Let Us Draw Near in Faith
A Benefit concert for FOCUS Minnesota
FOCUS Minnesota is a charitable outreach of the Orthodox Church in the Twin Cities, providing basic-needs assistance to those who come to their doors. Your donations go towards providing Food, Occupation, Clothing, Understanding and Service to those in need. Thank you for your generosity!
God is With Us
Kievan Chant
Sung at Great Compline, along with verses from the book of Isaiah
By the Waters of Babylon
David Lucs
Sung at Matins the three Sundays preceding Great Lent, this hymn puts us in the mind of the Hebrews in their exile in Babylon.
By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept when we remembered Zion. On the willows there, we hung up our harps. For there, our captors required of us songs and our tormentors mirth, saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion.” How shall we sing the Lord’s song in exile?...
Open to Me the Gates of Repentance
Gary Brzuchalski
Sung as the Matins Post-Gospel Stichera during the period of the Lenten Triodion, these hymns ask that God and His Mother show compassion on our sins and “make straight for us the paths of salvation.”
Open to me the gates of repentance, O Giver of life, for my spirit rises early to pray towards Thy holy temple, bearing the temple of my body all-defiled. But in Thy compassion, purify me by the loving-kindness of Thy mercy. Make straight for me the paths of salvation, O Mother of God, for I have profaned my soul with shameful sins and have wasted my life in laziness. But in Thy compassion deliver me from all impurity.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, according to the multitude of Thy compassion. Blot out my transgressions.
When I think of the many evil things I have done, wretch that I am, I tremble at the fearful day of judgment. But trusting in Thy loving-kindness like David I cry to Thee: Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy.
The Great Canon of Repentance
Carpathian Chant, tone 6
written by St Andrew of Crete
arr. Archbishop Job [Osacky] (1946-2009)
The Great Canon of St Andrew of Crete (presented here in three sections) speaks directly to our souls urging alertness, attention, and repentance as we do not know the hour of Christ’s second coming. In the refrain we call out, Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me!
We Praise You
Nicholas Roubanis (1880-1968)
from the Anaphora
Adap. G. Theodossiou
Sung at the high point of the Divine Liturgy, the epiclesis, the consecration
of the Gifts.
Awed by the Beauty
Byzantine Chant, tone 3
The Akathist Hymn
Bishop Basil [Essey] (b. 1948)
Awed by the beauty of your virginity, and the exceeding radiance of your purity, Gabriel stood amazed and cried to you, O Mother of God: “What praise may I offer you that is worthy of your beauty? By what name shall I call you? I am lost and bewildered; but I shall greet you as I was commanded: ‘Hail, you that are full of grace.’”
All of Creation Rejoices
Byzantine chant
arr. Kevin Lawrence
Hymn to the Theotokos from the Liturgy of St Basil the Great
In you, O woman full of grace, all creation rejoices. Glory to you!
Kontakion for the Annunciation
Byzantine Chant, tone 8
arr. Kevin Lawrence
Victorious Lady, mighty champion defending us, we, your servants, now inscribe to you this hymn of thanks, for you rescued us from suffering and tribulation. Theotokos, with your power that can never fail, keep us safe from every danger our whole life long - that we may cry to you: Rejoice, O Bride unwedded.
The Great Canon of Repentance
Carpathian Chant, tone 6
written by St Andrew of Crete
arr. Archbishop Job [Osacky] (1946-2009)
Irmi 4 - 6
Let My Prayer Arise
David Brzuchalski
Psalm 141 - sung at the Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts
“Let my prayer arise in Thy sight as incense, and let the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice. / Lord, I have cried to Thee, hear me, hear the voice of my prayer when I cry to Thee. / Set a watch, O Lord before my mouth, and keep the door of my lips. / Incline not my heart to any evil things, nor to practice wicked deeds.”
Now the Powers
Grigory Lvovsky (1830-1894)
Cherubikon from the Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts
At the Great Entrance the gifts are brought from the table of preparation to the altar table as an offering for and on behalf of the faithful.
“Now the powers of heaven invisibly with us do serve; lo, the King of glory enters. Lo, the mystical sacrifice is upborne, fulfilled. / Let us draw near in faith and love, and become communicants of life eternal. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.”
Taste and See
Mark Wesche (b. 1987)
Koinonikon (communion hymn) from the Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts
Taste and see, O taste and see, that the Lord is good.
The Great Canon of Repentance
Carpathian Chant, tone 6
written by St Andrew of Crete
arr. Archbishop Job [Osacky] (1946-2009)
Irmi 7 - 9
Of Thy Mystical Supper
Peter Tabeling (b. 1988)
Hymn from Holy Thursday
Bulgarian Chant, tone 1
Great and Holy Thursday’s liturgy commemorates the Last Supper. This hymn asks the Lord to make us worthy to share in the mystery of the Eucharist.
“Of Thy Mystical Supper, O Son of God, accept me today as a communicant. I will not speak of Thy mysteries to Thine enemies, neither will I give Thee a kiss like Judas, but like the thief will I confess Thee. Remember me, O Lord, in Thy Kingdom!”
The Wise Thief
Byzantine Chant, J. Sakellarides (ca. 1853–1938)
As sung at St Mary’s OCA Cathedral
Fr. Andrew Glagolev (1898-1953)
The Exapostilarion at Matins of Great and Holy Friday is sung three times. Here we present three musical settings in Greek, Slavonic, and English.
“The wise thief Thou didst make worthy of paradise in a single moment, O Lord; by the wood of the Cross illumine me as well, and save me.”
Let All Mortal Flesh
Byzantine Chant, plagal 1st mode
Cherubikon for Great and Holy Saturday
“Let all mortal flesh keep silent, and in fear and trembling stand, pondering nothing earthly-minded. For the King of kings and the Lord
of lords comes to be slain, to give Himself as food for the faithful.”
Antiphon XV
Mark Wesche (b. 1987)
At the Matins of Holy Friday we read the Twelve Passion Gospels, accompanying the Lord to His crucifixion and burial. Before the sixth gospel the 15th Antiphon is sung, and in many churches the Cross is brought from the altar to the center of the church.
“Today He who hung the earth upon the waters is hung upon a tree.
He who is King of the Angels is arrayed in a crown of thorns.
He who wraps the heavens in a cloud is wrapped in the purple of mockery. He who freed Adam in the Jordan receives a blow on the face.
The Bridegroom of the Church is affixed to the cross with nails.
The Son of the Virgin is pierced with a spear.
We worship Thy passion, O Christ…
Show us also Thy glorious Resurrection.”
Arise, O God
Byzantine Chant
Psalm 82:8
On Great and Holy Saturday, as we sing, the brightness of the resurrection eclipses the somber mood of Holy Week and Christ’s passion. The resurrection is then proclaimed for the first time in anticipation of Great and Holy Pascha!
“Arise, O God and judge the earth for You shall inherit all the nations,”
Thank You!
We hope that you enjoyed the concert, please show your appreciation by clicking above and donating to FOCUS
The Pan-Orthodox Choir Ministry Choir is a collection of Orthodox choir directors and singers from the Twin Cities area who, among other goals, are dedicated to enriching and sharing liturgical music with each other and the wider community.