Below is a collection of hymns that are sung during the Divine Liturgy and other divine services of our parish, based on the hymnal book by Kevin Lawrence. The goal of offering these recordings is to make it easy for our parishioners to learn the hymns “by ear” so that you may participate more fully in the worship. Included are recordings of just the melody played on a piano. Other recordings of the chanted version have a piano accompaniment to highlight the notes better. No instruments other than the human voice should ever be used during an actual worship service in church.
The Divine Liturgy
The Great Doxology with Ordinary (Sunday) Resurrectional Troparion
This hymn is chanted just prior to the beginning of the Divine Liturgy.
Resurrectional Apolytikia
These eight hymns correspond to the eight tones in Byzantine music. The Church designates a different one to be sung on Sundays during the Small Entrance with the Gospel. They are called resurrectional due to the words of the hymns which reflect the overall theme of Sunday worship as the Eternal Pascha.
Tone 1
Although your tomb was sealed with a stone O Savior
and your most pure body was guarded by the soldiers
you rose on the third day, giving life to all the world.
Therefore, O Giver of Life, the powers of heaven praise you.
Glory to your resurrection O Christ, Glory to your Kingdom
Glory to your saving wisdom, O only lover of mankind.
Piano melody
Chanted
Tone 2
When you descended into death, Life Immortal,
you vanquished the power of hell, by your resplendent divinity.
And when you raised the dead from the depths of darkness,
all the heavenly powers cried out triumphantly
O Giver of Life, Christ our God, Glory to you.
Piano Melody
Chanted
Tone 3
Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad,
for the Lord has shown the mighty power of his arm,
he has trampled down death by death,
becoming the firstborn of the dead.
He has delivered us from the depths of hell,
And has granted to all the world, his great mercy.
Piano melody
Chanted
Tone 4
The joyful news of your resurrection was proclaimed by the angel
to the women disciples. Having thrown off the curse that fell on Adam, they ran elatedly to tell the apostles: Death has been vanquished, Christ our God is risen from the dead, blessing all the world with his great mercy.
Piano melody
Chanted
Tone 5 (Plagal 1st)
To the Word co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit
born of the Virgin for our salvation
let us the faithful give praise and worship
for he willed to lifted up on the cross in the flesh
to endure death and raise the dead by his glorious resurrection.
Piano melody
Chanted
Tone 6 (Plagal 2nd)
The angelic powers appeared at Your tomb, the soldiers guarding it became as dead men. And Mary stood by Your grave seeking, seeking Your most pure body. But You made hell a captive; You were untouched by its might. You came to the Virgin and granted life. O Lord, who rose from the dead, glory to You.
Piano melody
Tone 7 (Grave)
By Your cross, O Lord, You destroyed death; to the thief You opened paradise. The myrrh-bearers sorrow You transformed into joy, and You sent Your apostles forth to proclaim that You had risen from the dead, Christ our God, bestowing on all the world Your great mercy.
Piano melody
Tone 8 (Plagal 4th)
From on high You descended, O merciful Lord, You accepted the cross and three days in the tomb to free us from the bondage of sin, O our life and resurrection. Glory to You, O Lord.
Piano melody
Great Vespers
Tone 1
Lord, I have cried (Arrangement by St. Anthony’s Monastery Divine Music Project)
Piano melody
Let my prayer arise (Arrangement by St. Anthony Monastery Divine Music Project)
Piano melody
