Hymns Curriculum Level I & II 2011 – 2012 St. Rebekah Coptic Orthodox Church 1 Table of Contents Chapter 1 – Annual Hymns and Responses I The Annual Verses of the Cymbals 6 The Conclusion of the Orthodox Creed 8 The Annual Psalm Response 8 The Vespers Response to the Gospel 8 The Concluding Canon 8 The Hymn of Blessing 8 The Hymn of the Procession of the Lamb 9 The Response to the Signings of the Lamb 9 The Hymn of the Virgin (Censer) 9 The Hymn of the Virgin (Censer) 9 The Hymn of the Intercessions 9 The Praxis Response 11 The Hymn of the Trisagion 11 The Liturgy Response to the Gospel 12 The Hymn of the Prayer of Reconciliation 12 The Hymn of the Cherubim 12 According to Your Mercy O Lord 13 The Hymn of the Institution Narrative 13 Have Mercy Upon Us 13 May Their Holy Blessings 13 As It Was 13 2 The Deacon Responses of the Prayer of Submission 14 One is the Holy Father 14 The Confession 14 The Great Abba Antony 14 Chapter 2 – Reading in the Coptic Language The Coptic Alphabet and Pronunciation 16 The Symbol Jinkim 18 Common Abbreviations 18 The Coptic Numbers 19 Chapter 3 – Seasonal Hymns and Responses I The Hymn of the Procession of the Lamb for Fasting Days 20 The Lenten Hymn of His Foundation 20 The Doxology of Pascha 20 The Paschal Response to the Psalm 21 The Paschal Response to the Gospel 21 The Paschal Exposition Introduction and Conclusion 22 The First Greek Hymn for the Resurrection Procession – 22 The Second Greek Hymn for the Resurrectio Procession – 23 The Hymn of the Resurrection - 23 The Communion Hymn for the Apostles Fast 23 The Glorification Hymn for the Father 24 3 Chapter 4 – Annual Hymns and Responses II Hail to Mary the Queen 26 Rejoice O Mary 27 The Gregorian Hymn of the Prayer of Reconciliation 28 The Gregorian Hymn of the Commemoration 28 The Hymn of Blessing 28 The Communion Hymn: The Bread of Life 28 Chapter 5 – Seasonal Hymns and Responses II The Praxis Response for Weekdays of the Great Lent 30 The Hymn of the Censer for Weekdays of the Great Lent 30 The Hymn of the Procession of the Lamb for Weekdays of the Great Lent 30 The Hymn of the Cross 31 The Coptic Hymn of the Resurrection 31 The Hymn for the Fast of the Apostles 31 The Intercession Hymn – 31 Chapter 6 – Annual Midnight Praises The Hymn of the Midnight Praise 32 Introduction to Each Canticle & The First Canticle 34 The Second Canticle 37 The Third Canticle 39 The Fourth Canticle 42 4 5 Annual Hymns & Responses I CHAPTER 1 The Hymns of the Offering of Incense and the Liturgy The Annual Verses of the Cymbals The Batos Introduction (This is said on Wednesday through Saturday). We worship the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, the Holy Trinity, one in essence. Hail to the Church, the house of the angels, Hail to the Virgin who gave birth to our Savior. The Adam Introduction (This is said on Sunday through Tuesday) O come let us worship the Holy Trinity, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. We are the Christian people, for He is our true God. We put our hope in Saint Mary, that God will have mercy on us through her intercessions. The Rest of the Verses Hail to you, O Mary, the fair dove, who has borne for us God the Logos. Hail to you, O Mary, with a holy hail. Hail to you, O Mary, the mother of the Holy One. 6 Hail to Michael, the great archangel. Hail to Gabriel, chosen to bear glad tidings. Hail to the cherubim. Hail to the seraphim. Hail to all the heavenly orders. Hail to John, the great forerunner, hail to the priest, the kinsman of Immanuel. Hail to my lords and fathers the apostles, hail to the disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ. Hail to you, O martyr, hail to the Evangelist, hail to the apostle, Mark the beholder of God. Hail to Stephen, the first martyr. Hail to the archdeacon, the blessed one. Hail to you, O martyr. Hail to the noble hero. Hail to the prize-bearer, George, my lord and prince. Hail to you, O martyr. Hail to the noble hero. Hail to the prize-bearer, Philopater Mercurius. Hail to you, O martyr. Hail to the noble hero. Hail to the prize-bearer the saint, Abba Mina. Hail to you, O martyrs, who accepted many sufferings, for their love to Christ, Rebekah and her children. Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, Saint Mary, O Lord, grant us the forgiveness of our sins, That we may praise You, with Your good Father and the Holy Spirit, for you (have come) and saved us. 7 The Conclusion to the Orthodox Creed We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the age to come. Amen. The Annual Response to the Psalm Alleluia The Vespers Response to the Gospel Let us worship our Savior, the Good One and Lover of Mankind, for he had compassion on us and has come and saved us. Blessed be the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, the perfect Trinity. We worship Him and glorify Him. The Concluding Canon Amen. Alleluia. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of the ages. Amen. We proclaim and say, O our Lord Jesus Christ, bless the air of heaven, and the waters of the river, and the seeds, and the herbs. May Your mercy and Your peace be a fortress to Your people. Save us and have mercy on us. Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy. Lord bless. Amen. Bless me. Bless me. Behold the metanoia. Forgive me. Say the blessing. The Hymn of Blessing We worship the Father of Light, and His only- begotten Son, and the Holy Spirit, the Trinity, one in essence. 8 The Hymn of the Procession of the Lamb Alleluia. This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. O Lord, save us. O Lord, straighten our ways. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Alleluia. The Response to the Signings of the Lamb Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of the ages. Amen. Alleluia. The Hymn of the Virgin (Censer) This censer of pure gold, bearing the aroma, is in the hands of Aaron the priest, offering up incense on the altar. The Hymn of the Virgin (Censer) The golden censer is the Virgin, her aroma is our Savior. She gave birth to Him; he saved us and forgave us our sins. The Hymn of the Intercessions Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, Saint Mary, O Lord, grant us the forgiveness of our sins. Through the intercessions of the holy archangel, Michael, the head of the heavenly, O Lord, grant us the forgiveness of our sins. Through the intercessions of the seven archangels, and the heavenly orders, O Lord, grant us the forgiveness of our sins. 9 Through the prayers of my lords and fathers the apostles, and the rest of the disciples, O Lord, grant us the forgiveness of our sins. Through the prayers of the Beholder of God, the Evangelist, Mark the Apostle, O Lord, grant us the forgiveness of our sins. Through the prayers of the blessed archdeacon, Stephen the first martyr, O Lord, grant us the forgiveness of our sins. Through the prayers of the struggle-bearer and martyr, my lord the prince George, O Lord, grant us the forgiveness of our sins. Through the prayers of the struggle-bearer and martyr, Philopateer Mercurius, O Lord, grant us the forgiveness of our sins. Through the prayers of the struggle-bearer and martyr, Abba Mena of Vayat, O Lord, grant us the forgiveness of our sins. Through the prayers of the beloved of Christ, Rebekah and her children, O Lord, grant us the forgiveness of our sins. Through the prayers of the saints of this day, each one according to his name, O Lord, grant us the forgiveness of our sins. Through their prayers, keep the life of our honored father, the high priest, Pope Abba Shenouda, O Lord, grant us the forgiveness of our sins. Through their prayers, keep the life of our honored, righteous father, Abba Youssef, the bishop, O Lord, grant us the forgiveness of our sins. 10 We worship You, O Christ, with Your good Father and the Holy Spirit, for You have (come) and saved us. Have mercy on us. The Praxis Response Hail to you, O Mary, the fair dove, who has borne to us God the Logos. Hail to you, O martyrs, who accepted many sufferings, for their love to Christ, Rebekah and her children. Blessed are You indeed, with Your good Father and the Holy Spirit, for You have (come) and saved us. Have mercy on us. The Hymn of the Trisagion Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, who was born of a virgin, have mercy upon us. Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, who was crucified for us, have mercy upon us. Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, who rose from the dead and ascended into the heavens, have mercy upon us. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of the ages.