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Would anyone be kind enough to give me the English translation of the "Chant for the Entry of the Bishop"?

If it is not too much trouble, would it be possible to include an approximate English phonetic translation of the Slavonic also?

Either one would be appreciated. Thanks.

Do you mean...

"You have entered, noble Archpriest, the house of the Most High God..."

Ung-Certez

Double Eagle,

There are some copies of the english translation and musical settings in various parts of the country. I can send you a hard copy of the english and the transliterated (phonetic slavonic).

The Old church Slavonic is in the 1906 Bokshai "Prostopinije", the transliterated Slavonic is in the Sokol "plainchant" book. Both of which are available from Byzantine Seminary Press in Pittsburgh, PA. I found the english setting in the ordination booklet from Bishop William's ordination earlier this year.

my email is: solarac3@earthlink.net if you would like to have me mail them to you.

Steve

P.S. has anyone noticed the musical typo in the setting of both Bokshai and Sokol of the Pontifical entry? (page 56 of Sokol, page 190 in Bokshai). The key signature changes in mid phrase and sound VERY strange if you try to sing it as typeset. Sometimes even the reference sources need be double checked. :rolleyes:

Is this what you mean?

Voshel jesi Archiijereju vo cerkov Bozhiju Boha vyshn~aho

Zhertvu prinositi Hospodevi Bohu nashemu

Molitivsja i o svojich i o l'udskich nevizhestvijach

No potishchisja nyn~i posluzhiti Hospodevi.
Da uslyshit Hospod' molitvy tvoja.
I darujet cerkvi nashej na vrahi podidu.

Back when I was in college, and still directing the choir at my cradle parish, we had a visit by Bishop Stephen; I found this entrance hymn in the blue book and walked over to Penn State's Slavic language department for help in making a translation to use with a choral setting of the propostinije melody. This endeavor was not entirely successful. After the liturgy a friend (who still sings there) deftly suggested improvements.

Here was the text we used, that I still have handy, with a convolution of the 2nd and 3rd verses.

Entering is the Bishop into the church of God on high.

So that he may offer sacrifice
to the Lord our God.
And that he may pray for those among us,
And that he he may pray for the departed
to the Lord our God.

Let us now endeavor to serve the Lord.
That the Lord might hear this prayer.
And that He might grant to our church
Victory over all its adversaries.
That the Lord might hear this prayer.

There is no shortage of those on this forum who can give a better rendering. Too bad we didn't have this forum in the mid 70's!

Before the liturgy my grandfather came to me and asked if I knew the hymn, and began to sing it to me, po nashemu. That is a treasured memory.

djs

One translation is:

You have entered O Noble Archpriest,
the Church of the Most High God.
You entered in desiring
to offer sacrifice to the Lord
: For your own and for the peoples ignorance.
So now hasten to render service to the Lord.
Let Him hear the voice of your praise


Another translation:

You have entered O Noble Archpriest, (2x)
Noble Archpriest.
You have entered into the Church of the God Most High
: You will offer a precious sacrifice,
and lead your people as we pray,
to overcome our human frailities,
in service to the Lord this day, may He hear your praise.

[ 09-17-2002: Message edited by: Steve Petach ]

There is nothing wrong with doing that hymn in the original Greek, Ton Despotin. Even in the Russian Church Ton Despotin is often sung in Greek, not in the Slavonic translation.

One of the nicest settings of this hymn is Archpriest Mychajlo Lysytsyn's version he edited in Kyiv in the early 20th century.

It doesn't hurt to retain a Greek hymn or two to remind us of our Constantinopolitan heritage and patrimony, and what better place than the hierarchial Divine Liturgy.

Ton Despotin Kai Arkhiera imon. Kyrie, phylate. Eis Polla, Eti, Eis Pola, Eti, Eis Polla Eti, Despota.

Why are American "Ruthenian" Catholics even having this discussion? I haven't been to a Hierarchical Liturgy in probably 10 years or more where this was sung in one of our churches or anywhere else. (And outside the Uniontown pilgrimage, I've probably been present during at least one or two hierarchical liturgies a year, for the record.)

