Sacred Music News
(Last updated February 24, 2021)
- These are the new Groups of files that have been created in the PDF Library:
* Sunday of the holy Forefathers of Christ (Dec 11-17)
* Conception of the Theotokos by Righteous Anna (Dec 9)
* Sunday before the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ (Dec 18-24)
* Forefeast and Paramon (Eve) of the Nativity of Christ (Dec 20-24)
* Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ itself (Dec 25)
* Sunday after the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ (Dec 26-31)
* Circumcision of Christ/Basil the Great (Jan 1)
* Theophany (Epiphany) of our Lord (Jan 6)
* Synaxis of John the Baptist (January 7th) - * Veneration of the Precious Chains of the Apostle Peter (Jan 16)
* Anthony the Great (Jan 17) - * Athanasius & Cyril, Patriarchs of Alexandria (Jan 18)
* Gregory the Theologian, Archbishop of Constantinople (Jan 25)
* John Chrysostom (Feast: Nov 13; Recovery of Relics: Jan 27)
* Presentation (Meeting) of our Lord in the Temple (Feb 2)
* George-Great Martyr (April 23rd)
* Mark the Apostle & Evangelist (April 25th)
* Constantine & Helen (May 21st)
* Kyriaki, the Great-martyr of Nicomedia (July 7th)
* Mary Magdalene-Myrrh-Bearer (July 22nd) - * Paraskeva-Virgin-Martyr of Rome (July 26th)
* Panteleimon, Great-martyr & Healer (July 27th)
* Beheading of John the Baptist (August 29th)
* Conception of the Forerunner & Baptist John (September 23rd) - * Thekla, Proto-martyr, Equal-to-the-Apostle (September 24th)
* Katherine, Great-martyr & All-wise of Alexandria (November 25th)
* Nicholas the Wonderworker (December 6th) - * Ignatius of Antioch (Dec 20)
* Paramon (Eve) of Theophany (January 5th)
* Euthymios the Great (January 20th) - * Three Great Hierarchs (Jan 30)
- * Theotokia for Vespers & Orthros
- * Forty Holy Martyrs of Sebastia (March 9)
- * Annunciation to the Theotokos (March 25)
- * Peter & Paul, Chiefs of the Apostles (June 29)
- * Athanasius of Athos (July 5th)
- * Elias (Elijah) the Prophet (July 20th)
- * Dormition of Anna, Mother of the Theotokos (July 25th)
- * John of Kronstadt (Oct 19th)
- * Gregory the Wonderworker, Bishop of Neo-Caesarea (Nov 17th)
- * Andrew the Apostle (Nov 30th)
- * Myrrh-bearing Women Sunday
- * Samaritan Woman Sunday
- * O Lord, I have cried (Brief versions)
- * Synaxis of the Icon of our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary
- Called "It is truly meet" (June 11th)
- * Jacob of Hamatoura (Oct 13th)
- * Spyridon, Bishop of Trimythous (Dec 12th)
- * Eleutherios, Bishop of Illyria (Dec 15th)
- * Prodigal Son Sunday
- * Holy Wednesday Matins (Holy Tuesday night)
- * Zachariah-the holy Prophet & Father of the Forerunner (Sept 5th)
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- We have UPDATED the Services for Baptism & Holy Unction, in Sections B & H, resp. New and corrected music, and corrected order for Baptism, following the new book from the Dept. of Liturgics.
- Great News!! We now have the music in both Western & Byzantine notation for The Service of the Lesser Sanctification of Water, done by Jessica S-P. It is in Section L of the PDF Library.
- During the first two weeks in August, during the Dormition Fast, we chant The Paraklesis Service, both Little (Small) and Great. The music is available for each with instructions as to when to pray each service. Also available are the Megalynaria for the Patron Saint or Patronal Feast sung during "Higher than the heavens."
- Lenten hymns, like "Give me this Stranger," which is sung on Holy Friday night during the Orthros/Matins of Holy Saturday, after the procession with the bier, and "Open to me the door of repentance," the penitential troparia sung after the Gospel reading in Orthros/Matins during Lent, are in our PDF Library. Thanks to Chadi Karam, they are provided to us in both Western & Byzantine notation.
- The Byzantine Menaion Project by Basil Kazan, which gives us the music for each month, 9 of the major feasts and many of the saints, was previously out of print, but is now available in our PDF Library, all 12 months. Go to Section M, and click on the Group title: Menaion-Kazan's Byzantine Project (12 volumes).
- Now available: On the website of St. George Church, Cedar Rapids, IA, on their main page toward the bottom, there are audio files available of Fr. Elias Bitar chanting the "Lord, I have cried" from Vespers for each tone. Go to: www.stgeorgecedarrapids.org.
- Professor Michael Hilko's Christmas Carols are now available, paraliturgical hymns, in the "Carols of the Nativity" section.
- Mentoring Program: If you are a chanter, a choir director, or choir member, and would like some assistance with what you are doing in church, or have any questions, please write to this department, using the contact information, and we will provide you with someone in your area to help you with your chanting, directing, or singing.
- Children's Music is available for ages Pre-School to 6 y/o; and ages 7-12 years old. We thank Elizabeth McMillan for putting all of this together for us to have, free of charge. Music for our Teens is now available. Go to: patristicnectar.org and click on Sacred Music. Then scroll down to the Teen Manual Section.
DO YOU NEED THE KAZAN MENAION?
It is now completely online. Go the PDF Library, Section M, and look for Menaion - Kazan's Byzantine Project (12 volumes). They are all there in chronological order.
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- If there is anything else you might need and you cannot find it here, please write to us! (See contact info in right sidebar.)
DID YOU KNOW ...
...that the beginning words of the prayer we say before communion comes from the words of the holy Apostles Peter & Paul?
"I believe, O Lord, and I confess that thou art truly the Christ, the Son of the living God, who didst come into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief."
In Matthew 16:13, when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do men say that the Son of man is?" And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
In Paul's First Letter to Timothy 1:12, we read: I thank him who has given me strength for this, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful by appointing me to his service, though I formerly blasphemed and persecuted and insulted him; but I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. And I am the foremost of sinners; but I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience for an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
In fact, the Divine Liturgy is filled with many references to the Scriptures, and all for our instruction, our enlightenment, and our salvation. When we acknowledge our sinfulness, that we don't quite hit the mark, and then confess our sins, God is there to forgive us, to wash them all away, and to lead us back Home to His heavenly kingdom, even if it is at the last hour or minute of our life. For in Luke 23:39-43, we read of the two thieves who were hung on each side of Jesus. One of the criminals railed at him, saying, Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong." And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
This is from where the other part of the prayer comes: Of thy Mystic Supper, O Son of God, accept me today as a communicant; for I will not speak of thy Mystery to thine enemies, neither will I give thee a kiss as did Judas; but like the thief will I confess thee: Remember me, O Lord, in thy Kingdom."
May it be so, for all those who come to recognize and believe that Jesus truly is the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God!