C
chaldobyzantine
Guest
I was reminded that this coming Saturday is Lazarus Saturday when a YouTube friend posted the video of the hymn “Rejoice, O Bethany”. I believe this hymn is unique to the Antiochian Orthodox Church, as it was written by Metropolitan Athanasios Atallah of Homs, (the city whose inhabitants we really need to pray for), and is done as a koinonikon on Lazarus Saturday.
It is quite beautiful, and I would like to know if the Melkite Church, or even any other Eastern Catholic or Orthodox Churches use it. The links follow for the hymn:
English: youtube.com/watch?v=oyyGqx12ao0
Arabic: youtube.com/watch?v=YGMp0JO-e_g
Rejoice, rejoice, O Bethany!
On this day God came to thee,
And in Him the dead are made alive,
As it is right for He is the Life.
When Martha went to receive Him,
Grieving loudly with bitter tears,
She poured out the sorrow of her heart to Him
With great sadness, wailing her lament.
She at once cried out unto Him:
“My most compassionate Lord, my Lord,
At the great loss of my brother Lazarus
My heart is broken, help me.”
Jesus said to her, “Cease your weeping,
Cease your grieving and sad lament;
For your brother, My most beloved friend, Lazarus,
Very soon will live again.”
Then He, the faithful Redeemer,
Made His way unto the tomb,
Where he cried unto him who was buried four days,
Calling him forth, saying “Lazarus, arise.”
Come with haste, ye two sisters,
And behold a wondrous thing,
For your brother from the tomb has returned to life.
To the beloved Redeemer now give thanks.
To Thee, O Lord of creation,
We kneel down in reverence profound,
For all we who are dead in sin,
In Thee, O Jesus, are made alive.
It is quite beautiful, and I would like to know if the Melkite Church, or even any other Eastern Catholic or Orthodox Churches use it. The links follow for the hymn:
English: youtube.com/watch?v=oyyGqx12ao0
Arabic: youtube.com/watch?v=YGMp0JO-e_g
Rejoice, rejoice, O Bethany!
On this day God came to thee,
And in Him the dead are made alive,
As it is right for He is the Life.
When Martha went to receive Him,
Grieving loudly with bitter tears,
She poured out the sorrow of her heart to Him
With great sadness, wailing her lament.
She at once cried out unto Him:
“My most compassionate Lord, my Lord,
At the great loss of my brother Lazarus
My heart is broken, help me.”
Jesus said to her, “Cease your weeping,
Cease your grieving and sad lament;
For your brother, My most beloved friend, Lazarus,
Very soon will live again.”
Then He, the faithful Redeemer,
Made His way unto the tomb,
Where he cried unto him who was buried four days,
Calling him forth, saying “Lazarus, arise.”
Come with haste, ye two sisters,
And behold a wondrous thing,
For your brother from the tomb has returned to life.
To the beloved Redeemer now give thanks.
To Thee, O Lord of creation,
We kneel down in reverence profound,
For all we who are dead in sin,
In Thee, O Jesus, are made alive.