Fortunately, the much-reviled "Johnstown Diocese" has kept this custom and I was delighted to be present for it last month at Camp Nazareth. They're looking better and better to me every day. Alas, I won't abandon my Church so am stuck watching our inheritance be chipped away day by day.

I have heard this at numerous hierarchical liturgies here in Passaic. I will, however, be among the first to say it is wonderful in Church Slavonic (prostopinije or choral version) and not so great in English.

Lemko, this was sung in Greek or Slavonic at least for the three bishops I have served pontificals for in the Ukrainian Catholic Church (Greek for two of these bishops, and in Slavonic for the other).

I have a friend, sadly, who told me a story that one Ruthenian/Byzantine Catholic bishop who will remain unnamed actually stopped the singing of the episcopal entrance hymn once when my friend was assisting for a hierarchial Divine Liturgy.

[ 09-16-2002: Message edited by: Diak ]

Probably the same bishop who pushes your hands away when you present them for his blessing.

Oh, wait, that's all of them... How about another clue?

You just have to learn to grab his hand and hold on tight. I assure you that he is helpless to stop you from kissing it.

In Christ,

anastasios

I think the last time I heard it was at the 100th anniversary Liturgy of Holy Ghost Church in Philadelphia, in 1991. (And that may not even be the case, but I seem to recall the choir singing it.) Anyway, that was one of the most wonderful Liturgies I ever prayed in my lifetime. I definitely never heard it at any of Bishop Andrew's liturgies, either at the Cathedral in Passaic or anywhere else.

Kissing it isn't the problem. If he's not into blessings (the "correct" way), there's not much I can do about that. And if that's the case--kissing his hand? WHY BOTHER?

And if you were at Uniontown and saw the behavior of our people when greeting their hierarchs... you would think that shaking his hand is the Byzantine tradition. So scratch another venerable "old-fashioned", "outdated" custom off our list.

About 15 years ago I met then-Bishop (now Archbishop) Vsevolod of the then-Ukrainian Orthodox Church of America (Ecumenical Patriarchate). Not knowing how to properly greet a bishop, I took his hand and went to kiss it but never got that far--appearing that I was just shaking his hand. He scolded me for not asking his blessing nor reverencing him correctly! And you know what? I made it a point to find out and learn ASAP the correct way and have never forgotten. I was embarassed at the time, but I am thankful to him now.

[ 09-16-2002: Message edited by: Lemko Rusyn ]

With respect and someone please correct me if I am wrong, but I don't think that our hymn, "Voshel jesi Archiijereju " is equivalent to the Greek expanded version of "Eis polla eti despota." It would seem that they may be based on the same idea, but our unique hymn goes much further in its beautiful imagery, and there is no "many years, Master" at the end of it (eis polla eti despota). I am not a Greek scholar, so won't attempt to translate what many Orthodox use, as given by Diak, but I believe that it merely speaks of the various titles of the bishop (three of them) and then asks for many years for him. It is used only at a certain portion of various Orthodox pontificals.

Our hymn is based on the scriptures (I don't have the exact reference presently, but the image of the high priest in Hebrews is one) and applies an interpretation of this in beautiful imagery, to what is about to take place in the church, during the celebration of the hierarchical liturgy - The bishop is in the midst of his people, to offer sacrifice to our God, praying for forgiveness of his and their transgressions, asking that the Lord be merciful and hear the prayer which he offers on everyone's behalf.

A beautiful and appropriate image to be sure, and once again, an example of the unique genius of our people in creating meaningful and practical liturgy based on scriptural and historical precedence. And yes, it sounds beautiful in Slavonic. Long live the Ruthenian recension.

Fr. Joe

Vic~naja pamjat'.

Father Joe,
"We're in America now." :rolleyes:

But you knew that...

I actually agree with you 100%, but I'm convinced that it's too late for us. It's lost. Any attempt to recreate it now would be artificial and most of the people we have left would have no idea what kind of church they walked into. I know a lot of people in our Church, and I think I could come up with about a dozen people who would enthusiastically want a real "Ruthenian Recension" Church. Perhaps 3 of them are priests, and most of the others are cantors. The rest have other preferences (and THAT's what I would call "deviant affections"), other priorities. God bless them, but that's not my Church. My Church lives here in my memories and those who've gone before me, and across the pond. It's not present here in the USA anymore.