The Angel Cried
A hymn sung in the weeks after Easter, imagining how Gabriel brought the news of Christ’s resurrection to Mary.
A hymn sung in the weeks after Easter, imagining how Gabriel brought the news of Christ’s resurrection to Mary.
The Virgin Mary was among the women who came to Christ’s tomb expecting to care for his dead body, only to find the grave empty and an angel waiting for them. This hymn, sung in the weeks after Easter, imagines how the angel told the news of Christ’s resurrection to his mother.
Based on a translation from the Russian
The angel cried aloud to her
With clear and heav’nly voice:
Rejoice, O Virgin, full of grace
Again I say, Rejoice!
Thy Son, who in the silent grave
Hath these three days been laid,
Is risen now — Rejoice, ye lands!
For with him rise the dead.
Shine! Shine, Jerusalem above!
Christ’s morning gilds thy skies;
O Sion shout! God’s mother, sing;
Rejoice to see him rise.*
Based on a translation from the Russian
* The verses above are based on the following translation,
by Isobel Hapgood:
The Angel cried unto her who is full of grace:
Hail, O Pure Virgin! And again, I say: Hail!
Thy Son is risen from his three days’ sojourn in the grave,
and hath raised up the dead:
Rejoice, - O ye people!
Shine, shine, O new Jerusalem,
for the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee!
Shout now and be glad, O Zion!
And do thou, O Pure One, Birth-giver of God,
rejoice in the rising-again of him whom thou didst bear.
A setting of The Angel Cried by Mily Balakirev (1837-1910), performed by the Valaam Singing Culture Institute Men’s Choir, conducted by Igor Ushakov.
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