“The Angel Cried Out” - The Byzantine Easter Hymn To The Virgin Mary.

“The Angel Cried Out”.

Д. Бортнянский “Задостойник Пасхи”.

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This Article, by Gregory Dipippo, is taken from, and can be read in full at, NEW LITURGICAL MOVEMENT

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In the Byzantine Divine Liturgy, there are several places where the Priest sings a part of the Anaphora out loud, and the Choir makes a response, while he continues the Anaphora silently. 

In the Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom, which is by far the more commonly used of the two Anaphoras, the Priest commemorates the Saints after the Consecration and Epiclesis, Praying in silence: “Again we offer unto Thee this rational service for them that in Faith have gone to their rest before us: The Forefathers, Fathers, Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles, Preachers, Evangelists, Martyrs, Confessors, Ascetics, and for every righteous spirit in Faith made perfect.”

He then sings out loud: “Especially for our most Holy, Immaculate, Blessed-above-all and Glorious Lady, The Mother of God, and Ever-Virgin Mary,” and the Choir sings a Hymn to The Virgin, which in the Easter Season reads as follows:

The Angel cried out to Her that is Full of Grace: “Hail, O Holy Virgin, and again will I say “Hail !” Thy Son is risen from the tomb on The Third Day, and has overthrown death; O people, rejoice. Be enlightened, be enlightened, O new Jerusalem, for the Glory of The Lord is risen upon thee. Rejoice and be glad, O Sion; and Thou, O Holy Mother of God, exult in the Resurrection of Thy Son !”

Not surprisingly, this beautiful Text has inspired some of the best efforts of composers who have written for the Byzantine Rite, such as this version by the Ukrainian composer Dmitro Bortniansky (1751-1825).