Notre Dame de Rouen. The façade of the Gothic Church in France. Photographer: Hippo1947. Licence: SHUTTERSTOCK.

Saturday 26 July 2014

The Akathist Hymn Is A Profound, Devotional Poem, Which Sings The Praises Of The Holy Mother And Ever-Virgin Mary.


This Post is a further development of the Akathist Hymns recently Posted on Zephyrinus, headlined "Saint Anne. Mother of The Blessed Virgin Mary. Feast Day 26 July", which can be found HERE

The Text for this Article can be found on FACEBOOK



Illustration: FACEBOOK

"Rejoice, unfading rose.

Rejoice, the only one who budded forth
the unfading apple.

Rejoice, birth-giver of the aromatic balm
of the King of all.

Rejoice, O Bride un-wedded,
the world's salvation."



The Akathist Hymn is a profound, devotional poem, which sings the praises of The Holy Mother and Ever-Virgin Mary. It is one of the most beloved services in the Orthodox Church. It was composed in the Imperial City of Constantinople, "the City of the Virgin," by Saint Romanos the Melodist, who reposed in the year 556 A.D.

The Akathist Hymn has proven so popular in the Liturgical life of the Church that many other Hymns have been written following its format. These include Akathist Hymns to Our Lord Jesus Christ, to The Cross, and to many Saints.

The Akathist Hymn consists of Praises directed to The Mother of God, beginning with the Salutation of the Archangel Gabriel: "Rejoice." As the Hymn is chanted, all of the events related to Our Lord's Incarnation pass before us for our contemplation.

The Archangel Gabriel marvels at the Divine self-emptying and the renewal of creation which will occur when Christ comes to dwell in The Virgin's womb. The unborn John the Baptist prophetically rejoices. The Shepherds recognise Christ as a blameless Lamb, and rejoice that in The Virgin "the things of Earth join chorus with the heavens." The pagan Magi, following the light of the star, praise Her for revealing The Light of the World.




The word "akathistos" means "not sitting," i.e., standing; normally all participants stand while it is being Prayed. The Hymn is comprised of twenty-four stanzas, arranged in an Acrostic, following the Greek alphabet. The stanzas alternate between long and short. Each short stanza is written in prose and ends with the singing of "Alleluia." Each longer stanza ends with the refrain: "Rejoice, O Bride Un-wedded."

The first part of the Hymn is about the Annunciation to The Virgin Mary by the Angel. It describes Mary’s surprise at the news, Her visit to Her mother (Saint Anne) and Joseph’s doubts as to her innocence. The second part of the Hymn is about the Birth of Christ, the worship of the Shepherds and Magi, the Flight to Egypt and the visit to Saint Simeon in the Temple.

In the third part, the Hymn directs our attention to the Renewal of the World by Christ’s Coming, and the amazement of the Angels and The Wise Men at the sight of the Incarnation of God’s Son. The fourth, and the last, part of the Hymn is once more a lyric and rhetorical appraisal of The Virgin Mary, whom the poet adorns with the most beautiful of adjectives, asking Her to accept his poetical offering and to intercede for the Salvation of the human race from Earthly sin.




Orthodox Christian Observance of the Akathist Hymn.

On the first four Fridays of Great Lent, during the Service of the Small Compline, the Akathist Hymn is observed in the following order:

The chanting of the nine Odes or Canon;

The chanting of the Kontakion with censing ("Ti Ipermacho" - "O Champion General . . .");

The chanting by the Priest of the first part of the stanzas on the first Friday, the second part on the second Friday, the third part on the third Friday and the fourth part on the fourth Friday;

The chanting of the Kontakion with censing;

Veneration of the Icon, with the chanting of the Theotokion, before the conclusion of the Compline Service;




On the first Friday, the Priest reads the Gospel of the Day (John 15:1-7). On the fifth Friday of Great Lent, the complete Service is observed in the following order:

The Troparion of the Saturday of the Akathist is chanted three times;

The first part of the Hymn is chanted;

The first and third odes of the Canon are chanted;

The Kontakion is chanted with censing;




The second part is chanted;

The fourth, fifth and sixth odes are chanted, followed by the Kontakion with censing;

The third part is chanted;

The seventh, eighth and ninth odes are chanted, followed by the Kontakion and censing;

The fourth part is chanted. At the end of the 24th stanza, the Celebrant chants the first Verse of the first stanza: “An Archangel was sent” . . . then continues the whole stanza;

The Kontakion is chanted, with censing, followed by the Veneration of the Icon of The Holy Mother of God, with the chanting of the Theotokion.


