Jesus = Religion

So there's a video circling the web right now called "Jesus > Religion".  There's a lot of good in that video but there's a TON of hypocrisy, one major false dichotomy, and an even more irony given in the video.  Here below is the original video:



The hypocrisy of the video

Eastern Edition: More music from Antiquity

 The Trisagion Hymn

The Trisagion Hymn (or Thrice Holy) is one of the most ancient prayers that is sung by the church.  It's origin may date to the Apostolic era of the Church.  The prayer in its full form is simply and is meant to be repeated. 

"Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One have mercy on us.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit both now and forever and unto the ages of ages.  Amen."


This prayer is pretty typical of the ancient prayers.  It's not a laundry list of desires and "needs" asking God to "just_________".  It's a simply prayer asking the God of the Universe to remember us and our small place in creation.  It as simple as the Lord's prayer...protect us, and may our work feed us in your mercy.  Done!  I love it.

Many Churches of the Eastern tradition (Orthodox, Coptic, Syaric, etc., etc) include this prayer in their liturgies, and are either chanted or sung every Sunday.  In the west it largely only exist as an alternative to the Kyrie in the Anglican Book of Common Prayer.  However the first time I heard this song was on Fernando Ortega's new Album Come Down O' Love Divine.  Much of that album is inspired by the Anglican Liturgy and I think its a must listen to those who think liturgy is dry and boring.

Here's Fernando Ortega's rendition of the Trisagion Hymn.



The first time I heard this song I noticed the haunting feeling of it.  It seemed somber and maybe a bit depressed and I felt it would be an appropriate funeral hymn.  So when it came time to construct the 10 year anniversary service for 9/11, Marna and I choose to feature this song prominently in the service.  I have to admit, this song captured the mood of the service.  In light of all that we lost, we sung a prayer for our God to restore us and heal us.  I get chills still thinking about that song in that special context.

But since this post is titled Music from Antiquity, I would love share with you the musical journey of that prayer through the Church.

Here is a choral arrangement sung in English with a Russian flair.



Here's another choral arrangement that was sung in the back of a sanctuary during an Orthodox service



Here is another English version of the hymn sung by the congregation in an Orthodox Church during a worship service.

http://youtu.be/3zSe1Q-3UVI

Here's the hymn chanted in English.  On this one you definitely get a Byzantine flavor of the Eastern Orthodox Church.



Here's a Coptic (Egyptian) Church, singing in English but in the Egyptian way.



Here is Agios O Theos, the Greek version of this prayer.  Tell me you don't seen sand dunes and camals in your mind when you here this song.