It's Spring time and Easter time for orthodox Christians and although I'm not a church-going person I get emotional when I listen to some of the superb Byzantine Easter Lamentations.
I thought long and hard before choosing this video. It is a simple mens choir singing a capella -no musical instrument is allowed in Greek Orthodox church,only human voices. Half the choir "keeps the main note steady" the other half "answers" to what the main phsalm singer says , so much like the chorus in ancient Greek dramas.
What blew me away in this interpretation is the fact that the members of the choir are Arab Orthodox Christians, lamenting and praising Jesus both in Greek and Arabic.
I couldn't find specific data of where they are, but most propably they are Syrian or Lebanese Christians.
Enjoy :)
In a grave they laid Thee,
yet, O Christ Thou art Life,
and the armies of the angels beheld amazed,
giving glory that Thou chose to condescend.
How, O Life, dost Thou die?
How dost Thou dwell entombed,
Who hast slashed through all the bonds in the
realm of death,
and hast raised the dead in Hades from their graves
In a grave they laid Thee,
yet, O Christ, Thou art Life.
By Thy death hast Thou abolished the realm of
death,
and upon the world hast poured down streams
of Life
Fairer in His beauty
than all creatures on earth,
He is seen now lying lifeless, his beauty gone,
yet all beauty in creation springs from Him.
Composed by the Byzantine hymnographer Romanos the Melodist 6th century AD.
