|
|
|
|
INTRODUCTION The current Pentecostarion gives St Joseph of Thessaloniki as the author of this canon, but St Nikodemos in his commentary is emphatic that the author is St Joseph the Hymnographer [Died 886], whom he describes as the ’most hymnographical of hymnographers’. He writes, ’I mean Joseph, not the Bishop of Thessaloniki, the brother of St Theodore the Studite, … but Joseph who came from Sicily and who honoured numerous Saints with the canons that are contained in the Menaia.’ St Joseph naturally uses many of the same biblical texts as St John, but he also employs other texts, such as Psalm 46, God has gone up with a shout of joy, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet, and Isaias 45,8 Let Heaven on high be glad, and let the clouds rain justice, and 63,1, Who is this who comes from Edom, the red of his garments from Bosor? In the Aposticha of Vespers, where the same text is used, the name Bosor is taken to mean ’flesh’, an interesting, if mistaken, piece of Hebrew etymology, and the same is implied in Ode 6 of this canon. I have not attempted to reproduce either of the acrostics. CANON FOR THE FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION The Acrostic is the
alphabet, Ode 1. Tone 4. I will open my mouth. Immortal by nature, you arose on the third day and appeared to the Eleven and to all the Disciples, and riding on a cloud you hastened back to the Father, O Christ, Maker of the universe. David, inspired by God, in his song cried out most plainly, ’The Lord has gone up to the heavenly places with a shout of joy and the blast of the trumpet, and come to the Father, source of light’. When by your passion and your rising, Lord, you had made new a world grown old through many sins, you ascended, riding on a cloud, to the heavenly places. Glory to your glory! Theotokion. All-spotless Lady, you bore the Master of all, who accepted the voluntary passion and has gone back to his own Father; whom he had not left, even though he had taken flesh. Ode 3. O Mother of God. Lift up the heavenly gates, for see, Christ the King and Lord, wearing his earthly body, is at hand, said the powers below to those above. When you had sought out Adam, who had been led astray by the deceit of the serpent, O Christ, as you had clothed yourself in him, you ascended and took your seat as equal sovereign on the Father’s right hand, while the Angels sang your praise. The earth keeps festival and dances, and heaven rejoices at the Assumption today of the maker of creation, who by his will has clearly united things which were separated. Theotokion. All-pure Virgin mother, who gave birth to the Destroyer of death, the only immortal God, ever implore him to slay the passions which have put me to death and save me. Ode 4. The One seated in glory. Jesus the Giver of life, taking those he loved, ascended the mount of Olives and blessed them and, riding on a cloud, he came to the Father’s bosom, which he had never left. The whole world, visible and invisible, keeps the feast with gladness; Angels and humans leap for joy as they glorify without ceasing the Assumption of the One who by his goodness was united to us in the flesh. Having abolished the might of death as immortal Lord, you granted immortality to all, O Lover of humankind, and you were taken up in glory, as your revered Disciples watched you, Jesu all-powerful. Theotokion. Blessed has your womb become, All-blameless Lady, for you were found worthy to contain beyond explanation the One who marvellously emptied the belly of Hell. Implore him to save us who sing your praise. Ode 5. The universe was amazed. When you had slain death by your death, Lord, you took those whom you loved and ascended the holy mount of Olives, and from there you hastened back to your Begetter, O Christ, riding on a cloud. Strange was your Birth, strange your Resurrection, strange and fearful your divine Assumption from the mount, O Giver of life, of which Elias was an icon when he went up in a four-horse chariot, singing your praise, O Lover of mankind. Angels spoke to the Apostles as they watched: Men of Galilee, why are you amazed at the Assumption of Christ the Giver of life? He will come again to earth to judge the whole world, as most just Judge. Theotokion. Christ, who kept you Virgin after your giving birth without corruption, Mother of God, ascends to the Father, whom he never left, even though he took from you flesh with both mind and soul through his ineffable mercy. Ode 6. Come godly-minded people. Let the clouds rain down for us eternal gladness from above; for Christ, riding on a cloud as on the Cherubim, today ascends to his Father. Appearing in the likeness of flesh, you brought together in one things that were formerly separated, O Lover of humankind; and as your Disciples watched you, O Merciful, you were taken up to the heavenly places. Why are the garments red of the One who was united to the solidity of flesh? said the holy Angels, as they saw Christ bearing the divine marks of his precious passion. Theotokion. Pure Maiden, we hymn your conceiving, we hymn your ineffable giving birth, through which we have been delivered from the destruction, the wickedness and the gloomy incarceration of Hell. Ode 7. The godlike Youths did not worship. A cloud of light received you, Lord, who are light, as you were being taken up beyond understanding from earth; and heavenly multitudes with the Apostles praised you, saying: O God, blessed are you. Let us all gladly clap our hands at Christ’s Assumption, and let us shout with joy: The Lord has gone up with the sound of the trumpet and, as equal in majesty with the Father, taken his seat on his right hand to the ages. Great Moses of old chanted and cried out: Let the Angels of heaven worship Christ as he ascends as King of all. To him we cry: Lord and God of our Fathers, blessed are you. Theotokion. O marvellous wonders! How did you, O full of God’s grace, contain the uncontainable God, who made himself poor according to the flesh, and today with great glory has been taken up to heavenly places and given life to humankind. Ode 8. The Offspring of the Mother of God The Intelligences appeared to the Apostles at the Assumption and said: Why do you stand gazing and amazed? He who is ascending into heaven will also come again to judge mankind on earth, for he alone is judge. Let us give majesty to God; let us cry aloud with one accord; let us sing; let us dance and let us clap our hands. Our God has gone up from earth to heaven, as Angels and Archangels sing his praise as Master and Maker of all things. Our nature, which of old had fallen, has been raised above the Angels and beyond understanding established on God’s throne. Come, let us keep festival and let us cry out: You his works, praise the Lord, and highly exalt him to all the ages. Theotokion. See, Mother of God, your Son, having despoiled death by his Cross, rose on the third day, and having shown himself to his Disciples he has hastened to the heavenly places; as we worship you with him, we give praise and glory to all the ages. Ode 9. Let all born of earth. Megalynarion: Angels, seeing the ascent of the Master, were amazed at how he was raised with glory from earth to things above. O gifts beyond understanding! O dread mystery! For the Master of all things, rising from earth to heaven, sent to his Disciples the Holy Spirit, who enlightened their minds and set them afire with grace. Megalynarion: Angels, seeing the ascent of the Master, were amazed at how he was raised with glory from earth to things above. To the band of Disciples the Lord said: Stay in Jerusalem, and I shall send you another Advocate, equal in majesty with the Father, and equal in honour with me, whom you see being taken up and riding upon a cloud of light. Megalynarion: Angels, seeing the ascent of the Master, were amazed at how he was raised with glory from earth to things above. The majesty of him who became poor in the flesh has been raised above the heavens and our fallen nature honoured by sitting with the Father. Let us keep festival and all cry aloud with one accord, and gladly clap our hands. Theotokion. The Light which shone from Light dawned from you, dispelled all the blackness of atheism and led to the light those who slept in night; and so, as is fitting, to the ages we ever call you blessed. |
|
All texts and
translations on this page are copyright to This page was last updated on 18 April 2008 |