...and to the uttermost parts of the earth

Flags of several nations flew outside the Church of San Gabriel for Pentecost.

--the BB

Sunday of Pentecost

It is the Fiftieth Day of Easter.

Христос воскресе

Χριστος ανεστη

Christ is risen

When the vivifying, violent wind
of the All-holy Spirit
came from on high,
resounding unto the fisherman
in the form of fiery tongues,
they spake eloquently
concerning the mighty
deeds of God.
O all ye works,
praise ye the Lord
and supremely exalt Him
unto all the ages.

Ye that ascend not
that untouchable mountain,
nor fear the awesome fire,
come, let us stand
on Mount Sion,
in the city of
the living God,
and now form one choir
with the Spirit-breathing
disciples.
O all y works,
praise ye the Lord,
and supremely exalt Him
unto all the ages.

Βασιλεῦ Οὐράνιε, Παράκλητε, τὸ Πνεῦμα τῆς Ἀληθείας, ὁ πανταχοῦ παρὼν καὶ τὰ πάντα πληρῶν, ὁ θησαυρὸς τῶν ἀγαθῶν καὶ ζωῆς χορηγός, ἐλθὲ καὶ σκήνωσον ἐν ἡμῖν καὶ καθάρισον ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ πάσης κηλῖδος καὶ σῶσον, ἀγαθέ, τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμῶν.
---
0 Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, Who art everywhere and fillest all things, treasury of Blessings, and Giver of Life, come and abide in us and cleanse us from every impurity and save our souls, 0 Good One.

I cannot help posting this again; it is my favorite Easter video.



--the BB

Pentecost approaches

This means I need to sew the Pentecost frontal for Our Saviour before the week is out. I purchased the fabric today after work. I think it will be sufficiently tarted up for the Sovereign Lifegiver who constantly seduces us into venturing toward God's future.

Time also to practice reading Sunday's Gospel aloud in Latin, one of several languages in which it will be read.

Fortunately the Zimbabwean Gospel chant I learned from Mark Malisa years ago is such a part of me I do not have to practice it.

My flag collection is already at the church so we can hang flags from around the world, reminding us of our call to proclaim Good News to every nation.





--the BB

Sunday of the Holy Fathers

The First Council of Nicaea
Image from Wikimedia Commons

We praise three
divinely sovereign Hypostases,
the immutable form
of a single nature,
the good and human-befriending God,
Who now granteth
forgiveness of offences.

O Thou Who art the one
transcendent Lord
in one Godhead,
yet thrice-resplendent with respect
to Thy Persons,
grant us understanding
and deem us worthy
of Thy divine illumination.

Having filled all things with joy, O Merciful One, Thou didst come in Thy flesh unto the hosts on high.

As the hosts of Angels saw Thee being lifted up, they cried: Lift ye the gates for our King.

As the Apostles beheld the Saviour being lifted on high, they cried with trembling: Glory be to Thee, O our King.





--the BB

Sunday of the Samaritan Woman

Saint Photini (the Samaritan Woman)

Troparion (Tone 3)
Thou wast illumined by the Holy Spirit and refreshed by the streams of Christ the Saviour. Having drunk the Water of Salvation thou didst give copiously to the thirsty. O holy Great Martyr Photini, Equal-to-the Apostles, entreat Christ our God that our souls may be saved.

Let Heaven and earth

radiantly rejoice today,

for Christ hath appeared

as a man in the flesh,

that He might deliver

from the curse

the whole race of Adam;

and when he came

to Samaria,

He was made

wondrous by wonders.

He that is compassed

about by the waters

of the clouds

standeth nigh

unto a woman

and seeketh water.

Wherefore, let all us

the faithful

worship Him,

Who of His own will

became poor

for our sake

in His compassionate counsel.

--Great Vespers, Sunday of the Samaritan Woman, Pentecostarion

Ljudi likujte, narodi čujte:
Hristos voskrse, radost donese!
Zvezde igrajte, gore pevajte,
Hristos voskrese, radost donese!
Šume šumite, vetri brujite,
Hristos voskrse, radost donese!
Mora gudite, zveri ričite,
Hristos voskrse, radost donese!
Pčele se rojte, a ptice pojte
Hristos voskrse, radost donese!

Anđeli stojte, pesmu utrojte,
Hristos voskrse, radost donese!
Nebo se snizi, zemlju uzvisi,
Hristos voskrse, radost donese!
Zvona zvonite, svima javite,
Hristos voskrse, radost donese!
Slava ti Bože, sve ti se može,
Hristos voskrse, radost donese!
Anđeli stojte, pesmu utrojte,
Hristos voskrse, radost donese!
Nebo se snizi, zemlju uzvisi,
Hristos voskrse, radost donese!
Zvona zvonite, svima javite,
Hristos voskrse, radost donese!
Slava ti Bože, sve ti se može,
Hristos voskrse, radost donese!

