O Virgin Pure
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Agni Parthene (Greek: Ἁγνὴ Παρθένε), rendered "O Virgin Pure" or "O Pure Virgin", is a Greek Marian hymn composed by St. Nectarios of Aegina in the late 19th century, first published in print in his Theotokarion (Θεοτοκάριον, ἤτοι προσευχητάριον μικρόν) in 1905.
It is sometimes performed in Orthodox churches at the beginning of Vespers, or after the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy during the veneration of the cross and receiving of anti-doron.
St. Nectarios reportedly composed the hymn after having seen a vision of the Theotokos in a dream where she asked him to do so. The melody is known be due to monks of Simonopetra. The hymn spread quickly throughout the Eastern Orthodox world and was translated into many languages. A Church Slavonic translation is known to be due to monks of Valaam Monastery.
The text is in 24 stanzas or invocations, each followed by the refrain Χαῖρε νύμφη ἀνύμφευτε "Hail, unwedded bride". The 24 stanzas are arranged into four strophes, each strophe consisting of three tunes iterated twice over. The first three strophes describe attributes of the Theotokos, while the fourth consists of a prayer for intercession.
Text
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The 24 invocations are labelled by strophe (1, 2, 3, 4), tune (A, B, Γ) and iteration (α, β).
Greek text (1905) | Transliteration | English translation (metrical) [2] |
---|---|---|
1.Aα. Ἁγνὴ Παρθένε Δέσποινα, ἄχραντε Θεοτόκε,
1.Aβ. Παρθὲνε μὴτηρ ἄνασσα, πανένδροσέ τε πόκε. R |
O pure and virgin Lady,/ O spotless Theotokos
O Virgin Queen and Mother/ O dewy fleece most sacred | |
2.Aα. Μαρία ἀειπάρθενε κόσμου παντὸς Κυρία, R |
María Aipárthene kósmu pantós Kiría, R |
O ever-virgin Mary/ O Mistress of creation |
3.Aα. Χαῖρε τὸ ᾆσμα Χερουβείμ, χαῖρε ὕμνος ἀγγέλων, R |
Hére to ásma Heruvím, hére ímnos angélon, R |
Rejoice, song of the cherubim/ Rejoice, hymn of the angels |
4.Aα. Σὲ ἱκετεύω Δέσποινα, σὲ νῦν ἐπικαλοῦμαι. R |
Se iketévo Déspina, Se, nin, epikalúme, R |
I supplicate thee, Lady/ I humbly call upon thee |
See also
References
- ↑ Melody based on the notation due to Nancy Chalker Takis (2006)
- ↑ Orthodox Spirituality Prayers written by St. Nektarios of Aegina (2008); translation by Bishop Basil of Wichita (William Essey, b. 1948). Alternative translation: Reverend Presbyter Demetrios Serfes, Holy Nativity Convent, Saxonburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.) http://www.serfes.org/spiritual/november1999.htm
- 1 2 This is the text of 4.Bβ. as published in 1905, exceptionally without rhyme (repeating the second half of 2.Aα).
An alternative text is now often sung instead: 4.Bβ. Θερμῶς ἐπικαλοῦμαί σε, ναὲ ἡγιασμένε Thermós epikalúme Se, Naé igiasméne, - ↑ translates 4.Bβ. Θερμῶς ἐπικαλοῦμαί σε, ναὲ ἡγιασμένε. The original text of 4.Bβ. translates to "Hear me, immaculate one, lady of the whole world."
External links
- Αγνή Παρθένε, the Greek text
- English translation (with metrical notes)
- O Pure Virgin in Arabic (YouTube)
- O Pure Virgin in English (YouTube)
- O Pure Virgin in French (YouTube)
- O Pure Virgin in Greek by Simonopetra Monastery (YouTube)
- O Pure Virgin in Romanian (YouTube)
- O Pure Virgin in Serbian (YouTube)
- O Pure Virgin in Slavonic by Valaam Monastery (YouTube)
- O Pure Virgin in Italian by Irini Pasi Ensemble (YouTube)
- O Pure Virgin in Korean (YouTube)
- O Pure Virgin in Albanian (YouTube)
- O Pure Virgin in Ukrainian (YouTube)
- sample performed by the Monks of Simonopetra Monastery
- sample of Russian performance
- Italian byzantine greek-orthodox choir