Difference between revisions of "Agni Parthene"
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This hymn has been used during communion in the Liturgy and it is sometimes chanted at the beginning of [[Vespers]]. | This hymn has been used during communion in the Liturgy and it is sometimes chanted at the beginning of [[Vespers]]. | ||
| − | == English | + | == English translation == |
'''O Virgin Pure''' | '''O Virgin Pure''' | ||
:by St. Nectarios | :by St. Nectarios | ||
Revision as of 19:51, May 20, 2008
Agni Parthene (Gr. Αγνή Παρθένε) 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 popularization of the hymn.
Due to its popularity, 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.
Contents
English translation
O Virgin Pure
- by St. Nectarios
- Plagal First Tone (Tone 5)
Refrain: Rejoice, O Unwedded Bride!
- O Virgin pure, immaculate/ O Lady Theotokos
- 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 Unwedded Bride!
- 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 Unwedded Bride!
- 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 Unwedded Bride!
- 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 Unwedded Bride!
(Source and translation: Holy Nativity Convent, Saxonburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.) http://www.serfes.org/spiritual/november1999.htm
Other translations
[1] - the translation by Bp. Basil
Original Greek text
- Αγνή Παρθένε
Αγνή Παρθένε Δέσποινα, Άχραντε Θεοτόκε,
- Χαίρε Νύμφη Ανύμφευτε.
- Παρθένε Μήτηρ Άνασσα, Πανένδροσε 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 εξαιτούμε.
- Χαίρε Νύμφη Ανύμφευτε.
Κορή σεμνή και άσπιλε, Δεσποίνα Παναγία
- Χαίρε Νύμφη Ανύμφευτε.
- Θερμώς επικαλούμε 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.