Sv. Vladika Nikolaj

Eastern song performed by musical orchestra ''Stupovi'' and various Serbian singers and celebrities, dedicated to the resurrection of Christ, made as a part of an action of raising funds for reconstruction of medieval Serbian orthodox monastery ''Pillars of Saint George''

You may see and hear Ступови/Stupovi sing to the Theotokos here.


--the BB

Wednesday of the Myrrh-Bearers

When they heard
the words of holy joy
spoken by the Angels there seated
within the tomb of the Word,
they set forth and ran their course
with earnest effort and zeal.
And thus leaving their former rank
of myrrh-bearing women,
they were seen as heralds
who proclaimed good news to all.
Therefore the arising from Hades
of Him Who for our sake became man
did the women preach
to His initiates.

--Wednesday of the Third Week, Vespers, Pentecostarion



--the BB

Tuesday of the Myrrh-Bearers

The Deposition of Christ
attributed to Benedetto Caliari, c. 1577
via Wikimedia Commons

The noble Joseph,
taking Thine immaculate Body
down from the Tree,
and having wrapped It
in pure linen and spices,
laid It for burial
in a new tomb.
But on the third day
Thou didst arise, O Lord,
granting great mercy
to the world.

--Pentecostarion



--the BB

Monday of the Myrrh-Bearers

Why do ye mingle tears
with the myrrh-oils,
O women disciples?
The stone hath been rolled away,
the sepulcher is empty.
Behold corruption
trodden under by Life,
the seals bearing clear witness,
the guards of the disobedient
fast asleep.
Mortal nature is saved
by the flesh of God,
Hades is lamenting.
Hasten ye with joy,
and say unto the Apostles:
Christ, the First-born from the dead,
Who caused death to die,
goeth before you into Galilee.

--Pentecostarion

Χριστός Ανέστη εκ νεκρών,
θανάτω θάνατον πατήσας
και τοις εν τοις μνήμασιν,
ζωήν χαρισάμενος

--the BB

Sunday of the Myrrh-bearing Women

At deep dawn,
the myrrh-bearing women
took sweet-smelling spices
and came unto the Lord's tomb.
And finding that which
they had not expected,
the stood piously pondering
the removal of the stone,
and said to one another:
Where are the seals of the sepulcher?
Where are Pilate's watchmen
and the secure sentry?
And and Angel, radiant as lightning,
proclaimed to the women
that whereof they were ignorant,
saying to them:
Why do ye with lamentation
seek Him that liveth and hath given life
unto the race of mortals?
Christ our God hath risen
from the dead,
since He is Almighty,
granting us all incorruption,
life, illumination, and great mercy.

--the BB

Friday of Thomas Week

Through Thy Cross, O Christ,
we are become one flock
of Angels and mortals,
and One Church.
Heaven and earth rejoice.
O Lord, glory be to Thee.

--Matins, Friday of the Second Week, Pentecostarion

--the BB

Wednesday of Thomas Week

Pascha is this present holy Feast;
mystic and divine, sacred Pascha;
the saving Pascha of God:
Pascha which conveyeth us
unto immortal life.
Lo, this Pascha doth take away
all sadness and sorrow.
Pascha, which doth grant
to the disciples joyous grace!
Wherefore Thomas cried
with rejoicing:
Thou art my God and Lord,
O Savior,
Who hast carried off
the spoils from Hades' realms.

--Vespers, Wednesday of the Second Week, Pentecostarion

Tuesday of Thomas Week

The women rose up early
and came unto the Lord's tomb,
and when they beheld there the Angel,
they trembled in amazement.
The tomb became radiant with life;
the marvel filled the women
with great awe.
Thus, they went to the disciples
and they declared
the rising of the Mighty One:
Christ alone despoiled
Hades by His strength;
all those in corruption
He hath raised,
freeing them from fear
of blame and reproach
through the Cross's might.

--Matins, Tuesday of the Second Week, Pentecostarion

Monday of Thomas Week

The soldiers standing guard at Thy tomb,
O my Savior,
became as dead when they saw
the lightning-like Angel
who preached to the women
of Thine arising, O holy Lord.
Thee we glorify,
Who hast abolished corruption;
Thee do we adore,
Who from the grave hast arisen,
and Who alone art our God.

