The services of Passion Week are a musical feast for the ears and the soul. Russian liturgical tradition is rich in special melodies for certain hymns of this most important week of the liturgical year, and if the services are also sung by a good choir, they are that much more memorable.
The Sretensky Monastery in Moscow is fortunate to have a world famous male choir singing at all of these beautiful services. We would like to share some highlights of this singing with our English language readers, and have therefore provided the English texts to match the hymns. While Church Slavonic is the consistent language used in Russian and other Slavic services, our English texts vary by translation. We have chosen to provide texts (excluding the Old Testament readings, which were taken from the Septuagint) from the classic Lenten Triodion translated by Mother Mary and Archbishop Kallistos Ware, which was re-printed by St. Tikhon’s Seminary Press.
Some of these MP3 files come from compact disc recordings of the Sretensky Monastery Choir, while others are live recordings from the actual services of previous years.
On Holy Friday, we recall Christ’s crucifixion with the Service of the Twelve Gospels. At this service the priest reads the twelve Gospels describing Christ’s Passion and Crucifixion, intertwined with other elements of the Matins service. After the sixth Gospel reading the Beatitudes are sung, with special troparia verses chanted by the presiding priest.
Troparion, Tone 8
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| Егда славнии ученицы на умовении Вечери просвещахуся, тогда Иуда злочестивый сребролюбием недуговав омрачашеся, и беззаконным судиям Тебе праведнаго Судию предает. Виждь имений рачителю, сих ради удавление употребивша! Бежи несытыя души, Учителю таковая дерзнувшия: Иже о всех благий, Господи слава Тебе. | The glorious disciples were illumined at the Supper during the washing of the feet, but ungodly Judas was darkened by the disease of avarice, and he delivered Thee, the righteous Judge, to lawless judges. See, O lover of money, how for money’s sake he hanged himself. Flee from the greed which made him dare to do such things against his Master. O Lord, who art good towards all men, glory to Thee (three times). |
The Service of the Twelve Gospels
The Beatitudes with troparia, sung after the sixth Gospel reading
Troparia read by Archimandrite Tikhon (Shevkunov)
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Во Царствии Твоем помяни нас, Господи, егда приидеши во Царствии Твоем. Блажени нищии духом, яко тех есть Царство Небесное. Блажени плачущии, яко тии утешатся. Блажени кротции, яко тии наследят землю. Блажени алчущии и жаждущии правды, яко тии насытятся. Древом Адам рая бысть изселен, древом же крестным разбойник в рай вселися. Ов убо вкушь, заповедь отверже Сотворшаго, ов же сраспинаемь, Бога Тя исповеда таящагося: помяни и нас, Спасе, во Царствии Твоем. Блажени милостивии, яко тии помиловани будут. Закону Творца от ученика купиша беззаконнии и, яко законопреступника, Того Пилатову судищу представиша, зовуще: распни, в пустыни сим Маннодавшаго. Мы же, праведнаго разбойника подражавше, верою зовем: помяни и нас, Спасе, во Царствии Твоем. Блажени чистии сердцем, яко тии Бога узрят. Богоубийц собор, иудейский язык беззаконный, к Пилату неистовне зовый, глаголаше: распни Христа неповиннаго, Варавву же паче нам отпусти. Мы же вещаим к Нему разбойника благоразумнаго глас: помяни и нас, Спасе, во Царствии Твоем. Блажени миротворцы, яко тии сынове Божии нарекутся. Живоносная Твоя ребра, яко из Едема источник источающая, Церковь Твою, Христе, яко словесный напаяет рай, отсюду разделяяся яко в начала, в четыри Евангелиа, мир напаяя, тварь веселя и языки верно научая покланятися Царствию Твоему. Блажени изгнани правды ради, яко тех есть Царство Небесное. Распялся еси мене ради, да мне источиши оставление: прободен был еси в ребра, да капли жизни источиши ми: гвоздьми пригвоздился еси, да аз глубиною Страстей Твоих к высоте державы Твоея уверяемь, зову Ти: Живодавче Христе, слава Кресту, Спасе, и Страсти Твоей. Блажени есте, егда поносят вам, и изженут, и рекут всяк зол глагол на вы лжуще Мене ради. Распинаему Тебе, Христе, вся тварь, видящи, трепеташе, основания земли колебахуся страхом державы Твоея, светила скрывахуся, и церковная раздрася завеса, горы вострепеташа, и камение разседеся, и разбойник верный зовет с нами, Спасе: еже помяни во Царствии Твоем. Радуйтеся и веселитеся, яко мзда ваша многа на небесех. Рукописание наше на Кресте растерзал еси, Господи, и, вменився в мертвых, тамошняго мучителя связал еси, избавль всех от уз смертных Воскресением Твоим, имже просветихомся, Человеколюбче Господи, и вопием Тебе: помяни и нас, Спасе, во Царствии Твоем. Слава: Отца, и Сына, и Духа Святаго вси единомудренно, вернии, славословити достойно помолимся, Единицу Божества, в Триех сущую Ипостасех, неслиянну пребывающу, просту, нераздельну и неприступну, Еюже избавляемся огненнаго мучения. И ныне, Богородичен: Матерь Твою, Христе, плотию безсеменно рождшую Тя, и Деву воистинну, и по рождестве пребывшую нетленну, Сию Тебе приводим в молитву, Владыко Многомилостиве, прегрешений прощению дароватися всегда зовущим: помяни нас, Спасе, во Царствии Твоем. |
