Rejoice Thou Bride Unwedded!

[ozgeorge]

Rejoice Ladder by which God came down to Earth!
Rejoice Bridge between Earth and Heaven!
Rejoice fellow Spinner of thread!
Rejoice thou Bride Unwedded!

[soufliotiki]

O virgin pure, immaculate: O lady Theotokos
O rejoice, bride unwedded

O virgin mother, queen of all and dewy fleece refreshing
O rejoice, bride unwedded

More radiant than the rays of sun and higher than the heavens
O rejoice, bride unwedded

O joy of virgins choruses superior to the angels
O rejoice, bride unwedded

More brilliant than the heavens: much purer than the sun’s light
O rejoice, bride unwedded

More holy than the multitude of all the heavenly armies
O rejoice, bride unwedded



O ever-virgin Mary, of all the world, the lady
O rejoice, bride unwedded

O bride all-pure, immaculate: O lady Panagia
O rejoice, bride unwedded

O Mary bride and queen of all, our cause of jubilation
O rejoice, bride unwedded

O Maiden modest queen of all: O our most holy mother
O rejoice, bride unwedded

More honorable than Cherubim: the one who is most glorious
O rejoice, bride unwedded

Superior to angelic thrones and bodiless Seraphim
O rejoice, bride unwedded



Rejoice, O song of Cherubim: Rejoice O hymn of angels
O rejoice, bride unwedded

Rejoice, O ode of Seraphim: the joy of archangels
O rejoice, bride unwedded

Rejoice, O peace and happiness and harbor of salvation
O rejoice, bride unwedded

O sacred chamber of the Word: O bud of incorruption
O rejoice, bride unwedded

Rejoice delightful paradise of blessed life eternal
O rejoice, bride unwedded

Rejoice, O wood and tree of life: O font of immortality
O rejoice, bride unwedded



I supplicate you, lady: I now appeal to you
O rejoice, bride unwedded

And beseech you, queen of all: I ask of you your grace
O rejoice, bride unwedded

O modest maiden spotless: O lady Panagia
O rejoice, bride unwedded

I call upon you fervently: O blessed, hallowed temple
O rejoice, bride unwedded

Assist me and deliver me protect me from the enemy
O rejoice, bride unwedded

And make me an inheritor of blessed life eternal
O rejoice, bride unwedded

[soufliotiki]

The Annunciation scene has been described in all its details in the Holy Scriptures, Luke 1: 26-38.

God in his infinite mercy submits himself to the free decision of a pure immaculate young woman to realize his plan for saving the human race.
And with her 'Yes' Mary makes all of that possible.

The Annunciation of the Angel Gabriel to Mary Icon:

The Angel Gabriel is joyfully announcing (hence, the "annunciation") the Good News to the Virgin Mary.  He is almost dancing!  She is already pictured enthroned in the icon.  The fabric swag above indicates that this took place indoors. The spear coming out of the heavens indicates that God was fully active in this event, with the focal point of the action being Mary.  Notice that they both face outward. The Good News being announced to Mary is not only for her, but for all humankind. They are facing us, because this Holy Event is for the benefit of all of US! Everything going on the icon is for the salvation of the viewer. Mary is imaged in the icons as a queen, chosen by God to be the  mother of His Son. The skein of wool Mary holds represents the knitting of Christ in her womb. She gave her very being to be a vessel of God through the power of the Holy Spirit. Within Mary’s being, the divine and the human are woven together in the incarnate God for the salvation of the world

Mary's 'Yes' is chanted in the Akathist Hymn, referred to by some as the most beautiful song of praise in honor of the Theotokos of all times. Here are the first of 24 strophes:


« An Archangel was sent from heaven to greet the Mother of God, and as he saw you assuming a body at the sound of his bodiless voice, O Lord, he stood rapt in amazement and cried out to her in these words:

Hail, O you, through whom Joy will shine forth! Hail, O you, through whom the curse will disappear!
Hail, O Restoration of the Fallen Adam! Hail, O Redemption of the Tears of Eve!
Hail, O Peak above the reach of human thought! Hail, O Depth even beyond the sight of angels!
Hail, O you who have become a Kingly Throne! Hail, O you who carry Him Who Carries All!
Hail, O Star who manifest the Sun! Hail, O Womb of the Divine Incarnation!
Hail, O you through whom creation is renewed! Hail, O you through whom the Creator becomes a Babe!
Hail, O Bride and Maiden ever-pure!»

[GregoryLA]

I love the Arabic version of the Agne Parthene...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZ946I5YSwg

But the Slavonic version by the monks of Valaam is great too!!...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6EurgsdeF8

[LBK]

Another superb Slavonic version, sung by a young women's choir:

http://dl.biblion.realin.ru/audio/10_Vospojte_i_radujtesya._Pesnopeniya_Vizantijskoj_traditsii/23_Vladychitse_Prechistaya_gl.5.mp3

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