“If we have died with him, we shall also live with him”
BCP, Good Friday, Anthem 2
This Good Friday’s offering as we contemplate the crucifixion of our Savior is a meditation on chants from various Christian Orthodox traditions.
First is the Evlogitaria for the Dead. An evlogitaria is defined as a hymn of blessing, “good words,” or “funeral praises,” appropriate for this day and the final days of lent’s penitential practices.
Words to a “short, single stanza hymn,” The Apolytikia of the Resurrection is next. Lastly the Evlogitaria of the Resurrection follows.
Read each verse with response. Pray the words.
Or click on the links to each hymn, close your eyes, listen.
Let the chants immerse you fully into the heart of Good Friday.
Blessed are You, O Lord, teach me Your statutes.
The choir of the saints has found the fountain of life and the door of Paradise.
May I also find the way through repentance, I am the sheep that was lost, call me up to You, O Savior, and save me.
Blessed are You, O Lord, teach me Your statutes.
You who did fashion me of old out of nothingness, and with Your Image Divine did honor me;
but because of transgressions of Your commandments, did return me again to the earth from whence I was taken; lead me back to be refashioned into that ancient beauty of Your likeness.
Blessed are You, O Lord, teach me Your statutes.
I am the image of Your unutterable glory.
Though I bear the scars of my stumblings, have compassion upon me, the works of Your hands, O sovereign Lord, and cleanse me through Your loving-kindness; and the homeland of my heart’s desire bestow on me, by making me a citizen of Paradise.
Blessed are You, O Lord, teach me Your statutes.
Give rest O God to the souls of Your servants, and appoint for them a place in Paradise;
where the choirs of the saints, O Lord, and the just will shine forth like stars; to Your servants that are sleeping now give rest, overlooking all their offenses.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The triune radiance of the One Godhead with reverent songs acclaiming, let us cry:
Holy are You, O eternal Father, and Son also eternal, and Spirit Divine; shine with Your light on us who with faith adore You, and from the fire eternal rescue us.
Now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Hail, O gracious Lady, who in the flesh bears God for salvation of all;
and through whom the human race has found salvation;
through You may we find Paradise, Theotokos, our Lady pure and blessed.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia; Glory to You, our God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia; Glory to You, our God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia; Glory to You, our God.
Apolytikia of the Resurrection
While the stone had been sealed by the Jews and the soldiers were guarding they most pure body,
Thou didst arise on the third day, O Savior, granting life to the world for which cause the heavenly powers cried aloud unto Thee, O Giver of Life: Glory to Thy Resurrection O Christ, Glory to Thy Kingdom, Glory to thy dispensation, who alone art the lover of mankind.
Evlogitaria of the Resurrection (Mute until you can skip ad)
Blessed are You, O Lord, teach me Your statutes.
The orders of angels were amazed, as they beheld You, O Savior among the dead, destroying the power of death, and raising up Adam with You, and releasing all from Hades.
Blessed are You, O Lord, teach me Your statutes.
The radiant angel standing within the tomb, cried out to the Myrrh-bearers:
Why O women Disciples, do you mingle myrrh with your tears of pity?
Look upon the tomb and rejoice, for the Savior has risen from the dead.
Blessed are You, O Lord, teach me Your statutes.
Very early in the morning, the myrrh-bearers ran lamenting to your tomb.
But the angel stood by them and said: Do not weep, the time of lamenting has passed. Announce the Resurrection to the Apostles.
Blessed are You, O Lord, teach me Your statutes.
The myrrh-bearing women came with myrrh to your tomb, O Savior, and heard the angel say to them: Why do you think that the Living One is among the dead?
For as God He has risen from the dead.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit
We worship the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, the Holy Trinity One in Essence, and with the Seraphim we cry out: Holy, Holy, Holy are You O Lord.
Now and ever and unto ages and ages, Amen.
Since you gave birth to the Giver of life, O Virgin, you delivered Adam from sin, and you granted joy to Eve instead of sadness, for He Who took flesh from you, God and Man, restored to life him who had gone astray.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory be to You, O God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory be to You, O God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory be to You, O God.
A beautiful alternate version of the Evlogitaria of the Resurrection.
Lexiann Grant is a retired writer & author, a former chalicer and layreader, but still an Episcopalian who enjoys encountering God in the mountain backcountry.
“May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Ps 19:14 NIV
