'''Agni Parthene''' (Αγνή Παρθένε) is a non-liturgical hymn composed by St. [[Nectarios of Aegina]] in the 19th cenutry century during his tenure as director of the Rizarios Theological School of Athens. Nektarios liked to compose hymns in honour of the [[Theotokos|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.

Sometimes performed in [[Orthodoxy|Orthodox]] churches at Often misunderstood by many the beginning melody was not composed by St. Nektarios. The original melody was written by a famous Athonite hymnographer from the St. Annes area of [[Vespers]]Mount Athos. Since then, his melody has been adapted by the church and there are many versions including the famous Valaam monastery chant.

== History ==St. Nektarios liked to compose hymns in honour of the [[Theotokos|Mother of God]] to deepen his personal prayer and relationship with her. The tradition passed down at the monastery of St. Nektarios, in Aegina, 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 at his monastery in Greece. Some orthodox also teach that this poem is drawn from the ''Theotokarion'' (Book of Hymns to the Mother of God){citation}}. Sometimes performed in [[Orthodoxy|Orthodox]] churches at the beginning of [[Vespers]].