Our parish youth choir, St.Romanos Melodos Choir, is going to chant a beautiful hymn of Theothokos, Axion Estin, in Japanese.
This hymn will be chanted before the Holy Matrimony of one of our Japanese parishioner.
We received the music score of AXION ESTIN (in Japanese: Tsuneni saiwai ni shite ) from The Holy Theophany Parish in Nagoya by the help of Mrs. Maria Matsushima, presviterathe Holy Theophany parish Nagoya.
Ο ωραιότατος Ύμνος προς την Θεοτόκο,ποίημα του Αγ.Νεκταρίου Αιγίνης και με μελωδία σύμφωνα με την παράδοση φτιαχμένη από Αγγέλους
The most beautiful hymn "Agni Parthene" (O Pure Virgin ) was composed by St. Nectarios of Egina, and according to the Tradition, the melody was composed by angels.
Agni Parthene is a non-liturgical hymn composed in Greek by St. Nectarios of Aegina in the 19th century during his tenure as director of the Rizarios Theological School of Athens. St. Nektarios liked to compose hymns in honor of the Mother of God to deepen his personal prayer and relationship with her. The tradition passed down at the monastery of St. Nektarios, in Aegina, Greece, is that the Lady herself appeared before him and requested that he record on paper a particular hymn the angelic choirs were about to sing. This hymn was the "Agni Parthene". The original script can still be viewed on his prayer table in his bedroom at this monastery.
The original melody to this hymn was composed by an Athonite hymnographer who is said to also have had a vision of the Virgin Mary prior to composing the work. The recording of this melody by the Monks of Simonopetra has contributed significantly to the porization of the hymn.
Due to its pority, the hymn has been translated into many langauges and the original melody has been adapted to suit the particular style of church chanting. One such variation is the Valaam Monastery chant of the Russian translation.
The hymn of the Pure Virgin is part of A Small Theotokarion (Athens, 1905) a book of Hymns to the Mother of God, written by St. Nektarios.
This hymn has been used during communion in the Liturgy and it is sometimes chanted at the beginning of Vespers
O Virgin Mother, Queen of all/ and fleece which is all dewy
More radiant than the rays of sun/ and higher than the heavens
Delight of virgin choruses/ superior to Angels.
Much brighter than the firmament/ and purer than the sun's light
More holy than the multitude/ of all the heav'nly armies.
Rejoice, O Bride Unwedded!
O Ever Virgin Mary/ of all the world, the Lady
O bride all pure, immaculate/ O Lady Panagia
O Mary bride and Queen of all/ our cause of jubilation
Majestic maiden, Queen of all/ O our most holy Mother
More hon'rable than Cherubim/ beyond compare more glorious
than immaterial Seraphim/ and greater than angelic thrones.
Rejoice, O Bride Unwedded!
Rejoice, O song of Cherubim/ Rejoice, O hymn of angels
Rejoice, O ode of Seraphim/ the joy of the archangels
Rejoice, O peace and happiness/ the harbor of salvation
O sacred chamber of the Word/ flow'r of incorruption
Rejoice, delightful paradise/ of blessed life eternal
Rejoice, O wood and tree of life/ the fount of immortality.
Rejoice, O Bride Unwedded!
I supplicate you, Lady/ now do I call upon you
And I beseech you, Queen of all/ I beg of you your favor
Majestic maiden, spotless one/ O Lady Panagia
I call upon you fervently/ O sacred, hallowed temple
Assist me and deliver me/ protect me from the enemy
And make me an inheritor/ of blessed life eternal.
Rejoice, O Bride Unwedded!
(Source and translation: Holy Nativity Convent, Saxonburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.)
Αγνή Παρθένε
Αγνή Παρθένε Δέσποινα, Άχραντε Θεοτόκε,
Χαίρε Νύμφη Ανύμφευτε.
Παρθένε Μήτηρ Άνασσα, Πανένδροσέ τε πόκε.
Χαίρε Νύμφη Ανύμφευτε.
Υψηλοτέρα Ουρανών, ακτίνων λαμπροτέρα
Χαίρε Νύμφη Ανύμφευτε.
Χαρά παρθενικών χορών, αγγέλων υπερτέρα,
Χαίρε Νύμφη Ανύμφευτε.
Εκλαμπροτέρα ουρανών φωτός καθαροτέρα,
Χαίρε Νύμφη Ανύμφευτε.
Των Ουρανίων στρατιών πασών αγιωτέρα
Χαίρε Νύμφη Ανύμφευτε.
Μαρία Αειπάρθενε κόσμου παντός Κυρία
Χαίρε Νύμφη Ανύμφευτε.
