Athonite Guard attends Liturgy at Saint George Monastery with Bishop Iakovos
What the video says
The video presents a sequence of Orthodox Christian hymns to the Theotokos chanted in Greek. The opening lines ask for the mouth to be opened and filled with the Spirit in order to hymn the Virgin and her wonders. The refrain "Most Holy Theotokos, save us" recurs throughout.
The hymns address her with scriptural and liturgical titles: the living book of Christ sealed in the Spirit, the restoration of Adam, the palace and throne of the King of all, the unfading rose, the fragrant apple, the seal of the King of all, the world's salvation. A doxology to the Trinity appears at 1:36. Later verses ask that the hymns spiritually strengthen the singer and make him worthy of crowns of glory in her divine glory.
The final section calls her the ear of corn that sprouted God blamelessly as heaven, and the living table that provides the bread of life.
Key moments
- 0:00 Opening prayer: "Open my mouth and fill it with spirit, and I will hymn the Queen Mother and appear as a celebrant, and unconfusedly her wonders."
- 0:48 First refrain: "Most Holy Theotokos, save us." Titles follow: Christ's living book sealed in the Spirit; the great archangel cries "Rejoice, vessel of joy"; the curse of the first mother is loosed; "Rejoice, restoration of Adam, virgin bride; rejoice, heir of Adam; rejoice, throne of the King of all, the Almighty."
- 1:36 Doxology: "Glory to Father and Son and Holy Spirit." Then: "Unfading rose, rejoice, only one that blossomed; my fragrant apple, rejoice, you who budded; seal of the King of all, rejoice, unwedded, salvation of the world. Now and ever and unto ages of ages amen. Rejoice, purity of the breeze; through the fall we rose, rejoice, the breath; Lady lily, gladden the faithful; incense of precious fragrance."
- 2:24 Petition: "The hymns of the Theotokos, as an abundant divine source, having composed them, strengthen me spiritually. And in your divine glory, make me worthy of crowns of glory." Repeated twice.
- 3:12 Final refrain: "Most Holy Theotokos, save us." Closing titles: "Ear of corn that sprouted God, as heaven blamelessly; rejoice living table, providing bread of life."
The Athonite Guard attended Divine Liturgy at Saint George Monastery in Yellow Rock this morning. His Grace Bishop Iakovos celebrated the service. The post expresses gratitude for the blessing of being present and asks for the Theotokos's protection and Christ's strength.
A video accompanying the post presents a sequence of Orthodox Christian hymns to the Theotokos chanted in Greek. The opening prayer asks: "Open my mouth and fill it with spirit, and I will hymn the Queen Mother and appear as a celebrant, and unconfusedly her wonders." The refrain "Most Holy Theotokos, save us" recurs throughout.
The hymns address her with scriptural and liturgical titles: Christ's living book sealed in the Spirit; the great archangel cries "Rejoice, vessel of joy"; the curse of the first mother is loosed; "Rejoice, restoration of Adam, virgin bride; rejoice, heir of Adam; rejoice, throne of the King of all, the Almighty." A doxology to the Trinity follows: "Glory to Father and Son and Holy Spirit."
Then titles continue: "Unfading rose, rejoice, only one that blossomed; my fragrant apple, rejoice, you who budded; seal of the King of all, rejoice, unwedded, salvation of the world. Now and ever and unto ages of ages amen. Rejoice, purity of the breeze; through the fall we rose, rejoice, the breath; Lady lily, gladden the faithful; incense of precious fragrance."
A petition asks: "The hymns of the Theotokos, as an abundant divine source, having composed them, strengthen me spiritually. And in your divine glory, make me worthy of crowns of glory." This petition repeats twice. The final refrain returns to "Most Holy Theotokos, save us" with closing titles: "Ear of corn that sprouted God, as heaven blamelessly; rejoice living table, providing bread of life."
Main points
- Athonite Guard attended Divine Liturgy at Saint George Monastery, Yellow Rock
- Bishop Iakovos celebrated the service
- Video features Greek hymns to the Theotokos with recurring refrain "Most Holy Theotokos, save us"
- Hymns use scriptural titles: living book of Christ, restoration of Adam, throne of the King, unfading rose, fragrant apple
- Petition asks for spiritual strengthening and crowns of glory; final titles name her ear of corn and living table