--Matins, Monday of the Second Week, Pentecostarion

Quasimodo geniti infantes

Quasimodo geniti infantes, alleluia: rationabiles, sine dolo lac concupiscite, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
--Introit of the Second Sunday of Easter

As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.
--1 Peter 2:2

Eight days after Thine arising, O Lord,
Thou didst appear unto Thy disciples
in the place where they were gathered,
and Thou didst cry unto them:
Peace be unto you.
And Thou didst show Thy hands
and immaculate side
unto the doubting disciple.
Wherefore, convinced, he cried unto Thee:
O my Lord and my God,
glory be to Thee.

"Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

I remember the brethren of JN1034 telling me that the power to bind and loose was really given for loosing, not binding. I suppose a parallel might be that we are made to love and be loved but are free to do otherwise. The "otherwise," a vital part of our freedom, is not what we are made for, however.

Because I have seen it in real lives I know that we have the power to set people free, and this is not the exclusive property of clergy.

Whom will I set free this week?

--the BB

He that saveth our souls is risen from the dead

O Lord, the women ran unto
the tomb to see Thee, the Christ,
Who hadst suffered for us.
And on drawing nigh,
they found an Angel
sitting upon the stone,
which had rolled away in fear;
and he cried out unto them and said:
The Lord is risen!
Tell the disciples
that He that saveth our souls
is risen from the dead.

--Matins, Thursday of Renewal Week, Pentecostarion

With hymns do we glorify Thy life-creating and saving Rising from the dead

Thou didst crush the brazen gates
and shatter the bars,
O Christ God,
and Thou didst raise
the fallen human race;
for this cause do we
cry out with one accord:
Thou Who didst arise
from the dead, Lord,
glory be to Thee.

--Vespers of Tuesday of Renewal Week, the Pentecostarion

Քրիստոս յարեաւ ի մեռելոց! - Օրհնեալ է Յարութիւնն Քրիստոսի! - updated with Armenian script

Angels in the heavens, O Christ our Saviour, praise Thy Resurrection with hymns; deem us also who are on earth worthy to glorify Thee with a pure heart.

Mark 16.1-8

When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. They had been saying to one another, ‘Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?’ When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, ‘Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.’ So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

Glory to the Holy, and Consubstantial, and Life-creating, and Indivisible Trinity, always, now and ever, and unto the ages. Amen.

Χριστος Ανεστη εκ νεκρων
θανατω θανατον πατησας
και τοις εν τοις μνημασιν
ζωην χαρισαμενος

Christ is risen from the dead
trampling down death by death
and upon those in the tombs
bestowing life.

It is the day of Resurrection, let us be radiant, O ye peoples; Pascha, the Lord's Pascha; for Christ God hath brought us from death unto life, and from earth unto Heaven as we sing the triumphal hymn.

Let us purify our senses and we shall behold Christ, radiant with the unapproachable light of the Resurrection, and we shall clearly hear Him say: Rejoice! as we sing the triumphal hymn.

For it is meet that the Heavens should rejoice, and that the earth should be glad, and that the whole world, both visible and invisible, should keep the feast; for Christ, our everlasting Joy, hath arisen.
--The Pentecostarion

Alleluia, Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!

--the BB

Easter 2

Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ's Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Johann Sebastian Bach - "Christ lag in Todes Banden" (BWV 4):

1. Sinfonia.

2. Choral.

Christ lag in Todesbanden
Für unsre Sünd gegeben,
Er ist wieder erstanden
Und hat uns bracht das Leben;
Des wir sollen fröhlich sein,
Gott loben und ihm dankbar sein
Und singen halleluja,
Halleluja!

Christ lay in death's bonds
given over for our sins,
He has risen again
and brought us life;
therefore we should be joyful,
praise God and be thankful to Him
and sing Hallelujah,
Hallelujah!

3. Duett.

Den Tod niemand zwingen kunnt
Bei allen Menschenkindern,
Das macht' alles unsre Sünd,
Kein Unschuld war zu finden.
Davon kam der Tod so bald
Und nahm über uns Gewalt,
Hielt uns in seinem Reich gefangen.
Halleluja!

No one could defeat death
among all humanity,
this was all because of our sins,
no innocence was to be found.
Therefore death came so soon
and took power over us,
held us captive in his kingdom.
Hallelujah!

4. Choral.

Jesus Christus, Gottes Sohn,
An unser Statt ist kommen
Und hat die Sünde weggetan,
Damit dem Tod genommen
All sein Recht und sein Gewalt,
Da bleibet nichts denn Tods Gestalt,
Den Stach'l hat er verloren.
Halleluja!

Jesus Christ, God's son,
has come in our place,
and has done away with sin,
thereby taking from death
all his rights and power,
nothing remains but death's form;
he has lost his sting.
Hallelujah!

Cantus Cölln.
Dir. Konrad Junghänel.

Enjoy!
--the BB