The Fourteen Auxiliary Saints.


Text (unless otherwise stated) is taken from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
which is available from ST. BONAVENTURE PRESS



Saint Christopher, 
one of the Fourteen Auxiliary Saints, 
(Feast Day 25 July).
Saint Christopher Carrying The Christ Child, 
by Hieronymus Bosch (circa 1485)


The name of "Auxiliary Saints" is given to a group of fourteen Saints particularly noted for the efficacy of their intercession. They were often represented together.


Saint George
Feast Day 23 April


Is to be recognised in statuary and pictures by the dragon he strikes down. He is invoked against herpetic diseases. He is, with Saint Sebastian and Saint Maurice, the Patron Saint of soldiers.


Saint Blaise
Feast Day 3 February

Is to be recognised in statuary and pictures by his two candles, crossed. He is invoked against diseases of the throat.


Saint Erasmus
Feast Day 2 June

Is to be recognised in statuary and pictures by entrails wound around a windlass. He is invoked against diseases of the stomach. He is the Patron Saint of mariners and seamen.


Saint Pantaleon
Feast Day 27 July

Is to be recognised in statuary and pictures by his nailed hands. Invoked against consumption. He is, with Saint Luke and Saints Cosmas and Damian, the Patron Saint of medical men.



Detail of Saint Giles and the Hind,
by the Master of Saint Giles, circa 1500 A.D.


Saint Vitus (or Guy)
Feast Day 15 June

Is to be recognised in statuary and pictures by his Cross. Invoked against chorea (Saint Vitus's Dance), lethargy and the bite of venomous or mad beasts.


Saint Christopher
Feast Day 25 July

Is to be recognised in statuary and pictures by the Infant Jesus he bears. He is invoked in storms, tempests, plagues, and for the avoidance of accidents in travelling. Also, in the Blessing of motor cars.


Saint Denis
Feast Day 9 October

Is to be recognised in statuary and pictures by his head, which he holds in his hands. Invoked for people possessed of devils.




Deutsch: Altar der Vierzehn Nothelfer der Basilika Vierzehnheiligen, Bad Staffelstein.
English: Altar of the Fourteen Holy Helpers of Vierzehnheiligen Basilica, Bad Staffelstein, Germany.
Photo: July 2007.
Source: Own work.
Author: Zairon.
(Wikimedia Commons)


Saint Cyriacus
Feast Day 8 August

Is to be recognised in statuary and pictures by his Deacon's Vestments. Invoked against diseases of the eye and diabolical possession.


Saint Acathius
Feast Day 8 May

Is to be recognised in statuary and pictures by his crown of thorns. Invoked against headaches.


Saint Eustace
Feast Day 20 September
Is to be recognised in statuary and pictures by his stag and hunting equipment. Invoked for preservation from fire (eternal or temporal).



Saint Barbara shrines in German mines.
Schacht Konrad mine (left) 
and Schacht Asse II mine (right).


Saint Giles
Feast Day 1 September

Is to be recognised in statuary and pictures by his Benedictine cowl and his hind. Invoked against panic, epilepsy, madness, nocturnal terrors.


Saint Margaret
Feast Day 20 July

Is to be recognised in statuary and pictures by the dragon she keeps in chains. Invoked against pains in the loins and by women about to become mothers.




Deutsch: Altar of the Vierzehnheiligen. Die Basilika Vierzehnheiligen bei Bad Staffelstein im Landkreis Lichtenfels ist eine Wallfahrtskirchen in Oberfranken, Deutschland.
English: A statue of one of the Saints (Saint Giles) on the Altar of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. Basilica of the Fourteen Holy Helpers, Bad Staffelstein, near Bamberg, in Bavaria, Germany.
Photo: 16 April 2009.
Source: Own work.
Author: Mattana.
(Wikimedia Commons)



Saint Barbara
Feast Day 4 December

Is to be recognised in statuary and pictures by her tower and the ciborium surmounted by a Sacred Host. Invoked against lightnings and sudden death. Patron Saint of miners and artillery soldiers.


Saint Catharine
Feast Day 25 November

Is to be recognised in statuary and pictures by her broken wheel. "The wise Counsellor" is invoked by students, Christian philosophers, orators and barristers.


Saint Anne. Mother Of The Blessed Virgin Mary. Feast Day 26 July.


