Category: Liturgies

Season of the Glorious Birth of Our Lord: The Visitation of the Virgin Mary to Elizabeth – (Maronite Divine Liturgy)

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Maronite Seminarian
Alejandro Landin
Translator

Syriac Melody: ܪܰܡܪܶܡܰܝܢܝ
The One whom the Seraphim carry and cannot look upon His face dwelt in the womb of the blessed one (that is to say, the Blessed Virgin Mary) and arrived at the house of His servants (that is to say, Zechariah and Elizabeth).ܗܰܘ ܕܰܣܪ̈ܳܦܶܐ ܛܥܺܝܢܺܝܢ ܠܶܗ ܆ ܘܠܳܐ ܡܨܶܝܢ ܚܳܙܶܝܢ ܦܰܪܨܘܽܦܶܗ ܆ ܫܪܳܐ ܒܥܘܽܒܳܗ̇ ܕܰܡܒܰܪܰܟܬܳܐ ܆ ܘܰܠܒܶܝܬ ܥܰܒ̈ܕܰܘܗ̱ܝ ܐܶܬܡܰܢܰܥ ܀
The Lord, sitting upon the Cherubim, dwelt in the womb of the blessed one, arrived at the house of His servants, and baptized in the womb the son of the barren ones (that is to say, John, the son of Zechariah and Mary).ܝܳܬܶܒ ܥܰܠ ܟܪ̈ܘܽܒ̈ܶܐ ܡܳܪܝܳܐ ܆ ܫܪܳܐ ܒܥܘܽܒܳܗ̇ ܕܰܡܒܰܪܰܟܬܳܐ ܆ ܘܰܠܒܶܝܬ ܥܰܒ̈ܕܰܘܗ̱ܝ ܐܶܬܡܰܢܰܥ ܆ ܘܰܐܥܡܕܶܗ ܒܟܰܪܣܳܐ ܠܒܰܪ ܥܰܩܪ̈ܶܐ ܀
Blessed are you, Mary, and blessed is the Fruit that is in your womb Who did not withhold His mercy from His servants but visited them because of His love. ܡܒܰܪܰܟܬܳܐ ܐܺܝܬܰܝܟܝ ܡܰܪܝܰܡ ܆ ܘܰܒܪܺܝܟ ܦܺܝܪܳܐ ܕܰܒܟܰܪܣܶܟܝ ܆ ܕܠܳܐ ܟܠܳܐ ܚܢܳܢܶܗ ܡܶܢ ܥܰܒ̈ܕܰܘܗ̱ܝ ܆ ܐܶܠܳܐ ܒܚܘܽܒܶܗ ܣܥܰܪ ܐܶܢܘܽܢ ܀

Season of the Glorious Birth of our Lord: The Announcement to Mary – (Maronite Divine Liturgy)

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Syriac Melody: ܪܰܡܪܶܡܰܝܢܝ
On the day of Your announcement, only-Begotten Word of God, the Church is glad and joyful, and her children sing glory. ܒܗܳܢܳܐ ܝܰܘܡܳܐ ܕܣܘܒܳܪܳܟ ܆ ܝܺܚܺܝܕܳܐ ܡܶܠܬܶܗ ܕܰܐܒܳܐ ܆ ܚܳܕܝܳܐ ܥܺܕܬܳܐ ܘܰܦܨܺܝܚܳܐ ܆ ܘܝ̈ܰܠܕܶܝܗ̇ ܙܳܡܪܺܝܢ ܬܶܫܒܘܽܚܬܳܐ ܀
Today, the messenger was sent from the house of the Father; he descended and announced to the Virgin: “The Savior shall appear from you.”ܝܰܘܡܳܢܳܐ ܐܶܫܬܰܕܰܪ ܗ̱ܘܳܐ ܆ ܐܺܝܙܓܰܕܳܐ ܡܶܢ ܒܶܝܬ ܐܰܒܳܐ ܆ ܘܰܢܚܶܬ ܣܰܒܪܳܗ̇ ܠܰܒܬܘܽܠܬܳܐ ܆ ܕܡܶܢܶܟܝ ܕܳܢܰܚ ܦܳܪܘܽܩܳܐ ܀
The Virgin says to the watcher: “Behold! I am the handmaid of your Lord. May it be done to me according to what you said, and I praise him for His goodness” (see Lk 1:26-38).ܐܳܡܪܳܐ ܠܶܗ ܒܬܘܽܠܬܳܐ ܠܥܺܝܪܳܐ ܆ ܕܗܳܐ ܐܶܢܳܐ ܐܰܡܬܶܗ ܕܡܳܪܳܟ ܆ ܢܶܗܘܶܐ ܠܺܝ ܐܰܟܡܳܐ ܕܶܐܡܰܪܬ ܆ ܘܰܐܘܕܶܐ ܠܶܗ ܥܰܠ ܛܰܝܒܘܽܬܶܗ ܀

