Return to Me
A song about the Prodigal Son

the son said, “father i must go,
i wish not to stay here you know,
the world has much I want to see,
I hope that you will not stop me.
I see riches, I see gold
I see goods that I uphold
though it hurts to see you cry
I must bid you this last goodbye”

the father looked down lovingly
saying, “if you walk away from me
i will miss you with all of my heart
but even if you do depart
i will be waiting for you here
no matter if it takes you years
you are my son until the end
and I pray i will see you again”

the son left from his father’s place
with a smile on his face
ready to be free and grow
oh but little did he know
the world of pleasures has a cost
beware your soul may be lost
if you consume these earthly things 
and forget the joy your father brings 

the father looked out lovingly				
saying, “though you walked away from me
i miss you with all of my heart
but even though you did depart
I am waiting for you here
no matter if it takes you years
you are my son until the end
And I pray I will see you again”

the son quickly consumed his wealth
lost his food and lost his health
all his friends had left his side
so now he had to decide
should he live in misery,
watching pigs roam happily,
or return to his father’s place
to serve him for the rest of his days

the father looked out lovingly,
saying “son you have returned to me,
I have waited all this time
praying for you to be mine
let us kill the fattened calf
So we can sing and dance and laugh
to celebrate my son who died
who now has been brought back to life”

Return to Me

Theotokia Medley

♱
Explore more of this iconographer's (@ kilada_copticicons) incredible work on his website!: https://www.kkilada.com/coptic-icons

(Chorus)
The story of the greatest love
I have seen in Golgotha
My beloved Jesus on the cross 
Suffering to save us all
His loving heart beating in pain
His body wounded and slain
In His eyes I read the story 
The story of the greatest love

(Verse 1)
Yesterday He walked among us
Lovingly spreading His grace
Healing our souls and bodies 
Promising eternal life
His love was unprecedented
As He loved all the sinners
That is because He is Jesus
Who loves without condition

(Verse 2)
While His love was invading the world 
Devilish people kept thinking
How to get rid of Lord Jesus
Whose love endangered their powers
So to terminate the story 
The story of precious love
So to write the last chapter 
They killed Him, the source of love

(Verse 3)
How great is the love of Jesus
How precious and wonderful
He gave us life everlasting
He forgave all our sins
Every bit of love we share
is coming from Jesus' love
All of the love in this world
Cannot equal Jesus' Love

The Story of the Greatest Love (قصة الحب العجيب)

Asomen Spanish

Lyrics: 
(Who do I have but You O Lord
I live for you alone, O my Lord)x2
You are my safety
in You I am free 

(I long for You, O my Lord 
You fill my life, O my Lord)x2
I will sing joyfully 
Enlighten my path for me 

(At Your embrace, O my Lord
I taste Your sweetness, O my Lord)x2
Cast off my worries
Calm my anxieties

(In the midst of thorns, O my Lord 
My eyes look to You, O my Lord)x2
Heal my injuries
Renew the joy in me

(You are my refuge, O my Lord 
My eyes turn to Heaven, O my Lord) x2
My strength is Your love
Your promises are from above

Who do I Have but You -  ما لي سواك - Translation

Chanted by youth from the church of the Virgin Mary and St. Athanasius in Mississauga, Canada. The psali is chanted in the Kiahk Watos tune (like the Burning Bush melody). May the blessings of the month of Kiahk be with us.

Kiahk Midnight Praise - Saturday Psali and Theotokia

I Sought After You - St. George and St. Shenouda

O Tell Me John O Tell Me

This melody is found in Upper Egypt, specifically in Moharraq Monastery, the church of St. John of Heraclia and in Assiut. The cantors that preserved this song were Cantor Tawfik Youssef, Cantor Habib Hennawy and Cantor Fayez of Assiut.. In Arabic its title is "Ah ya nayem". It is to be chanted liturgically during communion on Bright Saturday AFTER Banoudi Banoudi (Panouti Panouti). 

Refrain: 
Lord at rest, • Lord at rest, • Lord at rest, • in the tomb. 
Are you living, • or dead? • "I live • forever." 

On the day of • your crucifixion, • you were silent • and still. 
Rise quickly, • O beloved. • Scoffers claim that • you’ve been killed.

Hearts afflicted • wait for you. • Those who mourn • call out to you.
We have no other • comforter. • There is no other • king but you.

David the prophet, • concerning me, • said my body • will not decay.
Rest assured, then, • that my body • is not abandoned, • left to lay.

Lazarus, come • forth untied; • see the tomb of • mystery.
Jesus Christ, • who gave you life, • was crucified • on the tree.

I am living. • I am coming • to take those • who believe
To my throne, • to my glory, • to my kingdom, • eternally.

I will wipe • every tear • from the eyes • of my sheep.
I will gird myself • and serve you, • O my children, • with victory.

Our souls yearn • for you deeply, • O dormant one in • the sepulcher.
Will you rise • and return, • or from us • have you turned?

I have finished • my saving work, • as was written • in the scriptures.
Your redemption • was not completed • till I bore death • and suffered.

Cast away • all fear, • and remove •all worry.
I've defeated • my enemies. • I will rise and • set you free.

He whose hands were • pierced has risen. • Risen is the • King of Peace.
Putting to shame the • adversary. • Truly risen, • King of Glory.

I would like to thank all those that helped with the translation and production of this melody. Jimmy Awad, Sammy Girgis, Mina Makar, Anthony Doss, Peter Mansour and Sandra Shaker, Joseph and Daniel Bibawy, Benjamin Youssef, Andrew Wassef and George and Kyrillos Ibrahim. This recording is being released now so that the translation can be made available to everyone who would like to use it along with a source for listening.

How Could I Forget

Jonathan K. Wassef

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