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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 Magdaleneof Bethany]]). 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==
== Hymn of Kassiani text ==
<blockquote>
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 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 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".
</blockquote>
