Easter Sunday Soundtrack #4: “Spiegel Im Spiegel”
by Trent Gilliss, senior editor
The fourth track in our Orthodox Easter Sunday soundtrack is “Spiegel Im Spiegel” — a piece by Estonian composer Arvo Pärt in 1978 that was originally written for a single piano and violin.
This track comes to you from the On Being playlist for “Restoring the Senses: Gardening and Orthodox Easter” with Vigen Guroian. It’s exquisite.
Easter Sunday Soundtrack #3: Rachmaninov’s “Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom: Bless the Lord, O My Soul”
by Trent Gilliss, senior editor
The On Being playlist for “Restoring the Senses: Gardening and an Orthodox Easter” has been on the repeat loop for most of this week. It’s exquisite, so I’m releasing each track over the next several hours (two are already up!) here on Tumblr. Reblog if you like, and share with your readers/listeners today.
Here’s the third song in our Easter Sunday soundtrack, Rachmaninov’s “Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, Op. 31: Bless the Lord, O My Soul” by The Choir of the Moscow Church.
The Many Languages of Pascha (Orthodox Easter)
This anecdote from isopod can’t help but make you smile:
Pascha (Orthodox Easter) is the only holiday where I feel like I have to brush up on my language skills before the liturgy.
During the liturgy, the priest shouts “Christ is risen!” and everyone responds ”Indeed He is Risen!” in many, many languages. It’s also how people greet each other after the liturgy. I can remember the Russian “Khristos Voskrese!” but never remember that the response is “Voistinu Voskrese!” Greek is easier: “Christos Anesti! Aleithos Anesti!” (though, to be honest, this is probably more memorable to me because of too many viewings of My Big Fat Greek Wedding.) And because my priest’s sons love it, I still remember the Swahili, though I’m unsure of the spelling: “Kristu amefufuka! Kweli amefufuka!”
And beyond that, I’ll respond in English “Indeed He is risen!” with a smile and a shrug.
~reblogged by Trent Gilliss, senior editor
Trying on a New Catholic Liturgy After 40 Years
by Susan Leem, associate producer
A parishioner’s view of a Catholic Mass from the rear pew. (photo: Catholic Church (England and Wales)/Flickr, cc by-nc-sa 2.0)
For many Roman Catholics, the liturgy of each Sunday’s Mass is immutable. Last week, on the first Sunday of Advent, that idea was put to the test when the highly scripted and well-memorized ritual underwent some significant changes. The last modification to the Roman missal was made nearly four decades ago during the Second Vatican Council, one being that Mass was translated into the vernacular English from the Latin.
The greeting “The Lord be with you” is now acknowledged with “And with your spirit” rather than “And also with you.” The Vatican argues that it more accurately reflects the Latin text of the Mass (“et cum spiritu tuo”) and better acknowledges one’s humanity. Some new non-colloquial vocabulary that students may soon see on the SAT makes its way into the Nicene Creed: “consubstantial with the Father” replaces “one Being with the Father.” Another change is uttered before the sacrament of communion. It comes directly from the Gospel of Matthew, and places God in one’s home. “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof” replaces “Lord I am not worthy to receive you.”
For many, the most recent transition attempts a closer and more faithful English translation of the Latin. Some tongues were tied, but most received the changes without much fanfare. Church officials say it will help Catholics come to a deeper appreciation of the Eucharist and the role of Mass for their faith. For all you Roman Catholics who are celebrating Mass on this second Sunday of Advent, we’d like to hear about your experience.
How did your family or parish prepare for the change in Mass before Sunday? In what ways do the updates to the liturgy enhance or detract from your experience of the ritual of Mass? Is this new translation more authentic or meaningful to you? Or do you long for the familiar?