Season of Glorious Pentecost: Saturday – (Maronite Divine Liturgy)

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Saturday ASyriac Melody: ܪܰܡܪܶܡܰܝܢܝ
From my youth until now, my eyes have been waiting for your salvation. Now, since I slept in your hope, give me rest among your holy ones.ܡܶܢ ܛܰܠܝܘܽܬܝ ܥܕܰܡܳܐ ܠܗܳܫܳܐ ܆ ܠܦܘܽܪܩܳܢܳܟ ܣܰܟܺܝ̈ܝ ܥܰܝ̈ܢܰܝ ܆ ܘܗܳܫܳܐ ܕܫܶܟܒܶܬ ܥܰܠ ܣܰܒܪܳܟ ܆ ܐܰܢܺܝܚ ܢܰܦܫܝ ܥܰܡ ܩܰܕܺܝ̈ܫܶܐ ܀
Let your cross shine on me in Sheol because the shadows of death surround me. Save me from torment, and make me worthy to enter your bridal-chamber [that is, the heavenly resting-place].ܨܠܺܝܒܳܟ ܢܰܢܗܰܪ ܠܺܝ ܒܰܫܝܘܽܠ ܆ ܕܚܰܕܪܘܽܢܝ ܛܶܠܳܠ̈ܰܝ ܡܰܘܬܳܐ ܆ ܘܰܦܪܘܽܩܰܝܢܝ ܡܶܢ ܬܰܫܢܺܝܩܳܐ ܆ ܘܰܐܫܘܳܢܝ ܕܶܐܥܘܽܠ ܠܰܓܢܘܽܢܳܟ ܀
Lord, in your compassion, give rest to your servants who slept in your hope and raise them on your right [-side] among the just and righteous.ܐܰܢܺܝܚ ܡܳܪܝܳܐ ܒܛܰܝܒܘܽܬܳܟ ܆ ܠܥܰܒ̈ܕܰܝܟ ܕܰܫܟܶܒܘ ܥܰܠ ܣܰܒܪܳܟ ܆ ܘܰܐܩܺܝܡ ܠܗܘܽܢ ܡܶܢ ܝܰܡܺܝܢܳܟ ܆ ܥܰܡ ܟܺܐܢ̈ܶܐ ܘܥܰܡ ܙܰܕܺܝ̈ܩܶܐ ܀
Saturday B
Translator: Alejandro Landin		Syriac Melody: ܪܰܡܪܶܡܰܝܢܝ
In your mercy, Lord, keep far the blaze of fire and flame from the departed who believed in you, and slept and rested in your hope.ܗܰܘܦܳܐ ܕܢܘܽܪܳܐ ܘܢܰܒܪܶܫܬܳܐ ܆ ܛܰܠܶܩ ܡܳܪܰܢ ܒܰܚܢܳܢܳܟ ܆ ܡܶܢ ܥܰܢܺܝ̈ܕܶܐ ܕܗܰܝܡܶܢܘ ܒܳܟ ܆ ܘܰܫܟܶܒܘ ܘܶܐܬܬܢܺܝܚܘ ܥܰܠ ܣܰܒܪܳܟ ܀
May your cross be a bridge and passage to the harbor of life for the souls and bodies who clothed themselves with you from the waters of baptism.ܘܰܨܠܺܝܒܳܟ ܠܡܺܐܢܳܐ ܕܚܰܝ̈ܶܐ ܆ ܢܶܗܘܶܐ ܓܺܝܫܪܳܐ ܘܡܰܥܒܰܪܬܳܐ ܆ ܠܢܰܦ̈ܫܳܬܳܐ ܘܦܰܓܪ̈ܶܐ ܕܠܰܒܫܘܽܟ ܆ ܡܶܢ ܡܰܝ̈ܳܐ ܕܡܰܥܡܘܽܕܺܝܬܳܐ ܀
God, you accepted in your mercies the offering of the just of old; accept in your mercies our offering, and be pleased with our prayers.ܐܰܠܳܗܳܐ ܕܩܰܒܶܠ ܒܪ̈ܰܚܡܰܘܗ̱ܝ ܆ ܩܘܽܪܒܳܢܳܐ ܕܟܺܐܢ̈ܶܐ ܩܰܕܡ̈ܶܐ ܆ ܩܰܒܶܠ ܒܪ̈ܰܚܡܰܝܟ ܩܘܽܪܒܳܢܰܢ ܆ ܘܶܐܬܪܰܥܳܐ ܒܰܨܠܰܘ̈ܳܬܰܢ ܀

