Ancient Eastern Catholic Songs

  • Thread starter Thread starter Catechesis
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Abo dQoshto (=Father of Truth) is the oldest Syriac liturgical hymn that I can verify. It’s from a metric homily on ‘Partaking of the Holy Mysteries’ by St. Jacob of Sarug from the 5th century. It is mistakenly (and annoyingly) called “St. Sharbel’s prayer” because he collapsed/died during it. Only a few verses are used in the Maronite liturgy now because the other verses are “scary” and “angry” (the actual reasons given). Below is an academic translation.

This text is from Amir Harrak’s translation:
[Father of Truth,] behold, your Son is an oblation that pleases you! Forgive me through him, for he died on my behalf so that I may be forgiven through him. Behold your sacrifice: Accept it from my hands for He comes from you. Be pleased by Him for this is what I have to offer you! Behold: His pure blood is poured out on Golgotha for my sake, pleading for me, so accept my supplication for his sake. Many are my sins but greater is your mercy! If you weigh them, your mercy will prevail even over the mountains that you balance! Consider the sins and consider the sacrifice on account of them; The slaughtered sacrifice is much greater than the sins! Because I sinned, your beloved one sustained the nails and the lance; his suffering is able to please you so that I may live. Though I have been redeemed, the Evil one has encircled me, shooting me with his arrows; O King and my Savior, encircle me and heal my wounds. My enemy is pressing and has killed me with there spear-head of iniquity; pass judgment on the insolent one for me, for he is not finished with me. The soul is small and its injury is not very great; the compassion that heals the stricken ones is greater than it.
Click to expand...
 
The CMS India (Christian Musicological Society of India), names the East Syriac hymn Bar Mariam as perhaps being the oldest Christian chant or hymn in all of India. This is a Syro Malabar chant specifically used by the Knanaya Catholics to bless newly wedded couples. The priest calls upon Jesus as Bar Mariam (Son of Mariam) to seal the holy alliance and spread His grace upon the marriage.

Links to the chant-
devaragam.com/vbscript/WimpyPlayer_ext.aspx?ord=t&var=2731
youtube.com/watch?v=7K3KEy_T73Q
 
Catechesis said:
What are some very old Eastern Catholic songs or hymns?
Click to expand...
Divine Liturgy of Saint James:the Trisagion Hymn.
Holy God, holy mighty, holy immortal, have mercy upon us.
**Let all mortal flesh keep silence **(dates to about 275 A.D.) original in Greek: Let all mortal flesh keep silence,
And with fear and trembling stand;
Ponder nothing earthly minded,
For with blessing in His hand,
Christ our God to earth descendeth
Our full homage to demand.

King of kings, yet born of Mary,
As of old on earth He stood,
Lord of lords, in human vesture,
In the body and the blood;
He will give to all the faithful
His own self for heavenly food.

Rank on rank the host of heaven
Spreads its vanguard on the way,
As the Light of light descendeth
From the realms of endless day,
That the powers of hell may vanish
As the darkness clears away.

At His feet the six winged seraph,
Cherubim with sleepless eye,
Veil their faces to the presence,
As with ceaseless voice they cry:
Alleluia, Alleluia
Alleluia, Lord Most High!

Sixth Century the Cherubic Hymn (original in Greek) Divine Liturgy of St. Basil.

We who mystically represent the Cherubim,
and who sing to the Life-Giving Trinity the trice-holy hymn%between%,
let us now lay aside all earthly cares
that we may receive the King of all,
escorted invisibly by the angelic orders.
Alleluia
%between%
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top