Difference between revisions of "Hymn of Kassiani"

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The '''Hymn of Kassiani''', also known as the ''Hymn of the Fallen Woman'', is a work classified as a [[Penitential Hymns|Penitential Hymn]] that is based on [[Mary Magdalene]] <ref> St. Mary Magdalene is first introduced by the the Evangelist Luke in the Gospel according to Luke 7:36-50.</ref>. This hymn is chanted only once a year and considered a musical high-point of the [[Holy Week]], at the [[Matins]] of [[Holy Week|Holy Wednesday]], in the Fourth Plagal Tone <ref>A major scale with a frequently flatted seventh degree.</ref>.
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The '''Hymn of Kassiani''', also known as the ''Hymn of the Fallen Woman'', is a [[Penitential Hymns|Penitential Hymn]] that is based on the Gospel reading for Holy Wednesday morning ([[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]] 26:6-16), which speaks of a sinful woman who anoints Jesus' feet with costly ointment (distinguished from a similar incident with a different woman, St. [[Mary Magdalene]]). This hymn is chanted only once a year and considered a musical high-point of the [[Holy Week]], at the [[Matins]] and Presanctified Liturgy of [[Holy Week|Holy Wednesday]], in the Plagal Fourth Tone.
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
One story, related by Saint [[Theodora (9th century empress)|Theodora]] in The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church holds that Abbess Kassiani spent the afternoon in the garden composing this hymn. As she finished writing that verse which says, I shall kiss Thine immaculate feet, and wipe them again with the tresses of my head. she was informed that Emperor Theophilos had arrived at the convent.  She did not wish to see him, and in her haste to conceal herself,  left behind the scroll and pen.  Theophilos, having entered the garden, found her half-completed poem, and added the phrase, those feet at whose sound Eve hid herself for fear when she heard Thee walking in Paradise in the Afternoon. After he departed, Kassiani came out from hiding.  When she took up her composition, she beheld the phrase written in his handwriting. She retained it and went on to complete the poem.
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One story, related by Saint [[Theodora (9th century empress)|Theodora]] in The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church holds that Abbess Kassiani spent the afternoon in the garden composing this hymn. As she finished writing that verse which says, "I shall kiss Thine immaculate feet, and wipe them again with the tresses of my head," she was informed that Emperor Theophilos had arrived at the convent.  She did not wish to see him, and in her haste to conceal herself,  left behind the scroll and pen.  Theophilos, having entered the garden, found her half-completed poem, and added the phrase, "those feet at whose sound Eve hid herself for fear when she heard Thee walking in Paradise in the afternoon." After he departed, Kassiani came out from hiding.  When she took up her composition, she beheld the phrase written in his handwriting. She retained it and went on to complete the poem.
  
 
== Hymn of Kassiani text ==
 
== Hymn of Kassiani text ==
 
<blockquote>
 
<blockquote>
Sensing Thy divinity, O Lord, a woman of many sins  
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O Lord God, the woman who had fallen into many sins,
:takes it upon herself to become a myrrh-bearer,
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having perceived Thy divinity
And in deep mourning brings before Thee fragrant oil
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received the rank of ointment-bearer,
:in anticipation of Thy burial; crying:
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offering Thee spices before Thy burial
"Woe to me!"  For night is to me, oestrus of lechery,
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wailing and crying:
:a dark and moonless eros of sin.
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"Woe is me, for the love of adultery and sin
Receive the wellsprings of my tears,
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hath given me a dark and lightless night;
:O Thou who gatherest the waters of the oceans into clouds.
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accept the fountains of my tears
Bend to me, to the sorrows of my heart,
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O Thou Who drawest the waters of the sea by the clouds
:O Thou who bendedst down the heavens in Thy ineffable self-emptying.
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incline Thou to the sigh of my heart
I will kiss Thine immaculate feet  
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O Thou Who didst bend the heavens
:and dry them with the locks of my hair;
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by Thine inapprehensible condescension;
Those very feet whose sound Eve heard at dusk in Paradise
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I will kiss Thy pure feet
:and hid herself in fear.  
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and I will wipe them with my tresses.
Who shall reckon the multitude of my sins,
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I will kiss Thy feet Whose tread
:or the abysses of Thy judgment, O Saviour of my soul?
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when it fell on the ears of Eve in Paradise
Do not ignore Thy handmaiden,
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dismayed her so that she did hide herself because of fear.
:O Thou whose mercy is endless.
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Who then shall examine the multitude of my sin
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and the depth of Thy judgment?
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Wherefore, O my Saviour
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and the Deliverer of my soul
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turn not away from Thy handmaiden
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O Thou of boundless mercy".
 
</blockquote>
 
</blockquote>
  
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[[Category:Liturgics]]
 
[[Category:Liturgics]]
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[[ro:Cântarea Casianei]]

Revision as of 22:36, March 26, 2013

The Hymn of Kassiani, also known as the Hymn of the Fallen Woman, is a Penitential Hymn that is based on the Gospel reading for Holy Wednesday morning (Matthew 26:6-16), which speaks of a sinful woman who anoints Jesus' feet with costly ointment (distinguished from a similar incident with a different woman, St. Mary Magdalene). This hymn is chanted only once a year and considered a musical high-point of the Holy Week, at the Matins and Presanctified Liturgy of Holy Wednesday, in the Plagal Fourth Tone.

History

One story, related by Saint Theodora in The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church holds that Abbess Kassiani spent the afternoon in the garden composing this hymn. As she finished writing that verse which says, "I shall kiss Thine immaculate feet, and wipe them again with the tresses of my head," she was informed that Emperor Theophilos had arrived at the convent. She did not wish to see him, and in her haste to conceal herself, left behind the scroll and pen. Theophilos, having entered the garden, found her half-completed poem, and added the phrase, "those feet at whose sound Eve hid herself for fear when she heard Thee walking in Paradise in the afternoon." After he departed, Kassiani came out from hiding. When she took up her composition, she beheld the phrase written in his handwriting. She retained it and went on to complete the poem.

Hymn of Kassiani text

O Lord God, the woman who had fallen into many sins, having perceived Thy divinity received the rank of ointment-bearer, offering Thee spices before Thy burial wailing and crying: "Woe is me, for the love of adultery and sin hath given me a dark and lightless night; accept the fountains of my tears O Thou Who drawest the waters of the sea by the clouds incline Thou to the sigh of my heart O Thou Who didst bend the heavens by Thine inapprehensible condescension; I will kiss Thy pure feet and I will wipe them with my tresses. I will kiss Thy feet Whose tread when it fell on the ears of Eve in Paradise dismayed her so that she did hide herself because of fear. Who then shall examine the multitude of my sin and the depth of Thy judgment? Wherefore, O my Saviour and the Deliverer of my soul turn not away from Thy handmaiden O Thou of boundless mercy".

See also