Season of Glorious Pentecost: Sunday – (Maronite Divine Liturgy)

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Syriac Melody: ܪܰܡܪܶܡܰܝܢܝ
Come in peace, glorious feast, Sunday the great day, in whom angels and men rejoice and delight.ܬܳܐ ܒܰܫܠܳܡ ܥܺܐܕܳܐ ܫܒܺܝܚܳܐ ܆ ܝܰܘܡܶܗ ܪܰܒܳܐ ܕܚܰܕ ܒܫܰܒܳܐ ܆ ܕܚܳܕܶܝܢ ܒܳܟ ܘܰܦܨܺܝܚܺܝܢ ܒܳܟ ܆ ܡܰܠܰܐܟ̈ܶܐ ܘܰܒ̈ܢܰܝ ܐ̱ܢܳܫܳܐ ܀
From mountaintops may angels and men proclaim Sunday the great day, and may they glorify the Lord.ܡܶܢ ܪ̈ܺܝܫܰܝ ܛܘܽܪ̈ܶܐ ܢܶܩܥܘܽܢ ܆ ܠܝܰܘܡܶܗ ܪܰܒܳܐ ܕܚܰܕ ܒܫܰܒܳܐ ܆ ܘܢܶܬܠܘܽܢ ܬܶܫܒܘܽܚܬܳܐ ܠܡܳܪܝܳܐ ܆ ܡܰܠܰܐܟ̈ܶܐ ܘܰܒ̈ܢܰܝ ܐ̱ܢܳܫܳܐ ܀
Blessed is He who exalted Sunday the great day above all days with psalms and alleluias, and priests proclaiming the Good News.ܒܪܺܝܟ ܕܰܐܘܪܶܒ ܡܶܢ ܟܽܠ ܝܰܘܡܺܝ̈ܢ ܆ ܠܝܰܘܡܶܗ ܪܰܒܳܐ ܕܚܰܕ ܒܫܰܒܳܐ ܆ ܒܙܘܽܡܳܪ̈ܶܐ ܘܰܒܗ̈ܘܽܠܳܠܶܐ ܆ ܘܟܳܗ̈ܢܶܐ ܕܩܳܪܶܝܢ ܠܰܣܒܰܪܬܳܐ ܀

Season of Glorious Pentecost: Wednesday – (Maronite Divine Liturgy)

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Syriac Melody: ܪܰܡܪܶܡܰܝܢܝ
Holy Virgin Mother (literally, blessed mother), you are blessed, and you are glorious in your virginity because the glorious Fruit that is from the Father appeared from you in purity. ܛܘܽܒܰܝܟܝ ܐܶܡܳܐ ܡܒܰܪܰܟܬܳܐ ܆ ܘܰܫܒܺܝܚܰܬܝ ܒܰܒܬܘܽܠܘܽܬܶܟܝ ܆ ܕܰܕܢܰܚ ܡܶܢܶܟܝ ܕܰܟܝܳܐܝܺܬ ܆ ܦܺܐܪܳܐ ܫܒܺܝܚܳܐ ܕܡܶܢ ܐܰܒܳܐ ܀
It is befitting to commemorate Mary, the holy Virgin; she held and carried in her lap (literally, on her knees) the one who holds all creation.ܝܳܐܶܐ ܕܢܶܗܘܶܐ ܕܘܽܟܪܳܢܳܐ ܆ ܠܡܰܪܝܰܡ ܒܬܘܽܠܬܳܐ ܩܰܕܺܝܫܬܳܐ ܆ ܠܗܰܘ ܕܰܛܥܺܝܢ ܟܽܠ ܒܶܪ̈ܝܳܬܳܐ ܆ ܥܰܠ ܒܘܽܪ̈ܟܶܝܗ̇ ܛܶܥܢܰܬ ܙܰܝܚܰܬ ܀
God, you accepted in your mercies the offering of the just of old; accept in your mercies our offering, and be pleased with our prayers.ܐܰܠܳܗܳܐ ܕܩܰܒܶܠ ܒܪ̈ܰܚܡܰܘܗ̱ܝ ܆ ܩܘܽܪܒܳܢܳܐ ܕܟܺܐܢ̈ܶܐ ܩܰܕܡ̈ܶܐ ܆ ܩܰܒܶܠ ܒܪ̈ܰܚܡܰܝܟ ܩܘܽܪܒܳܢܰܢ ܆ ܘܶܐܬܪܰܥܳܐ ܒܰܨܠܰܘ̈ܳܬܰܢ ܀

