Psalms 32-35

Done in a style unique and original to St Romanos Hermitage.

The Psalms of David chanted in a style unique to St Romanos Hermitage. Pulling from Russian, Greek, Arabic, Bulgarian, Irish, English plain chant and Gregorian chant musical influences, these Psalms are a subtle fusion of various musical traditions transformed into what has been described by some as having a uniquely American feel with ever-flowing penitence and contemplation. Each Kathisma limits itself to a single melody which then repeats and evolves and elaborates yet remains that original sole melodic idea, like an Orthodox "Tone."

The Orthodox monastic services are completely sung or chanted with no instruments other than the human voice; nearly nothing is ever spoken. There is not a single service in the Orthodox church that does not employ the Psalms. Psalms were sung by the earliest Christians to include Jesus and His apostles.

The Psalter, or the entire group of all the Psalms have been divided into 20 Kathismas of more or less equal length. This then aids their incorporation into various Orthodox services to be chanted or sung entirely throughout each week. It is also the practice in the Orthodox Church to chant the Psalms in the presence of a reposed Orthodox Christian from the time of their repose until their internment. All Psalms here are listed according to the Greek (Septuagint) numbering of the Psalms.

Psalms from the King James translation of 1611.

Cover: Roman of St Romanos Hermitage 

All music composed and chanted by Roman.

Kathisma V (Stasis 1 & 2)

Psalms 77-80

Done in a style unique and original to St Romanos Hermitage.

The Psalms of David chanted in a style unique to St Romanos Hermitage. Pulling from Russian, Greek, Arabic, Bulgarian, Irish, English plain chant and Gregorian chant musical influences, these Psalms are a subtle fusion of various musical traditions transformed into what has been described by some as having a uniquely American feel with ever-flowing penitence and contemplation. Each Kathisma limits itself to a single melody which then repeats and evolves and elaborates yet remains that original sole melodic idea, like an Orthodox "Tone."

The Orthodox monastic services are completely sung or chanted with no instruments other than the human voice; nearly nothing is ever spoken. There is not a single service in the Orthodox church that does not employ the Psalms. Psalms were sung by the earliest Christians to include Jesus and His apostles.

The Psalter, or the entire group of all the Psalms have been divided into 20 Kathismas of more or less equal length. This then aids their incorporation into various Orthodox services to be chanted or sung entirely throughout each week. It is also the practice in the Orthodox Church to chant the Psalms in the presence of a reposed Orthodox Christian from the time of their repose until their internment. All Psalms here are listed according to the Greek (Septuagint) numbering of the Psalms.

Psalms from the King James translation of 1611.

Cover: Roman of St Romanos Hermitage 

All music composed and chanted by Roman.

Kathisma XI (Stasis 1 & 2)

Psalms 109-117

Done in Tone II (Stichera) of Russian Kievan Chant.

The Psalms of David chanted in a style unique to St Romanos Hermitage. Pulling from Russian, Greek, Arabic, Bulgarian, Irish, English plain chant and Gregorian chant musical influences, these Psalms are a subtle fusion of various musical traditions transformed into what has been described by some as having a uniquely American feel with ever-flowing penitence and contemplation. Each Kathisma limits itself to a single melody which then repeats and evolves and elaborates yet remains that original sole melodic idea, like an Orthodox "Tone."

The Orthodox monastic services are completely sung or chanted with no instruments other than the human voice; nearly nothing is ever spoken. There is not a single service in the Orthodox church that does not employ the Psalms. Psalms were sung by the earliest Christians to include Jesus and His apostles.

The Psalter, or the entire group of all the Psalms have been divided into 20 Kathismas of more or less equal length. This then aids their incorporation into various Orthodox services to be chanted or sung entirely throughout each week. It is also the practice in the Orthodox Church to chant the Psalms in the presence of a reposed Orthodox Christian from the time of their repose until their internment. All Psalms here are listed according to the Greek (Septuagint) numbering of the Psalms.

Psalms from the King James translation of 1611.

Cover: Roman of St Romanos Hermitage 

All music composed and chanted by Roman.

Kathisma XVI

From the Orthodox Pre-Communion Prayers.  Melody based on Valaam Brotherhood Choir version of “Have mercy on me, O God.

7. Another 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 #3)

Joy of all who sorrow Icon (Sedalen #2)

Psalms 70-76.

Done in a style unique and original to St Romanos Hermitage.

The Psalms of David chanted in a style unique to St Romanos Hermitage. Pulling from Russian, Greek, Arabic, Bulgarian, Irish, English plain chant and Gregorian chant musical influences, these Psalms are a subtle fusion of various musical traditions transformed into what has been described by some as having a uniquely American feel with ever-flowing penitence and contemplation. Each Kathisma limits itself to a single melody which then repeats and evolves and elaborates yet remains that original sole melodic idea, like an Orthodox "Tone."

The Orthodox monastic services are completely sung or chanted with no instruments other than the human voice; nearly nothing is ever spoken. There is not a single service in the Orthodox church that does not employ the Psalms. Psalms were sung by the earliest Christians to include Jesus and His apostles.

The Psalter, or the entire group of all the Psalms have been divided into 20 Kathismas of more or less equal length. This then aids their incorporation into various Orthodox services to be chanted or sung entirely throughout each week. It is also the practice in the Orthodox Church to chant the Psalms in the presence of a reposed Orthodox Christian from the time of their repose until their internment. All Psalms here are listed according to the Greek (Septuagint) numbering of the Psalms.

Psalms from the King James translation of 1611.

Cover: Roman of St Romanos Hermitage 

All music composed and chanted by Roman.

Psalms

Kathisma X

“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.

Troparion & Kontakion of St John Chrysostom

St Romanos Hermitage

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