Magnificent - Russian Orthodox Church

In Search of Divine Light

Come and Let us Bless Joseph of Everlasting Memory

Cherrubic Hymn - Bulgarian

This is the famous prayer to St Michael the Archangel, sung in Latin plainchant. The text was composed by Pope Leo XIII in the 19th century, while the melody seems to be composed by the Benedictine monks of Our Lady of Guadalupe monastery in New Mexico. The harmony is by my good friends, Harpa Dei.

St Michael the Archangel Chant

Cover:  Very Reverend Fr Richard of St James Church

6. Evening Prayers -- Closing Prayer

5. Evening Prayers -- Prayer of the Hours

3. Evening Prayers -- Prayer of Forgiveness

3.  Vespers:  Psalm 103

From the Orthodox Pre-Communion Prayers. 

2. A Prayer of St John Chrysostom

This is celebrated in the Orthodox church on October 24.  The icon in St Romanos Hermitage is four feet tall hangs prominently in the monastery stairwell.  There are three dates associated with commemoration of this icon, October 24th being the most prominent, and stemming from a miracle attributed to the Theotokos through this icon on this day to a woman by the name of Euphymia in 1688.  The icon shows the Virgin Mary almost in a heavenly garden with Christ, her son above her, she is surrounded by suppliants requesting her intercession.  It is the Orthodox teaching that the soul never dies even after it is separated from the body (at the death of the body).  If one believes this, then we the living could ask a soul to pray for us whether or not their body is deceased or not.  In such case, who is better to intercede for us to Christ than his mother.  After all, what son would deny the request of his mother.  The Virgin Mary is especially known to be a softener of hearts.  Thus in this icon, the Virgin Mary is depicted taking our pain and suffering into the presence of her son for healing.  Through her our sorrow is turned to joy.  There are three “sedalens” in the Matins service commemorating the Joy of all who sorrow icon.  Sedalens, also called “Sessional Hymns,” or “Kathisma Hymns” are a set of songs sung after chantings from the Psalms called Kathismas in Orthodox services.  Music original to Roman.

Joy of all who sorrow Icon (Sedalen #2)

“Post Communion Prayers” as taken from The Unabbreviated Horologion or Book of the Hours (Jordanville, New York: Holy Trinity Monastery, 1997)  www.holytrinitypublications.com and used with permission.

Come and Let us Bless Joseph of Everlasting Memory

Divna Ljubojevic