Season of Glorious Pentecost: Tuesday – (Maronite Divine Liturgy)

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Syriac Melody: ܪܰܡܪܶܡܰܝܢܝ
On the day of commemorating the confessors, the Church rejoices and is glad, and splendid crowds of her loved ones are singing praise to God.ܒܝܘܽܡ ܕܘܽܟܪܳܢܳܐ ܕܡܰܘܕܝ̈ܳܢܶܐ ܆ ܚܳܕܝܳܐ ܥܺܕܬܳܐ ܘܰܦܨܺܝܚܳܐ ܆ ܘܟܶܢ̈ܫܶܐ ܙܗܰܝ̈ܳܐ ܕܚܰܒܺܝ̈ܒܶܝܗ̇ ܆ ܙܳܡܪܺܝܢ ܫܘܽܒܚܳܐ ܠܰܐܠܳܗܳܐ ܀
Neither a king rejoices over his crown nor a judge over his authority as the betrothed Church rejoices over the commemoration of the saints.ܠܳܐ ܚܳܕܶܐ ܡܰܠܟܳܐ ܒܬܳܓܶܗ ܆ ܘܠܳܐ ܕܰܝܳܢܳܐ ܒܫܘܽܠܛܳܢܶܗ ܆ ܐܰܝܟ ܕܚܳܕܝܳܐ ܥܺܕܬܳܐ ܡܟܺܝܪܬܳܐ ܆ ܒܕܘܽܟܪ̈ܳܢܰܝܗܘܽܢ ܕܩܰܕܺܝ̈ܫܶܐ ܀
God, you accepted in your mercies the offering of the just of old; accept in your mercies our offering, and be pleased with our prayers.ܐܰܠܳܗܳܐ ܕܩܰܒܶܠ ܒܪ̈ܰܚܡܰܘܗ̱ܝ ܆ ܩܘܽܪܒܳܢܳܐ ܕܟܺܐܢ̈ܶܐ ܩܰܕܡ̈ܶܐ ܆ ܩܰܒܶܠ ܒܪ̈ܰܚܡܰܝܟ ܩܘܽܪܒܳܢܰܢ ܆ ܘܶܐܬܪܰܥܳܐ ܒܰܨܠܰܘ̈ܳܬܰܢ ܀

Season of Glorious Pentecost: Thursday – (Maronite Divine Liturgy)