Άχραντε Νύμφη Πάναγνε Δέσποινα Παναγία,
Χαίρε Νύμφη Ανύμφευτε.
Μαρία Νύμφη Άνασσα, χαράς ημών αιτία.
Χαίρε Νύμφη Ανύμφευτε.
Κορή σεμνή Βασίλισσα, Μήτηρ υπεραγία,
Χαίρε Νύμφη Ανύμφευτε.
Τιμιώτερα Χερουβείμ υπερενδοξοτέρα
Χαίρε Νύμφη Ανύμφευτε.
Των ασωμάτων Σεραφείμ των Θρόνων υπερτέρα,
Χαίρε Νύμφη Ανύμφευτε.
Χαίρε το άσμα Χερουβείμ χαίρε ύμνος Αγγέλων
Χαίρε Νύμφη Ανύμφευτε.
Χαίρε ωδή των Σεραφείμ Χαρά των Αρχαγγέλων
Χαίρε Νύμφη Ανύμφευτε.
Χαίρε ειρήνη και χαρά λιμήν της σωτηρίας
Χαίρε Νύμφη Ανύμφευτε.
Παστάς του Λόγου ιερά άνθος της αφθαρσίας
Χαίρε Νύμφη Ανύμφευτε.
Χαίρε Παράδεισε τρυφής, ζωής τε αιωνίας,
Χαίρε Νύμφη Ανύμφευτε.
Χαίρε το ξύλον της ζωής, πηγή αθανασίας,
Χαίρε Νύμφη Ανύμφευτε.
Σε ικετεύω Δέσποινα, Σε, νυν, επικαλούμαι,
Χαίρε Νύμφη Ανύμφευτε.
Σε δυσωπώ Παντάνασσα, Σην χάριν εξαιτούμαι.
Χαίρε Νύμφη Ανύμφευτε.
Κορή σεμνή και άσπιλε, Δεσποίνα Παναγία
Χαίρε Νύμφη Ανύμφευτε.
Θερμώς επικαλούμαι Σε, Ναέ ηγιασμένε,
Χαίρε Νύμφη Ανύμφευτε.
Αντιλαβού μου, ρύσαι με, από τού πολεμίου,
Χαίρε Νύμφη Ανύμφευτε.
Και κλήρονομον δείξον με, ζωής της αιωνίου,
Χαίρε Νύμφη Ανύμφευτε.
اء يا أم الإله
عذراءُ يا ام الاله ياطاهره نقيه
صلي الى ابنك الاله وحنني علي
لا تهمليني في الحياه ان اغرق في الخطيه
بل ادركيني بالنجاه وتحنني على
يا ام رب الكائنات والطغمات السماويه
يا بهجة كل الرهبان والانفس الطهريه
سيدة كل العالم دائمة البتوليه
يا كلية التقديس تحقيق البتوليه
يا ارفع من الاملاك ومن البشريه
تسبيح كل الشاربيم ومدحة ملكيه
انت الميناء للخلاص وفرح البشريه
الارفع من السماء الامعه البهيه
افرحي يا نهر النعيم والزهرة الابديه
ينبوع عدم القناء وعود الحيويه
اجثو لديك ضارعًا يا هيكل القدسيه
نجيني يا عذراء من الشروريَ الرديئه
صوت تضرعي اسمعي من نفسيه الشقيه
تقبلي مني النشيد واللحن ذا الشجي
الح في التضرع فاقبليني نجيا
واهديني من بعد الممات حياة ابديه
Orthodox Churches, Chapels, Schools to visit in Indonesia
St. Kirillos and Methodios Grasak Grasak Rt 02 Rw04 Kismoyoso Ngemplak Boyolali, Central Java Indonesia Parish Priest: Fr. Methodios Sri Gunarjo
St. Katherine Pandeyan Rt 12 Rw 04,Pandeyan Ngempak Boyolali, Central Java 57102 Indonesia Parish Priest: Fr. Methodios Sri Gunarjo
Holy Trinity Church Sumber Tranqkilan Rt 02 Rw 15 Solo Central Java 57100 Indonesia
St. Demetrios Jl. Sinoman VI/20, Mojokerto 61322 East Java, Indonesia Telephone: (+62) 321 328498 Parish Priest: Yohanes B. Wicaksono
St. Katherine JI Serutu a 23/409 Cilacap Central Java Indonesia Telephone: (+62) 274 589881 Parish Priests: Fr. Matthew Budiharjo
Holy Epiphany Jl Meriam Block D/109 Kodam, Kalimalang Jakarta Timur Indonesia Telephone: (+62) 21 9199553, 0818 252242 Parish Priest: Fr. Gabriel Rehatta
St. Dionysios of Zakynthos Kricak Kidul TR I/1225 Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta Indonesia Telephone: (+62) 274 589991 Parish Priest: Fr. Lazaros B. Sucanto
Orthodox Community of St. Demetrios Medan Jl Kapiten Purba IV Simalingkar, Medan 20131 North Sumatra Indonesia Telephone: (+62) 8363229 Fax: (+62) 61 8363229 Email: orthodox@medan.wasantara.net.id Parish Priest: Fr. Chrysostomos Manalu
Orthodox Community Bali J1. Dewi Uma No1 Dusun Bangkang RT O4 Bakti SeragaSingaraja, Bali Telephone: (+62) 362 31150 Fax: (+62) 362 21108 Director: Stephanos Boik Nino Fr Stephanos serves in Despansar every first Sunday of the month
