Author Archives: edithmhumphrey

Daniel 12, Proverbs 31, Psalm 44 (45), Psalm 131 (132), Isaiah 7 In the past few weeks, we have been blessed to remember numerous saints, and two of my favorites— one ancient, and one contemporary.  During our celebration of both St. Ambrose (last week) and St. Herman of Alaska (this week), we sang the resurrectional-dismissalContinue reading “The Treasure of our Resurrection: The Dismissal-Resurrectional Theotokion in Tone 7”

Isaiah 7; Daniel 12 For a few weeks, due to the liturgical rhythm, we have either repeated a dismissal-resurrectional Theotokion that we already considered in this series, or we have had this usual hymn replaced with something else. Considering the significance of this week, when we celebrate the entry of the Holy God-bearer into theContinue reading “Somthing to Sing About! The Dogmatikon Theotokion in Tone Six”

Genesis 1-3, 1 Chronicles 16:8-36, Genesis 22:18 This week, we have had several feastdays, including October 31st, a day to remember the Hieromartyr John of Chicago.  His hymn, in tone one, leads to the dismissal-resurrectional Theotokion in tone one, as well. What a mysterious, provocative and joyful hymn this is!  It brings to life thatContinue reading “Carrying Your Creator: The Dismissal-Resurrectional Theotokion in Tone One”

Genesis 1-2; Hosea 8-13, Daniel 13, Colossians 1:15-20 For the next two weeks, we repeat, for dismissal, the beloved resurrectional Theotokion in tone four.  Since we have already looked closely at this hymn, we will look back to another of this series of hymns that concern Mary.  I am referring to the one that weContinue reading “Jesus in First Place: The Dismissal-Resurrectional Theotokion in Tone 8”

That which was hidden from eternity, Even to the angels, a mystery unknown, Through you, Theotokos, is revealed to those on earth: God incarnate by union without confusion. Who even voluntarily accepted the Cross for us, By which, resurrecting the first-created, He saved our souls from death. I wonder whether we Christians realize how privilegedContinue reading “Even to the Angels Unknown! The Resurrectional-Dismissal Theotokion in Tone Four”

The Psalter, Ezekiel 33-35, Isaiah 6 We have had several weeks of worship in which other hymns have pre-empted the usual resurrectional-dismissal hymns to the Theotokos.  This week in our worship, we repeat the “Theotokion” in tone three, which I considered in this blog several weeks ago! I have decided, then, to delve into anotherContinue reading “Gate, Temple, Palace, and Throne: Theotokion after the Aposticha, Tone Five”

Psalm 44 (Hebrew text 45), Song of Solomon, and other OT passages The dismissal Theotokion in the second tone, sung during the liturgy for the Forerunner John the Baptist this week, is both exalted and intimate.  It is sung both as a paean of praise to our Lady, and a song of great love toContinue reading “All Beyond Thought! The Dismissal-Resurrectional Theotokion in Tone 2”

(With help from Jeremiah 31, Genesis 3, Isaiah 6) The dismissal hymn for the Theotokos this week (in tone three), though quite brief, prompts many questions for those who are not Orthodox.  It also suggests some points for deep meditation even for those who have been following in the Orthodox way since birth, or forContinue reading “Mediatrix of our Salvation: The Dismissal Theotokion in the Third Tone”

Ezekiel 7,  Jeremiah 7, Psalm 125 (MT 126) A demolition is not usually an occasion for joy.  The summer before I turned eleven, I stared forlornly out the kitchen window with my mom onto what had been my haven since moving into our new house: an abandoned and perfectly wonderful apple orchard.  That past yearContinue reading “The Demolition of Death: the Resurrectional Hymns in the Seventh Tone”