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Thursday ASyriac Melody: ܪܰܡܪܶܡܰܝܢܝ
May the Apostles, who preached Your Good News and were slain for your sake, supplicate your mercy with us that Your Grace might be pleased with us.ܫܠܺܝ̈ܚܶܐ ܕܰܐܟܪܶܙܘ ܠܰܣܒܰܪܬܳܟ ܆ ܘܶܐܬܩܰܛܰܠܘ ܡܶܛܽܠܳܬܳܟ ܆ ܢܦܺܝܣܘܽܢ ܥܰܡܰܢ ܠܰܚܢܳܢܳܟ ܆ ܘܬܶܬܪܰܥܶܐ ܠܰܢ ܛܰܝܒܘܽܬܳܟ ܀
May the Apostles, who preached Your Good News, shout from mountaintops, giving glory to God that Your Grace might be please with us.ܡܶܢ ܪ̈ܺܝܫܰܝ ܛܘܽܪ̈ܶܐ ܢܶܩܥܘܽܢ ܆ ܫܠܺܝ̈ܚܶܐ ܕܰܐܟܪܶܙܘ ܠܰܣܒܰܪܬܳܟ ܆ ܘܢܶܬܠܘܽܢ ܬܶܫܒܘܽܚܬܳܐ ܠܡܳܪܝܳܐ ܆ ܘܬܶܬܪܰܥܶܐ ܠܰܢ ܛܰܝܒܘܽܬܳܟ ܀
The faithful Simon was set on the rock of faith, and the foundations of the Church were laid on the cornerstone.ܥܰܠ ܫܘܽܥܳܐ ܕܗܰܝܡܳܢܘܽܬܳܐ ܆ ܣܺܝܡ ܗ̱ܘܳܐ ܫܶܡܥܘܽܢ ܫܰܪܺܝܪܳܐ ܆ ܘܥܰܠ ܟܺܐܦܳܐ ܕܪܺܝܫ ܙܳܘܺܝܬܳܐ ܆ ܣܺܝ̈ܡܳܢ ܫܶܬܶܐܣ̈ܰܝܟܝ ܥܺܕܬܳܐ ܀
Thursday BSyriac Melody: ܪܰܡܪܶܡܰܝܢܝ
The Apostles, Matthew and John, the Evangelists, Luke and Mark, wrote the Gospels for us, and they preached in the four corners [of the earth].ܫܠܺܝ̈ܚܶܐ ܡܰܬܰܝ ܘܝܘܽܚܰܢܳܢ ܆ ܘܠܘܽܩܳܐ ܘܡܰܪܩܳܣ ܡܣܰܒܪ̈ܳܢܶܐ ܆ ܟܬܰܒܘ ܗ̱ܘܰܘ ܠܰܢ ܐܶܘܰܢܓܶܠܝܳܢ ܆ ܘܰܐܟܪܶܙܘ ܒܰܐܪܒܰܥ ܦܶܢ̈ܝܳܬܳܐ ܀
They depicted for us the Mystery of Jesus by heavenly favor, and they gave the church divine teaching forever and ever. ܨܳܪܘ ܗ̱ܘܰܘ ܠܰܢ ܪܳܐܙܶܗ ܕܝܶܫܘܽܥ ܆ ܒܡܰܘܗܰܒܬܳܐ ܫܡܰܝܳܢܺܝܬܳܐ ܆ ܘܝܰܗ̱ܒܘ ܗ̱ܘܰܘ ܠܥܺܕܬܳܐ ܠܕܳܪ ܕܳܪ̈ܺܝܢ ܆ ܝܘܽܠܦܳܢܳܐ ܐܰܠܳܗܳܝܳܐ ܀
God, you accepted in your mercies the offering of the just of old; accept in your mercies our offering, and be pleased with our prayers.ܐܰܠܳܗܳܐ ܕܩܰܒܶܠ ܒܪ̈ܰܚܡܰܘܗ̱ܝ ܆ ܩܘܽܪܒܳܢܳܐ ܕܟܺܐܢ̈ܶܐ ܩܰܕܡ̈ܶܐ ܆ ܩܰܒܶܠ ܒܪ̈ܰܚܡܰܝܟ ܩܘܽܪܒܳܢܰܢ ܆ ܘܶܐܬܪܰܥܳܐ ܒܰܨܠܰܘ̈ܳܬܰܢ ܀

Season of Glorious Pentecost: Friday – (Maronite Divine Liturgy)

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Syriac Melody: ܪܰܡܪܶܡܰܝܢܝ
The martyrs resemble trees planted along [water-] sources: trees give fruit, whereas the martyrs give help abundantly.ܕܳܡܶܝܢ ܣܳܗ̈ܕܶܐ ܠܺܐܝ̈ܠܳܢܶܐ ܆ ܕܰܢܨܺܝܒܺܝܢ ܥܰܠ ܡܰܒ̈ܘܽܥܶܐ ܆ ܐܺܝ̈ܠܳܢܶܐ ܝܳܗܒܺܝܢ ܦܺܐܪ̈ܶܐ ܆ ܘܣܳܗ̈ܕܶܐ ܡܰܪܕܶܝܢ ܥܘܽܕܪ̈ܳܢܶܐ ܀
Chosen ones, [you] who loved God and hated the passing world, supplicate Christ with us that He be merciful on all of us.ܓܒܰܝ̈ܳܐ ܕܰܐܚܶܒܘ ܠܰܐܠܳܗܳܐ ܆ ܘܰܣܢܰܘ ܠܥܳܠܡܳܐ ܥܳܒܘܽܪܳܐ ܆ ܐܰܦܺܝܣ ܥܰܡܰܢ ܠܰܡܫܺܝܚܳܐ ܆ ܕܢܶܥܒܶܕ ܪ̈ܰܚܡܰܘܗ̱ܝ ܥܰܠ ܟܽܠܰܢ ܀
God, [you] accepted in your mercies the offering of the just of old; accept in your mercies our offering, and be pleased with our prayers.ܐܰܠܳܗܳܐ ܕܩܰܒܶܠ ܒܪ̈ܰܚܡܰܘܗ̱ܝ ܆ ܩܘܽܪܒܳܢܳܐ ܕܟܺܐܢ̈ܶܐ ܩܰܕܡ̈ܶܐ ܆ ܩܰܒܶܠ ܒܪ̈ܰܚܡܰܝܟ ܩܘܽܪܒܳܢܰܢ ܆ ܘܶܐܬܪܰܥܳܐ ܒܰܨܠܰܘ̈ܳܬܰܢ ܀