St. Savvas of Kalymnos – under construction Gading Rt 12 Rw 03, Driyorejo, Gresik, Gresik, 61177 East Java Indonesia Telephone: (+62 ) 321 328498 Parish Priest: Fr. Yohanes Bambang Wicaksono
St. Evdokia and the Chapel of the Resurrection Jl. Kapiten Purba IV Simalingkar, Medan 20131 North Sumatra Indonesia Telephone: (+62) 61 8363229, (+62) 812 6015121 Fax: (+62) 61 8363229 Email: orthodox@medan.wasantara.net.id. Director: Fr. Chrysostomos Manalu
Chapel of the Resurrection Desa Siparbue Kec PaParmonangan Huta Tinggi Tarurutung North Sumatra Tel/ Fax (+62) 618363229 Parish Priest: Fr. Timotheos Umbarwibowo
Ha Amarim Orthodox Youth Association P.O.Box 148 Solo Central Java 57100 Indonesia Telephone: (+62) 271 24243 Fax: (+62) 271 712114 Advisor: Fr. Mathew Bambang Wahyu Budiharjo
Indonesia-Philanthropy
Orthodox Community of St.Demetrios Medan J1 Kapiten Puba IV Simalingkar, Medan 20131 Noth Sumatra Indonesia Tel/Fax +62 61 8363 229 Email: Orthodox@medan.wasantara.net.id Contact: Fr. Chrysostomos Manalu
St. Sophia Orthodox School, Tanjung Anom Established in 1999 Started with Kindergarten, later opened a Primary School(2000) and Junior High School(2002) 167 students in all three schools and 1 staff Formally recognized by Indonesian government and recognized by other Schools in the State
St. Nikitas Orthodox School, Krakatau Medan Established in 2001 with a Kindergarten for 16 students Classes take place in rented local residence Licensed by local government Currently enrolled are 25 Kindergarten and 30 Primary School students Employed are two teachers and one administrator Funds are being sought to build a schoolhouse
Boarding House of St. Demetrios, Medan Provides housing to allow children of poorer families to continue education Fifteen students currently are housed, fifty are projected for the next academic year
Academy of Management and Computers, Medan Established in 2001 under the license of Ministry of Education and Culture of Indonesia to arrange a 3-4 year computer and management education program 80 students, 15 staff
Orthodox Community, Bali J1. Dewi Uma No1 Dusun Bangkang RT O4 Bakti SeragaSingaraja, Bali Telephone: (+62) 362 31150 Fax: (+62) 362 21108 Contact: Fr. Stephanos Boik Nino
St Thomas Home for Children A project to provide housing for the poor children Food and clothes distribution Contact: Fr. Stephanos Boik Nino
"Orthodoxy is the Church of Christ on earth. The Church of Christ is not an institution; it is a new life with Christ and in Christ, guided by the Holy Spirit. Christ, the Son of God, came to earth, was made man, uniting His divine life with that of humanity. This divine-human life He gave to His brethren, who believe on His name. Although He died and rose again and ascended into heaven, He was not separated from His humanity, but remains in it. The light of the resurrection of Christ lights the Church, and the joy of resurrection, of the triumph over death, fills it. The risen Lord lives with us and our life in the Church is a mysterious life in Christ."
Sergius Bulgakov, The Orthodox Church
It is Orthodox but NOT jewish, It is Catholic but NOT roman, It is Evangelist but NOT protestant. It is the Church who founded by Jesus Christ Himself since 33 AD. No need to be changed NOR be reformed because He is the Alpha and The Omega.
Ορθόδοξος Συναξαριστής - The List of Orthodox Saints of the Day