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For with Thee is the fountain of life, and in Thy light shall we see light.
Continue Thy mercy unto those who know Thee.
Psalm 36:9-10 (Great Doxology)
This psalm paints a vivid contrast between the dark, secretive and narrow self-interest of sin, and the light-filled, cosmic, all-embracing goodness of God.
Verses 1-4 speaks of the…
Judge, O Lord, with those who wrong me; fight against those who fight against me!
Take hold of your weapon and shield, and arise for my help!
(Psalm 35: 1-2 (LXX))
These verses are sung as one of the prokeimena at the vespers of Great and Holy Friday as we remember the suffering of Christ in the face of injustice. The entire psalm…
O taste and see that the Lord is good!
(Psalm 34:8)
This verse will be familiar to everyone who has been to a Presanctified Liturgy during Lent, where it is the communion hymn. But Psalm 34 is used throughout the year as a prayer in preparation for communion and as a hymn after communion (in the Russian tradition). Verse 8 summarizes…
Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous! Praise befits the just!
Sing to the Lord a new song, play skillfully on the strings with loud shouts [sing beautifully to Him with joy, LXX].
By the Word of the Lord the heavens were made, and all their host by the Spirit of His mouth.
Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, as we have set our hope on…
I’m away from the office this week and will return to the Chancellor’s Diary next Monday, November 25th. But today I’d like to draw attention to the publication of the English translation of Antoine Arjakovsky’s seminal book…
Blessed are those whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
Blessed are those to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
(Psalm 32:1-2)
Psalm 32 is the first thing the newly baptized hear when they come up out of the water and are given their white baptismal robe. For all the other…
Into thy hand I commit my spirit…
Psalm 31:5 (Luke 23:46)
Most of us spend much of every day making decisions, with the assumption that what we decide to think, say and do matters and makes a difference. We as Christians do not believe in blind fate. We have choices to make between the way of light and the way of darkness. Everything we…
“A Psalm of David. A Song at the dedication of the Temple.”
(Psalm 30, heading)
Most of the psalms have headings added by pre-Christian Jewish tradition long after the psalm was composed. These can be musical instructions (Psalm 4, “To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments”), personal names associated with the psalm (“A…
The voice of the Lord is upon the waters…
(Psalm 29:3)The voice of the Lord cries over the waters, saying: Come all ye, receive the Spirit of wisdom, the Spirit of understanding, the Spirit of the fear of God, even Christ who is made manifest.
(from the Great Blessing of Waters on Epiphany)
The feast of Epiphany connects Psalm 29:3…
O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance!
To Thee, O Lord, I call; my rock, be not deaf to me, lest, if Thou be silent to me, I become like those who go down to the Pit.
Hear the voice of my supplication, as I cry to Thee for help, as I lift up my hands towards Thy most holy sanctuary. (Psalm 28: 9,1-2)
This…
The Lord is my light and my Savior; whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the defender of my life; of whom shall I be afraid [deiliaso]?
(Psalm 27:1, Prokeimenon of Baptism)
Though water is never mentioned in this psalm, it begins with light, so it is used at Baptism, also known as Holy Illumination.
Notice that the Lord’s light and…
I wash my hands in innocence, and go about Thy altar, O Lord, singing aloud a song of praise, and telling all Thy miracles. O Lord, I love the beauty of Thy house, and the place where Thy glory dwells. Do not sweep my soul away with sinners, nor my life with blood-thirsty men, men in whose hands are evil devices, and whose right hands are…
Make me to know Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths.
Lead me in Your truth, and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You I wait all day long.
(Psalm 25: 4-5)
Psalm 25 is a prayer for God’s guidance. We are looking to Him, waiting for Him, asking Him to teach us and lead us. Surely He does this through many…
Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in.
Who is this King of Glory? The Lord strong and mighty,
The Lord mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in.
Who is this King of Glory? The Lord…
1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want;
2 he makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters,
3 he restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff,…
My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Why art thou so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?
O my God, I cry by day, but thou dost not answer; and by night, but find no rest.
(Psalm 22: 1-2; Elevation of the Cross, 1st Antiphon)
Psalm 22 is the psalm of Christ’s crucifixion, and is read on Great and Holy…
Thou hast set upon their heads crowns of precious stones. They asked life of thee, and thou gavest it them.
Yea, thou wilt make them most blessed forever.
Thou wilt make them glad with the joy of thy presence.(Psalm 20:3-4, 7; marriage prokeimenon)
A “prokeimenon” is a set of Psalm verses that normally precede a reading, which…
The Lord answer you in the day of trouble!
The name of the God of Jacob protect you!May he send you help from the sanctuary, and give you support from Zion!
May he remember all your offerings…and fulfill all your plans!
Psalm 20: 1,2,3a, 4b (Pentecost, 2nd Antiphon)
This was originally a psalm about the king’s victory in battle, but we…
The meetings of the Holy Synod are confidential until minutes are approved and released for publication, but yesterday was an excellent example of sobornost in action on a difficult topic, with hierarchs, clergy and lay staff and advisors working together and I would like to give you a sense of how it all looked from the inside.…
The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge.
Their proclamation has gone out into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the universe.
Psalm 19:1,2a, 4 (Pentecost, 1st Antiphon)
The feast of Pentecost marks the…