Text and Illustrations from Wikipedia - the free encyclopaedia,
unless otherwise stated.


Saint Anne.
Mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Feast Day 26 July.


Double of the Second-Class.

White Vestments.





English: Parish Church of Saint Ulrich in Ulrichsberg, Austria.
Statue of Saint Anne teaching the Virgin Mary to read (1722).
Deutsch: Pfarrkirche Sant Ulrich in Ulrichsberg.
Statue der Heiligen Anna, wie sie der
Jungfrau Maria das Lesen bei bringt (1722).
Photo: 20 June 2008.
Source: Own work.
Author: Wolfgang Sauber.
(Wikimedia Commons)





Saint Joachim and Saint Anne,
parents of The Virgin Mary.
This File: 2 October 2006.
User: Gipsy.
(Wikimedia Commons)





English: Joachim and the Angel.
Français: Joachim et l'Ange.
Artist: Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528).
Date: 1504.
Current location: Petit Palais, Paris, France.
Source/Photographer: Albrecht Dürer : œuvre gravé,
catalogue de l'exposition à Paris, au Musée du Petit Palais,
4 avril-21 juillet 1996. ISBN 9782879002705.
(Wikimedia Commons)



Saint Anne (also known as Ann or Anna, from Hebrew Hannah חַנָּה, meaning "Favour" or "Grace") of David's House and Line, was the Mother of the Virgin Mary, and Grandmother of Jesus Christ.

Joachim ("he whom YHWH has set up", Hebrew: יְהוֹיָקִים Yəhôyāqîm, Greek Ἰωακείμ Iōākeím) was the husband of Saint Anne and the father of Mary, the Mother of Jesus,. His Feast Day is 16 August.




Akathist Hymn to the Mother of God.
Réjouis toi Marie, 1/6.
Opéra d'images de Jean-Michel Mahenc.
Créé pour les Nocturnes de Notre-Dame de Paris - L'hymne acathiste : un magnifique poème byzantin du VIe siècle sur la Vierge Marie. Sommet de la spiritualité orthodoxe -
Commande du DVD : Tel 0160664564 - magali.barbizon@me.com
Available on YouTube at



The Akathist Hymn (Ἀκάθιστος Ὕμνος, unseated Hymn) is a Hymn of Eastern Orthodox tradition dedicated to a Saint, Holy Event, or one of the Persons of the Holy Trinity. The name derives from the fact that during the chanting of the Hymn, or sometimes the whole Service, the congregation is expected to remain standing in reverence, without sitting down (Ancient Greek ἀ- (a), [without, not] + κάθισις (káthisis), [sitting]), except for the aged or infirm.

Mary's mother is not named in the Canonical Gospels, nor in the Qur'an. Anne's name and that of her husband, Joachim, come only from New Testament apocrypha, of which the Protoevangelium of James (written perhaps around 150 A.D.) seems to be the earliest that mentions them.




Akathist Hymn to the Mother of God.
Réjouis toi Marie, 2/6.
Opéra d'images de Jean-Michel Mahenc.
Créé pour les Nocturnes de Notre-Dame de Paris - L'hymne acathiste : un magnifique poème byzantin du VIe siècle sur la Vierge Marie. Sommet de la spiritualité orthodoxe -
Commande du DVD : Tel 0160664564 - magali.barbizon@me.com
Available on YouTube at





Akathist Hymn to the Mother of God.
Réjouis toi Marie, 3/6.
Opéra d'images de Jean-Michel Mahenc.
Créé pour les Nocturnes de Notre-Dame de Paris - L'hymne acathiste : un magnifique poème byzantin du VIe siècle sur la Vierge Marie. Sommet de la spiritualité orthodoxe -
Commande du DVD : Tel 0160664564 - magali.barbizon@me.com
Available on YouTube at





Akathist Hymn to the Mother of God.
Réjouis toi Marie, 4/6.
Opéra d'images de Jean-Michel Mahenc.
Créé pour les Nocturnes de Notre-Dame de Paris - L'hymne acathiste : un magnifique poème byzantin du VIe siècle sur la Vierge Marie. Sommet de la spiritualité orthodoxe -
Commande du DVD : Tel 0160664564 - magali.barbizon@me.com
Available on YouTube at





Akathist Hymn to the Mother of God.
Réjouis toi Marie, 5/6.
Opéra d'images de Jean-Michel Mahenc.
Créé pour les Nocturnes de Notre-Dame de Paris - L'hymne acathiste : un magnifique poème byzantin du VIe siècle sur la Vierge Marie. Sommet de la spiritualité orthodoxe -
Commande du DVD : Tel 0160664564 - magali.barbizon@me.com
Available on YouTube at



The story bears a similarity to that of the birth of Samuel, whose mother Hannah had also been childless. Although Anne receives little attention in the Western Church, prior to the Late-12th-Century, dedications to Anne in the Eastern Church occur as early as the 6th-Century.

