Tonight the Orthodox Church chants the second evening of the Bridegroom services. Among the chants (actually the doxastikon of the Matins Apostikha of Great and Holy Wednesday sung by anticipation) is one of the most famous and moving of all Orthodox hymns, the Hymn of Kassiani, written in the 9th century by +Kassiani a brilliant and beautiful woman who stood in the forefront of Christians standing against the iconoclast Emperor of the time, Theophilus, who was, interestingly enough, very much in love with her. She wrote at least 23 hymns and is Orthodoxy’s only female hymnographer. Here are the words in English:
“The woman who had fallen into many sins, perceiving Your divinity, O Lord,
Received the dignity of a myrrh-bearer,
For with lamentation she brought fragrant myrrh to You before Your burial.
And she cried: Woe is me, for love of sin and stings of lustful passion envelop me as the night, dark and moonless.
As You cause the clouds to drop down the waters of the sea, accept the fountain of my tears.
As by Your indescribable condescension You bowed down the heavens, so incline to the groaning of my heart.
I shall kiss Your most pure feet and wipe them with the hair of my head,
Those same feet whose sound Eve heard at dusk in Paradise when she hid herself in fear.
Who can count the multitude of my sins? Who can measure the depths of Your judgements, O Saviour of my soul?
Do not turn away from me, Your servant, for You have immeasurable mercy.”
Here is a link to the chant in Greek, parts 1 & 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQBY95YVruk&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Mh3jqAbqXc&feature=related
Mostly, everyone is in tears by the end of this chant.