ na konci sv. liturgie v Litmanovej
(2 clips) The final words, thoughts and blessings of Metropolitan Babjak following the Divine Liturgy. At the end, Metropolitan Babjak petitions for the health and long life of His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk.


P.S. My Slovak isn't that great, but I think most of this is fairly accurate. Please feel free post any necessary corrections in the "Comments" section below.

A Special Hierarchical Divine Liturgy - 5 August 2012 Litmanová, SK Pilgrimage (Otpust)

Video clips of the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy celebrated as part of the annual pilgrimage (otpust) in Litmanová, Slovakia on the 5th of August 2012 were recently posted to YouTube.

The Litmanová otpust is sponsored by the Metropolitan Archeparchy of Prešov. This year, in celebration of the 1,150th anniversary of the arrival of Sts. Cyril & Methodius in the region (then known as Great Moravia), Metropolitan Babjak welcomed the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk, as well as other bishops and dignitaries from neighboring Greek Catholic eparchies and Roman Catholic dioceses. As the ranking Eastern Catholic hierarch, His Beatitude served as the main celebrant.

This link (<= click here) will take you to a playlist - at the moment, the first twelve (12) clips are of the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy.  I will attempt to catalog them and update this post in a few hours with a list of the twelve videos in chronological event order.  By the way - some of the other ones in the playlist are worth a listen, as well, especially those featuring the voice of Hanka Servicka.

Although the clips are a bit choppy at times and the cumulative video is not a complete recording of the  Divine Liturgy, there are many "gems" that can be heard in these clips. Prostopinije at its best, courtesy of the Blessed Bishop Paul Gojdich Choir and an estimated 20,000 faithful pilgrims!

Looking Ahead - Traditional Hymns for the Feast of the Dormition

In the popular, well-circulated Marian Hymnal (light blue-colored, with stenciled icon on front cover), published in 1984 by the Byzantine Seminary Press on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the annual Uniontown pilgimage, several hymns are identified as being associated with particular Marian feast days.

Two such hymns were associated with the Feast of the Dormition in the Marian Hymnal:

1. Veselisja Vo Čistotji / Rejoice, O Purest Mother (pgs. 38-39); and,
2. Chrístíjane Pribíhajte / Christians, Join in Our Procession (pgs. 6-7)

The first, Rejoice, O Purest Mother, is the better known of the two and is also included in the Byzantine Catholic Hymnal (pg. 21).

This hymn has been a common element of the repertoire of many of our great choirs, past and present. In tribute, we will post one or two choral settings used by these choirs in the coming days (in advance of the Feast).

Propers & Hymns - Feast of the Transfiguration

Propers, hymns and hymn selection (order of worship) for the Solemn Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ (Monday, August 6, 2012), are available on the For the Faithful resource page.

Epistle - 2nd Peter 1:10-19
Gospel - Matthew 17:1-9

Festal Tone

NOTE: We have prepared and included a para-liturgical hymn for the Feast of the Transfiguration entitled "On Mount Tabor". The melody is taken from the hymn "Na Tavori Preobrazivsja" included in the 1969 Prešov hymnal, Duchovňi Pisňi compiled by Fr. Štefan Papp. The English lyrics are an adapted translation of those from the original hymn, prepared with the generous assistance of Susan Tychnowicz, a member of our parish choir.

Propers & Hymns - Tenth Sunday After Pentecost

Propers, hymns and hymn selection (order of worship) for the Tenth Sunday After Pentecost, also the Pre-festive Day of the Transfiguration (Sunday, August 5, 2012), are available on the For the Faithful resource page.

Epistle - 1st Corinthians 4:9-16
Gospel - Matthew 17:14-23

Tone of the week = Tone 1

As a reminder, we will have chant group rehearsal from 10:15AM-10:45AM in the choir loft before the Divine Liturgy.

Any and all are welcome!

The Dormition Fast & August Feast Days

The traditional Dormition Fast begins today (yesterday at Vespers), and ends at Vespers on August 14th. Although "interrupted" by the joyous Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord, it is a traditional time for spiritual renewal relying especially on the intercession of the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, the Mother of God. The Paraklesis (<= click for service book) is traditionally prayed during this time of preparation.

The Dormition Fast begins today with the feast of the Procession of the Holy Cross, a penitential commemoration and one of three feast days of Our Lord this month (together with the Transfiguration on the 6th and the Translation of the Miraculously Formed Icon of Our Lord on the 16th).

The Feast of the Dormition on August 15th is a Great Feast of the Church and a day of precept, or holy day of obligation, for Byzantine Catholics.

The Feast of the Transfiguration on August 6th is a considered Solemn Feast.

On August 29th, we observe the Simple Feast of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist, which is the final notable feast of the Byzantine Liturgical Year (September 1 - August 31), normally the last fixed, or immovable feast day listed in the Festal Menaion.