In the Eastern Orthodox Churches and Eastern Catholic Churches, she is revered as Hanna. In the Eastern Orthodox tradition, Hanna, is ascribed the title "Forbear of God", and both the Birth of Mary and the Dedication of Mary to the Temple are celebrated as two of the Twelve Great Feasts. The Dormition of Hanna is also a Minor Feast in the Eastern Church. In Protestant tradition, it is held that Martin Luther chose to enter religious life as a Roman Catholic Augustinian Monk after crying out to Saint Anne.




Akathist Hymn to the Mother of God.
Réjouis toi Marie, 6/6.
Opéra d'images de Jean-Michel Mahenc.
Créé pour les Nocturnes de Notre-Dame de Paris - L'hymne acathiste : un magnifique poème byzantin du VIe siècle sur la Vierge Marie. Sommet de la spiritualité orthodoxe -
Commande du DVD : Tel 0160664564 - magali.barbizon@me.com
Available on YouTube at




Saint Anne. Mother of The Blessed Virgin Mary.

Illustration: The Saint Andrew Daily Missal.


The following Text is from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
available from ST. BONAVENTURE PRESS


The Church honours, with the Angels, in Holy Joy (Introit), the Mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

As her name signifies, [the name "Anne" derives from Hebrew. 'Hannah' meaning 'Grace"], Grace was poured on her, and she was Blessed by God for ever (Communion). "By His Grace, He made her deserve to be the Mother of the Mother of God" (Collect).

Filled with the Virtues which the Holy Ghost grants to good women, the Spouse of Saint Joachim surpassed all women by her Privileges and Graces (Epistle). Her Holiness made her leave everything for God, and she thereby acquired this pearl and this treasure (Gospel).

The devotion to Saint Anne is founded on the bond which unites her to Mary and to the Incarnate Word. Its ancient Liturgy dates from the 6th-Century for the Eastern Church and the 8th-Century for the Western Church.

It was authorised by Pope Urban IV in 1378. In 1584, Pope Gregory XIII fixed 26 July as the date of the Feast and Pope Leo XIII, in 1879, extended it to the whole Church.

Every Parish Priest celebrates Mass for the people of his Parish.


Friday 25 July 2014

Aftermath. Have You Forgotten Yet . . ?



Illustration: HDWALLSOURCE.COM



Aftermath.

Siegfried Sassoon (1919)


Have you forgotten yet . . ?


For the world’s events have rumbled on since those gagged days,
Like traffic checked while at the crossing of city-ways:
And the haunted gap in your mind has filled with thoughts that flow
Like clouds in the lit heaven of life; and you’re a man reprieved to go,
Taking your peaceful share of Time, with joy to spare.


But the past is just the same - and War’s a bloody game . . .
Have you forgotten yet . . ?
Look down, and swear by the slain of the War that you’ll never forget.


Do you remember the dark months you held the sector at Mametz –
The nights you watched and wired and dug and piled sandbags on parapets ?
Do you remember the rats; and the stench
Of corpses rotting in front of the front-line trench -
And dawn coming, dirty-white, and chill with a hopeless rain ?
Do you ever stop and ask, ‘Is it all going to happen again ?’


Do you remember that hour of din before the attack –
And the anger, the blind compassion that seized and shook you then
As you peered at the doomed and haggard faces of your men ?
Do you remember the stretcher-cases lurching back
With dying eyes and lolling heads—those ashen-grey
Masks of the lads who once were keen and kind and gay ?


Have you forgotten yet . . ?


Poem available on ABOUT.COM POETRY




Illustration: SUN HATS & WELLIE BOOTS


Saint Christopher. Feast Day 25 July.


Text (unless otherwise stated) is taken from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
which is available from ST. BONAVENTURE PRESS


Saint Christopher.
Feast Day 25 July.

Simple.

Red Vestments.