In Thy Kingdom remember us, O Lord, when Thou comest in Thy Kingdom. Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Through a tree Adam lost his home in Paradise, and through the Tree of the Cross the thief made Paradise his home. For the One, by eating, transgressed the commandment of his Maker; but the other, crucified at Thy side, confessed Thee as the hidden God. Remember us also, Savior, in Thy Kingdom. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. The lawless people bought the Maker of the Law from His disciple, and they led Him as a transgressor before the judgment-seat of Pilate, crying “Crucify Him”, though it was He who gave them manna in the wilderness. But, following the example of the righteous thief, we cry with faith: Remember us also, Savior, in Thy Kingdom. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. The murderers of God, the lawless nation of the Jews, cried to Pilate in their madness, saying, “Crucify the innocent Christ”; and they asked rather for Barabbas. But with the words of the good thief we cry to Him: Remember us also, Savior, in Thy Kingdom. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Thy life-giving side, O Christ, flowing as a fountain from Eden, waters Thy Church as a living Paradise. Then, dividing into the four branches of the Gospels, with its streams it refreshes the world, making glad the creation and teaching the nations to venerate Thy Kingdom with faith. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. For my sake Thou wast crucified, to become for me a fountain of forgiveness. Thy side was pierced, that Thou mightiest pour upon me streams of life. Thou wast transfixed with nails, that through the depth of Thy sufferings I might know with certainty the height of Thy power, and cry to Thee, O Christ the Giver of Life: O Savior, glory to Thy Cross and Passion. Blessed are they that are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. When Thou wast crucified, O Christ, all the creation saw and trembled. The foundations of the earth quaked in fear of Thy power. The lights of heaven hid themselves and the veil of the temple was rent in twain, the mountains trembled and the rocks were split. With the faithful thief we cry: Remember us, O Savior. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. O Lord, on the Cross Thou hast torn up the record o our sins; numbered among the departed, Thou hast bound fast the ruler of hell, delivering all men from the chains of death by Thy Resurrection. Through this Thy Resurrection, O Lord who lovest mankind, we have been granted light, and cry to Thee: Remember us also, Savior, in Thy Kingdom. Rejoice and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven. Thou wast lifted up, O Lord, upon the Cross and hast destroyed the power of death; and as God Thou hast blotted out the record of our sins that was against us. Grant to us also the repentance of the thief, O Christ our God who alone lovest mankind, for we worship Thee with faith and cry to Thee: Remember us also, Savior, in Thy Kingdom. Glory to the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Let us the faithful pray with one accord that we may rightly glorify the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, o Godhead in three Persons, remaining unconfused, simple, undivided; whom no man can approach, and by whom we are delivered from the fire of punishment. Both now and ever and to the ages of ages, amen (Theotokion). O Christ, we offer Thee as intercessor Thy Mother who without seed bore Thee in the flesh, true Virgin who remained inviolate after childbirth. O Master rich in mercy, ever grant forgiveness of their sins unto those who cry: Remember us also, Savior, in Thy Kingdom. |
Prokimenon (Psalm 21), Tone 4
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Разделиша ризы Моя себе и о одежди Моей меташа жребий. Стих: Боже, Боже Мой, вонми Ми, вскую оставил Мя еси? |
They parted My garments among them, and cast lots upon My vesture. Verse: O God, My God, look upon Me: why hast Thou forsaken Me? |
Exapostilarion, Tone 3
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| Разбойника благоразумнаго во едином часе раеви сподобил еси, Господи, и мене древом крестным просвети и спаси мя. | O Lord, this very day hast Thou vouchsafed the Good Thief Paradise. By the Wood of the Cross do Thou enlighten me also and save me (three times). |
Troparion, First Hour
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| Распеншуся Тебе, Христе, погибе мучительство, попрана бысть сила вражия: ниже бо Ангел, ниже человек, но Сам, Господи, спасл еси нас, слава Тебе. | When Thou wast crucified, O Christ, the tyranny of the enemy was destroyed, and his power was trampled underfoot. For it was not an angel nor a man that saved us, but Thou Thyself, O Lord: glory to Thee. |
Vespers, Sticheron, Tone 5
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| Тебе одеющагося светом, яко ризою, снем Иосиф с древа с Никодимом и, видев мертва нага непогребена, благосердный плач восприим, рыдая, глаголаше: увы мне, Сладчайший Иисусе! Егоже вмале солнце на Кресте висима узревшее мраком облагашеся, и земля страхом колебашеся, и раздирашеся церковная завеса: но се ныне вижу Тя, мене ради волею подъемша смерть. Како погребу Тя, Боже мой, или какою плащаницею обвию? Коима ли рукама прикоснуся нетленному Твоему Телу? Или кия песни воспою Твоему исходу, Щедре? Величаю Страсти Твоя, песнословлю и погребение Твое со Воскресением, зовый: Господи, слава Тебе. | Joseph with Nicodemus took Thee down from the Tree, who deckest Thyself with light as with a garment; and looking upon Thee dead, stripped, and without burial, in his grief and tender compassion he lamented, saying: “Woe is me, my sweetest Jesus! When but a little while ago the sun saw Thee hanging on the Cross, it wrapped itself in darkness: the earth quaked with fear and the veil of the temple was rent in twain. And now I see Thee for my sake submitting of Thine own will to death. How shall I bury Thee, my God? How shall I wrap Thee in a winding sheet? How shall I touch Thy most pure body with my hands? What song at Thy departure shall I sing to Thee, O compassionate Savior? I magnify Thy sufferings; I sing the praises of Thy burial and Thy Resurrection, crying: O Lord, glory to Thee.” |
I have been attending all the services this week but have contracted an illness. I was so happy to be able to listen to the services.
I am very, very grateful.
The choir is so beautiful.
In Christ
Anna