Season of Glorious Pentecost: Monday – (Maronite Divine Liturgy)

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Syriac Melody: ܪܰܡܪܶܡܰܝܢܝ
The one whom Moses saw in the bush [see Ex 3:1-6] and Ezekiel on the chariot [see Ez 1], behold, he is offered on the altar, and the Nations partake of him and live.ܗܰܘ ܕܰܚܙܳܝܗ̱ܝ ܡܘܽܫܶܐ ܒܣܰܝܢܳܐ ܆ ܘܚܰܙܩܺܝܶܐܠ ܥܰܠ ܡܰܪܟܰܒܬܳܐ ܆ ܗܳܐ ܡܶܬܩܰܪܰܒ ܥܰܠ ܡܰܕܒܚܳܐ ܆ ܘܫܳܩܠܺܝܢ ܠܶܗ ܥܰܡ̱̈ܡܶܐ ܘܚܳܝܶܝܢ ܀
The one whom the cherubim and seraphim serve with great fear, behold, he is offered on the altar, and the Nations partake of him and live.ܗܰܘ ܕܰܟܪ̈ܘܽܒܶܐ ܘܰܣܪ̈ܳܦܶܐ ܆ ܒܕܶܚܠܳܐ ܪܰܒܳܐ ܡܫܰܡܫܺܝܢ ܠܶܗ ܆ ܗܳܐ ܡܶܬܩܰܪܰܒ ܥܰܠ ܡܰܕܒܚܳܐ ܆ ܘܫܳܩܠܺܝܢ ܠܶܗ ܥܰܡ̱̈ܡܶܐ ܘܚܳܝܶܝܢ ܀
God, [you] accepted in your mercies the offering of the just of old; accept in your mercies our offering, and be pleased with our prayers.ܐܰܠܳܗܳܐ ܕܩܰܒܶܠ ܒܪ̈ܰܚܡܰܘܗ̱ܝ ܆ ܩܘܽܪܒܳܢܳܐ ܕܟܺܐܢ̈ܶܐ ܩܰܕܡ̈ܶܐ ܆ ܩܰܒܶܠ ܒܪ̈ܰܚܡܰܝܟ ܩܘܽܪܒܳܢܰܢ ܆ ܘܶܐܬܪܰܥܳܐ ܒܰܨܠܰܘ̈ܳܬܰܢ ܀

Is The Crucifixion a Wedding Celebration?

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On the Great Friday of the Crucifixion, the Maronite Church commemorates the death of the Son of God on the cross by celebrating the rite of the Adoration of the Cross. When one, however, closely looks at what the Church actually proclaims, one surprisingly discovers a fascinating and profound theological notion and a powerful biblical expression of salvation that one does not typically associate with a crucifixion: a wedding celebration. The objective of this article is to show that the Maronite Church announces that on the cross, Christ betrothed the Church. He is the Bridegroom, and she his Bride: his crucifixion is his wedding celebration to the Church.

This nuptial understanding of the crucifixion is common to all the Syriac Churches, and it is based on the writings of the Syriac Church Fathers, like Jacob of Sarug, who, in turn, inherited it from Scriptures. In this short presentation, we will limit our exploration of this theological interpretation of the historical event of the crucifixion only to certain scriptural passages and the current English edition of the Qurbono, or the Book of Offering According to the Rite of the Antiochene Syriac Maronite Church (2012)—henceforth, BO. Hence, it is advisable to have a Bible and the Book of Offering at hand when reading these few lines. As we will see, the liturgical text explicitly portrays salvation as a wedding celebration between Christ and the Church occurring on the cross.

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