Saint Christopher carrying The Christ Child.
Date: 1480-1490.
Museum Boymans-van Beuningen,
This File: 22 January 2007.
User: Alekjds.
(Wikipedia)


Saint Christoper was a native of Chanaan. His name ("Who bears Christ") expresses his love of Jesus. A generous Soul, he walked like a giant in the Way of Virtue.

The Piety of our Fathers, inspired by this grand allegory, caused them to place a colossal statue of Saint Christopher at the entrance to Cathedrals. He was Martyred towards 250 A.D.

He is one of the "Fourteen Auxiliary Saints".

Mass: In virtúte.


Ave Maris Stella.


Hail, Star of the Sea.





Ave Maris Stella.

Available on YouTube at



The following Text is from Wikipedia -the free encyclopaedia.

Ave Maris Stella (Latin, "Hail Star of the Sea") is a Plainsong Vespers Hymn to Mary. It was especially popular in the Middle Ages and has been used by many composers as the basis of other compositions.


The creation of the original Hymn has been attributed to several people, including Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (12th-Century), Saint Venantius Fortunatus (6th-Century) and Hermannus Contractus (11th-Century). The Text is found in 9th-Century Manuscripts kept in Vienna, Austria, and in the Abbey of Saint Gall, Switzerland.

The melody is found in the Irish Plainsong "Gabhaim Molta Bríde", a piece in praise of Saint Bridget. The popular modern Hymn, Hail Queen of Heaven, the Ocean Star, is loosely based on this Plainsong original.

It finds particular prominence in the "Way of Consecration to The Blessed Virgin Mary" by Saint Louis de Montfort.





Madonna and Child

(Galleria Borghese, Rome).

Date: Circa 1742.
Author: Pompeo Batoni (1708–1787).
(Wikimedia Commons)



The Plainchant Hymn has been developed by many composers, from pre-Baroque to the present day. The Roman Rite employs four different Plainchant tunes for the Ave Maris Stella; the first three are designated for Solemnities, Feasts, and Memorials of The Blessed Virgin Mary; a fourth is given in The Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary as an alternative to the Memorial Tone. These Plainchant Tones have been used as the cantus firmus for some Polyphonic Settings of the Mass, including those by Josquin and Victoria.

Renaissance Settings include those by Felice Anerio, Palestrina, Dufay and Byrd. Baroque Settings include Monteverdi's Vespro della Beata Vergine 1610. Romantic Settings include those by DvorakGrieg, and Liszt. Modern composers who have either set the Text, or used the Hymn as an inspiration, include Grace Williams, Peter Maxwell Davies, Otto Olsson and Trond Kverno.

Saint James The Greater. Apostle. Brother Of Saint John. Feast Day 25 July.


Text (unless otherwise stated) is taken from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
which is available from ST. BONAVENTURE PRESS


Saint James The Greater.
Apostle.
Feast Day 25 July.

Double of the Second-Class.

Red Vestments.




Saint James the Greater.
He is depicted clothed as a Pilgrim; note the scallop shell,
on his shoulder, 
and his staff and Pilgrim's hat beside him.
Artist: Rembrandt (1606–1669).
Date: 1661.
(Wikimedia Commons)


Saint James, brother of Saint John, and son of Zebedee, was a native of Bethsaida, in Galilee. He is surname "the Greater", i.e., the Elder.

One day, his mother, approaching The Saviour, asked of Him "the favour for her two sons to be seated, one at His right-hand and the other at His left-hand, in His Kingdom" (Gospel). Christ then foretold their Martyrdom. Saint James "shall sit on a Throne to judge the Twelve Tribes of Israel" (Communion), but he will first have to mix his blood with that of Jesus (Gospel) and undergo, like all the Apostles, a life of suffering and persecution, such as the Epistle describes.

After the Ascension of Jesus Christ to Heaven, says the Office of today, James preached His Divinity in Judea and Samaria. He soon betook himself to Spain. When he returned to Jerusalem, Herod Agrippa, desiring to please the Jews, condemned him to death and he was beheaded towards the year 42 A.D., a short time before the Feast of Easter.

It would seem that, for fear of the Arabs who were masters of Jerusalem, the body of the Saint was later carried to Compostella, in Spain, where he is greatly honoured. 25 July recalls the date of this Translation.

His name is inscribed in the Canon of the Mass, with that of Saint John, his brother (First List).

Every Parish Priest celebrates Mass for the people of his Parish.

Commemoration of Saint Christopher, by the Collects of the Mass: In virtúte.


Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...