The above image is the cover of an album released in 1986. The album is called Rapsodies (the word Rap...rap music ...someone once told me that it comes from the Greek word Rapsody, worth investigating) contains the most important Byzantine Hymns with singer/actress Irene Papas, music arrangement by Vangelis.
One of the most well known hymns of the album is Ω γλυκύ μου έαρ (Oh, my sweet spring) and it is chanted on Good Friday in all Greek Orthodox churches.
Please bear in mind that this is a modern version of the hymn.
Greek text
Αι γενεαί πάσαι, ύμνον τη Ταφή σου, προσφέρουσι Χριστέ μου.
Καθελών του ξύλου, ο Αριμαθείας, εν τάφω σε κηδεύει.
Μυροφόροι ήλθον, μύρα σοι, Χριστέ μου, κομίζουσαι προφρόνως.
Δεύρο πάσα κτίσις, ύμνους εξοδίους, προσοίωμεν τω Κτίστη.
Ους έθρεψε το μάννα, εκίνησαν την πτέρναν, κατά του ευεργέτου.
Ιωσήφ κηδεύει, συν τω Νικοδήμω, νεκροπρεπώς τον Κτίστην.
* Ω γλυκύ μου έαρ, γλυκύτατόν μου Τέκνον, πού έδυ σου το κάλλος;
Υιέ Θεού παντάναξ, Θεέ μου πλαστουργέ μου, πώς πάθος κατεδέξω;
Έρραναν τον τάφον αι Μυροφόροι μύρα, λίαν πρωί ελθούσαι.
Ω Τριάς Θεέ μου, Πατήρ Υιός και Πνεύμα, ελέησον τον κόσμον.
Ιδείν την του Υιού σου, Ανάστασιν, Παρθένε, αξίωσον σους δούλους.
Free translation from Greek from where you see the *
English
Oh, my sweet spring, my sweetest child, where has your beauty set?
Son of God, my God and creator, how can I accept your Passion?
The perfume-bringing women sprinkled the grave with perfumes, having come very early in the morning
Oh Trinity my God, Father, Son and Spirit, have mercy upon the world
Mother of God, help us so that we can see your Son's Resurrection
Italian
O, mia dolce primavera, mio dolcissimo figlio, dov’è tramontata la tua bellezza?
Figlio di Dio, mio Dio e creatore, come posso accettare la tua Pasione?
Le donne che portavano profumi sparsero la tomba di fragranze, essendo arrivate molto presto la mattina.
O Santa Trinità mio Dio, Padre, Figlio e Spirito, dimostra la tua misericordia al mondo
Madre di Dio, aiuta cosi noi possiamo vedere la Resurrezione del tuo Figlio
This post is dedicated to my 100 blog buddies, thank you for being here.
Again, Happy Easter!
