Images of the grave in darkness are contrasted with the eternal light of Christ and underscored with the ancient Kiev chant, the Kontakion of the Departed, and the chimes and chant of the Orthodox monks in Ukraine.
Give rest, O Christ, to thy servant with thy saints:
where sorrow and pain are no more;
neither sighing but life everlasting.
Thou only art immortal, the creator and maker of man:
and we are mortal formed from the dust of the earth,
and unto earth shall we return:
for so thou didst ordain,
when thou created me saying:
“Dust thou art und unto dust shalt thou return.”
All we go down to the dust;
and weeping o’er the grave we make our song:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
I’ve listened to this about 5 times already. And sent it out to a whole list of people – most of whom have no interest in religion whatsoever. But this music is so transcendent, I could not but share it!
To me there is nothing as beautiful as fine Russian Orthodox chant.
Thank you so much.
Surely this is the most beautiful and devotional hymn for the dead. I first heard it when I was in the choir of Kingston on Thames and the then organist Fergus O’Connor took us into the great parish church to sing it for a friend who had died. It has remained deep in my heart ever since. Nothing however can replace Russian bases when it is sung