Heruvimskaya Pesn'
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General information
The Херувимскaя пeснь ("Heruvimskaya pesñ") - Cherubic hymn or Herouvikon (Gr.) - is the hymn sung during the so-called Great Entrance in orthodox liturgy. It accompanies the procession of the clergy who bring wine and bread in front of the iconostasis. Its first verses are sung to a solemn, slow rhythm. The hymn is then interrupted by a number of prayers (for the faithful, the patriarch etc.), after which the choir responds with 'Amin' and sings the final verse of the hymn in a more lively rhythm, as the clergy re-enters the sanctuary.
Settings by composers
- Aleksandr Arhangelsky
- Atanas Badev
- Dmitri Bortniansky
- Pavel Chesnokov
- Mikhail Glinka
- Alexander Gretchaninoff
- Jos H. Hindriks
- Dobri Hristov (SATTBB)
- M. Kostantinov
- Gavriil Lomakin
- Grigory Lvovsky
- Stevan Mokranjac
- Sergei Rachmaninoff (in English)
- Piotr I. Tchaikovsky set this text many times:
- in F, D & C major
- The first of these is available in two cpdl English versions: Holy, Holy and Hymn to the Trinity
- the second is transposed to D flat as Holy Blessed Trinity
- As #6 of the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, Op.41, adapted as Cherubic Hymn
- in F, D & C major
Original text and translations
Church Slavonic text
- Иже Херувимы тайно образующе,
- и животворящей Тройцѣ трисвятую пѣснь припѣвающе.
- Всякое нынѣ житейское отложимъ попеченіе.
- Aминь.
- Яко да Царя всѣх подымемъ,
- Aнгельскими невидимо дори-носима чинми. Аллилуіa.
English translation
- We, who mystically represent the Cherubim,
- And chant the thrice-holy hymn to the Life-giving Trinity,
- Let us set aside the cares of life
- That we may receive the King of all,
- Who comes invisibly escorted by the Divine Hosts. Alleluia.
Dutch translation
- Laat ons, die hier op mystieke de cherubs verzinnebeelden,
- en het driemaal heilig zingen tot de levenschenkende Drie-eenheid,
- nu alle aardse zorgen opzij leggen
- zodat wij de Koning van het al kunnen verwelkomen,
- die binnentreedt, op onzichtbare wijze begeleid door de hemelse scharen.
- Alleluia.
French translation
- Nous qui dans ce mystère représentons les chérubins
- et chantons l'hymne trois fois sainte à la vivifiante Trinité,
- déposons maintenant tous les soucis de ce monde.
- Pour recevoir le Roi de toutes choses,
- invisiblement escorté par les armées des anges.
- Alléluia, Alléluia, Alléluia.
Greek translation
- Οἱ τὰ Χερουβεὶμ μυστικῶς εἰκονίζοντες,
- καὶ τῇ ζωοποιῷ Τριάδι τὸν τρισάγιον ὕμνον προσᾴδοντες,
- πᾶσαν τὴν βιοτικὴν ἀποθώμεθα μέριμναν,
- ὡς τὸν Βασιλέα τῶν ὅλων ὑποδεξόμενοι
- ταῖς ἀγγελικαῖς ἀοράτως δορυφορούμενον τάξεσιν.
- Ἀλληλούϊα.
External links
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